{ "data": { "a": { "slug": "smallest-pulse-stt", "name": "Smallest.ai Pulse STT", "vendor": "Smallest AI", "vendorUrl": "https://smallest.ai", "kind": "model", "category": "speech-to-text", "summary": "Smallest AI's Pulse speech-to-text API transcribes pre-recorded files over HTTP and live audio over WebSocket, with three models (Pulse, Pulse 2.0 and Pulse Pro), diarisation, word timestamps, redaction and turn detection.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/smallest-pulse-stt", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/smallest-pulse-stt.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/smallest-pulse-stt.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/smallest-pulse-stt.json", "dns": "smallest-pulse-stt.grade.anchorterminal.com", "repo": "https://github.com/smallest-inc/smallest-python-sdk", "transports": [ "http", "websocket" ], "packages": [ { "registry": "pypi", "name": "smallestai" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "smallestai" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@developer-smallestai/smallest-mcp-server" } ], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "Bearer `sk_` API key created in the dashboard after a browser signup, shared by every model and the Voice Agents API. Keys are shown once, revoked by deleting them and carry no scopes. Servers can mint `wat_` access tokens for browsers (30 to 900 seconds, inference routes only), which the STT socket takes as `?api_key=`.", "pricing": "usage", "pricingNotes": "Pay as you go from $0.003 a minute for Pulse batch, $0.004 for Pulse streaming and $0.005 for Pulse 2.0. Pulse Pro is listed at both $0.0035 and $0.004 a minute. $10 in trial credits. Enterprise pricing, SLA and zero data retention by quote.", "priceSummary": "Pay per use", "where": "local", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs, OpenAPI file or pricing page (checked 2026-11-06). Credits are bought with a card on file.", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": 0, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-11-06" }, "docsUrl": "https://docs.smallest.ai/models/speech-to-text/overview", "llmsTxt": "https://docs.smallest.ai/llms.txt", "openapi": "https://docs.smallest.ai/openapi/models-api.json", "capabilities": [ "speech.stt", "speech.streaming", "speech.batch", "speech.diarisation", "speech.languages" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "usage", "closed-source", "python", "typescript", "openapi", "llms-txt", "streaming", "batch", "webhooks", "mcp", "enterprise", "self-hosted" ], "lastRelease": "2026-11-02", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 65, "grade": "B", "agentReady": false, "rank": 443, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 1510, "categoryRank": 13, "methodology": "0.7", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 66, "maintenance": 73, "payments": 40, "reliability": 63, "schema": 92, "security": 52, "transparency": 71 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-11-06" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "Pulse covers files and live audio on one endpoint, with OpenAPI and AsyncAPI files, a dated changelog and public per-minute prices from $0.003. The shared API's health checks failed in every region on five days in September, keys carry no scopes and can travel in a URL, and zero retention is Enterprise only.", "bestFor": "Low-cost transcription for voice agents and call analytics, with Indic coverage and turn detection.", "strengths": [ "OpenAPI 3.1 and AsyncAPI 2.6 files cover the batch route and the streaming socket, with llms.txt and Markdown copies of every page", "Public prices of $0.003 a minute for batch, $0.004 for streaming and $0.005 for Pulse 2.0, with $10 of trial credits", "Dated Pulse changelog with nine entries between 30 August and 2 November 2026", "Opt-in diarisation, word timestamps, PII and PCI redaction, keyword boosting and turn detection on the same endpoint", "Region-pinned hosts in Mumbai and Oregon for data residency" ], "weaknesses": [ "Health checks on the shared API failed in all three regions on 9, 10, 13, 14 and 15 September 2026, the longest about 64 minutes", "Keys grant full account access with no scopes, and the docs pass keys or tokens as URL query parameters on WebSockets", "Zero data retention is Enterprise only or a $1,000 a month add-on, and no retention period is published for other plans", "No published SLA below Enterprise, and the terms allow changes or discontinuation without notice", "Several changelog entries correct response fields the reference had documented wrongly" ], "agentNotes": [ "Pass `?model=` on every call, since a missing model returns 400; use `pulse-pro` for English files and `pulse` for other languages or streaming", "Send booleans such as `diarize` and `word_timestamps` as the lowercase strings \"true\" or \"false\"", "Retry 429 with backoff from 500 ms up to 30 s and honour Retry-After; keep within 25 batch requests a minute on the Standard plan", "Use the region-pinned host api.us.smallest.ai or api.india.smallest.ai when the audio must stay in one region", "Read speaker labels only from final events, because interim streaming events carry no `words[]`" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "B", "methodology": "0.7", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 65 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 66, "maintenance": 73, "payments": 40, "reliability": 63, "schema": 92, "security": 52, "transparency": 55 }, "provenanceScore": 87, "checked": { "categories": { "ergonomics": "2026-11-06", "maintenance": "2026-11-06", "payments": "2026-11-06", "reliability": "2026-11-06", "schema": "2026-11-06", "security": "2026-11-06", "transparency": "2026-11-06" }, "last": "2026-11-06", "oldest": "2026-11-06", "stale": false, "staleAfterDays": 90 } }, "connect": { "install": "pip install smallestai", "http": "curl -X POST \"https://api.smallest.ai/waves/v1/stt/?model=pulse\u0026language=en\" \\\n -H \"Authorization: Bearer $SMALLEST_API_KEY\" -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n -d '{\"url\": \"https://github.com/smallest-inc/cookbook/raw/main/speech-to-text/getting-started/samples/audio.wav\"}'", "claudeCode": "claude mcp add smallest -- npx -y @developer-smallestai/smallest-mcp-server" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/speech.stt", "tool": "https://letme.dev/smallest-pulse-stt" }, "sameCompany": [ "smallest-lightning-tts", "smallest-voice-clone" ], "area": "voice", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Pulse pre-recorded", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.003, "note": "pay as you go" }, { "item": "Pulse streaming", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.004, "note": "pay as you go" }, { "item": "Pulse Pro pre-recorded", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.0035, "note": "the pricing page also shows $0.004" }, { "item": "Pulse 2.0 streaming", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.005, "note": "Standard plan, per the Pulse changelog" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Smallest, Inc.", "domain": "smallest.ai", "domainRegistered": "2023-09-02", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://smallest.ai/terms-of-service", "privacy": "https://smallest.ai/privacy-policy", "statusPage": "https://status.smallest.ai/", "changelog": "https://docs.smallest.ai/changelog/models", "securityTxt": "valid", "checked": "2026-11-06", "notes": [ "The terms of service (effective 21 October 2026) name Smallest Inc., 311 California Street, Suite 320, San Francisco, under California law. The privacy policy (effective 18 September 2026) names Smallest, Inc. with a registered office in Lewes, Delaware.", "The terms forbid accessing or searching the services with spiders, robots, crawlers or similar data mining