Is Rev Legit? (How Much Money You Can REALLY Make Transcribing)
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Audio and video transcription jobs allow you to work from almost anywhere and have a flexible work schedule. It’s possible to find consistent work on Rev as a new or experienced transcriptionist and get paid weekly.
You might be wondering how much you can make by transcribing for Rev and what the basic requirements are to start making money. But is Rev legit? Keep reading to find out.
Overall Rating
Summary
Rev pays you to transcribe audio or write video captions while earning a competitive rate. You can claim multiple assignments and decide your working hours. All freelancers receive weekly PayPal payments.
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Job Availability
4
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Schedule Flexibility
4.5
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Potential Pay
3.8
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Payment Options
4
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Worker Requirements
3.5
Pros
- Multiple tasks per day
- Flexible schedule
- Weekly payments
- No special equipment
Cons
- Need strong English skills
- Lower pay if inexperienced
- Not for California residents
- Must apply and pass exam
What is Rev Transcription?
Rev is an online platform with part-time freelance jobs for captioning, subtitling, or transcribing audio and video recordings. It’s free to join, and you can apply for open requests as companies upload media files that need to be put into words.
Transcriptionist jobs require converting audio into text with accurate grammar and tone. For this platform, you must be proficient in the English language and will complete a brief competency exam. There are also opportunities to make foreign subtitles.
Membership is open to freelancers at least 18 years old in the following countries:
- Australia
- Canada
- Ireland
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- United States (excluding California residents)
After passing the exam, you can accept assignments paid by the hour. Longer files pay more as there is more content to transcribe or caption. Complex topics and rush assignments may also have higher payouts.
For example, when I filled out a basic application for this review, I provided my contact details, work history, and interests. I also encountered a few brief essay questions to evaluate the proficiency of my written communication.
After this initial step, you will caption or transcribe a sample recording, and a reviewer will grade it for accuracy. You can apply even if you have no experience, and it takes approximately one hour to determine whether you’re eligible for this gig economy job.
Experienced users can earn more as they are more proficient and may be eligible for advanced tasks requiring a specialized background. Unlike other transcription jobs, there are minimal barriers to entry as you don’t need special equipment such as a foot pedal or pricey software.
You only need a computer with functional speakers and internet access. Headphones can also be helpful for more clarity and distraction-free work.
How Does Rev Work?
You can apply to transcribe or caption audio or video uploads and receive weekly payments through PayPal. The responsibilities and income potential can vary by position.
Transcriptionist
Transcribing audio can be the easier of the two entry-level freelancer positions, as you simply type what you hear on your computer. The recording length can be from several seconds up to two hours long.
You might transcribe the following audio:
- Conversations
- Meetings
- Phone calls
- Podcasts
I recommend starting with short recordings to improve your proficiency and confidence, as it can take longer to transcribe complex conversations and draft a readable dialogue.
Periodically, I transcribed audio recordings for my previous job and listened to certain radio transmissions several times to ensure the accuracy of words and block out non-verbal noises.
Additionally, new members are limited to entry-level jobs but can unlock advanced recordings as they receive positive ratings and have quick turnaround times.
Most Rev transcription jobs provide audio-only recordings you can listen to through your web browser. Using the web-based editing platform, you can pause, rewind, and adjust the playback speed as you jot down the text in proper formatting.
In addition to accurately writing down the conversation, you are responsible for labeling each speaker. The client may also have you notate inaudible sounds and create paragraphs as needed so the script is easy to read.
Depending on the task and your experience level, Rev pays transcriptions between $0.30 and $1.10 per audio minute. So, a 20-minute recording at $0.50 per audio minute pays $10, but your effective hourly wage depends on how long it takes to complete the file.
Captionist
Generating captions for video recordings can require more effort as you transcribe the audio and summarize the setting and non-verbal noises.
For example, you include captions for critical sounds like wind, thunder, or when a particular song plays. This extra detail is necessary to help hearing-impaired viewers enjoy a similar experience to other viewers.
Instead of providing the conversation in a Microsoft Word document like audio transcription, you overlay FCC and ADA-compliant closed captions at the top and bottom of videos, syncing with when the audio occurs.
Another key difference from transcribing is the type of content you review, which can run from 30 seconds to several hours.
Most captioning jobs are for these media:
- Commercials
- Educational videos
- Marketing videos
- Movies
- YouTube videos
- TV shows
Rev captionists earn from $0.54 to $1.10 per video minute, a higher starting pay than transcribing.
If you enjoy watching videos more than listening to audio, you may prefer captioning to transcribing. Additionally, you may enjoy visual text in a sterile Word document for a conversation.
Subtitler
A primary requirement for anyone who does subtitles for Rev is strong English skills. However, if you’re fluent in a second language, you can expand your skill set by writing foreign-language subtitles for international viewers.
