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AssemblyAI
Universal-3.5 Pro
AssemblyAI's accuracy-focused transcription model for files and live audio, with code-switching, speaker labels, timestamps, and contextual prompting.
Plain-English overview
What Universal-3.5 Pro actually is
Universal-3.5 Pro is a speech model for product teams that want a focused transcription API instead of a broad cloud catalog. It handles uploaded recordings and realtime streams, supports native code-switching, and can use context or keyterms to improve company names and specialist language.
AssemblyAI separates the base transcript from optional intelligence features and offers US and EU endpoints. That makes the bill and data posture configurable, but it also means teams should compare the complete request—not only the advertised per-hour base rate.
Good fit for
- Meetings and calls with language switching
- Developer products needing a dedicated speech API
- Workflows that benefit from contextual or keyterm prompting
Category comparison
The facts that matter for transcription models
These are provider-published specifications, not Cody benchmark scores. Follow the linked sources for current limits and endpoint-specific exceptions.
- Transcription price
- $0.21/hour async · $0.45/hour streamingCurrent provider price per audio hour or minute for the listed processing route.
- Live or batch
- Uploaded files and realtime streamingWhether the model handles realtime streams, uploaded recordings, or both.
- Languages
- 18 languages at launch with native code-switchingProvider-published language coverage, separating trained or advertised coverage from specifically verified languages where needed.
- Speaker labels
- YesWhether the model identifies who spoke and any published speaker limit.
- Timestamps
- Word-level timestampsAvailable word-, segment-, or utterance-level timing information.
- Vocabulary control
- Contextual prompting and keyterm promptingKeyword boosting, custom spelling, context, prompting, or other ways to improve domain terms.
- Where to use it
- AssemblyAI US and EU APIsDirect API, cloud catalog, application, or regional endpoint documented by the provider.
Pricing & comparisons
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Uses the recording length in hours: 30 minutes = 0.5 hours. Extra features and minimum charges may change the bill.
Universal-3.5 Pro
AssemblyAI
Estimated total (USD)
For the usage above · USD · API pricing, not a subscription
How this estimate works
Estimates exclude taxes, tools, cache storage/writes, free allowances and custom discounts. Image estimates cover output only, not prompt or reference-image charges. Quality modes differ by model. Unlisted settings are not treated as free.
API and provider access
Where to get Universal-3.5 Pro
Availability
Regions and access stage
Available through AssemblyAI's US and EU APIs for asynchronous files and realtime streaming.
US and EU endpoints are documented; feature and retention behavior can differ by endpoint and account agreement.
Check live availabilityData and training
The route matters.
AssemblyAI's retention and model-training behavior depends on endpoint, contract, BAA status, EU processing, and opt-out settings. Its docs describe zero-data-retention options for eligible realtime use; verify the exact account configuration.
This is a concise reading of the cited provider material, not legal advice. A third-party gateway can have different storage, routing, training, and residency terms from the model maker's direct API.
Read the provider policyFrequently asked questions
Universal-3.5 Pro FAQ
What is Universal-3.5 Pro?
AssemblyAI's accuracy-focused transcription model for files and live audio, with code-switching, speaker labels, timestamps, and contextual prompting. Universal-3.5 Pro is a speech model for product teams that want a focused transcription API instead of a broad cloud catalog. It handles uploaded recordings and realtime streams, supports native code-switching, and can use context or keyterms to improve company names and specialist language.
When was Universal-3.5 Pro released?
Universal-3.5 Pro was released on July 7, 2026 according to the cited provider materials.
Where can I access Universal-3.5 Pro?
Available through AssemblyAI's US and EU APIs for asynchronous files and realtime streaming. The access routes listed in this guide are AssemblyAI.
How much does Universal-3.5 Pro cost?
$0.21 / audio hour async · $0.45 / hour streaming. Async and streaming use different routes and rates even when the same model family is selected. Optional intelligence features can add cost.
Where is Universal-3.5 Pro available?
Available through AssemblyAI's US and EU APIs for asynchronous files and realtime streaming. US and EU endpoints are documented; feature and retention behavior can differ by endpoint and account agreement.
Is my Universal-3.5 Pro API data used for training?
AssemblyAI's retention and model-training behavior depends on endpoint, contract, BAA status, EU processing, and opt-out settings. Its docs describe zero-data-retention options for eligible realtime use; verify the exact account configuration. The policy belongs to the provider route and account terms, so verify it again before production use.
Related comparisons
Head-to-head comparisons
Universal-3.5 Pro vs Muse Voice Transcribe
Meta's streaming speech-recognition model for live captions, long audio, many speakers, code-switching, and domain-aware transcription.
Open full comparisonUniversal-3.5 Pro vs MAI-Transcribe-2
Microsoft's fast batch transcription model for long recordings, speaker labels, word timing, keyword biasing, and clean or verbatim transcripts.
Open full comparisonUniversal-3.5 Pro vs Chirp 3
Google Cloud's general speech-to-text model for streaming, file, and low-cost dynamic-batch transcription across many languages and regions.
Open full comparisonUniversal-3.5 Pro vs Scribe v2
ElevenLabs' multilingual speech-to-text model for detailed transcripts with many speakers, word timing, audio events, and large custom keyterm lists.
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