Scribie

What is Scribie?

Scribie enlists freelance transcriptionists, but pays so little that this job only makes sense if you have an exceptionally low cost of living.

How it works

If you want to transcribe files with this company, you’ll sign up and verify your email address. After that, you’ll do a transcription test by listing to and transcribing a file. I

f you’re accepted, you’ll have access to a variety of audio files that need transcribing. You can pick up or ignore them, as you prefer.

Scribie review

Work is available to all certified transcribers. (Anyone who passed the site’s test and continues to do relatively error-free work.) And, jobs are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. However, you’re only able to take one job at a time and are expected to deliver it within a few hours of accepting.

The site says that it pays between $5 and $20 per audio hour. Transcribers say $5 per audio hour is the standard.

But it’s important to note that audio hours are not the same as work hours. Experts say it takes two to ten minutes to transcribe each minute of audio. So a 6 minute file, which may take the better part of an hour to transcribe, will pay somewhere between 50 cents and $2. That makes Scribie’s hourly pay pretty pathetic.

Multiple speakers

Worse, transcribers say that the company’s audio files are hard to hear and often include multiple speakers — the toughest type of audio to transcribe. Transcriptionists are also graded on a 5-point scale. If you get less than an average score, you get booted from the platform.

Not surprisingly, transcriptionists complain bitterly about this site.

Recommendations:

SideHusl.com grades job opportunities on a 5-point scale. This one gets our worst Husl$core: $.

U.S. transcriptionists can find significantly better-paid work with Transcription Outsourcing, GMR, and Rev.

But, if you’re a glutton for punishment and still want to sign up with Scribie, you can find them here.

What their users say (from Indeed)

It is a flexible company, yes. But the problem with the company is that the pay is very low. The hardest audios I have ever done are from this company, but the compensation for the work done isn’t the best.

I’m still working at Scribie as a transcriber. I enjoy because there’s always a lot of files to transcribe. Sometimes they reject your work which means you don’t get paid at all for all the hours you put it. I love working from home as I get to spend time with my son.

It’s definitely a grind. You start out transcribing, & chances are you won’t make more than 4 bucks an hour- if that. If you can get through the first couple stages of “promotion”, you may be able to make slightly over minimum wage. Work from home, whenever you want. Applying & getting started is simple. If you’ve got absolutely nothing else going & can get through the initial tedious grind, it may be worth it for some side cash.

Low to no pay

I’ve been working with Scribie for about a month now. And I earn about a dollar an hour. Each file is typically worth only $5 per audio hour. They also score you terribly. In one case, they added in a completely random word like “Cupcake” and I disputed the file for the scoring. Every dispute, including that one, has come back without any changes actually being made. Terrible company to work for

One example of this job being terrible is when I transcribed 10 minutes worth of audio, submitted it for review, and then the customer canceled. 2 hours of work for no money. I at least expect some compensation for the wasted hours that I put it. Not only that, even if I did get paid, but I was only getting 1 dollar which is useless. Apparently pay increases after you get promoted after 60 mins of work at a high enough level. How am I supposed to reach that point If none of my work can be reviewed? 

Terrible in so many ways…

This company is a disgrace… What more need I say? They constantly change rules and standards to basically steal your earnings and you have no choice other than to complain. Then your account will be closed. They are thieves!

Lowest pay in the market — $5-$12 per audio hour. Low-quality audios
Poor review process
Too little human interaction with workers
Use Scribie only as a training platform. It is not worth anybody’s time working here.

I started working for this company because they are one of the few that will hire beginner transcribers. If you pass their test then they will certify you and you can work as much or as little as you want. No expectations. You work around your own schedule. But this company pays very little — 50 cents per 6 minute audio. So even if it takes you an hour, you still only get 50 cents.