If you want to work as a transcriptionist online, let it be known that there are a ton of legitimate companies out there. So much so, I have found as many as 100+ that allow you to work remotely. Some even don’t require experience.
In today’s review, I wanted to talk about Speechpad, another transcription company that says to have the lowest rates in the industry as well as a 100% money-back guarantee. The company seems to have all of the gimmicky sales lines most transcription companies out there, but the true question is if it’s worth your time applying? That’s what we’re about to find out.
So whether you’re looking for more information on Speechpad or you’re looking for another way to potentially make money typing online, I hope this Speechpad review helps you out.
If you want to make money online as a transcriptionist, let’s take a look at how much you can make as well as how the company works in detail. As always, I’m 100% honest and only recommend programs I feel are worth your time.
Speechpad Review
What is Speechpad?
Speechpad is another online transcription company online that hires freelancers mostly for transcription work. It’s your standard transcription job, wherein you will listen to some audio and then type/edit what you hear. What makes Speechpad different, however, is that they have artificial intelligence which will attempt to transcribe as much as possible, leaving it up to you, the freelancer, to finishing adding the final touches, such as adding words, editing, etc. You can consider it a mix of both editing and transcribing.
The company was founded in 2008 and has been in business for more than a decade now.
Is it a scam?
Absolutely not. Speechpad is a legitimate organization, but I can understand your concern with scams, as there are a lot of them out there. One of the main reasons I wanted to create this site was to help people make money, whether it’s $1 a day or even $100+. There are a lot of legitimate opportunities out there, but you just need to know where to find them.
And, if you’re asking: How do I know it’s not a scam?
Well, there are often red flags you need to look out for, many of which I don’t see on the Speechpad website.
For example, the company doesn’t hide anything. They have contact information, such as a phone number and address, as well as an email if you were to have questions. A scam often will hide this information, only maybe posting a fictitious e-mail.
Aside from the contact information, Speechpad also has a decent social media following as well as reputable reviews from past and present freelancers, all of which I will get into shortly.
Working with Speechpad
According to the company, they are accepting all applicants, whether you’re just learning the ropes or you’re an experienced transcriber. No matter who you may be, they will have work for you.
However, let it be known that the company isn’t always hiring. If there’s high demand, you may see an error message that looks something like this:
If you do see this error message, don’t fret, as they do open back up the application page on occasions. You just have to keep checking back in.
As a transcriber, it will be your job to listen to audio files or watch a video, typing out whatever is spoken, all while getting rid of filler words such as “ah,” “like” and “okay,” to name a few. Rookie transcribers often start with the clear cut jobs, whereas your more experienced transcriptionists will work on the harder jobs.
If you’re interested in the translator job, then it’s your job to translate a document into the noted language.
As a freelancer, you’re able to log into a dashboard and then choose the jobs that are of interest to you. You’re able to filter out the results to find what you’re looking for, such as the length as well as the job type. If a job is of interest, you can accept the job and start working on it. You can also preview a quick 30-second snippet to get a feel for the file.
In the case you see a “get qualified” tab, then you will need to click on it to see what’s expected of you. Generally, you will need to transcribe so many minutes on the platform before you qualify. For instance, if you want the Reviewer role, you need to transcribe at least 1,000 minutes while maintaining a 96+ rating. Rush jobs, on the other hand, only require 500 minutes worth of audio and a 96+ rating. Basically, the more you type, the higher you can move up the ranks.
This transcription job is no different than any others, so expect to hear clear audio as well as poor quality audio. Heavy accents, as well as background noise, is common in the transcription industry. Don’t always expect a clear-cut piece of audio. Generally, as long as you can focus, as well as research words accordingly, you shouldn’t have a problem with this gig. It can just take some patience sometimes.
And, as a freelancer, you can work whenever you please. There are no minimum requirements.
Requirements
If everything is sounding good so far, then you’re one step closer to the application process. However, before you apply, there are some requirements the company is looking for.
- They do ask that you have some formal transcription experience, however, it isn’t required.
- You must be fluent in the English language.
- You need solid grammar and spelling skills.