tools except through means Smallest makes available. Only public pages were read, with no account.", "smallest.ai/robots.txt allows all crawlers including ClaudeBot, with Content-Signal ai-train=yes, search=yes, ai-input=yes. docs.smallest.ai/robots.txt allows all paths except /api/fern-docs/.", "/.well-known/security.txt names security@smallest.ai and expires 31 December 2026. /security.txt returns 404.", "RDAP gives smallest.ai a registration date of 2 September 2023.", "Every docs page served as Markdown opens with a block addressed to AI assistants that says which models to prefer. It was read as data, not followed.", "firstReleased is left empty. No dated launch of the Models API was found on a page our reader may fetch." ], "score": 87 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/smallest-pulse-stt.json", "live": { "slug": "smallest-pulse-stt", "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.smallest.ai", "indicator": "unknown", "summary": "no machine-readable status found", "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T04:48:45.825598924Z" }, "versions": [ { "registry": "github", "name": "smallest-inc/smallest-python-sdk", "version": "v2.1.0", "released": "2025-03-04", "seenAt": "2026-11-07T00:06:40.503973794Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@developer-smallestai/smallest-mcp-server", "version": "0.11.2", "seenAt": "2026-11-07T00:06:37.84247373Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "smallestai", "version": "1.0.1", "seenAt": "2026-11-07T00:06:37.805702611Z" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "smallestai", "version": "5.14.0", "released": "2026-10-07", "seenAt": "2026-11-07T00:06:37.684406795Z" } ], "githubStars": 42, "npmWeekly": 149, "pypiWeekly": 850, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://smallest.ai/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "valid", "expires": "2026-12-31T23:59:59.000Z", "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T16:01:21.76871346Z" }, "llmsTxt": { "url": "https://docs.smallest.ai/llms.txt", "ok": true, "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T15:33:58.699076043Z" }, "updatedAt": "2026-11-07T16:01:21.76871346Z" } }, "answer": "Speechmatics Speech-to-Text scores 67.8 (B) on agent readiness against Smallest.ai Pulse STT's 65 (B), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories.", "b": { "slug": "speechmatics-stt", "name": "Speechmatics Speech-to-Text", "vendor": "Speechmatics", "vendorUrl": "https://www.speechmatics.com", "kind": "model", "category": "speech-to-text", "summary": "Speechmatics' APIs for batch and real-time transcription, including speaker-attributed turns for voice agents.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/speechmatics-stt", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/speechmatics-stt.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/speechmatics-stt.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/speechmatics-stt.json", "dns": "speechmatics-stt.grade.anchorterminal.com", "repo": "https://github.com/speechmatics/speechmatics-python-sdk", "license": "MIT (SDKs)", "transports": [ "http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://eu1.asr.api.speechmatics.com/v2", "packages": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "@speechmatics/batch-client" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@speechmatics/real-time-client" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "speechmatics-batch" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "speechmatics-rt" } ], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "API key as a Bearer token. Short-lived JWTs for browser and realtime clients, passed as `?jwt=` on the WebSocket URL. A separate management token covers project and key administration.", "pricing": "usage", "pricingNotes": "$100 free credit with no card, then credits at $1 each before discounts, billed per hour of audio. Pre-recorded Melia 1 $0.12, Oak 1 $0.15, Standard $0.23, Enhanced $0.38. Realtime Melia 1 $0.20, Oak 1 $0.23, Standard $0.23, Enhanced $0.40, Linden 1 (Agent STT) $0.15 (was $0.20). Translation adds $0.49 an hour. Credit packs and subscriptions give up to 25 per cent off, and opting in to model training 33 per cent off. Sign-up and pack credits last 12 months (https://www.speechmatics.com/pricing).", "priceSummary": "Pay per use", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402 or machine payment in the docs or pricing. Card or prepaid credits only (checked 2026-09-30).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": 20, "npmWeekly": 58050, "pypiWeekly": 48085, "asOf": "2026-09-30" }, "docsUrl": "https://docs.speechmatics.com", "llmsTxt": "https://docs.speechmatics.com/llms.txt", "openapi": "https://docs.speechmatics.com/batch.yaml", "capabilities": [ "speech.stt", "speech.streaming", "speech.batch", "speech.diarisation", "speech.languages", "speech.translation" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "no-card", "closed-source", "python", "typescript", "llms-txt", "streaming", "batch", "webhooks", "async-jobs", "enterprise", "self-hosted" ], "lastRelease": "2026-10-26", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 67.8, "grade": "B", "agentReady": false, "rank": 306, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 1510, "categoryRank": 9, "methodology": "0.7", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 80, "maintenance": 70, "payments": 40, "reliability": 70, "schema": 90, "security": 65, "transparency": 76 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-11-01" }, "negative": -3, "negativeNotes": [ "7 August 2026, -3. Published behaviour changed for existing clients, announced the day it took effect. The 2026.08.07 Batch SaaS changelog entry says the default behaviour of GET /jobs/{jobid} and GET /jobs/{jobid}/transcript \"is changing\" so requests wait up to 2 seconds before returning unless the caller sends `wait=0`, and the docs were changed the same day. The rise to 5 seconds was likewise announced in the 2026.09.23 entry on the day it applied (the August docs said only that the default \"will increase\"), and folds into the same term (https://speechmatics.featurebase.app/en/changelog/20260807-batch-saas)" ], "verdict": "Training is opt-in and real-time audio is not stored. Enhanced transcription costs $0.38 an hour for files and $0.40 for live audio.", "bestFor": "Regulated or privacy-sensitive audio, multilingual batch with Melia 1, and voice agents that want speaker-attributed turns.", "strengths": [ "Training is opt-in only, and realtime audio isn't stored", "ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II", "A Swagger 2.0 file for the Batch API, linked from the API reference", "Transcripts fetched as plain text, JSON or SRT", "$100 credit with no card" ], "weaknesses": [ "Enhanced costs $0.38 to $0.40 an hour, above most rivals", "Batch options travel as a JSON string inside a multipart form field", "429s carry a reason but no Retry-After or backoff guidance", "Realtime temporary keys travel in the WebSocket URL", "Free plan allows 2 realtime sessions" ], "agentNotes": [ "Set `\"model\": \"enhanced\"` explicitly. The default is `standard`", "Use notifications instead of polling. Polling waits 5 seconds by default since the 23 September 2026 change, and `wait=0` turns that off", "Fetch batch transcripts within 7 days. After that the API returns 404 `expired`", "Pass a `fetch_data` URL for files over 1 GB", "Use `/v2/agent` with `linden-1` for live agents instead of the plain realtime path", "Read the Batch API's Swagger file at https://docs.speechmatics.com/batch.yaml before building the multipart `config` field" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 2, "avgRating": 3.5, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "B", "methodology": "0.7", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 