Let’s be honest, comparing Otter pricing plans is about as fun as reading the terms and conditions of a new app. You just want to know: Is Otter worth it? How much does it cost? And is there a better deal out there?
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Otter’s pricing, including how it works, what you get at each tier, and whether it’s the right fit for you. We’ll also take a peek at real user reviews, explore some alternatives, and help you decide if Otter is the best AI transcription tool for your needs (or if your wallet will thank you for looking elsewhere).
No fluff, no sales talk – just cold, hard facts. Let’s get into it.
What is Otter?
Otter is an AI-powered transcription tool designed to capture, transcribe, and organize conversations in real-time. It automatically records and converts speech into text, making it a popular choice for remote teams, students, journalists, and anyone who’d rather focus on the discussion than scramble to take notes.
With features like speaker identification, keyword search, and seamless integrations with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, Otter aims to streamline workflows and improve accessibility. It also offers collaboration tools, allowing users to highlight key moments, add comments, and share transcripts with teammates.
Otter also provides some standout features that separate it from the rest of the AI meeting assistant space. For example, it has automatic filler word removal, freeing your transcripts from clutter. It also provides real-time transcriptions so you can follow along during the live call and even collaborate on the fly. Otter also comes with custom vocabulary, making its transcriptions clearer as you can pre-program it with technical jargon, acronyms, or other words that AI wouldn’t ordinarily pick up on.
While Otter has been a go-to option in the AI transcription space, it’s not without its limitations. Accuracy can be hit-or-miss, especially if the audio quality is poor, and some users find the free plan too restrictive. That’s why many are exploring Otter alternatives that offer more advanced features, better integrations, and stronger accuracy (but more on that later).
What Are Otter’s Key Features?
Otter isn’t just a transcription tool, it’s an AI-powered meeting assistant designed to make note-taking effortless and collaboration seamless. It’s an industry-leading tool for a reason, but it’s up to you whether these features justify Otter’s pricing. Here’s what sets it apart:
- Real-time AI transcription
- Speaker identification
- Searchable transcripts
- Integrations
- Automatic filler word removal
- Custom vocabulary
- AI-powered notes and collaboration
- Enterprise-grade security
- OtterPilot for Sales
Let’s take a closer look at each major feature to see what makes Otter tick.
Real-Time AI Transcription
Otter listens, transcribes, and organizes conversations as they happen. No more waiting for post-meeting transcripts. This is ideal for remote and asynchronous teams and professionals who need instant, searchable meeting notes without lifting a finger.
Imagine you’re in a fast-paced brainstorming session, and ideas are flying. With Otter’s real-time transcription, you don’t have to worry about missing key points. Your entire conversation is captured and organized automatically during the call itself, so you can quickly hop back to previous discussion points if you get derailed.
Speaker Identification
Otter automatically detects and labels different voices so you actually know who said what. This is extremely useful in meetings with many participants. It’s perfect for teams handling multi-speaker meetings, interviews, or podcasts.
A journalist recording a panel discussion would find this particularly useful. Instead of manually sorting through a wall of text to figure out who said what, Otter labels each speaker, making your post-interview workflow far more efficient.
Searchable Transcripts
No more scrolling endlessly! Just search for keywords to find exactly what you need in seconds. It makes meeting organization so much simpler. This is great for anyone drowning in meeting notes and struggling to find key insights.
Need to recall a decision made three meetings ago? Instead of rewatching recordings or scanning pages of notes, just type a keyword, and Otter takes you right to the moment it was mentioned.
Integrations with Video Conferencing Platforms, Dialers, CRMs, and More
Otter joins meetings, takes notes, and syncs seamlessly with your favorite tools. From Salesforce to HubSpot, Dialpad to JustCall, Zoom to MS Teams, Otter connects seamlessly to automate workflows with ease. This is ideal for teams that live in virtual meetings and want a record of discussions automatically synced with their other work tools. Just about everyone, then.
Imagine you’re in back-to-back Zoom calls all day. With Otter’s integration, it automatically transcribes each meeting, so even if you zone out for a moment (or need a quick coffee break), you can catch up later without missing anything important. More importantly, these notes can be synced to your Slack, email, or Notion.
Automatic Filler Word Removal
Say goodbye to “um,” “uh,” and awkward pauses. Your transcripts stay clean and professional with Otter’s automatic filler word removal. This is fantastic news for professionals and content creators who need polished transcripts.
