Rev.com Summary

What is Rev.com and How Does It Work?

Rev.com is a company that offers transcription services. Let's say that someone has a podcast or someone recorded an audio of a meeting, and they want it to be transcribed. Instead of listening to the recorded audio and typing the words on their own, they can hire someone else via Rev.com to transcribe the words for them.

Transcription is its primary service, but the company also offers captioning and translation services. Some of its services include English subtitling, foreign language subtitling, certified translation, and business translation.

But what if you're a stay-at-home mom who wants to make some extra money or you're a retiree who wants some additional cash to pay the phone bill? What's in it for you?

The good news is you can earn additional cash with Rev.com. It offers regular office-based work in its Austin and San Francisco offices, but it also offers freelancers the opportunity to earn some money as transcribers, captioners, and translators.

Because you are an independent contractor, Rev.com allows you to work from home wherever you are in the world. The schedule is also flexible, so you can work for as little as an hour each day or you can take the whole 8-hour shift (if work is available, that is).

So, what does each job entail?

Let's say you want to work as a transcriptionist. All you have to do is listen to the audio or video, type everything accurately, and make sure that each speaker is labeled correctly.

What about captioners?

Captioners are required to watch a video assigned to them. They then need to type what is being said accurately, as well as convey sounds such as music, laughter, sighing, gasping, and more. Captioners need to make sure that the audio they have typed is in sync with the video.

According to Rev.com, there are hundreds of projects available for transcriptionists, captioners, and subtitle translators on their website.

Rev.com's headquarters is located in San Francisco, California, and has another office in Austin, Texas.

What is Rev.com's Compensation Plan?

Rev.com's range of pay for transcriptionists is set between $0.24 and $0.90 for each audio or video minute. According to the information on its website, the average monthly earning is $245. Some of their best transcriptionists can earn up to $1,495 per month.

Captioners, on the other hand, can expect to receive anywhere between $045 and $0.75 per audio or video minute that they have types. The average earnings per month are set at $240, but top performers in the past have earned as much as $1,570 per month.

Payment is sent through PayPal every week.

Who Created Rev.com?

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Rev.com was founded in August, 2010 by Dan Kokotov, David Abrameto, Jason Chicola, Josh Breinlinger, Mark Chen, and Paul Huck.

How Much Does It Cost?

Because this is an employment opportunity, joining Rev.com is 100% free. But keep in mind that there are certain requirements that you need to fulfill before Rev.com accepts you as a freelance transcriptionist or captioner.

Prospective transcriptionists and captioners must have strong English language skills for them to be considered. You must also own a desktop or a laptop, as well as have a strong and reliable internet connection so you can do your job.

Rev.com doesn't require transcriptionists and captioners to have prior experience or any other qualifications to be accepted. There is also no age requirement. As long as you have good hearing and strong English language skills, then you're good to go.

What Past and Present Freelancers Are Saying About Rev.Com

So, what is it like to work for Rev.com as a transcriptionist or captioner? Let's take a look at what its current and past freelancers are saying.

In general, clients love Rev.com. It has, however, received mixed reviews from freelance transcriptionists and captioners in its employ. Flexibility is Rev.com's strongest suit. A large number of freelancers like that they can work from home and whenever they want.

The flexibility is especially helpful for people who need to stay-at-home to take care of their kids or their parents, people who have a disability, and even those who live abroad. You can be sitting in your home in Maine or Mumbai, and you can earn some extra cash during your spare time. Plus, you can work as much or as little as you want. You can take a vacation for two full weeks, and when you come back, there is still a job waiting for you.

According to several satisfied independent contractors, they love the job because they have learned a lot from listening to the audio files. Some transcriptionists also say that they find the work very easy, and love that there are always audio files waiting to be transcribed.

The format for transcription and captioning is easy, and anyone with half a brain can easily handle the software provided by Rev.com. Many freelancers like that Rev.com can be easily reached in case they have questions about the job. There is also a forum where freelancers can ask questions to the members of the community.

But working for Rev.com is not as rosy as it seems.

