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Paid plans start at $0.15/mo. There's also a free plan.
AssemblyAI lists pay-as-you-go rates by API and model, not monthly or annual subscriptions. The lowest listed price is $0.15 per hour, for Pre-recorded Universal-2 and two realtime streaming options; higher-accuracy and short-clip options cost more. A free plan is listed, but the published pricing details do not specify its allowance. Budget separately for add-ons such as speaker diarization, prompting, Medical Mode, and PII Text Redaction.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-recorded Universal-3.5 Pro | — | Quote | High-accuracy asynchronous transcription |
| Pre-recorded Universal-2 | — | Quote | Lower-cost multilingual transcription |
| Pre-recorded Custom | — | Quote | Enterprise workloads needing tailored limits |
| Realtime Universal-3.6 Pro | — | Quote | High-quality realtime voice agents |
| Realtime Universal-Streaming | — | Quote | English realtime transcription |
| Realtime Universal-Streaming Multilingual | — | Quote | Realtime transcription in six languages |
| Realtime Custom | — | Quote | Enterprise realtime workloads |
| Sync API Universal-3.5 Pro | — | Quote | Short clips processed in one API call |
| Sync API Custom | — | Quote | Enterprise sync workloads |
Add-ons and overages
- Pre-recorded Universal-3.5 Pro: keyterms prompting $0.05/hr; prompting $0.05/hr; speaker diarization $0.02/hr; Medical Mode $0.15/hr.
- Pre-recorded Universal-2: speaker diarization $0.02/hr; Medical Mode $0.15/hr. Keyterms prompting is included.
- Realtime Universal-3.6 Pro: speaker diarization $0.12/hr; prompting $0.05/hr; Medical Mode $0.15/hr; Voice Focus $0.10/hr; PII Text Redaction $0.12/hr. Keyterms prompting is included.
- Realtime Universal-Streaming: keyterms prompting $0.04/hr; speaker diarization $0.12/hr; Medical Mode $0.15/hr; PII Text Redaction $0.12/hr.
- Sync API: keyterms prompting and conversation context are included; the page text cuts off before listing further add-on details.
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Optional model add-ons
Pre-recorded Universal-3.5 Pro adds $0.05/hr for keyterms prompting, $0.05/hr for prompting, $0.02/hr for speaker diarization, and $0.15/hr for Medical Mode.
Realtime feature fees
Realtime Universal-3.6 Pro lists extra fees for diarization, prompting, Medical Mode, Voice Focus, and PII Text Redaction, ranging from $0.05/hr to $0.15/hr.
Custom rates not published
Pre-recorded Custom, Realtime Custom, and Sync API Custom list custom pricing, so the published pricing details do not show their rates.
Hourly billing adds up
The listed rates are per hour, not monthly or annual prices. Your total depends on billable usage and any paid add-ons.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-conscious multilingual transcription | Pre-recorded Universal-2 | It is listed at $0.15/hr, supports 99 languages, and includes keyterms prompting. |
| High-accuracy realtime voice agents | Realtime Universal-3.6 Pro | The pricing page lists it at $0.45/hr with 32 languages, context carryover, and conversation memory. |
| Short clips in one API call | Sync API Universal-3.5 Pro | It is listed at $0.30/hr for requests up to 20 minutes, with per-word timing and confidence. |
04Is AssemblyAI worth the money?
AssemblyAI is worth shortlisting if you need speech APIs and can estimate usage by the hour. The $0.15/hr entry rate is clear, but it applies to specific options—not every model—and extra features carry separate fees. Higher-end realtime transcription is listed at $0.45/hr, while custom enterprise rates are not published. Compare the model, language coverage, and add-ons you actually need; the lowest headline rate alone is not a useful total-cost estimate.
AssemblyAI pricing FAQ
What is the cheapest AssemblyAI plan?
The lowest listed rate is $0.15 per hour. It applies to Pre-recorded Universal-2, Realtime Universal-Streaming, and Realtime Universal-Streaming Multilingual. Their capabilities differ: Universal-2 supports 99 languages, while the realtime options cover English only or six listed languages.
Does AssemblyAI have a free plan?
The pricing information lists a free plan, but does not specify its usage allowance, included features, or whether it has other limits. Check AssemblyAI's current pricing details before budgeting around free usage; the published hourly rates are pay-as-you-go.
How much does AssemblyAI realtime transcription cost?
Realtime Universal-Streaming and Realtime Universal-Streaming Multilingual are listed at $0.15/hr. Realtime Universal-3.6 Pro is $0.45/hr. Add-ons can increase the total: for example, the Pro option lists $0.12/hr for speaker diarization and $0.12/hr for PII Text Redaction.
Are AssemblyAI add-ons included in the hourly rates?
Some features are included and others cost extra, depending on the model. For example, Universal-2 includes keyterms prompting, while its speaker diarization is listed at $0.02/hr. Realtime Universal-3.6 Pro includes keyterms prompting but lists separate fees for several other features.