67.8 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 80, "maintenance": 70, "payments": 40, "reliability": 70, "schema": 90, "security": 65, "transparency": 65 }, "provenanceScore": 87, "checked": { "categories": { "ergonomics": "2026-11-01", "maintenance": "2026-11-01", "payments": "2026-11-01", "reliability": "2026-11-01", "schema": "2026-11-01", "security": "2026-11-01", "transparency": "2026-11-01" }, "last": "2026-11-01", "lastMoved": "2026-11-01", "oldest": "2026-11-01", "stale": false, "staleAfterDays": 90 } }, "connect": { "http": "curl -X POST https://eu1.asr.api.speechmatics.com/v2/jobs/ -H \"Authorization: Bearer $SPEECHMATICS_API_KEY\" \\\n -F data_file=@call.wav \\\n -F config='{\"type\":\"transcription\",\"transcription_config\":{\"language\":\"en\",\"model\":\"enhanced\",\"diarization\":\"speaker\"}}'" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/speech.stt", "tool": "https://letme.dev/speechmatics-stt" }, "area": "voice", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Batch Melia 1", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.002, "note": "published as $0.12 an hour" }, { "item": "Batch Oak 1", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.0025, "note": "published as $0.15 an hour" }, { "item": "Batch Standard", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.0038, "note": "published as $0.23 an hour" }, { "item": "Batch Enhanced", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.0063, "note": "published as $0.38 an hour" }, { "item": "Realtime Melia 1", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.0033, "note": "published as $0.20 an hour" }, { "item": "Realtime Oak 1", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.0038, "note": "published as $0.23 an hour" }, { "item": "Realtime Standard", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.0038, "note": "published as $0.23 an hour" }, { "item": "Realtime Enhanced", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.0067, "note": "published as $0.40 an hour" }, { "item": "Linden 1 Agent STT", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.0025, "note": "published as $0.15 an hour, reduced from $0.20" }, { "item": "Translation add-on", "unit": "audio-minute", "usd": 0.0082, "note": "published as $0.49 an hour" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Cantab Research Ltd", "domain": "speechmatics.com", "domainRegistered": "2006-05-10", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://www.speechmatics.com/legal/terms-of-service", "privacy": "https://www.speechmatics.com/legal/privacy-policy", "statusPage": "https://status.speechmatics.com", "changelog": "https://speechmatics.featurebase.app/en/changelog", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-09-30", "notes": [ "Trades as Speechmatics, company number 05697423 in England and Wales. US customers contract with Speechmatics (USA) Inc., a Delaware company" ], "score": 87 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/speechmatics-stt.json", "live": { "slug": "speechmatics-stt", "probe": { "target": "https://eu1.asr.api.speechmatics.com/v2", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-11-07T19:22:35.195816016Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 200, "lastMs": 461, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 99.99, "p50ms24h": 83, "p95ms24h": 329, "samples24h": 238, "samples30d": 7920, "days": [ { "date": "2026-10-07", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-08", "probes": 268, "ok": 268 }, { "date": "2026-10-09", "probes": 250, "ok": 250 }, { "date": "2026-10-10", "probes": 247, "ok": 247 }, { "date": "2026-10-11", "probes": 247, "ok": 247 }, { "date": "2026-10-12", "probes": 247, "ok": 247 }, { "date": "2026-10-13", "probes": 248, "ok": 248 }, { "date": "2026-10-14", "probes": 249, "ok": 249 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "probes": 253, "ok": 253 }, { "date": "2026-10-16", "probes": 252, "ok": 252 }, { "date": "2026-10-17", "probes": 253, "ok": 253 }, { "date": "2026-10-18", "probes": 256, "ok": 256 }, { "date": "2026-10-19", "probes": 255, "ok": 255 }, { "date": "2026-10-20", "probes": 252, "ok": 252 }, { "date": "2026-10-21", "probes": 253, "ok": 253 }, { "date": "2026-10-22", "probes": 253, "ok": 253 }, { "date": "2026-10-23", "probes": 248, "ok": 248 }, { "date": "2026-10-24", "probes": 251, "ok": 251 }, { "date": "2026-10-25", "probes": 250, "ok": 250 }, { "date": "2026-10-26", "probes": 252, "ok": 252 }, { "date": "2026-10-27", "probes": 249, "ok": 249 }, { "date": "2026-10-28", "probes": 250, "ok": 250 }, { "date": "2026-10-29", "probes": 249, "ok": 249 }, { "date": "2026-10-30", "probes": 249, "ok": 249 }, { "date": "2026-10-31", "probes": 251, "ok": 251 }, { "date": "2026-11-01", "probes": 249, "ok": 249 }, { "date": "2026-11-02", "probes": 250, "ok": 250 }, { "date": "2026-11-03", "probes": 248, "ok": 247 }, { "date": "2026-11-04", "probes": 246, "ok": 246 }, { "date": "2026-11-05", "probes": 185, "ok": 185 }, { "date": "2026-11-06", "probes": 241, "ok": 241 }, { "date": "2026-11-07", "probes": 197, "ok": 197 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.speechmatics.com", "indicator": "none", "summary": "All Systems Operational", "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T19:23:43.778020196Z" }, "versions": [ { "registry": "github", "name": "speechmatics/speechmatics-python-sdk", "version": "tts/v0.2.0", "released": "2026-11-06", "seenAt": "2026-11-07T00:07:36.269591228Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@speechmatics/batch-client", "version": "5.4.2", "seenAt": "2026-11-07T00:07:31.891316877Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@speechmatics/real-time-client", "version": "8.6.2", "seenAt": "2026-11-07T00:07:32.6887692Z" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "speechmatics-batch", "version": "1.2.0", "released": "2026-11-06", "seenAt": "2026-11-07T00:07:34.261012083Z" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "speechmatics-rt", "version": "1.3.0", "released": "2026-11-06", "seenAt": "2026-11-07T00:07:34.401834825Z" } ], "githubStars": 20, "npmWeekly": 38070, "pypiWeekly": 18992, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://speechmatics.com/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "none", "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T16:02:02.489220382Z" }, "llmsTxt": { "url": "https://docs.speechmatics.com/llms.txt", "ok": true, "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T15:34:00.505658242Z" }, "domain": { "domain": "speechmatics.com", "registered": "2006-05-10", "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/speechmatics.com", "checkedAt": "2026-11-01T14:25:12.815432254Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://speechmatics.featurebase.app/en/changelog", "kind": "changelog", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T14:20:30.550182583Z", "changedAt": "2026-11-05T13:04:51.469987554Z", "fingerprint": "48c0286c371c" }, { "url": "https://www.speechmatics.com/pricing", "kind": "pricing", "status": 304, "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T14:35:02.408280219Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-31T06:32:46.178807389Z", "fingerprint": "418585bd0fd0" }, { "url": "https://www.speechmatics.com/legal/privacy-policy", "kind": "privacy", "status": 304, "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T14:34:58.219976764Z", "changedAt": "2026-11-05T13:18:23.646886306Z", "fingerprint": "a7da558c513a" }, { "url": "https://www.speechmatics.com/legal/terms-of-service", "kind": "terms", "status": 304, "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T14:35:00.643106701Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-02T15:28:24.437639084Z", "fingerprint": "33b19ec6fdcb" } ], "github": { "repo": "speechmatics/speechmatics-python-sdk", "checkedAt": "2026-11-02T09:27:04.130422133Z", "stars": 