Format comparison

TXT vs DOCX: Plain Text or Editable Transcript?

TXT is plain and lightweight. DOCX adds structure and editing tools for collaborative work.

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Quick answer

TXT is plain and lightweight. DOCX adds structure and editing tools for collaborative work.

Choose

TXT

Best for

Fast copy/paste, indexing, and automation

Editing workflows that need styling or comments

View TXT guide
Choose

DOCX

Best for

Polishing transcripts, adding structure, and sharing edits

Ultra-lightweight workflows where formatting is irrelevant

View DOCX guide

Format snapshots

Quick definitions and best-use highlights for each format.

TXT.txt

Plain text

TXT is a plain text file that stores your transcript as simple lines. It keeps speaker labels and paragraph breaks but adds no styling or timecodes.

Best for: Quick copy/paste into notes, emails, or a CMS

View TXT guide
DOCX.docx

Word document

DOCX is Microsoft's Word document format. It keeps structure and basic formatting so you can edit, comment, and share transcripts.

Best for: Editing and polishing long transcripts

View DOCX guide

Key differences

  • TXT has no formatting; DOCX supports headings and styles
  • TXT is universal; DOCX is better for collaboration
  • DOCX can be converted to PDF for final sharing

Common pitfalls

  • TXT does not preserve headings or emphasis
  • DOCX may be heavier than needed for quick automation

When to choose each format

TXT

Best for

Fast copy/paste, indexing, and automation

Avoid when

Editing workflows that need styling or comments

DOCX

Best for

Polishing transcripts, adding structure, and sharing edits

Avoid when

Ultra-lightweight workflows where formatting is irrelevant

Example snippets

TXT example

Interviewer: What did you learn from the test? Designer: Users want fewer steps. Interviewer: Any surprises? Designer: The pricing page caused drop-off. Interviewer: Good to know. Designer: We'll update the flow.

DOCX excerpt

User Research Interview Interviewer: What did you learn from the test? Designer: Users want fewer steps. Interviewer: Any surprises? Designer: The pricing page caused drop-off.

FAQ

Quick answers for the most common format-decision questions.

Should I export a transcript as TXT or DOCX?

Choose TXT for clean copy/paste, search, CRM notes, and automation. Choose DOCX when you need formatting, comments, edits, or review.

Is TXT better for analysis workflows?

Yes. TXT is lightweight and easy to import into search, coding, LLM, CRM, and automation workflows.

Can DOCX be converted to TXT?

Yes. You can copy text out of a DOCX file or export it as plain text, but formatting and comments will be removed.

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Upload audio or video, transcribe, and download in TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, or VTT.

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Free Plan

$0

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  • 3 transcriptions per day
  • Max 35 minutes per file
  • Max 50 MB per file
  • First transcript summary included
  • Export to TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT
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Pro Plan

$9.99

per month - or $5.99/mo billed annually (save 40%)

  • Unlimited transcriptions
  • Parallel transcription jobs
  • Max 10 hours per file
  • Max 3 GB per file
  • Higher-quality speaker labels
  • Transcript summaries
  • Priority support

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