Rev Transcription Agency Review 2021
A big-time player with a lot of power. But how do they really stack up?
Rev 2021 Review
Powered by Spread — Free 60 minutes of automated transcription + NEW innovative features!
OVERVIEW
If you’re looking for a job as an online or remote transcriber then finding the right agency to start with should be your number one concern. Which agency you work for will decide what transcription jobs you get, your working hours, and how much you get paid for each job.
There are plenty of transcription agencies out there. Each with its own pros, cons, benefits, and drawbacks which will suit one type of transcriber over another. Here we are looking at Rev, the world's largest transcription agency…
Rev is the largest and most reliable transcription service out there. With 50,000 freelancers in their empire, they understand how the business works and what needs to be done. They are extremely professional and take the utmost care with transcription errors.
Rev is a giant player in the transcription world, with the highest number of freelance transcribers working under them. 50,000 freelancers work at Rev with no minimum hours, a high pay rate, and a lifelong career that they can work from home 24/7.
Rev has been in the transcription game for over 10 years and they have definitely proven their worth, with countless 5-star reviews from both clients and remote transcription freelancers.
Rev is exceedingly strict with errors for their manual transcribers. Meaning, they are probably more suited to experienced and professional transcribers. However, anyone can apply. Just remember they leave no room for errors.
HOW TO GET STARTED
You can sign up for Rev by clicking the “ Start transcribing for Rev “ button at the top. This will take you to the Rev application screen where you can enter your details.
You will then be able to download a short presentation detailing what they expect of a freelance transcriber.
To get accepted into Rev you have to take a sample test and a mini online exam where you can showcase your English/transcription skills.
If your transcription skills aren’t up to scratch, then Spread may be able to help.
Rev’s application process is a standard procedure as far as transcription applications go. The usual procedure of a written text/online exam and a sample piece of work is the most common way to test a new transcriber — which is what Rev also does.
This is a very common practice, some freelancing clients will even ask you to complete sample work before getting started. So, do not be alarmed if they ask for a few minutes of transcription sample work!
All transcription agencies require you to take some sort of test similar to this. However, Rev has been suspected to be slightly harder and harsher when it comes to errors, grammar, and general English skills.
Luckily they give you a PowerPoint to read over beforehand that details what they expect of you, how to correct the grammar in a transcript, what you should and shouldn’t change, and everything else you need to know.
The online exam and sample piece of work should only take a few hours maximum to complete. After you have submitted your sample piece you will hear back from Rev in the next 7–10 days.
The majority of reviews from freelancers claim that this process is relatively simple and easy to follow, even with it all being completely automated. You don’t speak to a single human the entire time. To know if you have passed or failed the test, an automated email will be delivered to your inbox.
If you would like to apply for a freelancing transcription job at Rev, then you can start applying here.
If you would like to know more about the Rev application process then there is more info on Indeed and Glassdoor from past freelancers who have already been through the process.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Rev prides itself on having absolutely minimal errors for their clients — claiming a 99%+ guaranteed error-free rate. This is amongst the highest of any transcription service.
Every transcript you complete will then also be checked by an experienced transcription checker. Once they have checked over your work they will provide you feedback and explain where you created errors in the transcript.
This is great for career development, but not when you want to make quick money online.
If you continue to make multiple errors then your account will be deactivated by your checker and management team. Reviews left on both Indeed and Glassdoor have shown that the team at Rev will deactivate the transcriber’s accounts without notice and without any explained reason.
The majority of 1-star reviews and poor feedback left on Indeed and Glassdoor about Rev are from past transcribers who either got rejected from the transcription application or those who have had their account deactivated. This is obviously poorly received by the transcribers and thus Rev’s company culture is often frowned upon.
On Glassdoor and Indeed they score an overall 3.8/5. With 81% of freelance transcribers recommending them to a friend, whilst only 70% Approve of the CEO.
In contrast, other agencies such as TranscribeMe and GoTranscript have slightly higher overall scores and recommendation/approval percentages. For example, GoTranscript has a 96% approval rating for their CEO.
You can check out GoTranscript’s quick review here.
We recommend if you go with Rev that you don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If you consistently make transcription errors then they will deactivate your account, leaving you with no work. Therefore, we recommend you also start a freelancing profile, alongside your agency work at Rev. You can get started with a freelancing transcription account here.
If you feel as though you are making too many errors and it is taking you too long to complete transcription work, then we suggest you take a look at Spread. Spread is an AI transcription software you can use to start transcribing with ease.
Rev has had its fair share of poor reviews, especially when it comes to management. When you submit work another (experienced) freelancer will grade it and give you feedback based on your errors and transcription quality.
If you make too many errors then they will deactivate your account and you will no longer be able to work for Rev. They take transcription errors very seriously and thus you have to keep them to an absolute minimum.
The majority of poor reviews left by ex-freelancers all comment on the same problem — being deactivated for doing ‘nothing wrong’.
You can see the reviews yourself on Indeed and also Glassdoor. Overall they score around 3.8/5. But there are plenty 1 star reviews from dissatisfied freelancers who have had their account deactivated.
If you do go with Rev, then don’t put all your eggs in one basket…
Source
Source
Source
Source
Source
Source
PAY
The average salary for a general transcriptionist at Rev is $1,500 per month. This is a solid earning amount, but not as high as TranscribeMe.Rev will pay you between $0.30 — $1.10 per minute of audio transcription. This shoots up for subtitles, and translation too.
