OpenAI Whisper is the open-source transcription standard — 99 languages, robust to accents and noise, free to run locally. The foundation model that powers most transcription tools.
How Whisper (OpenAI) compares with its closest alternatives
4 of the 5 closest alternatives have a free plan, as Whisper (OpenAI) does. Only AccurateScribe.ai – Meeting Transcription Software lists a starting price, $9.99 a month. 3 of the 5 offer an API, as Whisper (OpenAI) does. Whisper (OpenAI) offers a desktop app. Of the alternatives, 1 offers a desktop app. Whisper (OpenAI) was founded in 2022; the alternatives were founded between 2006 and 2022, 3 of them earlier. Whisper (OpenAI) is based in San Francisco, United States; 2 of the 3 alternatives with a known headquarters are in the United States too, and the others in the United Kingdom.
Market position · Voice
How Whisper (OpenAI) compares in Voice
Whisper (OpenAI) has moderate opportunity and sits in the middle third of 306 live Voice tools on FalcoScan. Across Voice, the average opportunity score is 66.1 and the average saturation score 41.2. FalcoScan rates Whisper (OpenAI)'s own market position as contested. 92 of the 306 operating Voice tools have hot momentum, and FalcoScan has recorded 11 shutdowns in the category.
Whisper (OpenAI) compared with its closest alternatives
Product
Opportunity
Saturation
Pricing
Pricing from
Free plan
API
Platforms
Momentum
Whisper (OpenAI)Founded 2022 · San Francisco, United States
Moderate
Contested
Free
—
Yes
Yes
API, Desktop
Stable
SpeechmaticsFounded 2006 · Cambridge, United Kingdom
Moderate
Contested
Paid
—
No
Yes
Web, API
Rising
AssemblyAIFounded 2017 · San Francisco, United States
Yes. FalcoScan lists Whisper (OpenAI) as free to use.
What are the best alternatives to Whisper (OpenAI)?
The closest alternatives to Whisper (OpenAI) that are still running, matched on the AI capabilities, uses and audience they share, are Speechmatics, AssemblyAI, Whisper Large V3, Descript Transcribe Pro, and AccurateScribe.ai – Meeting Transcription Software.
Is Whisper (OpenAI) still running?
Yes. As of 2 November 2026, FalcoScan lists Whisper (OpenAI) as operating at openai.com.
Where is Whisper (OpenAI) based?
Whisper (OpenAI) is headquartered in San Francisco, United States.
Does Whisper (OpenAI) have an API?
Yes. Whisper (OpenAI) offers an API.
Who is Whisper (OpenAI) for?
Whisper (OpenAI) is built for developers, researchers, and builders.
How do I sign in to Whisper (OpenAI)?
Sign in on Whisper (OpenAI)'s own website, openai.com. FalcoScan reviews Whisper (OpenAI) but does not run its accounts, so logins, passwords and billing are handled by Whisper (OpenAI) directly.