Content needing subtitles can include:
- Commercials
- Interviews
- Lectures
- Movies
- Podcasts
The minimum pay rate per video minute depends on the language and ranges from $1.70 to $4.00 per minute. Challenging projects can pay more.
Subtitles are in demand for the following languages:
- Arabic: $2.50 (per minute)
- Chinese: $1.80
- Czech: $2.20
- Dutch: $2.70
- French: $3.30
- German: $3.50
- Hindi: $2.20
- Italian: $2.50
- Japanese: $4.00
- Korean: $4.00
- Polish: $2.30
- Portuguese: $2.50
- Russian: $2.50
- Spanish: $1.70
- Turkish: $3.20
There are many other ways to get paid to type besides translating videos into different languages.
Weekly Payments
The platform pays on Mondays through PayPal for assignments you complete during the previous week. There are no additional processing charges or transaction costs, and you will receive the entire published amount when you claim a task.
Like most side hustles, the service doesn’t withhold income taxes, and you may need to set aside a percentage of your income to cover your tax liability.
How Much Money Can You Make?
Most paid tasks pay between $0.30 and $1.10 per audio or video minute, with caption jobs usually paying more. Adding foreign subtitles can pay a minimum of $1.50 to $4 per minute, as these tasks require additional skills.
Remember that audio minutes are different from your hourly rate. For example, it typically takes four hours to transcribe one audio hour. I can attest from my experience that you usually replay a clip multiple times and sometimes battle thick accents and poor audio quality.
These rates are competitive with transcription agencies but can be low for entry-level and highly experienced transcriptionists, as the industry average is between $0.50 and $3 per audio minute.
The good news is that it’s an excellent platform for gaining experience, and you can complete projects for multiple companies. Rev shares the average user’s weekly earnings based on experience level and freelancing frequency.
| Average Weekly Earnings By Skill Level: | |||
| Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced | |
| Casual | $22 | $37 | $60 |
| Occasional | $65 | $111 | $181 |
| Seriously | $108 | $185 | $301 |
You can make money to pay bills and save for upcoming goals part-time.
Is Rev Legit?
Rev is a legitimate company with a 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot. Although most reviews are from people who pay for the service, you can learn more about working for them on this Reddit thread.
It also has a 2.7 out of 5 on Indeed, with mixed reviews. While some say it is low-stress and flexible work, others complain about the pay being too low.
Alternatives to Rev.com
You may also explore these side hustle apps to access more transcription side gigs and other short, on-demand tasks. These platforms are also worth considering if you live in an area where Rev doesn’t accept freelancer applications, such as California.
Fiverr lets you create gig packages and set your own rate. There are many transcriptionists and captioners with repeat buyers to earn recurring income.
As you must wait for customers to contact you, experienced transcribers can succeed more with this platform by sharing their relevant experience in their portfolio.
You can advertise additional services that add value and help you build a side hustle stack.
Upwork is another option that lets freelancers bid on open assignments and receive application invitations from interested customers. Many one-time assignments exist, but clients may agree to a long-term relationship when they like your work.
The platform’s highest-rated transcriptionists earn at least $20 an hour and as much as $50 before the 10% service fee. Many also offer additional services to make money when projects are not transcribed or captioned.
Transcribe Anywhere lets new and experienced people improve their skills by starting with a free workshop. Paid courses are available for general transcription, legal transcription, and court reporting.
These courses help teach the essentials to become more competitive transcriptionists within two to four months. They also provide guidance on finding higher-paying jobs to earn more for your time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s a look at common questions readers want to know:
The average transcriptionist earns $245 per month at $0.30 to $1.10 per audio minute. Captionists make $1,570 monthly on average, with a pay range from $0.54 to $1.10 per video minute. It’s possible to make $1,000 a month or more if you’re active and experienced.
While it’s a unique niche, transcribers adding foreign subtitles can earn from $1.70 to $4.00 per minute. On average, a subtitler makes $958 per month on this platform.
Your earning potential depends on the length of your job and the number of assignments you accept each week. Beginners can anticipate earning between $15 and $20 a day, comparable to minimum wage, while experienced members can earn nearly $60.
Working at least five days a week, active users can earn $50 per day and $1,000 monthly. To achieve this income goal, you will most likely need to accept several short assignments or one long one per day.
Becoming a Rev transcriptionist can help you earn a reliable side income without any startup costs, although you need a distraction-free environment to hear each word accurately.
The schedule flexibility is ideal for stay-at-home parents and full-time workers who need a few extra dollars without committing to a traditional part-time job.
Summary
Rev is a legit way to make money transcribing, as it’s one of the most well-known and active services.
If you excel at transcribing, you can help numerous businesses with an easy work-from-home job. Additionally, you qualify for more lucrative tasks as you work more often.
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