Whisper vs AssemblyAI
Whisper is free and private but you run it. AssemblyAI is an API that adds speaker labels, topics and summaries on top of transcription.
Whisper
Free
Pick Whisper if…
Cost or privacy rules out sending audio to a third party.
AssemblyAI
Free plan
Pick AssemblyAI if…
You want speaker separation and structure without building it.
Side by side
| Whisper | AssemblyAI | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Category | Audio & Voice | Audio & Voice |
| Best known for | OpenAI's open-source speech recognition, strong across accents. | Speech-to-text API with diarisation, topics and summarisation. |
| Tags | transcription, open-source, speech-to-text | transcription, api, diarisation |
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Comparisons are editorial and can't be bought. Pricing models change — check both vendors before deciding. Some links earn a commission; see the disclosure.