If you’re thinking about work-from-home transcription jobs, then you’ve likely come across Rev.com.

Yes, it’s a 100% work-from-home platform where you can set your own schedule. It sounds almost too perfect, which might make you question if it’s really a reliable way to earn money. Don’t worry, Rev.com is legit, and here’s a bit more about it.

Rev is not just a platform for transcription; you can also find captioning and foreign subtitling tasks. People who need these services come to Rev, and then folks like you, who are registered with Rev, can complete the work for them. Those who work through Rev are known as Revvers. Rev has established its credibility by opening offices in Austin and San Francisco, and they’ve served almost 200,000 clients

What is Rev.com?

Launched in 2010, Rev.com is a U.S.-based company offering services like transcription and captioning.

Their platform assists businesses in generating content more efficiently, like adding closed captions to videos or transcribing interviews.

As someone working for Rev, you’ll be listening to these audio files and typing them out. In return, you get paid for every project you finish. What’s nice is that Rev makes it easy for beginners to jump in. Plus, all you really need is a computer and reliable internet, and you can work from pretty much anywhere.

They’ve earned some notable recognition, including an Editor’s Choice Award from PC Mag, and have been mentioned in reputable media outlets like TechCrunch and The Wall Street Journal.

Is Rev.com Legit?

You might be wondering, “Is Rev.com a scam?” Given their partnerships with big brands and media mentions, it’s safe to say they’re legitimate. But, it’s understandable why you’d ask.

Some folks online label them a scam, but those claims often lack context or are based on personal grievances. One Glassdoor review criticizing Rev.com also mentions that the reviewer worked there for over a year. That doesn’t sound like a scam; at worst, it sounds like someone had a less-than-ideal work experience.

Rev.com is transparent about who they are and where they’re located, which are good signs of a legitimate operation. They also have a public Facebook page with thousands of followers and even share their physical address. So while not every freelance worker may have a stellar experience with Rev.com, it’s clear that they’re a bona fide company.

The Types of Jobs

Rev.com offers four types of freelance positions: transcriptionist, captioner, subtitler, and translator. As a transcriptionist, you’ll turn spoken English into written text. Captioners do the same but also add captions to videos. Subtitlers translate spoken words and add subtitles to videos, while translators handle various non-video translation tasks.

If you’re new to online transcription or translation, the work process is straightforward. Clients send audio and video files to Rev.com, and then you get those files to work on. Essentially, you’ll spend your time at your computer listening to audio and typing it out. While the task sounds simple, you might face challenges like poor audio quality, tricky accents, or multiple people talking at once.

How Much Can You Make with Rev.com?

Your earnings at Rev.com vary depending on the job.

Transcriptionists, for instance, can expect between $0.30 to $1.10 per audio or video minute. Captioners, on the other hand, usually make between $0.50 to $1 per minute.

On average, people can transcribe or caption about 20 minutes of content per hour, which equates to around $9 to $15 an hour. While it’s not a lot of money, it’s work you can do from the comfort of your home.

Rev.com says that the average freelancer earns about $250 a month~, with top earners making up to $1,500 monthly.   This seems to be accurate.

Simply put, It’s not the kind of job that will allow you to quit your day job. Think of it more as a way to make some extra money or diversify your freelance income sources.

If you’re multilingual, you might qualify for higher-paying positions like translator or captioner. Captioners can earn between $1.50 to $3+ per video minute, and translators get paid between $0.05 to $0.08 cents per word.

While Rev.com doesn’t provide specific figures for average or top earner salaries in these roles, other companies in the industry report hourly rates as high as $34. So, there’s potential for higher earnings.

All of these rates were sourced from reviews online and didn’t come from Rev.com themselves.

Payments are made weekly through PayPal.

NOTE:  Don’t fall for claims that you can earn $30 an hour; it’s not that straightforward. Depending on the complexity and your skills, it might take between two to four hours to transcribe one hour of audio. So, it’s not just about the length of the file but also the quality and the syncing, especially for caption jobs.  Your results will vary.

How Many Jobs Are There?

Rev says there are hundreds of jobs available daily, but let’s get real: that hasn’t been my experience.  Most days, you’re competing for a limited number of tasks against other transcribers. Also, when you’re new, you may not get the cream of the crop. You’ll often end up with the trickier, harder-to-hear audio files, which can make the job more challenging and time-consuming. But the upside is you can work whenever you want, and there are at least a few tasks up for grabs every day.

With that being said, job availability can fluctuate.

Over the weekend, there might be fewer jobs, like just one or two claimable caption projects.

However, weekdays, especially Monday to Friday, usually offer a wider range of projects. Your access to jobs can also depend on your Rev status.

