Otter Transcribe (commonly known as Otter.ai) is an advanced AI-powered platform that automatically records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings, interviews, lectures, and conversations in real time. It integrates seamlessly with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams to join calls as an AI notetaker, capturing speaker identification, key takeaways, action items, and searchable transcripts with high accuracy (up to 95%). Users can also upload audio or video files for instant transcription, use AI Chat to query past conversations, and generate concise summaries — making Otter Transcribe a go-to solution for professionals, students, journalists, and teams who need to focus on discussions instead of manual note-taking.
Is Otter Transcribe Free or Paid?
Otter Transcribe follows a freemium model. It offers a Basic plan that is completely free forever, providing limited monthly transcription minutes and core features like live transcription and basic integrations — ideal for light or occasional use. For higher transcription limits, longer conversations, advanced collaboration tools, unlimited imports, and premium features like enhanced AI workflows and team management, paid plans (Pro, Business, or Enterprise) are required.
Otter Transcribe Pricing Details
Otter Transcribe offers tiered plans with monthly or annual billing (annual provides significant savings). Pricing is per user and focuses on transcription minutes, import limits, and advanced capabilities.
| Plan Name | Price (Monthly / Yearly) | Main Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $0 | 300 transcription minutes/month, 30 min per conversation, live transcription, basic integrations (Zoom/Teams/Meet), AI Chat (limited), 3 lifetime file imports | Beginners, students, occasional users, or light personal transcription needs |
| Pro | $16.99 / $8.33 per user (billed $99.99 annually) | 1,200 transcription minutes/month, 90 min per meeting, 10 file imports/month, advanced AI workflows, unlimited storage, editable transcripts, Zapier integration, faster playback options | Individual professionals, freelancers, or frequent meeting attendees needing more capacity and editing tools |
| Business | $30 / $19.99 per user (billed $239.99 annually) | Unlimited meetings/in-app recordings, 6,000 imported file minutes/month, 4-hour max per meeting, unlimited imports, team admin features, prioritized support, advanced analytics | Growing teams, sales/marketing groups, or organizations requiring collaboration, unlimited usage, and admin controls |
| Enterprise | Custom (contact sales) | Unlimited everything, custom integrations/CRM, SSO, HIPAA compliance, dedicated support, advanced security | Large organizations with high-volume needs, compliance requirements, or enterprise-scale workflows |
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Best Alternatives to Otter Transcribe
If Otter Transcribe‘s minute limits, accuracy in certain scenarios, or pricing don’t fit your workflow, several strong alternatives provide robust AI transcription, summarization, and meeting intelligence. Here’s a comparison of top options:
| Alternative Tool Name | Free or Paid | Key Feature | How it Compares to Otter Transcribe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fireflies.ai | Freemium / Paid | Automatic meeting recording, summaries, CRM integrations, conversation analytics | Stronger on sales-focused insights and CRM syncing; often better accuracy for non-English but similar minute-based limits |
| Notta | Freemium / Paid | Multilingual transcription (58+ languages), real-time notes, easy editing | Excels in multi-language support and higher claimed accuracy (~98%); more affordable for global/international users |
| Fathom | Freemium / Paid | Free unlimited recordings for individuals, instant highlights, no bot required in some modes | Generous free tier with unlimited use; simpler interface but fewer advanced team features than Otter Transcribe |
| MeetGeek | Freemium / Paid | AI summaries, action items, team collaboration, video highlights | Great for team productivity with strong analytics; better value for frequent meetings without strict minute caps |
| Descript | Freemium / Paid | Text-based audio/video editing, overdub voice cloning, podcast-focused tools | Superior for content creators needing editing; less focused on live meetings but offers creative transcription features |
Pros and Cons of Otter Transcribe
Pros
- Excellent real-time transcription with strong speaker identification and up to 95% accuracy.
- Seamless integrations with major video platforms (Zoom, Teams, Meet) for automatic joining.
- Useful AI Chat for querying transcripts and generating summaries/action items quickly.
- Free Basic plan provides solid entry-level access with live transcription.
- Searchable, shareable, and editable transcripts enhance team collaboration.
Cons
- Strict transcription minute limits even on paid plans (e.g., 1,200/month on Pro) can run out quickly for heavy users.
- Free plan restricts file imports (only 3 lifetime) and conversation length (30 minutes max).
- Accuracy can dip with heavy accents, background noise, or non-primary languages.
- Some users report occasional glitches in speaker detection or summary quality.
- Higher-tier features (unlimited imports, advanced admin) require Business or Enterprise plans, which add up for teams.