whisper-ctranslate2
Don’t want to install whisper-ctranslate2? 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.
Command-line Whisper using CTranslate2 — closest match to openai/whisper CLI.
Best for drop-in replacement for the official Whisper CLI with 4x throughput. Pricing: free.
What it is
The Catalan-language nonprofit's CLI keeps the original openai/whisper command-line surface but routes inference through CTranslate2. Adds diarization via pyannote and VAD filters. MIT.
Watch out for: Same model family as faster-whisper; no Mac MPS acceleration.
Install / use
pip install whisper-ctranslate2What people actually do with whisper-ctranslate2-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 | No |
| Languages supported | 99 |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Links
whisper-ctranslate2 vs Whipscribe
| Feature | whisper-ctranslate2 | 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 | No | No |
| Languages | 99 | 99 |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to whisper-ctranslate2
Frequently asked about whisper-ctranslate2
Is whisper-ctranslate2 free?
Yes. whisper-ctranslate2 is free and open source.
Does whisper-ctranslate2 work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
whisper-ctranslate2 runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.
How do I install whisper-ctranslate2?
With pip: `pip install whisper-ctranslate2`. You need Python and, for most audio tools, ffmpeg on your PATH first.
How many languages does whisper-ctranslate2 support?
whisper-ctranslate2 lists 99 languages. That is the Whisper-family multilingual set, so quality varies by language — English and the large European languages are strongest.
Does whisper-ctranslate2 identify different speakers?
Yes — whisper-ctranslate2 has speaker diarization, so a two-person interview comes back with each speaker labelled.
Does whisper-ctranslate2 give word-level timestamps?
Yes — whisper-ctranslate2 produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.
Can whisper-ctranslate2 transcribe live audio?
No — whisper-ctranslate2 works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is whisper-ctranslate2 HIPAA compliant?
whisper-ctranslate2 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 whisper-ctranslate2?
Same model family as faster-whisper; no Mac MPS acceleration.
Who is whisper-ctranslate2 best for?
Drop-in replacement for the official Whisper CLI with 4x throughput.
Does whisper-ctranslate2 run offline?
whisper-ctranslate2 runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Can I use whisper-ctranslate2 in the browser?
No — whisper-ctranslate2 is a Linux, macOS and Windows application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Where is the whisper-ctranslate2 source code?
On GitHub at github.com/Softcatala/whisper-ctranslate2. It is maintained by Softcatalà.
What kind of tool is whisper-ctranslate2?
In this directory whisper-ctranslate2 is filed under oss engine, cli, accelerator as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to whisper-ctranslate2?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/whisper-ctranslate2-alternatives comparing whisper-ctranslate2 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 whisper-ctranslate2 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 the best transcription services side by side, the cheapest way to transcribe an hour of audio and our transcription service with prices and turnaround.