Rev charges customers $1.25 per minute of audio transcription. Meaning that for a 10-minute video that a client commits to Rev, they are charged $12.50
This is one of the highest pay rates in the industry. You just can’t make errors and you have to be quick to make it really work for you.
Considering you don’t have to go out and find the work (it kind of just falls into your lap) this is very good money. Plus there is no minimum work time, and you can work whenever, wherever.
Rev’s pay can vary between $0.30-$1.10 /minute depending on what you are tasked with though.
Rev’s payment depends on a few factors. These factors can include experience, quality of transcript, number of errors in a transcript, length of transcript/recording, the difficulty of recording/accent, subtitles/translating/captioning also included, your transcribing/correcting speed, etc…
Depending on these factors Rev will pay you anywhere between $0.30 and $1.10 per minute of audio transcribed.
For the beginners out there. This doesn’t mean you get paid up to $1.10 per minute of work, it means you get paid up to $1.10 per minute of audio you transcribe.
For example: If it takes you an hour to transcribe 10 minutes of audio, then you will be paid up to $11.00 for that hour.
10 (minutes of audio) x $1.10 = $11.00
Depending on how fast you can do transcribe whilst maintaining 99% accuracy will be the biggest dictator in how much you get paid. The faster you can do this, the more you can earn (this is where Spread comes in!).
The average transcriber working for Rev earns around $1,500 per month. Which is good money, considering you pick and choose your working hours, where you work, and the work literally falls into your lap with no minimum number of hours required.
However, other transcription agencies such as TranscribeMe report average earnings of $2,200. On the other hand, TranscribeMe doesn’t pay as high as Rev per minute of transcription audio. The reason TranscribeMe transcribers earn higher average earnings is that there are fewer transcribers fighting for the same amount of work.
At TranscribeMe there are only a few thousand freelancers working as transcribers, whereas Rev has over 50,000 freelancers. Even though Rev probably has more clients, there is far more competition.
As a whole Rev pays well if you are a competent transcriber who doesn’t make many errors. If you can transcribe fast with high accuracy you can earn upwards of $2,500 each and every month.
BIGGEST PRO
Rev is the biggest name in the transcription industry. With a plethora of clients and freelancers all battling down the door to get stuck in, they always have work available for you and understand the transcription industry better than anyone.
With a very very very high pay rate potential ($1.10 per minute for a general transcriber — which reaches much higher for translation and captioning) Rev is a great option for experienced transcribers who can transcribe fast with high accuracy. Your earnings at Rev can be much higher than any other transcription agency.
Due to Rev being so overly strict with transcription errors (which they are known for), finding transcription work after Rev will be a piece of cake. The employers within the transcription industry will see your past work at Rev and know you are more than capable and an experienced high-level transcriber. This is especially good for corporate transcription jobs.
BIGGEST CON
This may also be seen as a positive, but Rev is very strict on errors. perhaps overly strict at times which leads to freelance accounts being deactivated due to their error rate.
The worst part about Rev is kind of also one of their pro points. How uptightly strict they are regarding transcription errors.
As a beginner, you are bound to make transcription errors. Even professionals who have done this for years will make countless errors in their time. But you have to manage how many you make, listen to feedback from your checkers, and actively engage and practice to not make any more errors.
If you do create too many transcription errors then your account will be deactivated without notice or much warning — according to these reviews.
This will come as a big blow, especially to new transcribers who are just starting their careers. It may seem harsh, but Rev has to do this to keep their error margins low and their clients happy.
Other transcription agencies such as TranscribeMe offer much better support and even have a whole section on their website dedicated to helping you improve — TranscribeMe’s resources page. They also offer advancement programs and actually want you to succeed in your journey.
Read our quick view TranscribeMe review here.
Rev’s most important stats:
Overall review ranking on Indeed/Glassdoor is 3.8/5
81% of past freelance reviewers recommend working there to a friend
70% of past freelance reviewers approve of the CEO
Rev pays between $0.30 to $1.10 per minute of transcription audio completed. For a captioner, this pay starts at $0.54 and can go up to $1.10 as well.
The average salary for a transcriber at Rev is $1,500 per month.
RECOMMENDATION
Rev is a clear 3/5 for a general transcriptionist.
if you’re a beginner who needs reliable work then they will be great, however, you may not earn much as you will take so long due to their strict error rules.
As a professional transcriptionist, you have the potential to earn a lot with Rev — especially if you don’t make many errors.
Rev is a great place to work as an online or remote transcriptionist who wants to earn a good wage and make little to no errors.
If you’re a beginner who needs reliable work then they will be great, however, you may not earn much as you will take so long due to their strict error rules. If your account is deactivated then please don’t take this in a bad way. There are still plenty of other transcription agencies that would be happy to utilize your services.
If you are an intermediate transcriber then a good idea may be to move onto Rev’s captioner program where the starting pay is slightly higher. Transcriptionist lowest pay is $0.30 and a captioners lowest pay is $0.52 per minute of audio transcription/captioning.
As a professional transcriptionist, you have the potential to earn a lot with Rev — especially if you don’t make many errors. Their pay rate is incredibly high, you can even each the higher end of $1.10 per audio minute.
Rev is a great place to work as an online or remote transcriptionist who wants to earn a good wage and make little to no errors. If you want to speed up your transcription time, detect errors using AI, and create content from your transcripts then check out Spread. It’s the only way to increase your average transcription earnings…
Other online and remote transcription agency reviews:
GoTranscript Transcription Agency Review
TranscribeMe Transcription Agency Review
Originally published at https://transcription-jobs.com.
