Is CastingWords (The Workshop) legit?

Here are the facts for United States. We don’t give a verdict — you decide.

Checked 24 Sep 2026 · every fact has a source below

Transcription

Not clear

Pay, in your moneyPay not listed

Official: transcription pays 'anywhere between 8.5 cents and a bit over one dollar per audio minute'. Pay is bonus-based on grade: grade 5 = base, 6 = 1.5x, 7 = 2x, 8 = 2.5x, 9 = 3x. Work graded 0-4 is rejected and unpaid. CastingWords (The Workshop) doesn’t state a rate we can turn into your money.

FeeNoneOfficial: 'No fees - we pay you, you don't pay us.' CastingWords pays the PayPal fees.No one should ask you to pay to work.

Entry testNoOfficial: 18+. Must live in a supported US state. Some workers are directed to a short transcription test and others are not ('Maybe'). A W-9 is required for US persons, and some states require an EIN.

Payouts that work in United States

PayPal

HoursNot stated

Risks people report

Closed to non-US applicants (US-only new registrations).

workshop.castingwords.com · Jan 2025

Sources: Frequently Asked Questions - Workshop (updated January 2025) (official page, checked 24 Sep 2026); The Workshop - Freelance Transcription, Editing and QC jobs (official page, checked 24 Sep 2026)