Whisper API(OpenAI) pricing and free tier

Whisper API(OpenAI) pricing, checked against the vendor's pricing page.

Prices are from each vendor's official pricing page, checked on . This page has no affiliate links.

Data updated Prices checked by handSource: each vendor's official pricing page

Pricing page (source)

Key facts

API per 1 hour of audio
$0.36 (whisper-1: $0.006 per minute = $0.36 per hour. gpt-4o-transcribe: $0.006 per minute. gpt-4o-mini-transcribe: $0.003 per minute = $0.18 per hour.)
Checked
on developers.openai.com/api/docs/pricing
Whisper API(OpenAI) plans (checked Oct 18, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page, tax as stated by the vendor)
PlanBilled monthlyBilled annually, per monthUsage limit
No plans could be confirmed on the vendor's page.

Whisper API(OpenAI) links and sources

Websiteopenai.com
Pricing pagehttps://developers.openai.com/api/docs/pricing
Checked
CurrencyUSD
Free tier—
API per 1 hour of audio$0.36whisper-1: $0.006 per minute = $0.36 per hour. gpt-4o-transcribe: $0.006 per minute. gpt-4o-mini-transcribe: $0.003 per minute = $0.18 per hour. Source

Pricing page values are estimated per-minute costs. Free tier not stated.

Whisper API(OpenAI) pricing questions

How much does the Whisper API(OpenAI) API cost?

$0.36 per 1 hour of audio (whisper-1: $0.006 per minute = $0.36 per hour. gpt-4o-transcribe: $0.006 per minute. gpt-4o-mini-transcribe: $0.003 per minute = $0.18 per hour.), from the vendor's pricing page checked on .

Lowest monthly prices of other AI transcription tools

Lowest-priced plan billed monthly
ServiceMonthlyFree tier
Transkriptor$9.99Yes
Otter.ai$16.99300 min/month, 30 min per conversation, 3 file imports total
Happy Scribe$1710-minute free trial, 45 min per recording
PLAUD$17.99Starter: 300 min/month, included with every Plaud device. No rollover.
Fireflies.ai$18Unlimited transcription, 400 min storage per team, 20 AI credits
Descript$241 hour (60 min)/month, 720p export with watermark

Pricing tables for other AI tools

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How this data is collected: Prices are read by hand from each vendor's official pricing page and stored with the date and source URL. Last checked .