Deepgram Nova-3 vs Smallest Pulse
Accuracy and speed
Left gets fewer words wrong. Lower has the final text ready sooner.
- Nova-33.46% · 103ms
- Pulse3.66% · 201ms
Deepgram Nova-3 is ahead on final-text delay, and Smallest Pulse on both datasets together. The two tie on time to first text. The Pipecat Dataset and The Ocular Dataset are too close to call.
Last updated Methodology by Dileep Chagam
Who is better at what
- Overall WER3.78%3.59%
- Pipecat Dataset WER3.46%3.66%
- Ocular Dataset WER4.39%3.46%
- Time to first text1.06s1.06s
- Final-text delay103ms201ms
Lower is better on every measure. Too close to call means the likely ranges overlap. For costs, see our breakdown of Deepgram pricing.
Nova-3 vs Pulse FAQ
Which is more accurate, Deepgram Nova-3 or Smallest Pulse?
Smallest Pulse is more accurate on the public clips. On the 1,000 public Pipecat clips, Deepgram Nova-3 scores 3.78% and Smallest Pulse 3.59%, so Smallest Pulse makes fewer errors by 0.20 points. On the eight licensed Ocular recordings, Deepgram Nova-3 scores 3.46% and Smallest Pulse 3.66%, with likely ranges of 3.16 to 3.78% and 3.34 to 3.99%. The ranges overlap, so the difference is too close to call. Word error rate counts incorrect, missing, and extra words, so lower is better.
Smallest Pulse is more accurate on the public clips. On the 1,000 public Pipecat clips, Deepgram Nova-3 scores 3.78% and Smallest Pulse 3.59%, so Smallest Pulse makes fewer errors by 0.20 points. On the eight licensed Ocular recordings, Deepgram Nova-3 scores 3.46% and Smallest Pulse 3.66%, with likely ranges of 3.16 to 3.78% and 3.34 to 3.99%. The ranges overlap, so the difference is too close to call. Word error rate counts incorrect, missing, and extra words, so lower is better.
They finish the transcript at the same median time. Deepgram Nova-3 has the final transcript 1.06s after the speaker stops and Smallest Pulse 1.06s, at the median. Both are measured on the same 206 streamed turns.
Deepgram Nova-3 and Smallest Pulse are level on the two figures a voice agent depends on most. A voice agent cannot reply until the final transcript arrives, and the Ocular recordings are real conversations.
Yes, both return partial text before the speaker stops. Deepgram Nova-3 shows first text after 4.39% and Smallest Pulse after 3.46%, at the median.
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