Those on the Revver+ level get first dibs on jobs 90 minutes before everyone else.

Public Opinion on Rev.com

When you dig into what people are saying about Rev.com, you’ll notice that the feedback leans more toward the negative side. We’ve already talked about how Rev pays its freelancers, and it’s generally in line with industry standards. However, that doesn’t stop the flow of complaints. Transcription work is all about speed and accuracy. While some find their groove and make decent money, others struggle and end up complaining about low pay.

Although there are negative reviews, it’s only fair to acknowledge that positive feedback exists as well. Your experience with Rev will largely depend on how efficiently you can work and what your expectations are for the job. The real perks of working with Rev are flexibility and the freedom to work whenever and wherever you choose. People who expect this freelance job to be like a traditional nine-to-five often end up disappointed.

Below, you will find a combination of the pros and cons I found on various review websites online.

The Pros:

• First off, you can work from pretty much anywhere around the globe.
• Payment lands in your PayPal account every week.
• The pay is generally better than what you’d get from taking online surveys.
• If you’re a native English speaker, you’ll find it an ideal online gig.
• It’s one of the most recognized names in the transcription business.

The Cons:

• As a newbie, expect a lower hourly rate.
• New transcribers often get stuck with bad-quality video and audio files.
• Climbing the pay scale can be a slow process.
• If you’re not fluent in English, this isn’t the best way to make money online.

What Reddit Users Say

Some Rev freelancers on Reddit have shared their experiences:

• One user found they earned a bit less than minimum wage for the time they put in.
• Another mentioned that while Rev is legit, they’re pretty strict about errors and incomplete files.
• Yet another freelancer worked about 8 hours across two days and made $70.

The consensus? Rev is a legitimate platform, but don’t expect to get rich quickly. You’ll likely earn around minimum wage, especially at the beginning.

Should You Join?

Whether or not Rev is the ideal place for you to work as a freelance transcriptionist comes down to weighing the pros and cons.

Based on reviews from Revvers, the upsides include a flexible schedule, weekly pay, and no requirement for full-time hours.

However, the downsides can be considerable.

These include relatively low pay, sometimes limited job availability, a potentially confusing grading system, risk of sudden termination, poor audio quality, and possibly dealing with disturbing content in the audio files. So while there are drawbacks, the benefits might still make it worthwhile for you.

I have no answer for you, as it can be okay for some people, while others may hate it.  I encourage you to read as much as possible and then make a decision on your own.

How to Apply

If you decide you’re interested in working for Rev, the application process is straightforward.

Simply go to the Rev.com website and sign up to be a Revver. As of my last update, there was a waiting list.

If you do get accepted, the application involves a grammar test and an audio transcription sample, but you don’t need to provide a resume or prior experience.

One important note is that you must be at least 18 years old to work for Rev due to the possibility of encountering disturbing audio content. If you don’t pass the tests initially, you can reapply and try again after 45 days.

Also, Rev only accepts applications from specific countries like the United States, Canada, the UK, and a few more

As a heads-up: strong punctuation skills are a must for this job. Many people fail the initial tests simply because they don’t use punctuation, like commas and periods, properly. If you need to brush up on your punctuation skills, I highly recommend playing around with some grammar tests online.

Final Thoughts

7/10To sum up, Rev.com does provide consistent work, especially during weekdays. Your earnings depend on a few factors like your speed, job complexity, and the number of projects you take on. If you’re aiming to excel, strive to become a Revver+ to have first access to jobs.

It is a genuine platform for earning money online, especially if you’re keen on transitioning into a work-from-home lifestyle. However, it shouldn’t be your only way of making money. The main issue with online work isn’t necessarily the rate of pay for each task or hour, but rather the sporadic nature of the work. There can be downtime when you won’t have much to do.

You won’t become wealthy solely by working on Rev, but you can use any free time you have to complete surveys on platforms like Swagbucks. While you won’t make a full-time income from surveys, they can be a good starting point if you’re new to making money online.

If you’re looking for a more robust strategy to earn money online, there are other guides and resources available. Transcription and captioning work through Rev can be one part of a broader freelance strategy that includes other work-from-home gigs. Ideally, you should aim for long-term stability by generating passive income from multiple sources. Whether you’re dealing with health issues, taking care of kids at home, or facing a tough job market, creating a dependable online income can provide you the financial security you’re seeking.

If you’re really good at typing, Rev can serve as a solid entry point into the world of online income. If you’re interested, applications are open for various roles on their platform.

Now, it’s your turn to share.

Have you ever done transcription or translation work? Have you ever worked for Rev?

Feel free to share your experiences below.