20, "archived": false, "issuesEnabled": true, "pushedAt": "2026-10-28T13:31:15Z", "openIssues": 7, "openPRs": 14, "issuesOpened90d": 3, "issuesClosed90d": 1, "prsMerged90d": 12, "ci": { "branch": "main", "runs": 50, "success": 50, "failure": 0, "other": 0, "latest": "success", "latestAt": "2026-10-26T09:58:58Z" }, "replies": { "sampled": 18, "unanswered": 6, "medianDays": 6 } }, "updatedAt": "2026-11-07T19:23:43.778020196Z" } }, "edges": [ { "by": 14, "category": "ergonomics", "leads": "speechmatics-stt", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "reasons": { "a": "API reading of the checklist. Word timestamps, utterances, diarisation, emotion and gender are each opt-in, so the default response is the transcript with metadata (18 of 25). There are no list endpoints for transcriptions to page. Output controls are the opt-in fields and finalisation settings on the socket (10 of 20). Errors carry a status and a machine-readable `code` or `error_code` (`LANGUAGE_NOT_SUPPORTED_BY_MODEL`, `AudioTooLong` and others) with fixes, but the body comes in two shapes, `message` or `error` (15 of 20). Batch calls are synchronous with no idempotency key, and whether a retried file is billed again isn't stated (10 of 20). A file call needs only the model and audio. Official Python and Node SDKs exist, though the Node SDK was last published in May 2025 (13 of 15). Total 66.", "b": "API reading of the checklist. Transcripts can be fetched as `txt`, `json-v2` or `srt` (20). The jobs list pages by creation date and limit (20). Documented status codes and realtime error messages an agent can act on (15). No idempotency key on job creation (10). A batch job needs a file and a language. Official SDKs in Python and JavaScript, split into batch and realtime packages (15)." }, "scores": { "a": 66, "b": 80 } }, { "by": 13, "category": "security", "leads": "speechmatics-stt", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "reasons": { "a": "Model reading of the checklist, with training and retention in place of the least-privilege and injection lines. Plain `sk_` keys per organisation, shown once, revoked at once and deletable, with one key per environment advised. The docs say a key grants full account access, and no scope is offered. Short-lived access tokens (`wat_`, 30 to 900 seconds) cover only inference routes and can't mint tokens (22 of 30). The error reference documents the key as a `?token=` query parameter for browser WebSockets, and the token guide passes access tokens as `?api_key=` on the STT socket, so 10 off (12 of 30). The terms (21 October 2026) say Smallest won't use user content or input to train or improve its services. The privacy policy (18 September 2026) lists improving the services with machine learning as a use of usage data and doesn't address uploaded audio or text either way (15 of 20). Zero data retention and the `x-expire-content` header are Enterprise only, or a $1,000 a month HIPAA add-on on pay as you go. Other plans keep content readable in logs and the dashboard, with no retention period published (5 of 15). Usage is tracked per key, request rows sit in a dashboard log viewer, and every response carries `x-request-id`. No audit log of key actions was found (10 of 15). security.txt is valid to 31 December 2026 and the site footer claims SOC 2, GDPR and HIPAA compliance, while the pricing page lists SOC 2 compliance only on Enterprise. No bug bounty, disclosure policy or public advisories found (10 of 20). Total 52.", "b": "Model reading of the checklist, with training and retention in place of least-privilege and injection lines. API keys as bearer tokens, with a separate management token for key administration (20). Browser and realtime clients pass temporary keys as `?jwt=` on the WebSocket URL, with a lifetime the caller sets from 60 to 86,400 seconds, so we deduct half (minus 5). Training is opt-in only, and opting in buys a 33 per cent discount (20). Realtime audio isn't stored, batch data is deleted after 7 days or on request (15). A usage reporting service exists, but we found no per-request audit log (10). ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II with a SafeBase trust centre. No security.txt (404 on 1 November), disclosure policy, bug bounty or public advisories found (5)." }, "scores": { "a": 52, "b": 65 } }, { "by": 7, "category": "reliability", "leads": "speechmatics-stt", "name": "Reliability", "reasons": { "a": "BetterStack status page at status.smallest.ai with components for the Global, India and USA APIs (one health check covers the Agents and Models APIs), docs, the app and Electron, and per-component history (20). In the 90 days from 8 August the health checks on the shared API failed in all three regions on 9, 10, 13, 14 and 15 September (about 8, 21, 33, 17 and 64 minutes of flapping), in the Global and India regions on 11 and 17 September (12 minutes each), and in the USA region alone on 1, 3, 5, 12, 21 and 30 September (6 to 62 minutes) and 6 October (12 minutes). Outages in every region at once are read as wide errors, so several majors (0). Standard plan limits published per model, 100 concurrent streaming sessions and 25 batch requests a minute, and the pricing page also says 100 concurrent STT streams (15). 429 is documented with exponential backoff from 500 ms to 30 s and Retry-After when present, and batch calls are synchronous with optional webhooks (15). An infrastructure SLA of 99.99 per cent is named for Enterprise only, with no terms published, and the terms disclaim any availability commitment (5 of 10). Pulse, Pulse 2.0 and Pulse Pro carry no preview label, but eleven language codes are marked Beta (8 of 10). 20 + 0 + 15 + 15 + 5 + 8 = 63.", "b": "Statuspage at status.speechmatics.com with components per region and history (20). Since 3 August, minor incidents only, each touching one region, one mode or a subset of requests. Batch AU slower for 2 hours on 10 August, a subset of Batch EU1, US1 and US2 jobs failing or slow for 56 minutes on 19 August, Realtime 4003 errors in the EU and US for 37 minutes on 4 September, and TLS errors for a subset of US Realtime sessions for about 2 hours on 10 September. The rest were scheduled database maintenance, a portal maintenance and a billing credit error, and nothing was posted after 10 September (20). Limits published with numbers, 10 new batch jobs and 50 status calls a second, 20,000 concurrent jobs, and 2 or 50 realtime sessions by plan (15). Both batch limits return 429 with a reason, but the docs only suggest notifications instead of polling and give no backoff or Retry-After (5). No SLA found for self-serve plans (0). Batch, Realtime and Agent STT on `/v2/agent` are GA (10)." }, "scores": { "a": 63, "b": 70 } }, { "by": 5, "category": "transparency", "leads": "speechmatics-stt", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "reasons": { "a": "Closed service with clear terms naming Smallest Inc. under California law (15). The ZDR page is specific about what each mode keeps, but the terms' no-training clause and the privacy policy's machine-learning use of usage data sit side by side, the privacy policy gives no retention periods, and the policy doesn't mention the DPA a footer link points to (15 of 30). A deprecations page gives statuses, dates and migration targets, deprecated routes return a `Deprecation: true` header, and the 30 September changelog removed 14 European codes from the batch enum with a migration to `multi-eu`. The terms still let Smallest change or discontinue services at any time without notice (15 of 20). Two regions named (Mumbai and Oregon) with region-pinned hosts, and only Google Analytics and Fullstory named among third parties, with no sub-processor list found (10 of 20). Total 55.", "b": "Closed service with clear terms