TensorFlow Text
Don’t want to install TensorFlow Text? 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.
Text ops + tokenizers integrated with TF ASR pipelines.
Best for pre-processing for TF ASR / TTS recipes. Pricing: free.
What it is
The text-processing library for TensorFlow. Apache-2.0.
Watch out for: Tightly coupled to TF versions.
Install / use
pip install tensorflow-textWhat people actually do with TensorFlow Text-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
TensorFlow Text vs Whipscribe
| Feature | TensorFlow Text | 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 TensorFlow Text
Frequently asked about TensorFlow Text
Is TensorFlow Text free?
Yes. TensorFlow Text is free and open source.
Does TensorFlow Text work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
TensorFlow Text runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.
How do I install TensorFlow Text?
With pip: `pip install tensorflow-text`. You need Python and, for most audio tools, ffmpeg on your PATH first.
How many languages does TensorFlow Text support?
TensorFlow Text lists 99 languages. That is the Whisper-family multilingual set, so quality varies by language — English and the large European languages are strongest.
Does TensorFlow Text identify different speakers?
No. TensorFlow Text 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 TensorFlow Text give word-level timestamps?
Yes — TensorFlow Text produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.
Can TensorFlow Text transcribe live audio?
No — TensorFlow Text works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is TensorFlow Text HIPAA compliant?
TensorFlow Text 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 TensorFlow Text?
Tightly coupled to TF versions.
Who is TensorFlow Text best for?
Pre-processing for TF ASR / TTS recipes.
Does TensorFlow Text run offline?
TensorFlow Text runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Can I use TensorFlow Text in the browser?
No — TensorFlow Text is a Linux, macOS and Windows application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Where is the TensorFlow Text source code?
On GitHub at github.com/tensorflow/text. It is maintained by Google.
What kind of tool is TensorFlow Text?
In this directory TensorFlow Text is filed under preprocess, tokenizer, tensorflow as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to TensorFlow Text?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/tf-text-alternatives comparing TensorFlow Text 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 TensorFlow Text 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, how to transcribe a podcast and an SRT subtitle file from any recording.
Comparing tools before you pay?
If you would rather pay a service than run software yourself: see how the best transcription services compare, the cheapest way to transcribe an hour of audio and transcription services from $6.