60db vs Whisper and OpenAI
60db vs Whisper and OpenAI speech to text
OpenAI offers file transcription, live transcription and a Whisper model that many teams know. 60db's Garuda is a transcription service on the same key as speech, chat and memory. This page compares the two on limits, languages and what to check before you build.
The 60db Free plan includes 3,000 credits every month and a commercial licence.
- 01OpenAI's docs say whisper-1 and the gpt-4o transcribe models are deprecated and shut down on 26 February 2027.
- 02OpenAI's file transcription accepts files up to 25 MB.
- 03Garuda covers 40+ languages and uses 25 credits a minute.
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Which one should you pick?
Pick OpenAI if you already use its models for chat or agents and want transcription in the same account, with live transcription and speaker labels in its current docs.
Pick 60db if you want transcription, speech, chat and memory on one key and one credit balance, or you work in Hindi and other languages where you want a published test to start from.
If you use Whisper today, read the deprecation note below. It changes what you should build on.
60db Garuda vs OpenAI speech to text
OpenAI figures come from its speech to text guide. We list no OpenAI prices here, so check its pricing page.
| What you need | 60db Garuda | OpenAI | Who is ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Languages | 40+ languages | Whisper supports 98 languages, with accuracy that varies. gpt-transcribe takes language hints | Check both on your languages |
| File size | Check the 60db API docs | Files up to 25 MB. Split or compress larger ones | Check your file sizes |
| Live transcription | Streams for live calls | A realtime transcription guide with gpt-live-transcribe | Test both for delay on your line |
| Speaker labels | Check the 60db API docs | Available on the file endpoint. Not in realtime sessions | Check both |
| Pricing | 25 credits a minute from the same balance as speech | See OpenAI's pricing page | Compare on your own hours |
| Hindi test | 12.95% word error rate on 9,997 clips, our own test | Not tested by us | Test both |
| Speech out and chat | Kaak, Vyas and Smriti on the same key | Text to speech and chat models in the same API | Depends on your stack |
| Model lifespan | Garuda is our current model | whisper-1 and the gpt-4o transcribe models are deprecated, with shutdown on 26 February 2027 | Check before you build |
- Languages
- 60db Garuda40+ languages
- OpenAIWhisper supports 98 languages, with accuracy that varies. gpt-transcribe takes language hints
- Who is aheadCheck both on your languages
- File size
- 60db GarudaCheck the 60db API docs
- OpenAIFiles up to 25 MB. Split or compress larger ones
- Who is aheadCheck your file sizes
- Live transcription
- 60db GarudaStreams for live calls
- OpenAIA realtime transcription guide with gpt-live-transcribe
- Who is aheadTest both for delay on your line
- Speaker labels
- 60db GarudaCheck the 60db API docs
- OpenAIAvailable on the file endpoint. Not in realtime sessions
- Who is aheadCheck both
- Pricing
- 60db Garuda25 credits a minute from the same balance as speech
- OpenAISee OpenAI's pricing page
- Who is aheadCompare on your own hours
- Hindi test
- 60db Garuda12.95% word error rate on 9,997 clips, our own test
- OpenAINot tested by us
- Who is aheadTest both
- Speech out and chat
- 60db GarudaKaak, Vyas and Smriti on the same key
- OpenAIText to speech and chat models in the same API
- Who is aheadDepends on your stack
- Model lifespan
- 60db GarudaGaruda is our current model
- OpenAIwhisper-1 and the gpt-4o transcribe models are deprecated, with shutdown on 26 February 2027
- Who is aheadCheck before you build
OpenAI's docs say the specialized examples remain for existing integrations until shutdown and point new builds at gpt-transcribe. Read its deprecation notice for the current plan.
The Whisper deprecation note
OpenAI's speech to text guide says whisper-1, gpt-4o-transcribe, gpt-4o-mini-transcribe, gpt-4o-transcribe-diarize and the translations endpoint are deprecated and will shut down on 26 February 2027.
For new work it points to gpt-transcribe for files and to its realtime guides for live audio.
If your product runs on whisper-1 today, plan a move before that date. That is a good moment to test Garuda on your audio as well. Whisper is also open source, and running it yourself is a different choice with its own hosting cost.
What OpenAI does better today
These are the places where OpenAI is the better fit.
A broad model family in one account, from chat to realtime audio.
Context controls:
a prompt, keywords and language hints on gpt-transcribe.
Whisper's open-source release, if you want to host a model yourself.
Detected languages returned with each result.
A well-known API many teams already use.
What you gain by building on 60db
These reasons matter when transcription is one part of a voice product.
Transcription and speech on one balance
Garuda, Kaak, Vyas and Smriti share one key and one pool of credits.
A published Hindi test
In our own test of 9,997 Hindi clips, Garuda had a 12.95% word error rate. We publish the method so you can rerun it.
A simple rate
25 credits a minute, from the same credits as speech.
Unlimited team members
The whole team can share one account.
A published uptime commitment
Paid plans carry a 99.9% uptime SLA.
Credits and per-use pricing
Garuda uses 25 credits per minute of audio. Plans start at $6 for 120,000 credits, which is about 80 hours of transcription. Pay as you go covers extra use.
OpenAI prices its models on its own pricing page. We have not listed its rates here, so read that page and use the same hours of audio for both.
How to test both on your own audio
Collect 30 real recordings, with your accents, background noise and the names and numbers that matter. Keep each file under 25 MB so it works on OpenAI's file endpoint.
Run all 30 through Garuda and through the OpenAI model you would use. Count the errors on the key words, not only the overall score.
For live use, measure the delay from a caller finishing a sentence to the text arriving, on your own network.
Before you sign up, ask
These questions work for OpenAI, for us and for any other transcription vendor.
Which of my languages and accents were tested for the quality I need?
What are the file size and length limits?
Is my audio stored or used for training, and for how long?
Which model will still be supported in a year?
What is the uptime commitment, and what happens if it is missed?
Test with your own recordings
Run your 30 recordings through Garuda and count the errors that matter. Then run the same set through the OpenAI model you would use.
5 questions
60db vs Whisper and OpenAI: common questions
Straight answers, including where OpenAI is the better choice.
According to OpenAI's speech to text guide, the whisper-1 API model is deprecated and will shut down on 26 February 2027. Whisper itself is an open-source model, so you can host it yourself. Read OpenAI's deprecation notice for details.
Hear it on your own recordings
3,000 free credits a month and a commercial licence. Speech to text, text to speech, chat and memory on one key.