Free means free. No minute limits, no trial clock.
Gistful records your lectures, transcribes them and turns them into study material without a subscription. Here’s exactly what’s free, what Premium adds, and why there’s no expensive AI plan to upgrade to.
Is Gistful really free to record and transcribe lectures?
Yes. The Free plan isn’t a trial and doesn’t run out. You can record as many lectures as you like, watch the live transcript as your professor talks, and study from everything afterward. There’s no card to enter when you sign up.
Live transcript uses the speech recognition built into your browser or device, so availability depends on which browser you use. Chrome and Edge on a computer, Chromebooks and Android work best, and Safari works with a few limits.
What do I get on the Free plan?
Everything you need for class, with nothing locked behind a counter:
- Live transcript while you record, in five different views
- Audio recording on its own track, saved to your device first
- Typed and handwritten notes, bookmarks and key moments on one timeline
- Flashcards, fill-in-the-blank cards, live trivia, study guides and search
- Uploads transcribed on your device, with no minute limit
- Dictionaries that learn your course terms, and a semester planner
- Storage in your account for recorded lecture audio
Already have a recording? You can transcribe an audio file to text for free, on your own device, with no minute limit.
Why isn’t there a paid AI plan?
Many transcription services charge by the minute, because every minute of audio costs them money to process. Gistful works differently. Live text comes from your browser’s own speech recognition, and uploaded recordings are transcribed by a model that runs on your device. We don’t pay per minute, so we don’t need to charge you per minute.
The study tools work the same way. Catch me up, Explain That, flashcards and trivia are built from the sentences your professor actually said, picking and tidying rather than inventing. If your browser has built-in AI, like recent versions of Chrome, you can switch on optional extras that also run on your device, for free. They’re off until you turn them on.
That keeps Gistful honest and keeps it free. Your notes come from what was said in the room.
So what does Premium add?
Premium is for heavy course loads. It gives you more room for recorded audio, keeps the audio file when you upload a recording so you can play it back alongside the transcript, gets you new study tools first, and comes with priority support. Everything in Free stays in Free.
You can see the full Free and Premium comparison, with current prices, on the Premium page.
Are there any limits I should know about?
A few, and we’d rather you hear them from us:
- Storage in your account counts lecture audio only. Transcripts and notes don’t count toward it.
- If your storage fills up, new audio stays safely on your device until you make room.
- An upload can be up to 3 hours long and 1 GB. On Free, you keep the transcript and the audio file stays on your device.
- Live text isn’t available in every browser. Recording and notes still work when it isn’t.
To make the most of the free plan, try reviewing a lecture in 15 minutes the same day, and plan ahead with a semester timeline for exam review.
Keep exploring
What should I read next?
What else do students ask?
Is there a time limit on the Free plan?
No. Free isn’t a trial. You can keep using it for as long as you like, with no minute limits on live transcript or uploads.
Do I need a credit card to sign up?
No. You only need an email address and a password. You’ll only see a payment page if you choose to buy Premium.
Is Gistful free for transcribing an audio file?
Yes, on every plan. Upload an audio or video file up to 3 hours long and Gistful writes a timed transcript on your device, with no minute limit.
What happens to my lectures if I stop paying for Premium?
Nothing you’ve made is deleted. Your account goes back to Free, with Free’s storage amount for new audio.
Ready for your next lecture?
Make a free account in under a minute, then press Start lecture when class begins.