Otter.ai
A long-established AI notetaker that transcribes meetings live and writes summaries and action items.
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Otter.ai
Otter.ai was one of the first mainstream live transcription apps and is now a full meeting assistant. Its notetaker joins Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet calls, transcribes in real time with speaker labels, and produces summaries, action items and an AI chat you can query within and across meetings. You can also record in person from the iOS and Android apps or desktop apps for Mac and Windows, and import audio files. Newer features include AI meeting workflows, CRM integrations with Salesforce and HubSpot, an Otter API and an MCP server for connecting AI tools. The free Basic plan includes a monthly allowance of transcription minutes and only a few file imports; Pro raises the limits for individuals, and Business and Enterprise add unlimited meetings, admin controls, SSO and an optional HIPAA add-on. Otter is strongest in English, and its bot joining calls automatically has annoyed some participants, so check the auto-join settings.
Best for: Individuals and teams who want reliable live transcripts and summaries of video calls.
Pros and cons
What works
- Live transcription with speaker identification
- Works across Zoom, Teams and Google Meet plus in-person recording
- AI chat across all your past meetings
Why people leave
- Free plan has tight minute and import limits
- Bot auto-joining calls can surprise participants
- Best accuracy is in English
Top Otter.ai alternatives
See all 6- 1
Fireflies.ai66.5Similar bot notetaker with a free plan offering unlimited transcription and 100+ languages.
- 2
Fathom62.6Free plan with unlimited recordings, for people who hit Otter's minute caps.
- 3
Granola59.6No bot joins the call; it records device audio and builds on your own notes.
- 4
Notta57.2Cheaper transcription with bilingual and on-device options.
- 5
tl;dv55.3Free recorder with strong multilingual support and sales-team features.
Why people left Otter.ai
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Otter.ai, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers
Write a review of Otter.ai
Otter.ai: common questions
Is Otter.ai free?
Otter.ai has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: Yes, 300 transcription minutes/month (checked on Otter.ai's own site).
Is Otter.ai open source?
No, Otter.ai is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Meetily.
What platforms does Otter.ai run on?
Otter.ai is available for Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to Otter.ai?
The highest-ranked Otter.ai alternatives right now are Fireflies.ai, Fathom and Granola. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.