Softwr

Machine Learning · head to head

MATLAB vs Rev

MATLAB logo

MATLAB

Machine Learning

Programming and numeric computing platform

From
$940/year
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Rev logo

Rev

AI

Human and AI transcription, captions and subtitles priced per minute

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Rev has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: MATLAB a standard individual licence is $940 a year, and it is annual rather than perpetual; Rev human transcription at 1.99 US dollars a minute means roughly 120 dollars an hour of audio, so a long-form interview series costs more in transcription than most teams assume before they run the arithmetic.
  • They diverge on capability: MATLAB covers Matrix computations, Rev covers Human transcription.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MATLAB and Rev actually diverge.

Attributes where MATLAB and Rev differ
AttributeMATLABRev
Starting price$940/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer minute for human work, per seat per month for AI
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsLinux, Mac, WindowsWeb, iOS, Android, API
CategoryMachine LearningAI
Founded1984Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in MATLAB

  • Matrix computations
  • Data visualization
  • Machine learning
  • Deep learning
  • Signal processing
  • Simulink
  • Python
  • C/C++

Only in Rev

  • Human transcription
  • AI transcription
  • Captions and subtitles
  • Legal transcripts
  • File analysis
  • Clio integration
  • Rev API
  • Speaker identification

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

MATLAB

  • Numerical computing and analysisnot Rev
  • Algorithm developmentnot Rev
  • Academic research and teachingnot Rev

Rev

  • A law firm that needs a deposition transcript in a court-acceptable page format with a fixed turnaround and a published per-page price it can bill to a matter.not MATLAB
  • A documentary or podcast producer costing a project in advance, because human transcription at a published per-minute rate makes the transcription line item a known number.not MATLAB
  • A broadcaster needing compliant human captions rather than machine captions, where accuracy is a regulatory requirement and not a convenience.not MATLAB
  • A team with high AI volume and occasional high-stakes files, using the subscription for the bulk and paying the discounted human rate only where accuracy matters.not MATLAB

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

MATLAB

  • A standard individual licence is $940 a year, and it is annual rather than perpetual
  • Add on toolboxes are bought separately through the web store rather than being included
  • No price is displayed for the academic, student, home or startup licences, each of which requires a quote
  • Eligibility rather than price separates most tiers, so a commercial user has one option

Rev

  • Human transcription at 1.99 US dollars a minute means roughly 120 dollars an hour of audio, so a long-form interview series costs more in transcription than most teams assume before they run the arithmetic.
  • AI minutes are allocated per seat per month and do not roll over, so bursty workloads, which is how most media production actually behaves, waste allowance in quiet months and run out in busy ones.
  • The product direction has moved towards legal and investigative use, so a newsroom or media buyer is choosing a tool whose roadmap priority sits elsewhere.
  • Foreign-language subtitles are priced from 6.49 to 15.99 US dollars per minute, an order of magnitude above transcription, which makes multi-language localisation of any volume of video expensive enough to change the plan.
  • Human turnaround is stated in hours rather than guaranteed contractually on the published plans, so a hard broadcast or filing deadline needs an agreement beyond the standard terms.

Pricing, plan by plan

MATLAB

$940/year
  • Individual Standard$940/year
    • MATLAB
    • Simulink
    • Online Training Suite
  • Startups$null/year
    • MATLAB
    • Simulink
    • 90+ add-on products
  • Academic$null/year
    • MATLAB
    • Simulink
  • Student$null/year
    • MATLAB

Rev

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 45 AI transcription and caption minutes per month
    • Up to 5 files analysed
    • No human transcription included
  • Essentials$25.49/month
    • 5,000 AI minutes per seat per month
    • Up to 3 seats
    • 10 per cent discount on human transcription, captions and subtitles
  • Pro$47.99/month
    • 10,000 AI minutes per seat per month
    • Up to 5 seats
    • 15 per cent discount on human work
  • Unlimited$undefined/month
    • Unlimited AI minutes
    • Up to 500 files analysed at once
    • Dedicated account specialist

Which should you pick?

Choose MATLAB if

  • You need matrix computations.
  • You work on Linux, Mac, Windows.
  • You also want data visualization.
MATLAB review

Choose Rev if

  • You need human transcription.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
  • You also want ai transcription.
Rev review

Questions people ask

Is MATLAB or Rev better?
Neither clearly leads. MATLAB starts at $940/year and Rev at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MATLAB or Rev?
Rev has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $940/year for MATLAB and Free for Rev.
Does MATLAB or Rev run on more platforms?
MATLAB runs on Linux, Mac, Windows. Rev runs on Web, iOS, Android, API.
Can I use Rev for free?
Yes. Rev has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MATLAB starts at $940/year.
What is MATLAB best used for?
MATLAB is most often used for numerical computing and analysis, algorithm development, academic research and teaching. Of those, numerical computing and analysis and algorithm development are not what Rev is typically brought in for.
What can MATLAB do that Rev cannot?
MATLAB covers Matrix computations, Data visualization, Machine learning, Deep learning. Rev covers Human transcription, AI transcription, Captions and subtitles, Legal transcripts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MATLAB: What is the cost of an individual MATLAB license?

USD 940 per year for Standard individual license, which includes MATLAB, Simulink, Online Training Suite, and add-on products. All licenses include MathWorks Software Maintenance Service.

Source
Rev: How much is human transcription?

1.99 US dollars per minute with a stated accuracy target above 99 per cent, typically returned within 12 hours. Subscribers get 10 to 15 per cent off.

MATLAB: Are pricing quotes available online for academic and startup licenses?

No, online pricing is not available for Academic, Student, Startup, or Home license types. Downloadable price lists are available only for Standard and Academic individual licenses. Contact sales for other tiers.

Source
Rev: Is there a free tier?

Yes, 45 AI minutes per month and up to 5 files analysed, with no human transcription included.

MATLAB: Can I switch between license terms (annual vs perpetual)?

Both Standard and Home licenses offer annual and perpetual licensing options. Academic licenses also offer both terms. Startup licenses are available on annual basis only.

Source
Rev: Do unused AI minutes roll over?

No. The allowance is per seat per month and resets, which penalises irregular workloads.

Rev: Can it do subtitles in other languages?

Yes, across seventeen languages, priced from 6.49 to 15.99 US dollars per minute, considerably more than transcription.

Rev: Is Rev still a good choice for newsrooms?

It works, but the subscription tiers are now positioned around legal and investigative workflows, so a newsroom should compare it against a tool built specifically for journalism.

Share

Related pages

More on MATLAB

More on Rev

Keep looking

Other head to heads