Whisper API vs AssemblyAI
A side-by-side look at scores, pricing and features — with RECATOOLS' ASEAN-aware verdict for each.
Whisper API
OpenAI's open speech-to-text model; the hosted API retires in 2027
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AssemblyAI
Speech-to-text, speech understanding and voice-agent APIs for develope...
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| RECATOOLS Score | 8.3 / 10 | 7.8 / 10 |
| Capability | ||
| Value for money | ||
| Ease of use | ||
| ASEAN readiness | ||
| API quality | ||
| Pricing | Freemium | Usage_based |
| Free tier | The open-source Whisper model is free to run yourself under the MIT licence; the hosted API is paid | Trial allowance, not a lasting plan: up to 185 hours of pre-recorded or 333 hours of streaming transcription, no card |
| Paid from | $0.006 a minute for the whisper-1 API (removal scheduled 26 Feb 2027) | $0.15/hour (Universal-2 pre-recorded or Universal-Streaming, pay as you go) |
| Has API | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free to use | ✓ | ✗ |
| Users | — | — |
| Founded | 2022 | 2017 |
| Maker | OpenAI | — |
| Verdict | The open-source Whisper model is still one of the most useful pieces of speech technology available: free, MIT-licensed, multilingual and runnable offline through projects such as whisper.cpp and faster-whisper. It does... |
AssemblyAI is one of the more complete speech APIs: accurate recorded and live transcription, a long list of per-hour add-ons, clear published prices from $0.15 an hour, good documentation and a free starting allowance t... |
| Full review → | Full review → |
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Comparisons cover up to 4 tools. Scores are RECATOOLS editorial assessments; verify current pricing on each vendor's site.