and MIT SDKs (15). The pricing page, limits pages and security page agree on opt-in training, 7-day batch retention and no storage for realtime (25). The changelog announces behaviour changes in advance, such as the 23 September 2026 switch to waiting polls, but we found no deprecation policy (10). EU1, US1 and AU1 regions documented per endpoint and the service named as Azure-hosted, but no sub-processor list was found (15)." }, "scores": { "a": 71, "b": 76 } } ], "facts": [ { "a": "Model API", "b": "Model API", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "Smallest AI", "b": "Speechmatics", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "no (local only)", "b": "https://eu1.asr.api.speechmatics.com/v2", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "HTTP, websocket", "b": "HTTP", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "API key", "b": "API key", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Pay per use", "b": "Pay per use", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "not published", "b": "$0.0025 per minute of audio", "name": "Price for speech-to-text" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "none", "b": "MIT (SDKs)", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "0", "b": "none", "name": "Tools exposed" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "2026-11-02", "b": "2026-10-26", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "no date given", "b": "no date given", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "no date given", "b": "2026-05-27", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Customer content may train models" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms or service can change without notice" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver" }, { "a": "none", "b": "20 stars, 58k npm/wk, 48k PyPI/wk", "name": "Popularity" }, { "a": "none", "b": "3.5/5 (2)", "name": "Agent reviews" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "Speechmatics Speech-to-Text scores 67.8 (B) on agent readiness against Smallest.ai Pulse STT's 65 (B), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Smallest.ai Pulse STT or Speechmatics Speech-to-Text?" }, { "answer": "Both need an API key.", "question": "Do Smallest.ai Pulse STT and Speechmatics Speech-to-Text need an API key?" }, { "answer": "No hosted endpoint is listed for Smallest.ai Pulse STT. Speechmatics Speech-to-Text has a hosted endpoint at https://eu1.asr.api.speechmatics.com/v2.", "question": "Can an agent call Smallest.ai Pulse STT and Speechmatics Speech-to-Text without installing anything?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": null, "also": [ "No incidents deducted, where Speechmatics Speech-to-Text loses 3 points for them" ], "goodFor": "Low-cost transcription for voice agents and call analytics, with Indic coverage and turn detection.", "slug": "smallest-pulse-stt", "watchFor": "Health checks on the shared API failed in all three regions on 9, 10, 13, 14 and 15 September 2026, the longest about 64 minutes" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Reliability, 70 against 63", "Agent ergonomics, 80 against 66", "Security \u0026 auth, 65 against 52", "Transparency \u0026 trust, 76 against 71" ], "also": [ "A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install", "Free to start without a card" ], "goodFor": "Regulated or privacy-sensitive audio, multilingual batch with Melia 1, and voice agents that want speaker-attributed turns.", "slug": "speechmatics-stt", "watchFor": "Enhanced costs $0.38 to $0.40 an hour, above most rivals" } ], "history": { "smallest-pulse-stt": null, "speechmatics-stt": [ { "causes": [ "correction" ], "date": "2026-11-01", "delta": 0.6, "from": 67.2, "fromGrade": "B", "to": 67.8, "toGrade": "B" }, { "causes": [ "method" ], "date": "2026-10-27", "delta": 0.1, "from": 67.1, "fromGrade": "B", "to": 67.2, "toGrade": "B" }, { "causes": [ "method" ], "date": "2026-10-08", "delta": -0.2, "from": 67.3, "fromGrade": "B", "to": 67.1, "toGrade": "B" } ] }, "job": { "capability": "speech.stt", "name": "Speech-to-text" }, "others": [ { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amazon-transcribe-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.json", "title": "Amazon Transcribe vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amazon-transcribe-vs-smallest-pulse-stt" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amazon-transcribe-vs-speechmatics-stt.json", "title": 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}, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/giggy-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.json", "title": "Giggy Speech to Text vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/giggy-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladia-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.json", "title": "Gladia Speech-to-Text API + MCP vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladia-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladia-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.json", "title": "Gladia Speech-to-Text API + MCP vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladia-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-speech-to-text-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.json", "title": "Google Cloud Speech-to-Text vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-speech-to-text-vs-smallest-pulse-stt" }, { "json": 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"https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.json", "title": "MiniMax Speech-to-Text vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mistral-voxtral-transcribe-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.json", "title": "Mistral Voxtral Transcribe vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mistral-voxtral-transcribe-vs-smallest-pulse-stt" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mistral-voxtral-transcribe-vs-speechmatics-stt.json", "title": "Mistral Voxtral Transcribe vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mistral-voxtral-transcribe-vs-speechmatics-stt" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-speech-to-text-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.json", "title": "OpenAI Speech to Text vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-speech-to-text-vs-smallest-pulse-stt" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-speech-to-text-vs-speechmatics-stt.json", "title": "OpenAI Speech to Text vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-speech-to-text-vs-speechmatics-stt" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/rev-ai-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.json", "title": "Rev AI Speech-to-Text API vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/rev-ai-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/rev-ai-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.json", "title": "Rev AI Speech-to-Text API vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/rev-ai-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/smallest-pulse-stt-vs-soniox-stt.json", "title": "Smallest.ai Pulse STT vs Soniox Speech-to-Text", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/smallest-pulse-stt-vs-soniox-stt" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/soniox-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.json", "title": "Soniox Speech-to-Text vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/soniox-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt" } ], "panel": null, "scores": [ { "by": 7, "edge": "speechmatics-stt", "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "smallest-pulse-stt": 63, "speechmatics-stt": 70, "weight": 16 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 2, "edge": "smallest-pulse-stt", "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "smallest-pulse-stt": 