GoTranscript Review – Scam or Legit? Truth Exposed!

Are you looking for a GoTranscript review? But you may wonder if it is a scam.

You’re definitely interested in earning money from home, maybe even full time. If you need extra money to pay some bills or pay off your debts, working from home might be a good option for you.

So let’s talk about GoTranscript and see if it fits your needs.

GoTranscript is a great option for freelance transcriptionists who’re looking for a job where they can set their own schedule and work as much (or as little) as they want, all from the comfort of their own home. That’s an interesting thing, but can GoTranscript be trusted?

In this review, I’ll tell you who GoTranscript is, what they offer, how they work, and whether or not they’re reputable and worth your time.

As a disclaimer, I’m not affiliated with GoTranscript. It means I’m not paid to write this review. So you can rest assured that you will get an honest and unbiased review from me.

At the end of this review, I’ll also tell you the best alternative to GoTranscript that has enabled me to make a full-time passive income online.

What Is GoTranscript?

Since its founding in 2005, Peter Trebek has been CEO of GoTranscript, a transcription company he co-founded. The company’s current administration is located in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Its main services include transcription, translation, subtitling and captioning, and the company has clients from all over the world.

In addition to their AI (artificial intelligence) technology, GoTranscript also uses human transcriptionists like you to transcribe audio files. GoTranscript needs people like you because machines can’t do everything perfectly, and that’s why the company can’t completely do without human help.

You can apply to GoTranscript if you’re interested in a transcriptionist position, but keep in mind that this isn’t just a typing or data entry job. To be successful, you’ll need to be a good listener and a diligent researcher (and earn a decent income).

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

How Does GoTranscript Work?

To start as a transcriptionist at GoTranscript, you must first take and pass the exam. The requirements for acceptance and subsequent employment at GoTranscript consist primarily of this exam.

Yes, I realize this is easier said than done.

The company strives to make your job easier by offering guidelines that list the requirements.

Once you’re logged in, you can search for open positions and projects on the career website. And you can expect to be paid if your application is accepted.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Important Information About Working for GoTranscript

There are a few more things you should know.

• Each time a client submits a file for transcription, you will receive an email notification.
• The description of a particular job can be found on the job page (text format, turnaround time, audio/video duration, etc.).
• Once you publish your completed transcription, your earnings will be displayed on your statistics page.
• An editor will rate and rank your work as a transcriptionist. Your ratings can range from 1 to 5 (I’ll talk more about this in a moment). The editor will also give you feedback on your work so you can improve your transcription skills as you progress.
• If you have an average rating of more than 4.5, you can apply to be an editor.

GoTranscript Requirements

GoTranscript has a liberal acceptance policy compared to the transcription industry. However, there are some criteria that you must meet.

1. You must be of legal age.
2. You do not need any previous experience, but you must pass the exam. If you fail the exam, you can retake it in a few days.
3. You must be fluent in English.
4. It does not matter if you type fast or slow, because the processing time for a 10-minute audio is 6 hours. However, you will be paid per audio minute. So if it takes you six hours to transcribe ten minutes of audio, you will only be compensated for ten minutes.
5. There are no computer specifications. You are qualified to work for them as long as you have a computer and an internet connection. Of course, it is an advantage if you have a fast computer and a reliable internet connection. If you are an experienced transcriptionist, you may have additional equipment such as a high-quality headset and foot pedal for more efficient transcription work.

You can make money with online surveys on websites like surveyjunkie.com and inboxdollars.com if you don’t meet their standards or don’t get hired.

Of course, you won’t get rich with these websites, but they’re an easy way to get your online career going.

They can also serve as a stepping stone to something bigger, like a real web business.

Perhaps you’re stuck at home for health reasons or have young children to care for.

In that case, if you want to earn a living exclusively online, you need to have an idea of how to get started.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

GoTranscript Jobs and Opportunities

You start your career there as an entry-level transcriber/translator. However, GoTranscript offers a variety of other careers besides transcription, such as…

• Editor/editing
• Translation
• Subtitling
• Captioning

In most cases, first-year students are assigned general transcription tasks. However, if you’re an advanced transcriptionist, GoTranscript also offers specialized transcription services.

