PocketSphinx
Don’t want to install PocketSphinx? 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.
Lightweight CMU Sphinx engine for embedded keyword spotting.
Best for wake-word / command-grammar systems on microcontrollers. Pricing: free.
What it is
The embedded variant of CMU Sphinx. BSD-2-Clause.
Watch out for: WER far behind modern models; small acoustic models only.
Install / use
pip install pocketsphinxWhat people actually do with PocketSphinx-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 | Yes |
| Languages supported | 20 |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Links
PocketSphinx vs Whipscribe
| Feature | PocketSphinx | 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 | Yes | No |
| Languages | 20 | 99 |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to PocketSphinx
Frequently asked about PocketSphinx
Is PocketSphinx free?
Yes. PocketSphinx is free and open source.
Does PocketSphinx work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
PocketSphinx runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Android and iOS.
How do I install PocketSphinx?
With pip: `pip install pocketsphinx`. You need Python and, for most audio tools, ffmpeg on your PATH first.
How many languages does PocketSphinx support?
PocketSphinx lists 20 languages.
Does PocketSphinx identify different speakers?
No. PocketSphinx 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 PocketSphinx give word-level timestamps?
Yes — PocketSphinx produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.
Can PocketSphinx transcribe live audio?
Yes — PocketSphinx supports streaming / live input, not just finished files.
Is PocketSphinx HIPAA compliant?
PocketSphinx 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 PocketSphinx?
WER far behind modern models; small acoustic models only.
Who is PocketSphinx best for?
Wake-word / command-grammar systems on microcontrollers.
Does PocketSphinx run offline?
PocketSphinx runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Can I use PocketSphinx in the browser?
No — PocketSphinx 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 PocketSphinx source code?
On GitHub at github.com/cmusphinx/pocketsphinx. It is maintained by CMU Sphinx.
What kind of tool is PocketSphinx?
In this directory PocketSphinx is filed under toolkit, framework, keyword as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to PocketSphinx?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/pocketsphinx-alternatives comparing PocketSphinx 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 PocketSphinx 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 transcribing a long MP3 or M4A, a podcast episode as text from its link and an SRT subtitle file from any recording.
Rather have it done for you?
Free tools cost setup time. When you want a finished transcript instead: see an honest roundup of the best transcription services, cheap transcription services and the real cost per hour and transcription services from $6.