Launch

AssemblyAI launches a low-latency Sync Speech-to-Text API at $0.45/hr

AssemblyAI pricing

AssemblyAI added a seventh priced product: a Sync Speech-to-Text API at $0.45/hr that returns finished transcripts in a single synchronous call with ~134 ms p50 latency and Universal-3.5 Pro accuracy.

Before

Six product tabs (Pre-recorded STT, Realtime STT, Voice Agent, Speech Understanding, Guardrails, LLM Gateway); no single-call synchronous transcription endpoint.

After

Seven product tabs — a new Sync Speech-to-Text API ($0.45/hr) joins the lineup, returning finished transcripts in one API call (no polling, WebSocket, or job to manage), up to 2 min/request, ~134 ms p50, 18 languages. All other rates unchanged.

AssemblyAI added a new Sync Speech-to-Text API priced at $0.45/hr — its seventh distinct priced product surface. The Sync API returns a finished transcript in a single synchronous API call: you POST a short clip and read the transcript off the response, with no polling, WebSocket, or job to manage.

It delivers Universal-3.5 Pro accuracy, processes up to 2 minutes per request with roughly 134 ms p50 latency, and includes per-word timing and confidence across 18 languages. The $0.45/hr rate matches Universal-3.5 Pro Realtime, reflecting the low-latency infrastructure. All other rates are unchanged: async transcription ($0.15/hr Universal-2, $0.21/hr Universal-3.5 Pro), realtime streaming ($0.15-$0.45/hr), and the Voice Agent API ($4.50/hr).

From AssemblyAI's pricing timeline
Sync Speech-to-Text API launched ($0.45/hr)

AssemblyAI added a new low-latency Sync Speech-to-Text API at $0.45/hr — a seventh priced product surface. It returns finished transcripts in a single synchronous call (no polling, WebSocket, or job to manage), delivers Universal-3.5 Pro accuracy, processes up to 2 minutes per request with ~134 ms p50 latency, and includes per-word timing and confidence across 18 languages. All other rates unchanged (async $0.15/$0.21, streaming $0.15/$0.45, Voice Agent $4.50/hr).

About AssemblyAI
assemblyai.com ↗

AssemblyAI operates a pure usage-based pricing model billed per hour of audio: async transcription at $0.15/hr (Universal-2) or $0.21/hr (Universal-3.5 Pro), with no seat fees, no monthly minimums, and a free tier of up to 185 hours to test before committing.

Pricing model pure usage
Billing units api callstokens
Sales motion self servesales led
Free tier
Yes
Commits
None
Transparency
public

AssemblyAI pricing history

  1. Jul 2026
    Sync Speech-to-Text API launched ($0.45/hr)
  2. Jul 2026
    Voice Agent API launched; pricing page restructured into six product tabs
  3. May 2026
    Current Pricing (May 2026)
  4. Jan 2025
    Universal-3.5 Pro and Streaming Models Released
  5. Jan 2024
    Series C ($50M) — Universal-2 Released
Full AssemblyAI timeline

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