Microsoft Olive
Don’t want to install Microsoft Olive? 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.
Model-optimization toolchain — Whisper ONNX/QNN/DirectML targets.
Best for optimizing Whisper for Windows on Snapdragon / Intel NPUs. Pricing: free.
What it is
Microsoft's open optimization framework for ONNX-based deployment. MIT.
Watch out for: Recipe-driven; learning curve.
Install / use
pip install olive-aiWhat people actually do with Microsoft Olive-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
Microsoft Olive vs Whipscribe
| Feature | Microsoft Olive | 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 | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to Microsoft Olive
Frequently asked about Microsoft Olive
Is Microsoft Olive free?
Yes. Microsoft Olive is free and open source.
Does Microsoft Olive work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
Microsoft Olive runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.
How do I install Microsoft Olive?
With pip: `pip install olive-ai`. You need Python and, for most audio tools, ffmpeg on your PATH first.
How many languages does Microsoft Olive support?
Microsoft Olive lists 99 languages. That is the Whisper-family multilingual set, so quality varies by language — English and the large European languages are strongest.
Does Microsoft Olive identify different speakers?
No. Microsoft Olive 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 Microsoft Olive give word-level timestamps?
Yes — Microsoft Olive produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.
Can Microsoft Olive transcribe live audio?
No — Microsoft Olive works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is Microsoft Olive HIPAA compliant?
Microsoft Olive 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 Microsoft Olive?
Recipe-driven; learning curve.
Who is Microsoft Olive best for?
Optimizing Whisper for Windows on Snapdragon / Intel NPUs.
Does Microsoft Olive run offline?
Microsoft Olive runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Can I use Microsoft Olive in the browser?
No — Microsoft Olive is a Linux, macOS and Windows application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Where is the Microsoft Olive source code?
On GitHub at github.com/microsoft/Olive.
What kind of tool is Microsoft Olive?
In this directory Microsoft Olive is filed under framework, optimization, ms as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to Microsoft Olive?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/microsoft-olive-alternatives comparing Microsoft Olive 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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