# Big Text vs Transcribe

The clearest difference is monetization model: Big Text at free with in-app purchases against Transcribe's subscription. Big Text also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 47%) and iOS requirement (14.2 vs 18.0). Transcribe's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 13 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Big Text sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Transcribe sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Big Text holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 600 and 457 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Big Text's written reviews are positive against 47% of Transcribe's.

Big Text ships an update every 13 months, Transcribe every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Big Text | Transcribe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (600 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-text/id1517801432/reviews)** | [4.5 (457 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/transcribe-speech-to-text/id1673039222/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **600** | 457 |
| Positive reviews | **82.4% of reviews** | 46.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 16 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.2** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [David Gaskill](https://appshunter.io/developer/1456666273) | [AppLiks Sp. z O.O.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1804335622) |

## What reviewers say

### Big Text

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-text/id1517801432)

This app converts your speech into large, readable text in real-time. It's designed for noisy environments and helps users communicate effectively, especially those who are visually or hearing impaired. Save, share, and replay your messages with customizable fonts and colors for optimal visibility.

**Highlights:** Real-time speech to text conversion, Large, readable text display, Message library for saving messages, Save and share transcripts, Customizable colors and fonts, Message playback with animations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version Unlock | $1.99 | one-time |


### Transcribe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/transcribe-speech-to-text/id1673039222)

This app converts audio recordings and live speech into accurate text. It offers high-quality recording, real-time transcription, and editing capabilities. Supports multiple languages and various import/export formats to boost productivity.

**Highlights:** High-quality audio recording, Live transcription, Automated transcription, Import and export audio/text, Built-in editor, Multi-language support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Access | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Transcribe PRO | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Access | $9.99 | per month |
| Voice Converter Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly Access | $12.99 | per year |
| Speech to Text PRO | $34.99 | per year |
| Yearly Access | $34.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎯 Accurate transcription quality
- ⚡ Efficient automated transcription
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 📝 Live transcription feature
- 🎓 Excellent for students and professionals

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires paid subscription with no free trial
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes during transcription
- ❌ Incompatible with iPhone voice memos (m4a format)
- ⏱️ Extremely slow processing times
- 🔧 Limited editing capabilities in live mode

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when importing files for transcription
- App crashes when attempting to view transcribed text
- App crashes during file export
- Extremely long processing times (2+ hours for 1.5 minute recording)
- No progress feedback during transcription

**Requested features**

- Delete function for old saved messages
- Extended speech source range
- Free trial option before purchase
- Ability to pause and edit during recording
- Support for voice memo keywords (next line, bullet point)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Big Text free?

Big Text is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Transcribe free?

Transcribe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Big Text or Transcribe?

Big Text is rated higher. Big Text averages 4.6 out of 5 from 600 ratings, while Transcribe averages 4.5 from 457 ratings.

### Do Big Text or Transcribe have ads?

Neither Big Text nor Transcribe shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Big Text or Transcribe?

Big Text ships an update every 13 months, and Transcribe every 6 weeks. Most recently, Big Text was updated on October 29, 2026 and Transcribe on October 27, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*