Whisper
The score measures project health and popularity. It is not a hands-on review. How it works
Turns speech into text. Transcribes and translates recordings, interviews, and video audio.
- Some setup
- Works on Windows, Mac, Linux
The openness label
- Code
- Open source, MIT
- Models
- Open weights
- Runs
- On your computer
- Real cost
- Free
What you need to run it
About 8 GB of memory. Graphics card optional (4 GB of video memory speeds it up).
These are our estimates for comfortable use. Enter your computer's specs to see a verdict on every tool.
- 112,515 stars on GitHub
- Last updated 2026-08-31
- Latest release v20250625
Quick answers
Is Whisper free?
Yes. Whisper is free and open source, released under the MIT license. There is nothing to buy and no subscription.
Does Whisper run on my own computer?
Yes. Whisper runs entirely on your own computer, so your files and prompts stay with you.
What do I need to run Whisper?
About 8 GB of memory. Graphics card optional (4 GB of video memory speeds it up). It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Is Whisper still maintained?
Yes. The Whisper project was last updated on 2026-08-31.
What paid tools can Whisper replace?
People use Whisper as a free alternative to Descript, Pictory, VEED, OpusClip, and Klap.
Checked by Forkopolis on November 11, 2026.
