Developed and maintained by ProWorkstack · Development and review process
Compare quoted human and automated transcription costs, including separate review time, total reviewer cost and fixed charges.
Your results
Enter your inputs and select Calculate.
How this calculator works
Each workflow cost = audio minutes × quoted transcription price per minute + audio minutes × review minutes per audio minute ÷ 60 × total reviewer hourly cost + fixed project charges. Automated cost advantage = human total − automated total. The review break-even holds all other entered costs constant.Worked example
For 600 audio minutes, human transcription at 1.50 costs 900. Reviewing at 0.2 minutes per audio minute takes 2 hours at 45, so the total is 990. Automated transcription at 0.10 costs 60; review at 0.8 takes 8 hours costing 360; add 30 fixed charges for 450. The estimated automated cost advantage is 540.Assumptions
Defaults illustrate the arithmetic, not market prices or expected performance. Use measured quantities and documented costs. All monetary inputs must use the same currency.Interpreting your results
The tool compares costs, not transcript accuracy or legal suitability. It does not certify evidence, assess confidentiality, upload recordings or recommend a vendor. Include timestamps, speaker identification, revision and secure handling costs in the appropriate quoted rates or fixed charges. Review time must be measured on comparable audio.Calculation formulas
- human_cost
audio*human_rate+audio*human_review/60*review_rate+human_fixed- auto_cost
audio*auto_rate+audio*auto_review/60*review_rate+auto_fixed- saving
human_cost-auto_cost- Cost advantage of automated workflow
saving- Human workflow total project cost
human_cost- Automated workflow total project cost
auto_cost- Human transcript review hours
audio*human_review/60- Automated transcript review hours
audio*auto_review/60- Automated review break-even minutes per audio minute
SAFE_DIV((human_cost-audio*auto_rate-auto_fixed)*60,audio*review_rate,0)
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a different currency?
Yes. Choose your currency and enter every monetary amount in that currency. No exchange-rate conversion is performed.
Where should my assumptions come from?
Use your own matched operational records, invoices, agreements and measured task times. The worked example explains the calculation and is not a benchmark.
Maintained by ProWorkstack · Last reviewed: 2026-10-04 · Development and review process