MLX Whisper
Don’t want to install MLX Whisper? 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.
Whisper inference on Apple Silicon via Apple's MLX framework.
Best for m-series Macs that want unified-memory acceleration without CoreML conversion. Pricing: free.
What it is
The Whisper example inside Apple's official MLX repo. Runs FP16/INT4 quantized models on the unified-memory GPU of M1/M2/M3 chips. MIT-licensed; integrates directly with Python and Swift MLX bindings.
Watch out for: Apple Silicon only; smaller community than whisper.cpp; quantization options narrower.
Install / use
pip install mlx-whisperWhat people actually do with MLX Whisper-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
MLX Whisper vs Whipscribe
| Feature | MLX Whisper | 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 | macOS | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to MLX Whisper
Frequently asked about MLX Whisper
Is MLX Whisper free?
Yes. MLX Whisper is free and open source.
Does MLX Whisper work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
MLX Whisper runs on macOS. It is not listed for other platforms; check the vendor for anything beyond macOS.
How do I install MLX Whisper?
With pip: `pip install mlx-whisper`. You need Python and, for most audio tools, ffmpeg on your PATH first.
How many languages does MLX Whisper support?
MLX Whisper lists 99 languages. That is the Whisper-family multilingual set, so quality varies by language — English and the large European languages are strongest.
Does MLX Whisper identify different speakers?
No. MLX Whisper 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 MLX Whisper give word-level timestamps?
Yes — MLX Whisper produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.
Can MLX Whisper transcribe live audio?
No — MLX Whisper works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is MLX Whisper HIPAA compliant?
MLX Whisper 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 MLX Whisper?
Apple Silicon only; smaller community than whisper.cpp; quantization options narrower.
Who is MLX Whisper best for?
M-series Macs that want unified-memory acceleration without CoreML conversion.
Does MLX Whisper run offline?
MLX Whisper runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Can I use MLX Whisper in the browser?
No — MLX Whisper is a macOS application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Where is the MLX Whisper source code?
On GitHub at github.com/ml-explore/mlx-examples. It is maintained by Apple ML Research.
What kind of tool is MLX Whisper?
In this directory MLX Whisper is filed under oss engine, apple silicon, accelerator as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to MLX Whisper?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/whisper-mlx-alternatives comparing MLX Whisper 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.
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