Whisper API logo

Whisper API

Free

Whisper API is a Transcription API Powered By OpenAI Whisper model. Get 5 free transcriptions daily (no duration limits) with robust control over the model's parameters like size, temperature, beam size and more.

FreeFree tier
Inputs: audio, videoOutputs: text
Starting Price
$5/mo
Type
Open Source

About Whisper API

WhisperAPI is a transcription service that provides fast and accurate conversion of audio and video files to text, powered by OpenAI's Whisper model. It offers both a developer-focused API and a no-code dashboard, allowing users to transcribe files via direct upload or remote URLs. The platform supports files up to 10GB with no minute limits, and transcriptions can be exported in multiple formats including JSON, TEXT, VTT, DOCX, and PDF. Files are automatically deleted after 24 hours for privacy. The service is designed for a wide range of users, from developers needing fine-grained control over transcription parameters to non-technical users who prefer a simple drag-and-drop interface.

Key Features

Powered by OpenAI Whisper model with choice of model sizes (e.g., large-v2) for speed vs accuracy
Supports direct file uploads and remote URLs for transcription
Fine-tune model parameters including temperature, beam size, and language
Transcriptions available in multiple export formats: JSON, TEXT, VTT, DOCX, PDF
Handles files up to 10GB with no minute limits on transcription duration
Files auto-delete after 24 hours for privacy
No-code dashboard with drag-and-drop interface and real-time progress
API credits system for payment; appears to offer 5 free transcription credits to start

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Appears to offer a free tier with 5 transcription credits to start, no credit card required
  • Supports large file uploads up to 10GB with no minute limits
  • Provides both API and no-code dashboard for different user skill levels
  • Claims industry-leading accuracy (99.8%) across many languages (98+ languages supported)
  • Files auto-delete after 24 hours, enhancing privacy
Cons
  • Free tier is limited to 5 credits; ongoing usage requires purchasing credits (pricing details should be verified)
  • Transcription speed may vary based on model size and file size
  • Requires internet access for API calls and dashboard usage
  • Accuracy claims (99.8%) should be verified with real-world testing; performance may vary by audio quality and language

Best For

Transcribing video and audio content for media production and post-productionGenerating subtitles or captions for videos in multiple formats (e.g., SRT, VTT)Creating searchable text archives of meetings, lectures, or podcastsEnabling accessibility by providing text transcripts of audio contentIntegrating speech-to-text capabilities into applications via API

FAQ

What are API credits?
API credits are the payment system for transcriptions. Each transcription costs credits based on model size, speaker diarization features, and file size. Credits can be purchased and used as needed. The exact credit cost per transcription should be verified on the pricing page.
What does 'model size' mean?
Model size refers to the training data used by the transcription service. Larger models are trained on more data and generally provide higher accuracy, but may take slightly longer to process. Users can choose between different model sizes (e.g., large-v2) to balance speed and accuracy.
Is there a free trial?
Based on the website, the service appears to offer 5 free transcription credits to start, with no credit card required. Exact terms and any time limits on the free credits should be verified on the product's current pricing page.
What file formats are supported for export?
Transcriptions can be exported in JSON, TEXT, VTT, DOCX, and PDF formats. The API also supports output formats like SRT via parameters. Additional formats may be available; this should be checked in the documentation.
How long are files stored?
Files are automatically deleted after 24 hours for privacy. Users should download their transcriptions within that window.
Can I use the API with remote URLs?
Yes, the API supports both direct file uploads and remote URLs for transcription. This allows processing files hosted elsewhere without downloading them first.