Can I run OpenAI Whisper online without installing anything?

Yes. The Whisper model itself is open source and normally runs locally, but several hosted services — including WhisperAI — give you Whisper-quality transcription directly in the browser. You upload an audio or video file, the server runs the model for you, and you read or edit the transcript in the browser. There is nothing to install on your computer.

Is online Whisper as accurate as running Whisper locally?

The accuracy is essentially the same because hosted tools run the same underlying Whisper-family models. What changes is everything around the model: file chunking for long recordings, speaker diarization, an editor, and exports. A polished online tool usually produces a more usable transcript than a bare local install.

Is there a free way to use Whisper online?

Most hosted Whisper tools offer a small free tier — for example, a few minutes of audio per month — before you need a paid plan. WhisperAI works the same way.

What file types work with online Whisper?

Online Whisper tools typically accept MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, MP4, MOV and similar formats. Video files are handled by stripping the audio track server-side.

Is my audio safe when I use Whisper online?

It depends on the provider. Audio uploaded to an online tool is processed on someone else's servers, so check the privacy policy before uploading anything sensitive. For genuinely confidential material, running Whisper locally is the safer choice.

Do I need a GPU to use Whisper online?

No. The whole point of running Whisper online is that the GPU lives on the server, not on your laptop. You just need a browser and an internet connection.

OpenAI Whisper, online and in your browser.