WhatsApp launches free feature that is paid on Telegram

WhatsApp has announced a new feature for transcribing voice messages in Russian, according to the developers' blog.

The transcription of voice messages will be free and performed directly on the user’s device, meaning the list of supported languages may vary between Android and iOS. However, both English and Russian will be available on both platforms.

By default, the new feature is turned off. To enable it, users need to go to "Settings" → "Chats" → "Voice Message Transcription" and download the language pack for the desired language.

To use the transcription feature, press and hold the voice message and select the "Transcribe" option from the dropdown menu. The feature will be available for all users at no cost in the coming weeks.

In contrast, Telegram offers a similar feature only to Premium subscribers, with plans starting at 299 rubles. In WhatsApp, voice message transcription will work for free for everyone, similar to other messengers like VK.