Choose Whisper Web if…
- You need transcripts or subtitles without writing code
- You want a free, local first pass on confidential files
- You want one prepaid API for recorded files
Choose Deepgram if…
- You need real-time streaming or voice agents
- You want the lowest per-minute price at scale
- You are building a product on SDKs and contracts
Whisper Web vs Deepgram at a glance
| Feature | Whisper Web | Deepgram |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Whisper WebTranscripts and subtitles from files, with or without code | DeepgramDevelopers building voice products |
| Use without code | Whisper WebYes, in the browser | DeepgramAPIs and a developer Console |
| Free start | Whisper WebFree local mode, no account | DeepgramUS$200 credit, no card |
| Recorded-file API price | Whisper WebUS$0.01 per minute, prepaid from US$10 | DeepgramNova-3 from US$0.0043 per minute |
| Real-time streaming | Whisper WebNot provided | DeepgramFrom US$0.0077 per minute |
| Translate speech to English | Whisper WebIn the app and the API | DeepgramSee deepgram.com |
| Long files | Whisper WebUp to 10 hours or 5 GB per file | DeepgramSee deepgram.com |
| Exports | Whisper WebTXT, Word, JSON, SRT, VTT | DeepgramSee deepgram.com |
Deepgram facts from its official pages, checked 8 Nov 2026. Confirm current plans on each site.
Price and free usage
Whisper Web
Free local mode transcribes files up to 20 minutes and 200 MB each in your browser, with no account. The file is not uploaded for transcription. Unlimited is US$20 a month or US$120 a year for cloud transcription of files up to 10 hours or 5 GB. The Developer API costs US$0.01 per minute of audio, bought as prepaid credits from US$10 for 1,000 minutes.
Deepgram
New accounts get a US$200 credit with no card required. Pre-recorded Nova-3 costs US$0.0043 a minute for English and US$0.0052 multilingual on pay as you go. Growth starts at US$4,000 a year in prepaid credits.
Verdict
For high-volume English batch jobs, Deepgram's per-minute price is lower. For occasional files, Whisper Web's free local mode costs nothing and needs no account.
Setup and who it is for
Whisper Web
Open the page, choose a file and download TXT, Word, SRT or VTT. Editors, students and researchers can use it without a developer. Teams that do build can call the same Whisper model through the Whisper API or the MCP server.
Deepgram
You work through the API and a developer Console, with SDKs for common languages. It is built to sit inside a product you ship.
Verdict
Whisper Web wins when the person who needs the transcript is not a developer. Deepgram wins when transcription is a feature of your own product.
Where Deepgram is stronger
Real-time streaming from US$0.0077 a minute, voice agent tooling, lower prices at volume and enterprise contracts. Whisper Web does not stream; it processes recordings and microphone takes after they are captured.
Frequently asked questions
Is Whisper Web a Deepgram alternative?
For recorded files, yes: in the browser app and through the prepaid API. For live streaming, Deepgram is the better fit.
Is Deepgram cheaper than Whisper Web?
At volume, yes: Nova-3 English is US$0.0043 a minute against US$0.01 for the Whisper Web API. Whisper Web's free local mode costs nothing for files up to 20 minutes.
Does Whisper Web have a developer API?
Yes. The Whisper API transcribes or translates recorded files at US$0.01 a minute, with prepaid credits from US$10 and webhooks when a job finishes.
Can Whisper Web stream in real time?
No. It transcribes recordings after capture. Use a streaming API for live captions.