Transformers.js
Don’t want to install Transformers.js? 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.
Run Whisper / wav2vec2 entirely in the browser via ONNX Runtime Web.
Best for in-browser private transcription with no server round-trip. Pricing: free.
What it is
The JavaScript port of HuggingFace Transformers. Apache-2.0.
Watch out for: WebGPU acceleration still uneven across browsers; large model download.
Install / use
npm install @xenova/transformersWhat people actually do with Transformers.js-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 | 99 |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Links
Transformers.js vs Whipscribe
| Feature | Transformers.js | 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 | 99 | 99 |
| Platforms | Web, Node.js | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to Transformers.js
Frequently asked about Transformers.js
Is Transformers.js free?
Yes. Transformers.js is free and open source.
Does Transformers.js work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
Transformers.js runs on Web and Node.js. It is not listed for other platforms; check the vendor for anything beyond Web and Node.js.
How many languages does Transformers.js support?
Transformers.js lists 99 languages. That is the Whisper-family multilingual set, so quality varies by language — English and the large European languages are strongest.
Does Transformers.js identify different speakers?
No. Transformers.js 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 Transformers.js give word-level timestamps?
Yes — Transformers.js produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.
Can Transformers.js transcribe live audio?
Yes — Transformers.js supports streaming / live input, not just finished files.
Is Transformers.js HIPAA compliant?
Transformers.js 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 Transformers.js?
WebGPU acceleration still uneven across browsers; large model download.
Who is Transformers.js best for?
In-browser private transcription with no server round-trip.
Does Transformers.js run offline?
Transformers.js runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Where is the Transformers.js source code?
On GitHub at github.com/huggingface/transformers.js. It is maintained by Hugging Face.
What kind of tool is Transformers.js?
In this directory Transformers.js is filed under edge, web, browser as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to Transformers.js?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/transformersjs-alternatives comparing Transformers.js with the closest tools in the same category on price, platform and features.
Can I automate Transformers.js-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.
How is Whipscribe different from Transformers.js?
Transformers.js is something you run; Whipscribe is something you call. Recordings are transcribed on our own servers and never used for training, and every job returns five formats plus an AI summary, quotes and topics. The first 20 minutes of any recording are transcribed free, and a pack from $6 (500 minutes) transcribes the rest and opens every export.
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 Transformers.js 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
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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 the SRT generator.
Looking at paid options?
Before you choose a transcription tool or service: see the best transcription services side by side, cheap transcription services and the real cost per hour and how our transcription services work.