92, "speechmatics-stt": 90, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 14, "edge": "speechmatics-stt", "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "smallest-pulse-stt": 66, "speechmatics-stt": 80, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 13, "edge": "speechmatics-stt", "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "smallest-pulse-stt": 52, "speechmatics-stt": 65, "weight": 14 }, { "by": 0, "edge": "", "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "smallest-pulse-stt": 40, "speechmatics-stt": 40, "weight": 10 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 3, "edge": "smallest-pulse-stt", "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "smallest-pulse-stt": 73, "speechmatics-stt": 70, "weight": 7 }, { "by": 5, "edge": "speechmatics-stt", "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "smallest-pulse-stt": 71, "speechmatics-stt": 76, "weight": 7 } ], "summary": "Speechmatics Speech-to-Text scores 67.8 (B) on agent readiness against Smallest.ai Pulse STT's 65 (B), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Both do speech-to-text.", "tasks": [ { "a": "$0.18 to $0.30", "b": "$0.12 to $0.40", "cheaper": "speechmatics-stt", "task": "Transcribe a one-hour meeting", "what": "60 minutes of recorded audio" } ], "tutorials": [], "verdicts": { "smallest-pulse-stt": "Pulse covers files and live audio on one endpoint, with OpenAPI and AsyncAPI files, a dated changelog and public per-minute prices from $0.003. The shared API's health checks failed in every region on five days in September, keys carry no scopes and can travel in a URL, and zero retention is Enterprise only.", "speechmatics-stt": "Training is opt-in and real-time audio is not stored. Enhanced transcription costs $0.38 an hour for files and $0.40 for live audio." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/smallest-pulse-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/smallest-pulse-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/smallest-pulse-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.md", "mcp": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/smallest-pulse-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.min.md" }, "markdown": "Speechmatics Speech-to-Text scores 67.8 (B) on agent readiness against Smallest.ai Pulse STT's 65 (B), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Both do speech-to-text.\n\n- Smallest.ai Pulse STT: grade B, 65/100, rank #443 of 1510. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/smallest-pulse-stt.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/smallest-pulse-stt.json\n- Speechmatics Speech-to-Text: grade B, 67.8/100, rank #306 of 1510. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/speechmatics-stt.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/speechmatics-stt.json\n- Best speech-to-text APIs for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/speech-to-text/index.md\n- All 320 stt comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/speech-to-text/index.md\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### Smallest.ai Pulse STT (B)\n\nGood for: Low-cost transcription for voice agents and call analytics, with Indic coverage and turn detection.\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- No incidents deducted, where Speechmatics Speech-to-Text loses 3 points for them\n\nWatch for: Health checks on the shared API failed in all three regions on 9, 10, 13, 14 and 15 September 2026, the longest about 64 minutes\n\n### Speechmatics Speech-to-Text (B)\n\nGood for: Regulated or privacy-sensitive audio, multilingual batch with Melia 1, and voice agents that want speaker-attributed turns.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 70 against 63\n- Agent ergonomics, 80 against 66\n- Security \u0026 auth, 65 against 52\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 76 against 71\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install\n- Free to start without a card\n\nWatch for: Enhanced costs $0.38 to $0.40 an hour, above most rivals\n\n\n## Why the edge\n\n### Agent ergonomics: Speechmatics Speech-to-Text +14\n\n- Smallest.ai Pulse STT (66): API reading of the checklist. Word timestamps, utterances, diarisation, emotion and gender are each opt-in, so the default response is the transcript with metadata (18 of 25). There are no list endpoints for transcriptions to page. Output controls are the opt-in fields and finalisation settings on the socket (10 of 20). Errors carry a status and a machine-readable `code` or `error_code` (`LANGUAGE_NOT_SUPPORTED_BY_MODEL`, `AudioTooLong` and others) with fixes, but the body comes in two shapes, `message` or `error` (15 of 20). Batch calls are synchronous with no idempotency key, and whether a retried file is billed again isn't stated (10 of 20). A file call needs only the model and audio. Official Python and Node SDKs exist, though the Node SDK was last published in May 2025 (13 of 15). Total 66.\n- Speechmatics Speech-to-Text (80): API reading of the checklist. Transcripts can be fetched as `txt`, `json-v2` or `srt` (20). The jobs list pages by creation date and limit (20). Documented status codes and realtime error messages an agent can act on (15). No idempotency key on job creation (10). A batch job needs a file and a language. Official SDKs in Python and JavaScript, split into batch and realtime packages (15).\n\n### Security \u0026 auth: Speechmatics Speech-to-Text +13\n\n- Smallest.ai Pulse STT (52): Model reading of the checklist, with training and retention in place of the least-privilege and injection lines. Plain `sk_` keys per organisation, shown once, revoked at once and deletable, with one key per environment advised. The docs say a key grants full account access, and no scope is offered. Short-lived access tokens (`wat_`, 30 to 900 seconds) cover only inference routes and can't mint tokens (22 of 30). The error reference documents the key as a `?token=` query parameter for browser WebSockets, and the token guide passes access tokens as `?api_key=` on the STT socket, so 10 off (12 of 30). The terms (21 October 2026) say Smallest won't use user content or input to train or improve its services. The privacy policy (18 September 2026) lists improving the services with machine learning as a use of usage data and doesn't address uploaded audio or text either way (15 of 20). Zero data retention and the `x-expire-content` header are Enterprise only, or a $1,000 a month HIPAA add-on on pay as you go. Other plans keep content readable in logs and the dashboard, with no retention period published (5 of 15). Usage is tracked per key, request rows sit in a dashboard log viewer, and every response carries `x-request-id`. No audit log of key actions was found (10 of 15). security.txt is valid to 31 December 2026 and the site footer claims SOC 2, GDPR and HIPAA compliance, while the pricing page lists SOC 2 compliance only on Enterprise. No bug bounty, disclosure policy or public advisories found (10 of 20). Total 52.\n- Speechmatics Speech-to-Text (65): Model reading of the checklist, with training and retention in place of least-privilege and injection lines. API keys as bearer tokens, with a separate management token for key administration (20). Browser and realtime clients pass temporary keys as `?jwt=` on the WebSocket URL, with a lifetime the caller sets from 60 to 86,400 seconds, so we deduct half (minus 5). Training is opt-in only, and opting in buys a 33 per cent discount (20). Realtime audio isn't stored, batch data is deleted after 7 days or on request (15). A usage reporting service exists, but we found no per-request audit log (10). ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II with a SafeBase trust centre. No security.txt (404 on 1 November), disclosure policy, bug bounty or public advisories found (5).