Offline vs Cloud: Which Transcription Provider Should You Use?
Captyne can transcribe your audio in five ways. Every option gives word-level timings, so the captions animate the same way whichever you pick. The differences are privacy, speed, cost and setup.
Quick comparison
| Provider | Runs on | Cost | Setup | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offline / Local (Whisper Large v3.1) | Your computer | Free, unlimited | Download the ~3 GB model once | Private client work, no internet, unlimited use |
| Managed API (Deepgram Nova-3) | Captyne's servers | Uses your plan's monthly minutes | None | Fast results on any computer |
| OpenAI (Whisper-1) | OpenAI | Billed by OpenAI | Your own API key | People who already pay for OpenAI |
| Groq (Whisper-large-v3) | Groq | Billed by Groq | Your own API key | Very fast cloud Whisper |
| AssemblyAI (Universal-2) | AssemblyAI | Billed by AssemblyAI | Your own API key | High-accuracy cloud transcription |
Offline / Local
Your audio never leaves your machine, and there's no usage limit. You need the Whisper model downloaded and supported hardware: an NVIDIA RTX 20-series or GTX 16-series or newer on Windows, or Apple Silicon on Mac. See Offline transcription GPU requirements.
Managed API
The simplest option. Nothing to install and no key to enter, and it works on any computer, including ones without a supported GPU. Each transcription uses minutes from your plan's monthly quota. See How transcription minutes work.
The Managed API can also work out which words to emphasise when you set Emphasis Strategy to AI Decide. See Highlighting key words.
Your own API key (OpenAI, Groq, AssemblyAI)
If you already have an account with one of these services, you can use it directly:
- Click the gear icon in the Captyne panel and open the Providers tab.
- Paste your API key for the provider. Keys are stored encrypted on your computer.
- Choose that provider on the Setup tab.
That service bills you directly, and Captyne doesn't charge anything for these transcriptions.
Which one should I pick?
- You edit client footage under NDA → Offline / Local.
- Your GPU isn't supported for offline, or you want the least setup → Managed API.
- You transcribe hours of footage every month → Offline / Local for unlimited use, or your own key.
Not happy with the accuracy? See How to get more accurate transcriptions.