Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

aTrain review

Free#25 of 35 in Audio Transcription Software

A multilingual local transcription tool for researchers handling sensitive recordings.

6.7/10Editor score
Visit aTrain
aTrain6.7 Visit aTrain

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

aTrain is an open-source desktop and command-line application for transcribing speech recordings locally. It is designed particularly for researchers working with interviews and other sensitive audio, with offline processing that keeps recordings on the user’s device. The software supports Windows, macOS, and Linux workflows, and combines Whisper and faster-whisper model support with speaker detection and diarization. Its 99-language coverage makes it suitable for multilingual research projects.

The strongest fit is its combination of local processing and research-oriented exports. Transcripts can be prepared for MAXQDA, ATLAS.ti, and nVivo, giving qualitative-analysis users a direct path from audio transcription into established research workflows. Processing can run on a CPU or an NVIDIA CUDA GPU, while command-line support adds an option for repeatable transcription workflows. The published feature set also includes AI-based transcription and speaker labels, which are useful when recordings contain multiple participants.

aTrain is most appropriate for researchers who value offline operation, multilingual coverage, and compatibility with qualitative-analysis software. Its desktop and command-line focus suits users comfortable choosing models and working with local files. The browser/server mode is experimental, so teams looking primarily for a mature browser-first experience should consider a different type of transcription product. macOS is supported through the documented installation workflow, while Windows and Linux have distribution packages. Choose aTrain when control over local processing and research exports matter more than a fully hosted workflow.

aTrain pros and cons

  • Where it wins
    • Runs locally across Windows, macOS, and Linux
    • Supports 99 transcription languages with speaker diarization
    • Exports to MAXQDA, ATLAS.ti, and nVivo
  • Where it doesn't
    • Browser/server mode is experimental
    • Exports focus on MAXQDA, ATLAS.ti, and nVivo
    • macOS uses a documented installation workflow

aTrain fact sheet, pricing and score →

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated · How we research and update