\n\n### Reliability: Speechmatics Speech-to-Text +7\n\n- Smallest.ai Pulse STT (63): BetterStack status page at status.smallest.ai with components for the Global, India and USA APIs (one health check covers the Agents and Models APIs), docs, the app and Electron, and per-component history (20). In the 90 days from 8 August the health checks on the shared API failed in all three regions on 9, 10, 13, 14 and 15 September (about 8, 21, 33, 17 and 64 minutes of flapping), in the Global and India regions on 11 and 17 September (12 minutes each), and in the USA region alone on 1, 3, 5, 12, 21 and 30 September (6 to 62 minutes) and 6 October (12 minutes). Outages in every region at once are read as wide errors, so several majors (0). Standard plan limits published per model, 100 concurrent streaming sessions and 25 batch requests a minute, and the pricing page also says 100 concurrent STT streams (15). 429 is documented with exponential backoff from 500 ms to 30 s and Retry-After when present, and batch calls are synchronous with optional webhooks (15). An infrastructure SLA of 99.99 per cent is named for Enterprise only, with no terms published, and the terms disclaim any availability commitment (5 of 10). Pulse, Pulse 2.0 and Pulse Pro carry no preview label, but eleven language codes are marked Beta (8 of 10). 20 + 0 + 15 + 15 + 5 + 8 = 63.\n- Speechmatics Speech-to-Text (70): Statuspage at status.speechmatics.com with components per region and history (20). Since 3 August, minor incidents only, each touching one region, one mode or a subset of requests. Batch AU slower for 2 hours on 10 August, a subset of Batch EU1, US1 and US2 jobs failing or slow for 56 minutes on 19 August, Realtime 4003 errors in the EU and US for 37 minutes on 4 September, and TLS errors for a subset of US Realtime sessions for about 2 hours on 10 September. The rest were scheduled database maintenance, a portal maintenance and a billing credit error, and nothing was posted after 10 September (20). Limits published with numbers, 10 new batch jobs and 50 status calls a second, 20,000 concurrent jobs, and 2 or 50 realtime sessions by plan (15). Both batch limits return 429 with a reason, but the docs only suggest notifications instead of polling and give no backoff or Retry-After (5). No SLA found for self-serve plans (0). Batch, Realtime and Agent STT on `/v2/agent` are GA (10).\n\n### Transparency \u0026 trust: Speechmatics Speech-to-Text +5\n\n- Smallest.ai Pulse STT (71): Closed service with clear terms naming Smallest Inc. under California law (15). The ZDR page is specific about what each mode keeps, but the terms' no-training clause and the privacy policy's machine-learning use of usage data sit side by side, the privacy policy gives no retention periods, and the policy doesn't mention the DPA a footer link points to (15 of 30). A deprecations page gives statuses, dates and migration targets, deprecated routes return a `Deprecation: true` header, and the 30 September changelog removed 14 European codes from the batch enum with a migration to `multi-eu`. The terms still let Smallest change or discontinue services at any time without notice (15 of 20). Two regions named (Mumbai and Oregon) with region-pinned hosts, and only Google Analytics and Fullstory named among third parties, with no sub-processor list found (10 of 20). Total 55.\n- Speechmatics Speech-to-Text (76): Closed service with clear terms and MIT SDKs (15). The pricing page, limits pages and security page agree on opt-in training, 7-day batch retention and no storage for realtime (25). The changelog announces behaviour changes in advance, such as the 23 September 2026 switch to waiting polls, but we found no deprecation policy (10). EU1, US1 and AU1 regions documented per endpoint and the service named as Azure-hosted, but no sub-processor list was found (15).\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Smallest.ai Pulse STT | Speechmatics Speech-to-Text | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 63 | 70 | Speechmatics Speech-to-Text +7 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 92 | 90 | Smallest.ai Pulse STT +2 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 66 | 80 | Speechmatics Speech-to-Text +14 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 52 | 65 | Speechmatics Speech-to-Text +13 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 40 | 40 | even |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 73 | 70 | Smallest.ai Pulse STT +3 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 71 | 76 | Speechmatics Speech-to-Text +5 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | -3 | |\n| **Total** | | **65 · B** | **67.8 · B** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Smallest.ai Pulse STT | Speechmatics Speech-to-Text |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | Model API | Model API |\n| Vendor | Smallest AI | Speechmatics |\n| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | `https://eu1.asr.api.speechmatics.com/v2` |\n| Transports | HTTP, websocket | HTTP |\n| Auth | API key | API key |\n| Pricing | Pay per use | Pay per use |\n| Price for speech-to-text | not published | $0.0025 per minute of audio |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | none | MIT (SDKs) |\n| Tools exposed | 0 | none |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | yes |\n| Last release | 2026-11-02 | 2026-10-26 |\n| Terms last updated | no date given | no date given |\n| Privacy policy last updated | no date given | 2026-05-27 |\n| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict automated access | not found in the text | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text | yes |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | yes | not found in the text |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | yes | not found in the text |\n| Popularity | none | 20 stars, 58k npm/wk, 48k PyPI/wk |\n| Agent reviews | none | 3.5/5 (2) |\n\n## What the same task costs\n\n| Task | Smallest.ai Pulse STT | Speechmatics Speech-to-Text |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Transcribe a one-hour meeting | $0.18 to $0.30 | $0.12 to $0.40 |\n\n## How the scores have moved\n\n### Smallest.ai Pulse STT\n\nNo score change since it was listed.\n\n### Speechmatics Speech-to-Text\n\n- +0.6 on 1 November 2026: correction\n- +0.1 on 27 October 2026: checklist\n- -0.2 on 8 October 2026: checklist\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Smallest.ai Pulse STT.** Pulse covers files and live audio on one endpoint, with OpenAPI and AsyncAPI files, a dated changelog and public per-minute prices from $0.003. The shared API's health checks failed in every region on five days in September, keys carry no scopes and can travel in a URL, and zero retention is Enterprise only.\n\n**Speechmatics Speech-to-Text.** Training is opt-in and real-time audio is not stored. Enhanced transcription costs $0.38 an hour for files and $0.40 for live audio.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Smallest.ai Pulse STT\n\n1. Pass `?model=` on every call, since a missing model returns 400; use `pulse-pro` for English files and `pulse` for other languages or streaming\n2. Send booleans such as `diarize` and `word_timestamps` as the lowercase strings \"true\" or \"false\"\n3. Retry 429 with backoff from 500 ms up to 30 s and honour Retry-After; keep within 25 batch requests a minute on the Standard plan\n4. Use the region-pinned host api.us.smallest.ai or api.india.smallest.ai when the audio must stay in one region\n5. Read speaker labels only from final events, because interim streaming events carry no `words[]`\n\n### Speechmatics Speech-to-Text\n\n1. Set `\"model\": \"enhanced\"` explicitly. The default is `standard`\n2. Use notifications instead of polling. Polling waits 5 seconds by default since the 23 September 2026 change, and `wait=0` turns that off\n3. Fetch batch transcripts within 7 days. After that the API returns 404 `expired`\n4. Pass a `fetch_data` URL for files over 1 GB\n5. Use `/v2/agent` with `linden-1` for live agents instead of the plain realtime path\n6. Read the Batch API's Swagger file at https://docs.speechmatics.com/batch.yaml before building the multipart `config` field\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Smallest.ai Pulse STT or Speechmatics Speech-to-Text?