Rev is a real speech-to-text company, founded in 2010, that hires freelancers to transcribe, caption and translate. Its freelancer page says you apply, pass a skills assessment, submit a sample and get paid weekly through PayPal for approved work. The catches are a waitlist, per-minute rates that vary by role, no promised amount of work and press reports about low pay in 2019.
Rev turns up in almost every list of transcription jobs, and then in a search for whether it really pays. It's a fair thing to check, because the answer isn't a simple yes or no. I've read Rev's freelancer page and the reporting on its pay disputes, so here's what the company says, what it asks of you and where the frustration comes from.
What Rev is and who it hires
According to Wikipedia, Rev was founded in 2010 and is a speech-to-text company offering closed captioning, subtitles and transcription services. Customers send audio or video, and Rev's freelancers do part of the work. That's the business: you're one of the people behind the transcripts that customers receive.
How the Rev application process works
Rev's freelancer page lays it out clearly. You choose a role, complete the application form, take a skills assessment and submit a short sample. The roles on the page include transcriptionist, captioner and subtitle translator, and the sample has to meet Rev's quality standards.
- Choose the role you want to apply for.
- Fill in the application form.
- Take the skills assessment.
- Submit your sample transcription, caption or translation.
- Wait for an email with a decision.
Rev also says it currently has a waitlist due to high application volume, that you can still apply, and that submitting multiple applications won't speed up the process. So don't expect to start the same week, and don't send the same form five times.
What the work involves
The page describes the job as listening to audio or video and typing what's said, labelling speakers and following formatting guidelines. Captioners also sync captions to the video. Rev says you set your own hours and choose projects, with no minimum commitment. That flexibility suits a side income, but it also means nobody promises you a certain amount of work.
If you're weighing this up against other typing jobs, my guide to what audio to text transcription work involves explains the day-to-day, and my article on using LinkedIn to find legitimate transcription jobs covers the red flags to look for.
How Rev rates and payments work
Rev's page lists pay of 0.40 to 1.10 US dollars per audio or video minute for transcriptionists, and 0.54 to 1.10 for captioners. It says earnings vary by role, project complexity and minutes completed. Note that the rate is per minute of audio, not per hour of your time, so a tricky recording with noisy audio takes you longer for the same rate.
On timing, Rev says freelancers are paid weekly via PayPal for all approved work. The page doesn't state a minimum payout, so I won't invent one. I also saw other Rev pages quote a different low end for transcription, so treat the numbers as a guide and read the current page when you apply.
Contractor status and tax
Freelancers work as contractors. A search summary of Rev's Services Agreement says Rev withholds nothing from contractor pay and that the contractor handles federal, state and local tax obligations. That's normal for freelance work, but it means you need to put money aside and keep records. I'm not giving tax advice, so check with an accountant or your tax office for your own situation.
What the press has said about Rev
The company has had rough coverage. According to Wikipedia's list of coverage, in 2019 The Verge reported that Rev transcribers complained about low pay and disturbing recordings, and Gizmodo reported that Rev's CEO said the company got a few things wrong. I couldn't read the original articles in full, so I'm only passing on those headline-level points.
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The reason I mention it isn't to put you off. It's to show you the two issues freelancers raised: rates that can change, and the chance of difficult audio. Both are worth thinking about before you rely on the work for regular income.
The honest catch with Rev
- There's a waitlist, so the start date isn't in your hands.
- Pay is per audio minute, so slow typing or messy audio lowers your effective rate.
- Work depends on what's available, and Rev doesn't promise a minimum.
- You handle your own tax as a contractor.
- Rates are set by Rev and can differ between roles.
Spotting fake Rev job offers
Because the name is well known, scammers imitate it. Rev's page describes an application form, a skills assessment and a sample. If someone messages you offering a job without those steps, asks you to buy equipment, or asks for your bank login, it's not following the process on Rev's own page. Go to the official site yourself.
Rev at a glance
| What I checked | What Rev's own freelancer page says |
|---|---|
| Application | Form, skills assessment and a sample |
| Roles | Transcriptionist, captioner, subtitle translator |
| Transcriptionist rate | 0.40 to 1.10 US dollars per audio or video minute |
| Captioner rate | 0.54 to 1.10 US dollars per audio or video minute |
| Payment | Weekly via PayPal for approved work |
| Hours | You set your own, no minimum commitment |
| Waitlist | Yes, applications still open |
So, is Rev legit?
Yes. It's a real company that pays freelancers for approved work, on the schedule its own page describes. Whether it's worth your time depends on your speed, your patience for tricky audio and how much you need the income to be predictable. If you want to compare it with other options, see other work from home jobs that pay.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rev legit?
Yes. Rev is a real speech-to-text company, founded in 2010, and its freelancer page describes an application, a skills assessment, a sample and weekly payment via PayPal for approved work.
How does Rev pay freelancers?
Rev says freelancers are paid weekly via PayPal for all approved work. Its page lists per-minute rates by role, for example 0.40 to 1.10 US dollars per audio or video minute for transcriptionists.
How do you get hired by Rev?
You choose a role, complete the application form, take a skills assessment and submit a sample. Rev says there's currently a waitlist and that multiple applications won't speed things up.
Are Rev freelancers employees?
Rev's Services Agreement, as summarised in a search result, says Rev withholds nothing and the contractor handles tax obligations. Check the current agreement and speak to an accountant.
Is there a minimum payout on Rev?
Rev's freelancer page doesn't state one, so check the current terms when you apply.
