Groq
Groq provides a hosted inference API for supported language and speech models. Developers can use its SDKs or an OpenAI-compatible interface rather than manage model-serving infrastructure. The available catalog matters more than an old list of model names: some models are production services, some are previews, and others require an enterprise agreement.
Build a small transcription workflow
For recorded audio, select a supported transcription model and submit a short sample with the language and desired output format. Compare the transcript with the recording, including names and specialist terms. Pass the verified transcript to a language model if you need a summary or structured action list. Speech processing and text generation have different meters, so record both when estimating cost.
Free and Developer tiers
The Free tier has model-specific limits for requests, tokens, or audio duration. Limits apply at organization level, and whichever threshold is reached first can stop a request. The console’s Limits page gives the account’s applicable values. Handle a 429 response and its retry information instead of continuously resending requests.
The Developer tier requires a payment method and bills usage at model-specific rates. It increases capacity and unlocks options such as Batch and Flex processing. Check the current model table for supported features and prices. Published token throughput is a provider specification, not a measured end-to-end response time for your application, and preview models can be discontinued.