The pay is better for this type of transcription work…

• Medical transcription
• Legal transcription
• Academic transcription
• Research transcription

GoTranscript Test/Exam

As I mentioned earlier, you must take and pass an exam before you’re admitted.

Consult the rules first, as they cover important topics such as how to properly structure your material. How to deal with speech errors, filler words, slang, stuttering, repetitive comments, etc., as well as the distinction between verbatim and clean wording.

Timing, identifying speakers, and dealing with abbreviations and acronyms are some of the other topics covered.

As mentioned earlier, transcription is more than just typing or typing data.

You should listen to or watch a short movie and make sure you understand the questions before taking the test.

Since the exams are often taken by individuals whose native language isn’t English, you should also be prepared to demonstrate your knowledge in an environment with non-native speakers. 

Since many people who’re not native English speakers will be working on your projects, some of the accents they use may be difficult to decipher.

You may also be using a low quality audio or video file. Once again, this is to prepare you for this type of work once you’re officially approved.

How to Sign-Up for GoTranscript?

GoTranscript has a user-friendly interface and a simple registration process, both of which I appreciate. Most freelance websites have too much content, which makes it complicated for newbies to use.

At GoTranscript, you can quickly find your way around and submit your resume for transcription jobs with minimal effort. When you click on the “Apply Now” button, you will be presented with a list of languages to choose from.

After you select a language that best fits your interests or background, you will be directed to the main application page. Write down your email address and remember to enter a password here.

You can become a member in a few minutes.

However, after you become a member, you will have to overcome some hurdles before you can earn real money with your transcription skills.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

GoTranscript Pay

According to GoTranscript’s website, transcriptionists can earn up to $0.60 per minute of audio or video.

It also claims that you can earn an average of $150 per month. The top earners can make up to $1,215 each month.

These numbers probably came from somewhere, but I feel compelled to comment on them.

One important point is that the price per audio or video minute is capped at 60 cents. This means that each audio/video minute costs a maximum of 60 cents.

The actual price depends on several criteria (including audio/video quality, length, editing time, etc.) and may be less than $60 per minute.

I say this not to dampen your enthusiasm, but to set realistic expectations.

At a monthly cost of about $150, this seems reasonable. However, it is unclear whether this applies only to general transcription, specialized transcription (which usually pays more), or editorial positions.

I have no reason to doubt the claim that the highest earnings average $1,215. However, I agree that this is probably not a goal to strive for immediately if you are just starting out.

Those who transcribe for a higher salary tend to be highly skilled professionals, so their expertise makes them a worthwhile goal.

Skills like speed and accuracy in typing come naturally. However, if you have never transcribed anything before, you may be surprised at how easy it is to make mistakes, such as poor audio quality, background noise, many voices speaking at once, accents that are difficult to interpret, and so on.

With experience and practice, you’ll get a better handle on these difficulties, but this is another skill you’ll need to cultivate over time.

I do not want to discourage you from joining GoTranscript; as I said, you will be paid quite well for a transcription service. However, depending on your circumstances, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to replace your regular income with it. At least not by itself…

Freelancers who work full-time for themselves often have several projects going at once. An example of this would be signing up with various transcription services. If you ever do not have transcription work, driving for Uber or walking pets are always in demand. Again, these are just examples.

Online survey sites are a great way to make some extra money in your spare time.

Companies like Survey Junkie make it easy for you to share your thoughts and earn money. 

There are a number of sites like Inbox Dollars where you get paid for activities you may already be doing online, such as Googling, watching movies, and visiting other websites.

But just so we’re on the same page here… If you’ve never made money online before, online surveys can be a good place to start because you won’t make a full-time income doing them, but you can make some extra money.

If you’re aiming for something bigger, starting your own business online could be the answer.

You may need to work from home to supplement your income if you’ve medical expenses, a family to support, or just don’t want to go into an office every day.

In this case, you need to have a plan for how to achieve your goals.

Getting back to the issue of paying for transcripts: This figure is based on the rate at which you transcribe each minute of audio or video and the total time you spend doing it.

The total time you spend on the work isn’t relevant (for calculating your salary).

GoTranscript Payment Schedule and Method

GoTranscript payroll is processed every week (every Friday).

