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Reviews onG2Capterra
8 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Biggest pro

Deep NLE integration exports directly into professional editing timelines

Biggest con

Accuracy depends on audio quality and speaker accents

TL;DR - Simon Says

  • AI transcription and subtitling platform with direct NLE integration for video professionals
  • Pay-as-you-go at $0.25/min or subscription plans from $15/mo with included hours
  • Best for post-production teams needing frame-accurate transcripts in Premiere Pro, FCPX, or Resolve
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams
3.0/5 across review platforms

What is Simon Says?

Editorial review
Simon Says AI is a transcription, translation, and subtitling platform built for video professionals. It converts audio and video into accurate transcripts across 100 languages using advanced speech recognition, then lets editors refine results in a visual subtitle editor synced to timecode. Direct integrations with Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Avid export transcripts as markers, captions, or assembled timelines. With pricing starting at $0.25/minute and both cloud and air-gapped on-premises options, Simon Says serves production houses, broadcasters, and content creators who need frame-accurate transcription.

Available on: macOS, Windows, iOS, Web

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Deep NLE integration exports directly into professional editing timelines
  • Frame-accurate timecode sync, not just approximate timestamps
  • Custom dictionaries improve accuracy for technical and brand terminology
  • On-premises option serves classified and air-gapped environments
  • Pay-as-you-go option means no commitment for occasional use
  • Assembly mode enables transcript-driven video editing workflows

Cons

  • Accuracy depends on audio quality and speaker accents
  • Pay-as-you-go rate of $15/hour is expensive for high-volume use
  • On-premises enhanced plan requires custom pricing negotiation
  • No real-time transcription, files must be uploaded and processed
  • Smaller brand recognition than Descript or Rev in the creator market

Ratings Across the Web

3(8 reviews)

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Preview

Key Features

AI transcription in 100+ languages from audio and videoVisual subtitle editor with adjustable timing and formattingSpeaker identification and separationFrame-accurate timecode sync (drop and non-drop)Custom dictionaries for specialized terminologyDirect export to Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and AvidAssembly mode for transcript-based video editingBurn-in subtitles and timecode directly onto videoTranslation across 100+ language pairsAir-gapped on-premises deployment option for secure environments

Pricing

Freemium

Simon Says offers a generous free tier with optional paid upgrades for advanced features.

View pricing

Reviews

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3.0/5

Across 8 verified user reviews on Capterra, G2

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Simon Says FAQ

How does Simon Says integrate with video editing software?

Simon Says offers direct integrations with professional editing platforms like Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Avid. It can export transcripts as markers, captions, or even assembled timelines directly into these NLEs, ensuring frame-accurate timecode synchronization.

What kind of user benefits most from Simon Says?

Simon Says is designed for video professionals, including production houses, broadcasters, and content creators. Its features cater to those who require accurate transcription, translation, and subtitling for audio and video content, especially when precise timecode sync is critical.

How is Simon Says priced?

Simon Says is available on a free tier, with paid plans offering more usage and features. It includes a pay-as-you-go option for occasional use, and custom pricing is available for its on-premises enhanced plan.

Can Simon Says improve transcription accuracy for specialized terminology?

Yes, Simon Says allows users to create custom dictionaries. This feature helps improve the accuracy of transcripts by recognizing technical terms and brand-specific vocabulary, which is crucial for specialized content.

What are the main limitations of using Simon Says for transcription?

Simon Says' accuracy can be affected by the quality of the audio and speaker accents. Additionally, it does not offer real-time transcription, as files must be uploaded and processed, and its pay-as-you-go rate can be expensive for high-volume transcription needs.

How does Simon Says compare to Descript for video professionals?

Simon Says provides deep NLE integration, exporting directly into professional editing timelines with frame-accurate timecode sync, which is a key differentiator. While Descript is popular in the creator market, Simon Says focuses on the specific needs of video professionals requiring precise post-production workflows.

Which teams would find the on-premises option useful?

Teams working in classified or air-gapped environments would find the on-premises option useful. This deployment ensures data remains within their secure infrastructure, meeting strict security and compliance requirements.