llama.cpp
Don’t want to install llama.cpp? 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.
GGUF runtime — runs many ASR forks (whisper, parakeet, qwen-audio).
Best for reference quantization stack used by many ASR forks. Pricing: free.
What it is
The reference C++ inference engine for GGUF models. MIT.
Watch out for: Not an ASR engine on its own.
Install / use
git clone https://github.com/ggerganov/llama.cppWhat people actually do with llama.cpp-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.
Features
| Speaker diarization | No |
| Word-level timestamps | Yes |
| Streaming / real-time | No |
| Languages supported | 99 |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Links
llama.cpp vs Whipscribe
| Feature | llama.cpp | Whipscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Open source | Transcription APIs |
| Pricing | free | $6–$24 one-time packs (credits never expire) · first 20 minutes free |
| Speaker identification | No | Named in the summary, key quotes and chapters |
| Word timestamps | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming | No | No |
| Languages | 99 | 99 |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to llama.cpp
Frequently asked about llama.cpp
Is llama.cpp free?
Yes. llama.cpp is free and open source.
Does llama.cpp work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
llama.cpp runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Android and iOS.
How do I install llama.cpp?
Clone and run it from source: `git clone https://github.com/ggerganov/llama.cpp`. Expect to install its dependencies yourself — the README has the exact steps per OS.
How many languages does llama.cpp support?
llama.cpp lists 99 languages. That is the Whisper-family multilingual set, so quality varies by language — English and the large European languages are strongest.
Does llama.cpp identify different speakers?
No. llama.cpp 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 llama.cpp give word-level timestamps?
Yes — llama.cpp produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.
Can llama.cpp transcribe live audio?
No — llama.cpp works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is llama.cpp HIPAA compliant?
llama.cpp 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 llama.cpp?
Not an ASR engine on its own.
Who is llama.cpp best for?
Reference quantization stack used by many ASR forks.
Does llama.cpp run offline?
llama.cpp runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Can I use llama.cpp in the browser?
No — llama.cpp is a Linux, macOS, Windows, Android and iOS application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Where is the llama.cpp source code?
On GitHub at github.com/ggerganov/llama.cpp. It is maintained by ggml.ai.
What kind of tool is llama.cpp?
In this directory llama.cpp is filed under framework, edge, quantization as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to llama.cpp?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/llamacpp-alternatives comparing llama.cpp 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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