You must have an active account with PayPal or Payoneer, as these are the only two payment methods currently accepted.

As an added bonus (especially for freelancers paid with PayPal), GoTranscript will cover the PayPal withdrawal fees.

Also, there is currently no minimum amount for withdrawals.

GoTranscript Grading and Rating System

The accuracy of your GoTranscript will be rated and displayed for you and your customers.

You must keep your average rating above 3.5 to maintain your reputation. 

If your performance falls below a certain threshold, you may be disqualified from the system. The following percentages were used for the rating:

1 – 0%-83% accuracy

2 – 83%-88% accuracy

3 – 88%-92% accuracy

4 – 92%-96% accuracy

5 – 96%-100% accuracy

In order to give an accurate assessment, please consider the following criteria:

• Grammatical errors can result in penalties.
• You can be penalized for errors that meet the guidelines (examples I gave earlier would be using abbreviations or slang as required by the guidelines).
• You can be penalized for errors that are due to lack of research.
• As a new transcriptionist, if you receive a grade of 3.4 or worse (for three transcriptions), you will be dismissed (aka fired) from the company. In this case, you may not be paid for your work.

Is GoTranscript a Scam or Legit?

I’m not going to mince words or try to skirt the issue. If you’ve made it this far, you may be convinced that GoTranscript is reputable, but we’re talking about online income here. It’s understandable if you’re suspicious of GoTranscript because you feel like there are scammers everywhere.

Fortunately, GoTranscript is completely reputable.

But you’re not here to take my word for it; you want to find hard data to back up your claims and calm your nerves.

The fact that the company has been operating since 2005 is a promising first indicator.

That said, I’ve read numerous glowing reviews from satisfied customers and independent transcriptionists (which I’ll discuss in more detail below). And while there are a few naysayers, I don’t think I’ve seen anyone call them scammers.

You can count on GoTranscript being supported by an enthusiastic online community.

More than 11,000 people have liked and followed GoTranscript’s Facebook page since its inception in 2011. On Twitter, GoTranscript has more than three thousand followers and has posted over two thousand four hundred tweets there.

These numbers are not exactly average for scammers, but they are not very low either.

GoTranscript also offers direct contact options such as a phone number, Skype, and an online chat feature.

Again, I do not think its validity has ever been questioned, but it is an important topic to explore when it comes to making money online.

To put it simply, GoTranscript is a real service.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Who Can Apply For ​​GoTranscript?

• Age requirement: 18 years old.
• Country requirements:  GoTranscript posts in a variety of languages around the world.
• Device requirements: A computer or laptop and a pair of headphones. Although GoTranscript claims that transcription is possible on mobile devices, the features of its transcription tool are severely limited unless you use a PC or a laptop.
• Payout requirements: A PayPal or Payoneer account is required.
• Other requirements: You must be proficient in the language you want to transcribe (you can transcribe more than one language). A high typing speed and a good listening comprehension are also an advantage. In addition, you must learn to follow the rules of GoTranscript.

Is GoTranscript Safe for Workers?

On the whole, GoTranscript is safe to use for workers, freelancers and transcriptionists. The site is reputable, registration is quick and does not require a lot of personal information, your information is secure and never shared, you can accept or decline orders as you see fit, and you can deactivate your account at any time.

Customers who have ordered transcripts are the focus of GoTranscript’s privacy policy because they have the most to lose. They may share sensitive information such as credit card numbers and/or audio recordings.

In your role as a transcriptionist, you should not be concerned.

GoTranscript Support Quality

GoTranscript’s customer service is responsive and helpful most of the time. My weekly payment was delayed once, but after contacting them through the contact page, I received a response and my money the same day.

Thanks to the chat option on the website, you can also contact them in real time. Soon I was able to get in touch with a chat operator who cleared up my confusion about the minimum age of the transcriptionists.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

GoTranscript Reviews and Complaints

At the time of publishing this article, GoTranscript has received 147 reviews on Glassdoor.com, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5. Compared to other services like TranscribeMe, that’s a good rating.

Of course, the pros and cons of the site say a lot about the quality of the company.

