Check your first need before choosing Kapwing or Potok: Kapwing lists 155 language variants, translation in 100+ languages, and 6 GB uploads on eligible paid plans, while Potok covers about 30 languages, no translation, and files up to 2 GB through a Telegram bot.
Get the text of your recording
Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram, attach the recording and wait: the transcript arrives as a message in the same chat.
Write to @potok_now_bot in Telegram
Up to 2 GB per file · speaker labels and timestamps · six export formats · about 30 languages
Facts that matter here
- Kapwing translates transcripts into 100+ languages, and Potok offers no text translation.
- Kapwing separates speakers automatically into subtitle sections, while Potok labels Speaker 1 and Speaker 2.
- Kapwing exports SRT, VTT and TXT; Potok exports TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT.
- Telegram bot: Kapwing lists Not stated on its public pages, and Potok lists Yes, @potok_now_bot.
Key differences
| Kapwing | Potok | |
|---|---|---|
| Recognition languages | 155 language variants | About 30 |
| Translation of transcripts | 100+ languages | Not available |
| Speaker labels | Automatic speaker separation into subtitle sections | Yes, can be switched on |
| Export formats | SRT, VTT, TXT | TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT |
| Telegram bot | Not stated on its public pages | Yes, @potok_now_bot |
| Largest file | 6 GB on eligible paid plans | Up to 2 GB |
Facts about Kapwing come from its public pages and from third-party reviews. They can change; check the vendor's site before you decide.
| Option | What it means |
|---|---|
| Translating | No translation: the text stays in the language of the recording |
| Typing by voice | A separate Potok desktop app lets you dictate text into any program; it recognises Russian speech |
| Recognition | Around 30 languages have good published results; a few more come with warnings |
| Where to use it | Telegram bot @potok_now_bot; large files go through the bot's mini app |
| Output formats | TXT, MD, DOCX and PDF for text; SRT and VTT for subtitles |
Where choices go wrong
| Slip | Result | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Comparing 155 language variants with 30 languages as equal units | Variants of one language inflate the count | Compare distinct languages that you actually need |
| Needing a 6 GB upload but choosing Potok | The file exceeds the 2 GB limit | Choose Kapwing on an eligible paid plan |
| Expecting document formats like DOCX from Kapwing | Only SRT, VTT and TXT are listed | Use Potok for DOCX and PDF |
| Expecting translated text from Potok as well | The transcript remains in the spoken language | Use Kapwing for 100+ translation languages |
| Deciding from one line of the table alone | A strong line can hide a weak one that matters for your recording | Go through every row and mark the ones that are deal breakers for you |
Next steps
Check your language on the languages page, try a converter from tools or look a term up in the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
How many languages does Kapwing support?
Kapwing lists 155 language variants, which is far more than the about 30 languages of Potok.
How does Kapwing handle speakers?
It separates speakers automatically into subtitle sections, while Potok shows Speaker 1 and Speaker 2 labels.
Is there a Telegram bot for transcription?
Yes, you can send audio to @potok_now_bot in Telegram and receive the transcript back in the same chat.
What is the largest file Potok accepts?
One file can be up to 2 GB, and anything larger goes through the Upload button in the bot mini-app.
Which export formats does Potok offer?
Potok exports transcripts to TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT, which covers documents and subtitles alike.
What does the table say about speaker labels?
For Kapwing it lists Automatic speaker separation into subtitle sections, and for Potok it lists Yes, can be switched on. Both entries come from public pages, so check the vendor page before you decide.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Kapwing, official website, Kapwing · checked
- Whisper speech recognition system (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
Run your own recording through it
In Telegram, write to @potok_now_bot and add your file. The finished text appears in the conversation when recognition ends.
Write to @potok_now_bot in Telegram