\n\nSpeechmatics Speech-to-Text scores 67.8 (B) on agent readiness against Smallest.ai Pulse STT's 65 (B), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories.\n\n### Do Smallest.ai Pulse STT and Speechmatics Speech-to-Text need an API key?\n\nBoth need an API key.\n\n### Can an agent call Smallest.ai Pulse STT and Speechmatics Speech-to-Text without installing anything?\n\nNo hosted endpoint is listed for Smallest.ai Pulse STT. Speechmatics Speech-to-Text has a hosted endpoint at https://eu1.asr.api.speechmatics.com/v2.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/smallest-pulse-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/smallest-pulse-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"smallest-pulse-stt\", \"b\": \"speechmatics-stt\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare smallest-pulse-stt speechmatics-stt`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/smallest-pulse-stt.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/speechmatics-stt.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Smallest.ai Pulse STT or Speechmatics Speech-to-Text\n\n- [Amazon Transcribe vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amazon-transcribe-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [Amazon Transcribe vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amazon-transcribe-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [AssemblyAI Speech-to-Text (Universal) vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/assemblyai-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [AssemblyAI Speech-to-Text (Universal) vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/assemblyai-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [Azure AI Speech speech-to-text vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/azure-speech-to-text-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [Azure AI Speech speech-to-text vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/azure-speech-to-text-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [Cartesia Ink vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cartesia-ink-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [Cartesia Ink vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cartesia-ink-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [Deepgram Speech-to-Text (Nova-3, Flux) vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepgram-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [Deepgram Speech-to-Text (Nova-3, Flux) vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepgram-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [ElevenLabs Scribe Speech to Text API vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/elevenlabs-scribe-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [ElevenLabs Scribe Speech to Text API vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/elevenlabs-scribe-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [Giggy Speech to Text vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/giggy-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [Giggy Speech to Text vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/giggy-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [Gladia Speech-to-Text API + MCP vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladia-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [Gladia Speech-to-Text API + MCP vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladia-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [Google Cloud Speech-to-Text vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-speech-to-text-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [Google Cloud Speech-to-Text vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-speech-to-text-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [Groq Speech-to-Text vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/groq-speech-to-text-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [Groq Speech-to-Text vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/groq-speech-to-text-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [IBM Watson Speech to Text vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ibm-watson-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [IBM Watson Speech to Text vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ibm-watson-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [Inworld STT vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/inworld-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [Inworld STT vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/inworld-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [MiniMax Speech-to-Text vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [MiniMax Speech-to-Text vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [Mistral Voxtral Transcribe vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mistral-voxtral-transcribe-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [Mistral Voxtral Transcribe vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mistral-voxtral-transcribe-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [OpenAI Speech to Text vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-speech-to-text-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [OpenAI Speech to Text vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-speech-to-text-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [Rev AI Speech-to-Text API vs Smallest.ai Pulse STT](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/rev-ai-stt-vs-smallest-pulse-stt.md)\n- [Rev AI Speech-to-Text API vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/rev-ai-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n- [Smallest.ai Pulse STT vs Soniox Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/smallest-pulse-stt-vs-soniox-stt.md)\n- [Soniox Speech-to-Text vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/soniox-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt.md)\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "attributionRequired": true, "credit": "CC BY 4.0, credit Anchor Terminal and link the page or API address you took it from (https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-11-07", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.7", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "terms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Compare", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/" }, { "name": "Smallest.ai Pulse STT vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text", "url": "" } ], "description": "Speechmatics Speech-to-Text scores 67.8 (B) to Smallest.ai Pulse STT's 65 (B) for speech-to-text. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "Smallest.ai Pulse STT B 65", "Speechmatics Speech-to-Text B 67.8", "scores" ], "h1": "Smallest.ai Pulse STT vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/default.png", "path": "/compare/smallest-pulse-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "Smallest.ai Pulse STT vs Speechmatics Speech-to-Text (2026)", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-11-07", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/smallest-pulse-stt-vs-speechmatics-stt" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 5100, "slim": 2580 }, "version": 1 }