The reviewers said many things, such as…

• Corrections are made available by editors.
• Pay is reasonable (and, as an extra bonus, they pay on time).
• People value the total flexibility that comes with working from home.

Glassdoor also features some less positive feedback from former or current employees, including complaints such as

• Due to poor quality, it is not possible to transcribe audio/video files.
• Transcription of non-English accents can sometimes be difficult.

These aren’t, of course, the only points of concern with GoTranscript, but quite common criticisms of the entire transcription process. Unfortunately, a transcriptionist has to deal with such problems in his profession.

It’s the equivalent of a truck driver complaining about traffic or the weather. The job requires you to do that.

There were also reviews on Indeed, where they currently have a 3.8-star average (based on 17 reviews). There were also some pros and cons mentioned there that I think you’ll find useful.

Among the compliments were…

• ample time to complete a task. 
• the ability to choose your project.

Those less enthusiastic voiced concerns about…

• poor content,
• audio/video files of high quality (which again is common).
• One complaint mentioned that the accuracy of the work was poorly evaluated, that it was removed (fired) and that as a result it was not paid.

There were no major shocks here. Those who choose to work at home for transcription value their independence.

They value the freedom to choose their own tasks.

It depends on your financial needs and expectations whether you will be satisfied working for a transcription company (or any other company or industry).

One thing is for sure: this cannot be your main source of income when you are just starting out. That is, not without a more diversified approach to freelancing, perhaps including other forms of work-from-home or side hustles.

The reviewers didn’t seem to have a problem with revision, which surprised me a lot. I’m not sure if it’s because of a lack of projects or because GoTranscript sets realistic expectations, but transcriptionists seem comfortable with the idea that they might occasionally find themselves without work.

Who is GoTrancript for?

Those who wish to transcribe audio recordings for a fee can do so using GoTranscript. You can start transcribing on the website at any time, whether you have formal training or experience or not.

However, there are some requirements that you need to meet before you can start earning money on the platform. You must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for employment.

Secondly, you must be proficient in your chosen language, which is determined based on the results of various tests on the platform. On the guidelines page, you will find all the material you need to pass the test, and you can access it at any time.

A high-quality headset and a foot pedal to support typing would be useful additions. However, the platform does not mandate that you use any particular device.

You should also be able to listen well, have a moderate typing speed, and be familiar with the basics of a computer system. As for softer skills, patience and attention to detail will serve you well in this position.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Pros of GoTranscript

If you’ve been thinking about whether or not to use GoTranscript, you should now have all the facts you need. Take a look at this brief summary of the benefits before you make a final decision.

Work on Your Terms

The working hours for data entry jobs on GoTranscript are flexible and can be done when it suits you. Rather, you can set your own working hours, so this is a good choice for those looking for a profitable part-time job.

Beginner-Friendly Platform

Since no expertise is required to join the site, newbies can learn quickly and earn money at the same time.

Re-Check Your Files

A high rating on GoTranscript is essential if you want to be hired regularly. In my review of GoTranscript, I’ll go into more detail about how the preview feature can help you reduce errors and maintain a high rating, but until then, know that it’s there when you need it.

It’s an Internation Platform

GoTranscript can provide you with the international experience you need to have a successful career as a transcriptionist.

In addition, if you have the necessary language skills and payment integration, you can work on the site regardless of your geographic location.

No Equipment Required

As a professional transcriptionist, you may be tempted to buy additional tools that could make your job easier. GoTrancript is unique among transcription sites in that all you need to sign up is a computer and some language skills.

Easy Sign-Up Process

Creating an account is quick and easy, and there’s no cost. Valuation shouldn’t take too much time either, provided you’ve followed the instructions carefully.

Timely Payments

Those who use the service can expect prompt payment via PayPal or Payoneer every Friday.

Cons of GoTranscript

You may be convinced to sign up immediately after reading the extensive list of benefits. However, to be honest, I have detailed the features of the service that I objected to.

Transcription Can Be Challenging

Transcription is not rocket science, but neither is it as easy as some other forms of freelancing. Poor audio quality and foreign accents are just two examples of how difficult the work can get.

Ratings 

In the next section of our evaluation of GoTranscript, I will go into more detail about the criteria I used to assign ratings. In short, you must have a rating of at least 3.5 stars to be hired regularly.

