pywhispercpp

by abdeladim-s

Don’t want to install pywhispercpp? Drop the file here.

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Python bindings for whisper.cpp with a simple iterator API.

Linux, macOS, Windows  ·  free

TL;DR

Best for python projects that want whisper.cpp's speed without C++ build steps. Pricing: free.

Category
Open source
License
MIT
Stars
★ 335
Last push
2026-02-20
Pricing
free
Platforms
Linux, macOS, Windows

What it is

Pip-installable Python wrapper over whisper.cpp. Exposes Model + Segment classes with timestamps. Supports CoreML on Apple Silicon and CUDA on NVIDIA. MIT.

Best for: Python projects that want whisper.cpp's speed without C++ build steps.
Watch out for: Lags whisper.cpp main by days/weeks; smaller community than faster-whisper.

Install / use

pip install pywhispercpp

What people actually do with pywhispercpp-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.

Wire it into Amazon S3n8nMake.comGoogle DriveZapierSlack

Features

Speaker diarizationNo
Word-level timestampsYes
Streaming / real-timeNo
Languages supported99
HIPAA eligibleNo

Links

GitHub repo ↗

pywhispercpp vs Whipscribe

FeaturepywhispercppWhipscribe
CategoryOpen sourceTranscription APIs
Pricingfree$6–$24 one-time packs (credits never expire) · first 20 minutes free
Speaker identificationNoNamed in the summary, key quotes and chapters
Word timestampsYesYes
StreamingNoNo
Languages9999
PlatformsLinux, macOS, WindowsWeb, API, MCP

Alternatives to pywhispercpp

Frequently asked about pywhispercpp

Is pywhispercpp free?

Yes. pywhispercpp is free and open source.

Does pywhispercpp work on Mac, Windows and Linux?

pywhispercpp runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.

How do I install pywhispercpp?

With pip: `pip install pywhispercpp`. You need Python and, for most audio tools, ffmpeg on your PATH first.

How many languages does pywhispercpp support?

pywhispercpp lists 99 languages. That is the Whisper-family multilingual set, so quality varies by language — English and the large European languages are strongest.

Does pywhispercpp identify different speakers?

No. pywhispercpp 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 pywhispercpp give word-level timestamps?

Yes — pywhispercpp produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.

Can pywhispercpp transcribe live audio?

No — pywhispercpp works on finished files, not a live stream.

Is pywhispercpp HIPAA compliant?

pywhispercpp 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 pywhispercpp?

Lags whisper.cpp main by days/weeks; smaller community than faster-whisper.

Who is pywhispercpp best for?

Python projects that want whisper.cpp's speed without C++ build steps.

Does pywhispercpp run offline?

pywhispercpp runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.

Can I use pywhispercpp in the browser?

No — pywhispercpp is a Linux, macOS and Windows application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.

Where is the pywhispercpp source code?

On GitHub at github.com/absadiki/pywhispercpp. It is maintained by abdeladim-s.

What kind of tool is pywhispercpp?

In this directory pywhispercpp is filed under oss engine, bindings, python as a open-source tool.

What are the alternatives to pywhispercpp?

There is a side-by-side page at /tools/pywhispercpp-alternatives comparing pywhispercpp with the closest tools in the same category on price, platform and features.

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