MARS5
Don’t want to install MARS5? 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.
Camb.ai's open-source MARS5 multilingual TTS reference.
Best for researchers benchmarking multilingual zero-shot TTS in low-resource languages. Pricing: free (AGPL-3.0).
What it is
MARS5 is the open-source reference implementation of Camb.ai's multilingual TTS model. AGPL-3.0 — stronger copyleft than MIT/Apache. Used by researchers benchmarking low-resource language coverage. Consent posture: open weights — operator-side enforcement.
Watch out for: AGPL-3.0 — network copyleft; commercial users may prefer the hosted Camb.ai product.
Install / use
git clone https://github.com/Camb-ai/MARS5-TTSWhat people actually do with MARS5-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 | No |
| Streaming / real-time | No |
| Languages supported | 140 |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Links
MARS5 vs Whipscribe
| Feature | MARS5 | Whipscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Open source | Transcription APIs |
| Pricing | free (AGPL-3.0) | $6–$24 one-time packs (credits never expire) · first 20 minutes free |
| Speaker identification | — | Named in the summary, key quotes and chapters |
| Word timestamps | — | Yes |
| Streaming | — | No |
| Languages | 140 | 99 |
| Platforms | Linux | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to MARS5
Frequently asked about MARS5
Is MARS5 free?
Yes. MARS5 is free and open source (free (AGPL-3.0)).
Does MARS5 work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
MARS5 runs on Linux. It is not listed for other platforms; check the vendor for anything beyond Linux.
How do I install MARS5?
Clone and run it from source: `git clone https://github.com/Camb-ai/MARS5-TTS`. Expect to install its dependencies yourself — the README has the exact steps per OS.
How many languages does MARS5 support?
MARS5 lists 140 languages. That is the Whisper-family multilingual set, so quality varies by language — English and the large European languages are strongest.
Does MARS5 identify different speakers?
No. MARS5 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 MARS5 give word-level timestamps?
No — MARS5 produces segment or sentence timing only, so subtitle cues can land mid-word.
Can MARS5 transcribe live audio?
No — MARS5 works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is MARS5 HIPAA compliant?
MARS5 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 MARS5?
AGPL-3.0 — network copyleft; commercial users may prefer the hosted Camb.ai product.
Who is MARS5 best for?
Researchers benchmarking multilingual zero-shot TTS in low-resource languages.
Does MARS5 run offline?
MARS5 runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Can I use MARS5 in the browser?
No — MARS5 is a Linux application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Where is the MARS5 source code?
On GitHub at github.com/Camb-ai/MARS5-TTS. It is maintained by Camb.ai.
What kind of tool is MARS5?
In this directory MARS5 is filed under tts, voice clone as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to MARS5?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/mars5-alternatives comparing MARS5 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.
Transcribe your recordings
Running MARS5 yourself? Send the same file here and compare the transcript. Transcribe any language, any recording · Transcription services from $0.29 an hour · Transcribe from any meeting or recording platform · How to transcribe, step by step
Explore
All transcription tools · By language · By platform · By file format · How-to guides · Transcription services · Transcription API · Pricing
Long recording to get through?
One file up to 10 hours, as an upload or a link: see how to transcribe an MP3 of any length, a podcast episode as text from its link and the SRT generator.
Comparing tools before you pay?
If you would rather pay a service than run software yourself: see how the best transcription services compare, the cheapest way to transcribe an hour of audio and transcription services from $6.