According to other freelancers, one of the chief complaints they have as a Rev.com transcriptionist or captioner is the pay. The payment you're going to receive is so ridiculously low that many are wondering if it's worth it. A lot of the people claim that they only received below $10 for several hours of work.

Many allege that the grading system is inconsistent, and the work itself is time-consuming. There are also instances during the day when all audio files have been taken, and there's nothing left for you to do except wait.

What I Like About Rev.com

Flexibility and better work-life balance

For many people, a regular 9-to-5 job in an office somewhere is not ideal or is simply out of the question. Some are stay-at-home moms who need to take care of their kids or adult children who need to take care of an elderly parent. Others are older retirees or people with disabilities.

Some are full-time or part-time students and employees who just want to earn a little cash on the side to pay for books or a new set of clothes.

The good news is work-from-home jobs like the ones offered by Rev.com offers the flexibility and work-life balance these people need. They can earn money while the stay-at-home mom's baby naps or during their free time in the afternoon or after dinner. Full-time students and employees can also work as freelance transcriptionists and captioners when they get home from school or work.

You can work anywhere in the world

One great thing about Rev.com is as long as your English language skills are superb, you have a laptop or a desktop computer, and you have an internet connection, you can apply as a freelance transcriptionist or captioner. You can be in Bangalore or Perth or Sao Paulo or Cleveland and you can still transcribe audio files. You can be backpacking in Europe or in Japan, and still earn a little cash so you purchase a croissant or a bowl of ramen while waiting for your next flight or train.

Convenient weekly payment

Rev.com pays out its contractors every week. That set up is fantastic especially for students and full-time workers who desperately need the extra cash. Plus, it's via PayPal, so it's accessible for many people even in countries in Asia, South America, and even Eastern Europe.

What I Don't Like About Rev.com

Sometimes the quality of the audio files is so poor

Some clients don't care or are unaware that the audio files they have submitted sound like someone is speaking through a haunted megaphone in the middle of a tornado. Some of the audio is of poor quality, while others are entirely unintelligible and garbled.

Many transcriptionists sometimes spend several minutes trying to figure out what was being said until they are finally forced to give up. Since you're paid by the job and not by the hour, the time you spend figuring out what was being said is considered lost and you will not get paid. You're better off working at Wendy's or McDonald's at this point.

The application process is not easy

Let's take the captioner application process as an example. First, you need to pass a grammar test. Let's say that you're an English major, so it's easy-peasy for you.

But there are other sets of tests that you need to pass before you can be considered by Rev.com. You need to pass the style guide, dash editor, and captioning sample tests. Keep in mind that these tests could sometimes take up your whole. In my opinion, the tests are so long and unreasonably rigorous for a job that pays peanuts.

The ridiculously low pay

The absurdly low pay is the number one complaint being raised by freelancers. Some freelancers have earned as little as $5 to $6 for several hours of work. Some can't get clear past $30 to $50 even though they have worked their asses off each month.

Maybe this range of pay is fine for a freelancer who is living in India or Nigeria where you can buy a decent meal for two at a casual dining restaurant for less than $10. But if you're living in the States or any country with a higher standard of living and you're expecting to earn more, then I'm afraid that this is not the right opportunity for you.

Plus, Rev.com recently lowered its rate for freelancers (if the previous range of pay wasn't laughably low enough already), so you might want to consider that before joining.

Some freelancers allege that the grading system is unfair and unreasonable

This is one of the main gripes freelancers have with Rev.com. Working as a transcriptionist or captioner seems so easy, but it isn't. Your auditory acuity should be superb, and you have to be knowledgeable enough to know even the most obscure scientific or business terms. Plus, your grammar and punctuation should be impeccable.

There are instances when you hear one word, but the quality analyst hears another. There are terms and rules that transcriptionists and quality analysts can often disagree on. That's why some transcriptionists and captioners often complain that the grading system is unfair and the QAs are unreasonable.

Is Rev.com a Scam?

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Just because many people have complaints against Rev.com does automatically mean that it is a scam. Let me make it clear, it's not a scam. It's a legit company with a legit money-making opportunity for freelancers all over the world.

But with the long hours you need to spend working on a single audio file only to be paid a few measly dollars, I'm afraid Rev.com is not worth your time.

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