Otter.ai

Free Tier

AI-powered meeting transcription with real-time collaboration features

Last updated: 2026-03-18

4.4/5(8,742 reviews)

Starting at

Free

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TL;DR

Otter.ai is an AI transcription service for meetings, interviews, and audio. Free tier available; Pro $10/month for unlimited transcripts. Best for podcasters, journalists, and meeting note-takers.

4.4/5

Starting at FreeBest for: Remote teams conducting frequent video meetings, Journalists and researchers conducting interviews

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Overview

Otter.ai is an automated transcription service that converts speech to text in real-time, designed for meetings, interviews, and lectures. It stands out for its ability to identify different speakers, integrate with Zoom and Google Meet, and generate automated meeting summaries with action items. Popular among remote teams, journalists, and students for its accuracy and collaborative features.

Key Features

Real-time transcription with speaker identification

Automated meeting notes and summary generation

Direct Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams integration

Collaborative editing with comments and highlights

OtterPilot for automated meeting joining and recording

Action item extraction from conversations

Mobile apps for iOS and Android recording

Custom vocabulary for industry-specific terminology

Pros

Excellent transcription accuracy, especially for clear audio
Generous free tier with 600 minutes per month
Seamless integration with major video conferencing platforms
Real-time collaboration features make it great for team meetings
Automated meeting summaries save significant time

Cons

Accuracy drops significantly with accents or background noise
Speaker identification can be inconsistent with multiple participants
Limited editing tools compared to dedicated transcription software
Monthly minute limits can be restrictive for heavy users on lower tiers

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Otter.ai Pricing

Basic

Free

600 minutes/month transcription
30 minutes per conversation
Real-time transcription
Basic search

Pro

$16.99/mo

1200 minutes/month transcription
90 minutes per conversation
Advanced search and export
Vocabulary customization

Business

$30/mo

6000 minutes/month per user
4 hours per conversation
Admin dashboard
Priority support

Enterprise

Custom

Unlimited transcription
Advanced security controls
Dedicated support
Custom integrations

See full pricing breakdown →

Best For

Remote teams conducting frequent video meetingsJournalists and researchers conducting interviewsStudents recording lectures and study sessionsProfessionals needing searchable meeting archives

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Otter.ai free?

Yes, free tier with 600 mins/month of transcription. Pro ($10/month) includes unlimited transcription, speaker identification, and search.

How accurate is Otter.ai?

95%+ accuracy for clear English audio. Accuracy drops with background noise, accents, or multiple speakers. Generally the best on the market.

Otter.ai vs Rev or Descript?

Otter.ai is fastest and cheapest. Rev is more accurate but slower and pricier. Descript is better for video editing combined with transcription.

Is Otter.ai Pro worth it?

Yes, for podcasters and journalists. $10/month for unlimited transcription vs $5-10/audio minute from human services saves thousands annually.

What are Otter.ai's limitations?

Struggles with background noise, requires English language, occasional speaker misidentification, and exports can be messy.

Quick Info

Company: Otter.ai, Inc.
Founded: 2016
Free Tier: Yes
Starting Price: Free
Rating: 4.4/5

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Alternatives

Descript →
Better for video editing with transcription
ElevenLabs →
Better for converting text to speech (opposite use case)
Otter.ai →
No direct competitor combines transcription + editing + voiceover

See all alternatives →