Transcription minutes are the monthly quota Plaud uses to convert recordings into text — your plan sets the allocation, and you can buy extra or upgrade.
Transcription minutes
Transcription minutes are the monthly quota Plaud uses to convert your recordings into text. Your plan sets the allocation, and you can buy extra or upgrade if you run out.
What are transcription minutes?
Transcription minutes are the time-based quota Plaud uses to convert your audio recordings into text. Each subscription plan includes a monthly allocation, and minutes are deducted from your available transcription minutes when a recording is transcribed.
How are transcription minutes allocated?
- Starter Plan: 300 free minutes per month, unlocked after you bind a Plaud device to your account.
- Pro Plan: 1,200 minutes per month.
- Unlimited Plan: Unlimited transcription with no monthly cap.
Your monthly minutes reset on the renewal date of your subscription. Membership begins on the day you activate the plan and renews on the same date the following month.
What happens if you run out of minutes?
If you reach your monthly cap before the next reset, you have three options:
- Wait for the next reset, when your allocation refreshes automatically.
- Purchase additional transcription minutes as a one-time top-up.
- Upgrade to the Unlimited Plan to remove the monthly cap.
Notes on transcription minutes
- Recording continues without quota. Your device captures audio even when your transcription minutes run out. You can still manage files and use Private Cloud Sync. Transcription simply pauses until your minutes refresh.
- No rollover: Unused transcription minutes expire at the end of your current billing cycle. They do not carry forward.
- No refunds for deletions: Plaud deducts your transcription minutes exactly when processing begins. Deleting the original audio file will not restore them.
- Purchased add-ons remain: Any Extra Minutes you buy are valid for 24 months from the date of activation, and you must activate them within 12 months of purchase. These add-on minutes work even after an Unlimited Plan expires.
FAQ about transcription minutes
How do I get my free 300 minutes?
Bind your Plaud device to your account. This automatically activates the Starter Plan, granting you 300 free transcription minutes monthly.
Do paid plan minutes stack with the free Starter minutes?
No. Paid plan minutes replace the free Starter allocation instead of adding to it. Once you subscribe to a paid plan, your monthly quota is the plan's allocation: the Pro Plan gives you 1,200 minutes per month in total, not 1,200 plus the Starter Plan's 300.
What if I exceed my monthly allocation?
Wait for your billing cycle to reset, purchase additional quota, or upgrade to the Unlimited Plan for immediate access.
Do unused transcription minutes roll over to the next month?
No. Your transcription minutes reset entirely at the beginning of each billing cycle. Unused minutes do not carry forward.
Does transferring files from my device use transcription minutes?
No. Transferring recordings from your Plaud device to the Plaud App does not consume transcription minutes. Minutes are deducted only when a recording is transcribed.
Will I get my minutes back if I delete files?
No. Plaud deducts transcription minutes exactly when processing begins. Deleting the final audio file will not restore them.
Can I keep using purchased minutes after my Unlimited Plan ends?
Yes. Purchased Extra Minutes are valid for 24 months from the date of activation and work even after an Unlimited Plan expires. Refunds for purchased minutes are not supported.
Where can I buy Extra Minutes?
You can buy Extra Minutes in the Plaud App or on the official website. Plaud Web doesn't sell Extra Minutes.
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Plaud App: Tap More details on the membership card at the top of the home screen. On the Current plan page, under Manage plan, tap Buy more minutes, then choose a package. In the app, packages come in 120, 600, 3,000, and 6,000 minutes, and the minutes are added to your account right away.
- Official website: Buy an Add-On Extension package (600, 3,000, or 6,000 minutes) on plaud.ai. Packages bought on the website must be activated within 12 months of purchase.