🎙️ Sonix for Nonprofits

Create a free Sonix account using your nonprofit email address. You'll receive 30 minutes of free transcription (no credit card required)—enough to transcribe 1-2 board meetings or several donor interviews. Upload your first audio or video file and explore the interface while the AI transcribes your content. This trial period lets you assess accuracy with your actual recordings before committing to a paid plan.

After testing Sonix during your free trial, apply for the nonprofit discount (up to 50% off). Email Sonix's enterprise team with your 501(c)(3) paperwork—this typically includes your IRS determination letter or state nonprofit registration. Sonix will review your application and provide a personalized quote based on your expected monthly transcription volume and team size. Most applications are processed within 1-2 business days.

Once your nonprofit discount is approved, configure Sonix for your organization's needs. Set up team members with appropriate permissions (view-only for board members, full editing for staff). Create folders to organize content by category (board meetings, training, interviews, etc.). If you transcribe in multiple languages, test translation features. For recurring meetings, connect Sonix to Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet for automated transcription. If you use specialized terminology (program names, technical jargon), create a custom dictionary to improve accuracy.

• Invite team members and set permissions
• Create organizational folders
• Connect to meeting platforms (Zoom, Teams, Meet)
• Build custom dictionary for specialized terms

Develop a consistent process for transcription in your nonprofit. For example: immediately after each board meeting, the board secretary uploads the recording to Sonix; once transcribed, they review and edit the transcript for accuracy, customize speaker names, and export a clean Word document for official minutes; the final transcript is stored in Sonix and shared with board members via view-only permission. For stakeholder interviews, grant writers can search transcripts for compelling quotes without re-listening to hours of recordings. Document your workflow in a simple guide so all staff understand the process.

Sonix achieves approximately 69.36% accuracy in real-world conditions with background noise, multiple speakers, and varied accents. Users report up to 95% accuracy with clear audio and non-native speakers. For optimal results, use quality microphones in quiet environments. You can edit transcripts directly in the browser, and Sonix's AI analysis tools help identify themes and key points even if every word isn't perfect.

Sonix offers up to 50% off for verified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The discount applies to account-level subscriptions and transcription volume, with savings based on your monthly transcription needs and number of users. To apply, create a free Sonix account (which includes 30 free transcription minutes), then email their enterprise team with a copy of your 501(c)(3) paperwork to receive a personalized quote.

Yes. Sonix includes automatic speaker diarization (speaker separation) that identifies different speakers and labels them in the transcript. You can customize speaker names after transcription. This is ideal for board meetings, focus groups, panel discussions, and donor interviews where multiple people speak. The browser-based editor makes it easy to search for specific speakers or topics across your meeting archive.

Yes. Sonix supports automated transcription in 40+ languages with translation capabilities across the same language range. This makes it ideal for nonprofits serving multilingual communities. You can transcribe content in Spanish, French, Mandarin, Arabic, and dozens of other languages, then translate transcripts to reach broader audiences. This is particularly valuable for immigrant-serving organizations, international development nonprofits, and community groups working with diverse populations.

Sonix offers stronger multilingual support (40+ languages vs Otter's focus on English), more flexible collaboration features with customizable permissions, and enterprise-grade security (SOC 2 Type 2 compliance). Otter.ai excels at live meeting transcription with deeper integration into Zoom, Teams, and Meet. Choose Sonix if you need to transcribe pre-recorded content in multiple languages, require team collaboration on transcripts, or need custom dictionaries for specialized terminology. Choose Otter.ai if you primarily transcribe live meetings in English and want seamless calendar integration.

Absolutely. Sonix helps create accessible content in multiple ways: automatic transcription generates text versions of audio/video for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences; translation into 40+ languages reaches multilingual communities; subtitle and caption generation adds text overlays to videos; searchable transcripts allow anyone to quickly find specific information without listening to entire recordings. These features ensure your board meetings, training materials, webinars, and advocacy videos are accessible to all stakeholders.

Yes. All new Sonix accounts receive 30 free transcription minutes with no credit card required. This gives nonprofits a chance to test the platform with real content before committing. After the trial, you can apply for the nonprofit discount (up to 50% off) by submitting your 501(c)(3) paperwork. The free trial is generous enough to transcribe 1-2 board meetings or several donor interviews, giving you a clear sense of how Sonix fits your needs.