compare
Frenchie vs Deepgram.
Deepgram is built for realtime. Frenchie is built for batch async.
Deepgram is a transcription API engineered for realtime streaming and high-concurrency enterprise workloads — low latency, long-running connections, call-center scale. Frenchie is engineered for batch async jobs inside agent conversations — send a file, collect the Markdown when it's ready. Different shapes for different problems.
side by side
The shape of each tool.
| Dimension | Deepgram | Frenchie |
|---|---|---|
| Transcription mode | Realtime streaming plus batch | Batch async only |
| Integration surface | WebSocket streaming, REST API, SDKs | MCP tool native in every MCP client |
| Target buyer | Enterprise voice infrastructure, contact centers, media platforms | Developers and agents that need transcripts inline |
| Pricing model | Per-minute plus feature add-ons; volume commits for enterprise | Flat 2 credits per minute = $0.02/min, no commits |
pick Deepgram
When Deepgram is the right call
- You need live transcription — a call in progress, a meeting being captured, a voice interface responding in under a second.
- You're an enterprise buyer with volume that justifies negotiated commits and custom SLAs.
- Your workload is call-center scale — hundreds of simultaneous streams — and needs infrastructure designed for that load.
pick frenchie
When Frenchie is the right call
- Your agent transcribes files, not live streams — a meeting recording, a voicemail, a podcast.
- You want zero commits, zero sales calls, just an API key and pay-as-you-go.
- You're integrating with an MCP-based workflow and want transcription to feel native.
together
Can you use both?
Deepgram handles the live side — streaming transcripts for an active call, realtime voice agents. Frenchie handles the post-call side — once the recording is saved, an agent picks it up and returns the Markdown your team actually reads. One API for streaming, one tool for agent workflows.
questions
The ones that come up.
Does Frenchie do realtime transcription?
No. Frenchie is batch async — you submit a file, the job runs in the background, and the Markdown comes back when it's ready. For live streaming, Deepgram (or a similar streaming API) is the right choice.
Is Frenchie cheaper than Deepgram?
At Deepgram's standard per-minute rates, Frenchie is in a similar ballpark — the real difference is commit structure and add-ons. Frenchie is flat with no minimums; Deepgram gets cheaper at enterprise commit tiers.
Can I use Deepgram for live calls and Frenchie for recordings?
Yes, and it's a clean split. Stream the live call through Deepgram, save the recording, hand it to Frenchie for the agent-facing Markdown transcript after the call.
Why not just use Deepgram?
Use Deepgram when latency and streaming matter. Use Frenchie when the workflow is batch and your agent is the caller.
See if Frenchie fits.
100 free credits on signup. No card. Try it against a real recording from your workflow — compare the transcripts side by side.