Quick Answer
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Google Cloud Speech-to-Text uses custom pricing as of March 2026. Contact Google Cloud Speech-to-Text directly for a personalized quote. Pricing depends on your chosen tier, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: No free tier available
Last verified: | Sources: 2 pricing pages and reviews
Freemium plan type

Yes, Google Cloud Speech-to-Text offers a freemium plan as of March 2026. The free tier includes 7 features with limits on free tier and free credits. Pricing verified from 2 sources by CostBench.

Freemium

Google Cloud Speech-to-Text offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.

What's Included in the Free Plan

  • Speech-to-text at $0.016/min ($0.96/hour) for standard models
  • Chirp model (V2 API) included at same rate -- no premium charge
  • 125+ languages and variants supported
  • Real-time streaming and batch processing
  • Speaker diarization and automatic punctuation
  • 60 minutes/month free ongoing (not time-limited)
  • $300 free credits for new GCP customers (90-day expiration)

Free Plan Limits

Limit Free Plan Paid Plans
Free tier 60 min/month (ongoing, no expiration)
Free credits $300 for new customers (90 days)
Max audio length 480 minutes per request
Support GCP Standard Support
SLA 99.9% availability

You'll Need to Upgrade When...

  • You exceed the user limit
  • You need features like advanced automation
  • You require premium support or SLA guarantees
  • You need to remove branding or watermarks
  • You need advanced integrations or API access

Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan

  • ! Google Cloud Speech-to-Text branding may appear on your content or communications
  • ! Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
  • ! Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
  • ! API access is typically limited or not available
  • ! Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans

Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?

Free Plan is Enough If...

  • You're an individual or very small team
  • You need only basic features
  • You don't mind usage limits
  • Branding on output is acceptable
  • Community support is sufficient

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Is Google Cloud Speech-to-Text free?

Yes, Google Cloud Speech-to-Text offers a freemium plan with 7 core features included. However, there are limits on free tier, free credits that may require upgrading.

02 What's included in Google Cloud Speech-to-Text's free plan?

Google Cloud Speech-to-Text's free plan includes: Speech-to-text at $0.016/min ($0.96/hour) for standard models, Chirp model (V2 API) included at same rate -- no premium charge, 125+ languages and variants supported, Real-time streaming and batch processing, Speaker diarization and automatic punctuation, and 2 more features. Key limits include Free tier: 60 min/month (ongoing, no expiration), Free credits: $300 for new customers (90 days), Max audio length: 480 minutes per request.

03 What's NOT included in Google Cloud Speech-to-Text's free plan?

The free plan excludes: advanced features, premium support, and higher limits. You'll also have Google Cloud Speech-to-Text branding and limited support options.

04 When should I upgrade from Google Cloud Speech-to-Text's free plan?

Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like advanced automation, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $0/minute.

05 Is Google Cloud Speech-to-Text's free plan really free forever?

Yes, Google Cloud Speech-to-Text's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.

Try Google Cloud Speech-to-Text Free