openWakeWord
Don’t want to install openWakeWord? 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.
Open-source wake-word engine — community alternative to Porcupine and Snips.
Best for dIY voice assistants and Home Assistant Voice setups needing a free wake-word engine. Pricing: free.
What it is
openWakeWord is an Apache-2.0 wake-word detector that runs on Raspberry Pi and Linux. Reference engine in the Home Assistant voice pipeline and an OpenVoiceOS default.
Watch out for: Custom wake-word quality depends on training data; English-first; smaller language coverage than Porcupine.
Install / use
pip install openwakewordWhat people actually do with openWakeWord-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 | Yes |
| Languages supported | 1 |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Links
openWakeWord vs Whipscribe
| Feature | openWakeWord | Whipscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Open source | Transcription APIs |
| Pricing | free | $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 | Yes | No |
| Languages | 1 | 99 |
| Platforms | Linux, Docker, Hardware | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to openWakeWord
Frequently asked about openWakeWord
Is openWakeWord free?
Yes. openWakeWord is free and open source.
Does openWakeWord work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
openWakeWord runs on Linux, Docker and Hardware.
How do I install openWakeWord?
With pip: `pip install openwakeword`. You need Python and, for most audio tools, ffmpeg on your PATH first.
How many languages does openWakeWord support?
openWakeWord lists 1 languages.
Does openWakeWord identify different speakers?
No. openWakeWord 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 openWakeWord give word-level timestamps?
No — openWakeWord produces segment or sentence timing only, so subtitle cues can land mid-word.
Can openWakeWord transcribe live audio?
Yes — openWakeWord supports streaming / live input, not just finished files.
Is openWakeWord HIPAA compliant?
openWakeWord 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 openWakeWord?
Custom wake-word quality depends on training data; English-first; smaller language coverage than Porcupine.
Who is openWakeWord best for?
DIY voice assistants and Home Assistant Voice setups needing a free wake-word engine.
Does openWakeWord run offline?
openWakeWord runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Can I use openWakeWord in the browser?
No — openWakeWord is a Linux, Docker and Hardware application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Where is the openWakeWord source code?
On GitHub at github.com/dscripka/openWakeWord. It is maintained by openWakeWord contributors.
What kind of tool is openWakeWord?
In this directory openWakeWord is filed under wake word, edge as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to openWakeWord?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/openwakeword-alternatives comparing openWakeWord 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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