LiveWhisper

by Nikorasu

Don’t want to install LiveWhisper? Drop the file here.

The first 20 minutes of any recording are transcribed free: a recording up to 20 minutes transcribes in full, a longer one is previewed, and a pack from $6 (500 minutes) transcribes the rest and opens every export, and credits never expire.

Always-listening hot-mic Whisper transcriber.

Linux, macOS, Windows  ·  free

TL;DR

Best for hands-free dictation or single-user voice control on a laptop. Pricing: free.

Category
Open source
License
MIT
Stars
★ 361
Last push
2025-07-20
Pricing
free
Platforms
Linux, macOS, Windows

What it is

A 200-line Python script that listens via VAD and triggers Whisper on each utterance. GPL-3.0.

Best for: Hands-free dictation or single-user voice control on a laptop.
Watch out for: Hobby project; no commercial support; English-tuned.

Install / use

What people actually do with LiveWhisper-style transcription

The tool is the means. These are the jobs — each one priced at published rates, each one wired up on its own page.

Wire it into Amazon S3n8nMake.comGoogle DriveZapierSlack

Features

Speaker diarizationNo
Word-level timestampsYes
Streaming / real-timeYes
Languages supported99
HIPAA eligibleNo

Links

GitHub repo ↗

LiveWhisper vs Whipscribe

FeatureLiveWhisperWhipscribe
CategoryOpen sourceTranscription APIs
Pricingfree$6–$24 one-time packs (credits never expire) · first 20 minutes free
Speaker identificationNoNamed in the summary, key quotes and chapters
Word timestampsYesYes
StreamingYesNo
Languages9999
PlatformsLinux, macOS, WindowsWeb, API, MCP

Alternatives to LiveWhisper

Frequently asked about LiveWhisper

Is LiveWhisper free?

Yes. LiveWhisper is free and open source.

Does LiveWhisper work on Mac, Windows and Linux?

LiveWhisper runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.

How do I install LiveWhisper?

Clone and run it from source: `git clone https://github.com/Nikorasu/LiveWhisper`. Expect to install its dependencies yourself — the README has the exact steps per OS.

How many languages does LiveWhisper support?

LiveWhisper lists 99 languages. That is the Whisper-family multilingual set, so quality varies by language — English and the large European languages are strongest.

Does LiveWhisper identify different speakers?

No. LiveWhisper does not label speakers; a conversation comes back as one continuous text. If you need speaker labels, that is a separate tool or a different service.

Does LiveWhisper give word-level timestamps?

Yes — LiveWhisper produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.

Can LiveWhisper transcribe live audio?

Yes — LiveWhisper supports streaming / live input, not just finished files.

Is LiveWhisper HIPAA compliant?

LiveWhisper does not claim HIPAA compliance. For PHI, run it on infrastructure you control or choose a service that will sign a BAA.

What are the limitations of LiveWhisper?

Hobby project; no commercial support; English-tuned.

Who is LiveWhisper best for?

Hands-free dictation or single-user voice control on a laptop.

Does LiveWhisper run offline?

LiveWhisper runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.

Can I use LiveWhisper in the browser?

No — LiveWhisper is a Linux, macOS and Windows application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.

Where is the LiveWhisper source code?

On GitHub at github.com/Nikorasu/LiveWhisper. It is maintained by Nikorasu.

What kind of tool is LiveWhisper?

In this directory LiveWhisper is filed under oss engine, streaming, cli as a open-source tool.

What are the alternatives to LiveWhisper?

There is a side-by-side page at /tools/livewhisper-alternatives comparing LiveWhisper with the closest tools in the same category on price, platform and features.

Whipscribe is a hosted transcription service. If you want transcripts without running infrastructure, paste a URL or drop a file in the form below — you'll have a transcript in seconds.

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