Relatively Low Pay Rate

GoTranscript’s earnings are not as high as advertised. The website claims that you can earn $0.60 per minute of transcription, but you need more than one minute to transcribe one minute of audio.

Therefore, you should be prepared to invest a lot of time until the website starts generating a regular income.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

What I Like About GoTranscript

• GoTranscript is a reputable source of internet jobs for professional freelancers.
• Beginners will enjoy it. There are few requirements, and if you fail the test, you can retake it within a few days (not weeks or months!).
• recurring payments (once a week).
• They refund PayPal fees and do not charge transaction fees when you withdraw money.
• There are no major complaints about the number of jobs available.
• They have an integrated transcription tool to assist you. Their AI-driven transcription software does the initial transcription for you (sort of).
• GoTranscript is a legitimate service that is not a scam.

What I Don’t Like About GoTranscript

• Depending on your needs and expectations, payment may be modest. This is not a criticism of GoTranscript specifically, but of Internet transcription work in general. Better paying transcription jobs are reserved for those with extensive experience.
• If your average falls below 3.5, you can be fired. Of course, I understand and agree with this policy… But I do not have to like them.
• You may not get paid if you are abruptly removed from the system (at least according to one reviewer).
• Complaints about poor audio quality. These require more time and effort to transcribe, which lowers your average hourly wage. As I said before, this is a common problem in all transcription tasks. It is also the reason why there are still human transcriptionists.

If audio quality is high and speakers are easy to understand, they may be content to transcribe most of their files with software and have only a small team of editors to correct errors. In other words, the difficulties that some people find unbearable are precisely what keep them on the job.

GoTranscript Review: Final Verdict

The Internet has made it possible for many people to work from the comfort of their own homes, and I know you’re interested because you want to earn some extra money.

Transcription work is an option you should consider if you want to make ends meet, reduce your debt load, or gain financial independence.

Using GoTranscript is recommended. While this may not be the only transcription job you get, it’s definitely an option to consider. And if you’re a freelancer by profession, there’s another legitimate way to make money.

But what if you’re just starting out? But what if GoTranscript is the only possible source of revenue for your business right now?

You may be a full-time student or a parent raising a child on your own. Maybe you’ve health problems that prevent you from working regularly, or you loathe your current job and would do anything to leave it.

In this case, a web-based business is just what you need. Let me tell you the best online business to start in the next section.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Best Alternative of GoTranscript to Make Passive Income

If you want to make a stable and secure stream of passive income, I would suggest you start an affiliate marketing business online.

Affiliate Marketing is perfect for anyone who is new to online business. 

In fact, of all the online business models I’ve tried, affiliate marketing is the easiest and most rewarding so far.  

In affiliate marketing, you can actually run your business almost with zero cost and achieve a steady and sustainable passive income to pay for your bills. You don’t need any initial capital and can even do it as a side hustle.

And if you really want to learn affiliate marketing and build a business from scratch, I’d recommend you to get started with the most reputable platform for affiliate marketing: Wealthy Affiliate.

Wealthy Affiliate is an all-in-one platform for building your affiliate marketing business from scratch. It offers you a free account (including a free website) with comprehensive training on SEO (free traffic methods), which enables you to get started with affiliate marketing right away without paying a penny.

But How Much Can You Earn with Wealthy Affiliate?

A 21-year old student from Wealthy Affiliate was able to earn $7,395 in just 1 week, which means he made more than $1k a day…all while using free traffic methods.

Wealthy Affiliate has existed for 15 years and there are many success stories in the past decade.

To give you more examples, here are some of the other inspiring success stories of Wealthy Affiliate members.

Where to Join Wealthy Affiliate?

Wealthy Affiliate has a very simple pricing scheme. It has free and premium membership.

If you want to feel about Wealthy Affiliate, you can sign up for the free starter membership here (no credit card required). You can select to be a free member with no time limit.

And as a starter member, you can get instant access to the community, live chat, over 500 training modules, 2 classrooms, networking, commenting, 1 free website, access to the keyword tool.

You can enjoy all these values without paying a penny. 

So I strongly recommend you to register a free account and see it yourself.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative