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OpenAI Whisper API
NewVerified
Speech-to-text API supporting 99 languages with high accuracy.
Overview
OpenAI's speech recognition API converts audio to text across multilingual content. It handles various audio formats and is designed for developers building transcription, translation, and voice processing features. The model performs well on technical terminology and background noise, making it suitable for production applications.
Pros
- Supports 99 languages with consistent accuracy across them
- Handles background noise and technical terminology effectively
- Processes multiple audio formats including MP3, WAV, M4A
- Returns word-level timestamps for precise segment identification
- Can translate non-English audio directly to English text
✕ Cons
- No free tier available for production use
- API costs accumulate quickly with heavy transcription volume
- Limited customization for domain-specific vocabulary or terminology
Key Features
Multilingual speech recognition
Audio-to-text transcription
Speech translation to English
Timestamp and confidence scores
Multiple audio format support
Noise handling
Use Cases
Developers building transcription features for meetings and podcastsContent creators automating subtitle generation for videosCustomer service platforms transcribing support calls for analysisAccessibility applications converting audio content to text
Best For
Content Creators & PodcastersCustomer Support TeamsMarket ResearchersDevelopers & EngineersMedia & Broadcasting Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Whisper API cost?▾
Pricing is based on audio minutes processed, with rates significantly lower than most competing speech-to-text services. Costs scale with usage, making it affordable for both small projects and large-scale deployments.
How difficult is it to integrate Whisper API into my application?▾
Integration is straightforward with REST API endpoints and official SDKs for Python, Node.js, and other languages. Most developers can implement basic transcription in under an hour with minimal setup required.
What integrations and APIs does Whisper support?▾
Whisper API integrates with OpenAI's ecosystem and supports standard REST/HTTP requests. It works with any application or service that can make API calls, and can be embedded into chatbots, applications, and data pipelines via webhooks or direct calls.
What are the main limitations of Whisper API?▾
The API requires internet connectivity and audio files must be submitted to OpenAI's servers, which may raise data privacy concerns for sensitive content. Processing speed depends on audio length and API load, and speaker identification has limited accuracy with multiple overlapping speakers.
What is Whisper API best used for?▾
It excels at converting audio files and streams to text across 99+ languages with high accuracy, making it ideal for transcribing podcasts, interviews, meetings, customer support recordings, and multilingual content without building custom models.
Pricing Plans
Pay-as-you-goMost Popular
Custom
- $0.02 per minute of audio transcribed
- No minimum monthly commitment
- Access to latest Whisper model
- Suitable for variable or low-volume usage
Batch API
Custom
- $0.01 per minute of audio (50% discount)
- Asynchronous processing
- Lower latency requirements
- Ideal for high-volume transcription jobs
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