Whisper Pricing 2026
Plans, hidden costs, and alternatives compared
Cite this data: Toolradar, Whisper pricing verified Sep 2026, toolradar.com/tools/openai-whisper/pricing
Whisper starts at $0.01/month on the API plan.
Verified Sep 2026 from the official pricing page.
Is Whisper worth the price?
Whisper's pricing is incredibly generous, especially with its robust open-source option.
The API at $0.006/minute is competitive, offering a cost-effective solution for those needing hosted processing. This structure is best for a wide range of users, from developers to enterprises, seeking flexible and affordable speech-to-text.
Pricing Plans
Open Source (Self-Hosted)
Free
- MIT licensed
- 99 languages
- Local processing
- Unlimited transcription
- No API costs
API
$0.006/minute
- $0.006/min ($0.36/hour)
- Fast processing
- No GPU needed
- OpenAI hosted
How Whisper compares
4 of 6 direct competitors offer a free plan.
| Tool | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|---|---|
| Whisper | $0.01/month, billing unit not specified | Yes |
| AssemblyAI | $0.15/month, billing unit not specified | No |
| Deepgram | $333.33/month, billing unit not specified | Yes |
| Rev AI | $0/month, billing unit not specified | Yes |
| ChatGPT | $8/month, billing unit not specified | Yes |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | $6/user/month | Yes |
| Microsoft Teams Phone | No public price | No |
Whisper Pricing FAQ
How much does Whisper cost?
Whisper starts at $0.01/month on the API plan. A free plan is also available.
Does Whisper have a free plan?
Yes. Whisper offers a free plan called "Open Source (Self-Hosted)". It includes: MIT licensed, 99 languages, Local processing.
What are alternatives to Whisper?
Alternatives to Whisper include AssemblyAI, Deepgram, Rev AI, ChatGPT. AssemblyAI starts at $0.15/month, billing unit not specified; Deepgram starts at $333.33/month, billing unit not specified; Rev AI starts at $0/month, billing unit not specified.
Whisper alternatives
Direct competitors. Starting prices match the table above.
Sources
- Official Whisper pricing: openai.com/research/whisper (verified Sep 2026)
- Cite this data: Toolradar, Whisper pricing verified Sep 2026, toolradar.com/tools/openai-whisper/pricing
Review Whisper, get a free AI guide
Share your experience and we will send you Improve Your Thinking Patterns Using ChatGPT, free.