- They ask that you type at least 40+ words per minute with 100% accuracy. If you don’t know how fast you type, you can take a free typing test here.
- You must be detailed oriented and know how to properly research online.
- Listening skills, of course, is a must.
- A computer, internet connection and headphones are required. If you’re using a Windows-based computer, they do recommend the Infinity Foot Control. This is optional, however.
Out of the many transcription companies I have researched, the requirements don’t appear to be strict. As long as you can type 40+ words per minute and have a keen eye for detail, you shouldn’t have a problem. It’s one of your rookie-friendly opportunities.
Applying
As mentioned, the company isn’t always hiring, but if they are, it’s your traditional transcription-like application.
You will be asked to submit a short application form, most of which consists of your personal information, as well as adhere to a test. This test, unlike most, is geared more towards how fast you can type rather than how detailed you are. This doesn’t mean you should be sloppy with your work, however. You will need to score at least a 94 on the assessment to start working.
Once hired, you will start at the bottom with your easier work and move your way up the rank as you prove yourself with the work you submit.
The official applicant link can be found here.
Speechpad Pay
This could quite possibly be the most important part of the job — the pay. How much are you going to make working for Speechpad?
According to what I found online via the dashboard, how much you make will depend on how fast you can type as well as which job you accept. If you look at that dashboard I posted above, you can see that jobs range anywhere from $0.35 to $2.50 per minute. Granted, this isn’t the amount you will make per minute; rather, it’s minute per audio. So, for every minute of audio you type, you will get paid that rate. For instance, if it took you 10 minutes to type 60 seconds of audio, then you’re paid for that 60 seconds, not 10 minutes.
On average, it will take you about four to five minutes to type one minute of clear audio, again, depending on how fast you type. This means you can type about 20 minutes in an hour, equaling about $7 to $35+ per hour. Remember, this can differ depending on your speed and the jobs available at the moment. Your results will vary and it can be much higher (or lower) than these numbers specified. Plus, as you grow in the ranks, you can make more once you prove your accuracy rate.
As a transcriber, you are considered a freelancer, which means you can log in and type whenever you please. There are no schedules to work; however, there are deadlines you need to abide by if you were to accept the work.
All payments are sent via PayPal twice a week.
The Reviews
On Indeed, there were only five reviewers, but of those five, they gave it a 4/5 rating. Reviewers noted it was great for supplemental income and as a way to learn transcription to grow skills. What they didn’t like is that you had to maintain a specific rating if you wanted to remain actively working. Once you fall below a certain threshold, you will no longer have work.
Glassdoor had close to 50 reviewers, where they gave the company a 4/5 rating and 81% CEO approval rating. People loved that you could work from home and the excellent support. Whenever they had a question, it seemed it was answered quickly. What they didn’t like were the difficult audio files, no informal training or job security, as they could revoke your job at any time. This could be said about any freelancing gig, however.
Lastly, I found 36 reviews on Sitejabber, most of which were positive. Many reviewers loved that they hired anyone, as long as you passed the test. Critical reviewers didn’t like the rating system, some saying it was inaccurate and unfair. Again, a poor rating can lead to no work.
Overall, I found more positive reviews than I did negative reviews. This is a recap of what I found:
Pros
- great customer service
- lots of work available
- open to rookies
- decent pay
- simple application system
Cons
- limited jobs for rookies (in some cases)
- many complaints on the review system
Final Thoughts
6/10Speechpad is 100% legitimate and seems to pay sub-standard rates. If you’re looking for a transcription gig online, it’s one to at least check out. You can work whenever you please and the pay can be okay if you’re a fast enough typist. Best of all, it’s a great starting point if you’re looking to start in the field. Even if you’re experienced, you can find more than enough jobs.For now, know that they won’t always be hiring and it’s for a good reason. It seems to be in demand. If you do see that message when you sign up, continue to check in frequently to see when the application page opens up. If you see it, sign up ASAP before it disappears again.
That’s going to do it for now.
If you have worked for Speechpad or you want to comment on what I’ve mentioned, you’re more than welcome to do so in the comments below.
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