sherpa-onnx
Don’t want to install sherpa-onnx? 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.
ONNX-runtime ASR: Whisper, Zipformer, Paraformer on every platform.
Best for cross-platform on-device ASR — Android/iOS/Linux/Web, no Python at runtime. Pricing: free.
What it is
ONNX-runtime inference for ASR/TTS/VAD/diarization. Ships Java/Kotlin/Swift/JS/.NET bindings. Apache-2.0.
Watch out for: ONNX export quality varies per model.
Install / use
pip install sherpa-onnxWhat people actually do with sherpa-onnx-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 | Yes |
| Word-level timestamps | Yes |
| Streaming / real-time | Yes |
| Languages supported | 60 |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Links
sherpa-onnx vs Whipscribe
| Feature | sherpa-onnx | Whipscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Open source | Transcription APIs |
| Pricing | free | $6–$24 one-time packs (credits never expire) · first 20 minutes free |
| Speaker identification | Yes | Named in the summary, key quotes and chapters |
| Word timestamps | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming | Yes | No |
| Languages | 60 | 99 |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to sherpa-onnx
Frequently asked about sherpa-onnx
Is sherpa-onnx free?
Yes. sherpa-onnx is free and open source.
Does sherpa-onnx work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
sherpa-onnx runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android and Web.
How do I install sherpa-onnx?
With pip: `pip install sherpa-onnx`. You need Python and, for most audio tools, ffmpeg on your PATH first.
How many languages does sherpa-onnx support?
sherpa-onnx lists 60 languages.
Does sherpa-onnx identify different speakers?
Yes — sherpa-onnx has speaker diarization, so a two-person interview comes back with each speaker labelled.
Does sherpa-onnx give word-level timestamps?
Yes — sherpa-onnx produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.
Can sherpa-onnx transcribe live audio?
Yes — sherpa-onnx supports streaming / live input, not just finished files.
Is sherpa-onnx HIPAA compliant?
sherpa-onnx 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 sherpa-onnx?
ONNX export quality varies per model.
Who is sherpa-onnx best for?
Cross-platform on-device ASR — Android/iOS/Linux/Web, no Python at runtime.
Does sherpa-onnx run offline?
sherpa-onnx runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Where is the sherpa-onnx source code?
On GitHub at github.com/k2-fsa/sherpa-onnx. It is maintained by k2-fsa.
What kind of tool is sherpa-onnx?
In this directory sherpa-onnx is filed under toolkit, edge, onnx as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to sherpa-onnx?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/sherpa-onnx-alternatives comparing sherpa-onnx with the closest tools in the same category on price, platform and features.
Can I automate sherpa-onnx-style transcription without running it myself?
Yes. If what you want is transcripts rather than the tool itself, Whipscribe does the same job as a hosted API: submit a file or URL, poll a job id, pull the result as txt, json, srt, vtt or docx. $0.012 a minute — about $0.72 an audio hour — bought as credits that never expire. The automation recipes on this site show it wired to Drive folders, Zoom recordings, S3 buckets and no-code platforms.
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 sherpa-onnx 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 MP3 to text for long recordings, how to transcribe a podcast and the SRT generator.
Comparing tools before you pay?
If you would rather pay a service than run software yourself: see the best transcription services side by side, cheap transcription services and the real cost per hour and transcription services from $6.