# Inworld Speech to Text

> Run Inworld Speech to Text by inworld online or via API. $0.35/hr of audio, no setup.

**URL:** https://inference.sh/apps/inworld/speech-to-text
**Last updated:** 2026-10-04

---

Inworld Speech to Text - Multi-provider speech transcription with word timestamps

- app: `inworld/speech-to-text`
- maker: [inworld](https://inference.sh/apps/inworld.md)
- category: [audio](https://inference.sh/apps/category/audio.md)
- input → output: speech → text
- tasks: [speech to text](https://inference.sh/apps/tag/speech-to-text.md)
- price: $0.35/hr of audio
- runs via: api, javascript and python sdk, belt cli, mcp

## speech-to-text API Guide

### About
inworld speech to text - multi-provider speech transcription with word timestamps

### Get an API Key
Create one in [settings → api keys](https://app.inference.sh/settings/keys). The examples read it from `INFERENCE_API_KEY`.

```bash
export INFERENCE_API_KEY="inf_your_key"
```

### 1. Calling the API

#### Install the Client

```bash
pip install inferencesh
```

#### Run and Get Result
Submit a request and wait for the final result.

```python
import os
from inferencesh import inference

client = inference(api_key=os.environ["INFERENCE_API_KEY"])

## version @0bddr321 pinned
result = client.run({
        "app": "inworld/speech-to-text@0bddr321",
        "input": {
            "audio": "https://example.com/file.png"
        }
    })

print(result["output"])
```

#### Stream Live Updates
Get real-time progress updates as the task runs.

```python
import os
from inferencesh import inference

client = inference(api_key=os.environ["INFERENCE_API_KEY"])

## version @0bddr321 pinned
## stream=True yields updates as they arrive
for update in client.run({
        "app": "inworld/speech-to-text@0bddr321",
        "input": {
            "audio": "https://example.com/file.png"
        }
    }, stream=True):
    if update.get("progress"):
        print(f"progress: {update['progress']}%")
    if update.get("output"):
        print(f"output: {update['output']}")
```

#### Run in the Background
Start the task and get its id back right away, then check on it with `GET /tasks/{id}`. It is done when `status` is 10 (completed), 11 (failed) or 12 (cancelled).

```python
import os
from inferencesh import inference, TaskStatus

client = inference(api_key=os.environ["INFERENCE_API_KEY"])

## returns as soon as the task is created
task = client.run({
        "app": "inworld/speech-to-text@0bddr321",
        "input": {
            "audio": "https://example.com/file.png"
        }
    }, wait=False)

## later: read its current state
state = client.tasks.get(task["id"]).data
if state["status"] == TaskStatus.COMPLETED:
    print(state["output"])
```

### 2. Files

#### Automatic Upload

```python
## local file paths are automatically uploaded
result = client.run({
    "app": "inworld/speech-to-text@0bddr321",
    "input": {
        "image": "/path/to/local/image.png",  # detected & uploaded
        "audio": "https://example.com/audio.mp3",  # url passed through
    }
})
```

#### Manual Upload

```python
## upload and get a hosted URL
file = client.files.upload("/path/to/file.png")
print(file.uri)  # https://cloud.inference.sh/...
```

### 3. Schema

#### Input
- **audio** (string) *required*: Audio file to transcribe (MP3, WAV, FLAC, OGG, PCM).
- **language** (string): BCP-47 language code (e.g. 'en-US', 'ja-JP'). Auto-detected if omitted.
- **include_word_timestamps** (boolean): Include per-word timing information in the output.

#### Output
- **text** (string): Full transcription text
- **words** (array): Word-level timestamps with confidence scores

## other audio apps

- [Pika H3 Flex Audio Stems](https://inference.sh/apps/pika/pika-h3-flex-audio-stems.md): $0.001/stem-sec (3 stems: dialogue, music, effect)
- [Fish Audio Drama 3](https://inference.sh/apps/fish-audio/drama-3.md): $50.00/1M UTF-8 bytes
- [Eleven Flash v2.5](https://inference.sh/apps/elevenlabs/eleven-flash-v2-5.md): $0.04/1K characters
- [Eleven Multilingual v2](https://inference.sh/apps/elevenlabs/eleven-multilingual-v2.md): $0.08/1K characters
- [Eleven v3](https://inference.sh/apps/elevenlabs/eleven-v3.md): $0.08/1K characters

## faq

### how much does Inworld Speech to Text cost?

$0.35/hr of audio. you pay per run from your inference shell credits. no subscription is required.

### how do I run Inworld Speech to Text via api?

call inworld/speech-to-text with the javascript or python sdk, the rest api, or `belt app run inworld/speech-to-text` from a terminal. the api reference on this page lists every input.

### who makes Inworld Speech to Text?

Inworld Speech to Text is made by inworld and runs on inference shell. every inworld app is listed at https://inference.sh/apps/inworld.

### can my agent use Inworld Speech to Text?

yes. agents call it as a tool through the inference shell mcp server (https://api.inference.sh/mcp), the belt cli or the sdk, and pay per run like you do.

### what are the alternatives to Inworld Speech to Text?

other audio apps on inference shell include Pika H3 Flex Audio Stems, Fish Audio Drama 3, Eleven Flash v2.5, Eleven Multilingual v2. they run through the same api, so switching is a one-line change.