Free audio transcription that is actually unlimited
Skeleton Fingers transcribes short files fast and free: up to 30 minutes each, 3 a day, with a free account. In your browser it is free and unlimited, with no account and no upload. Hour packs, paid once, cover long files and any fast files beyond your 3 a day.
How it can be free and unlimited
The free lane, called "In your browser", runs the Whisper speech recognition model on your own device. Your computer does the transcription, not our servers, so there is no daily limit, no minute counter and no account to create. Open the site, drop in a file, and get text.
Because the work happens on your device, your audio never leaves it. That makes the free lane a good fit for personal recordings and anything confidential, not just for saving money.
What you give up
Free and unlimited comes with honest tradeoffs:
- Speed depends on your device. A recent laptop gets through a file much faster than an old one, and long recordings take a while either way.
- The first run downloads the model. Your browser fetches the speech model once, the first time you use it.
- No speaker labels. You get the words, but not who said them.
- Keep the tab open. The transcription runs in the page, so leave it open until it finishes.
How other free plans compare
As of September 2026, the free plans of two popular tools look like this:
| Free plan | Limits listed on its pricing page |
|---|---|
| Otter Basic | 300 transcription minutes a month, 30 minutes per conversation, 3 audio or video file imports in total |
| TurboScribe Free | 3 files a day, up to 30 minutes each, one at a time, lower priority |
| Skeleton Fingers, in your browser | Unlimited, no account; slower, runs on your device, no speaker labels |
| Skeleton Fingers, fast lane | Free account: files up to 30 minutes, 3 a day, with speaker labels |
Competitor details from their own pricing pages, as of September 2026. Otter's free plan includes speaker identification, which our browser lane does not.
When you need more than free
Sometimes you need the transcript now, or you need to know who said what. That is the fast lane. There, your browser converts the file to audio, uploads that audio (about 115 MB per hour), and our servers transcribe it in seconds. The first two steps depend on your device and connection, so the total time varies. You also get speaker labels and automatic language detection. It needs a free account, and your recording is uploaded and stored with that account until you delete that transcript or your account.
- Free account: fast transcription for files up to 30 minutes, 3 a day.
- Hour packs: $5 for 3 fast hours, paid once. Pack hours never expire, and you can buy as many as you like.
- Pro: $9.99 a month for 10 fast hours, cancel anytime. Pack hours stack on top.
No subscription is required. You can use the free lane forever and only pay for fast hours when a deadline calls for it.
What we do record
We keep the free lane honest in both directions. Your audio stays on your device. We do record anonymous usage details, such as that a transcription ran, how long the file was and whether it worked, so we can tell when something breaks. Those details never include the audio. The privacy page covers exactly what is collected.
Frequently asked questions
Is Skeleton Fingers really free?
Yes. The in-your-browser lane is free and unlimited, with no account. The optional fast lane is free with a free account for files up to 30 minutes, 3 a day.
Do I need to sign up?
Not for the browser lane. A free account is only needed for the fast lane.
Why is the free lane slower?
It runs on your own computer instead of our servers. The speed depends on your device, and the first run downloads the speech model once.
Is my audio uploaded on the free lane?
No. The audio never leaves your device. We only record anonymous usage details, such as that a transcription ran and how long the file was.
Start transcribing for free
Free in your browser. Fast when you need it. No subscription required.
Transcribe free