Just imagine you’re editing a podcast transcript, and instead of manually removing every “um” and “like,” Otter does it for you. It saves hours of cleanup work.
Custom Vocabulary
Teach Otter industry-specific jargon, brand names, or technical terms for better accuracy. It’s great for catching acronyms too. In legal, medical, and tech professions, this is super handy as they regularly use specialized terminology.
As a quick example, if you’re in a legal meeting discussing case law, Otter might keep mishearing “habeas corpus.” With custom vocabulary, you can train it to recognize industry-specific terms, improving accuracy over time.
AI-Powered Notes & Collaboration
Otter generates smart summaries and lets you tag teammates for easy collaboration. It puts together the highlights, key action items, and any other important discussion topics into one easy-to-read summary. It’s great for teams managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
If you’re in a project kickoff meeting, you won’t need to sift through a full transcript any longer. Otter generates a smart summary on your behalf. You can tag teammates directly in the notes to assign action items without extra follow-ups. This increases accountability throughout your entire organization which leads to higher levels of engagement. Studies reveal that highly engaged workforces outperform competitors and result in 21% greater profitability.
Enterprise-Grade Security
Otter has SOC 2, GDPR, and EU AI Act compliance, plus SAML-based SSO. You can rest assured that your data stays private. Otter doesn’t use it to train AI either. This is wonderful news for companies handling sensitive data who need enterprise-level security.
If you work in a highly regulated industry (finance, healthcare, etc.), data security is non-negotiable. With Otter’s compliance certifications, you can ensure your meeting transcripts meet strict privacy standards.
OtterPilot for Sales
Otter provides AI-driven insights and automation designed to help sales teams close deals faster. While it’s not the best sales set-up in the world, it certainly benefits sales teams looking for automated deal tracking and follow-ups.
When you’re on a sales call, OtterPilot automatically extracts key points like client pain points, objections, next steps, and then syncs them into your CRM. This is such a time-saver as you spend less time taking notes and more time closing deals.
What Are Real People Saying About Otter?
Otter has a solid reputation as an AI transcription tool, but what do real users think? We dove into G2, Trustpilot, Capterra, and ProductHunt reviews to separate the facts from the hype. We’ll cover:
- The good
- The not-so-good
- The bigger issue
Here’s what people love about otter, and what they wish was better.
The Good: Accurate, Easy to Use, and Time-Saving
For many, Otter is a lifesaver for meetings, lectures, and interviews. They generally think that Otter’s pricing is worth the money as it lets users focus on conversations instead of scrambling to take notes. Features like timestamps, export options, and playback speed controls make catching up on missed calls a breeze.
📢 “Impeccable Note Taking App” — G2 Review by Anachal J, an HR Manager
📢 “This tool is a real gem in my arsenal. It impresses me with its accuracy, hitting the mark 99% of the time.” — ProductHunt Review by Urfan Humzayev
📢 “A Must-Have Tool for Productivity” — Capterra Review by Drew A, a founder
What Users Love About Otter
Users also appreciate how beginner-friendly Otter is, making it a great option for those who need transcription without a steep learning curve. All in all, the most positive points mentioned were:
- Time Stamping. People love how easy it is to jump to different parts of the meeting.
- Transcript Accuracy. Lots of users love how accurate the transcripts are, claiming that only minor adjustments are needed.
- Easy to Use. Lots of users claim that the platform is intuitive.
- Beginner-Friendly. Otter is welcoming to newcomers according to several reviewers.
- Focus on the Conversation. As Otter takes notes, users can focus more on the conversation.
- Multiple Export Options. With lots of options available, Otter makes it easy for users to export their transcripts.
- Playback Speed. If you’ve missed a meeting, Otter lets you catch up at faster speeds which saves users time.
The Not-So-Good: Speaker Tagging, Search, and Customer Support
Of course, no AI is perfect. Otter’s speaker identification can be clunky, meaning you might spend more time tagging speakers than you’d like. Some users also find the search function awkward to navigate, making it harder to locate key moments in transcripts. Some of the negative reviewers seem to think that the Otter pricing plans don’t justify the actual utility.
📢 “Want to spend endless hours tagging speakers? Sign up for Otter!” — G2 Review by a verified user in computer software
📢 “Great if your recordings are all clear with no background noise.” — Capterra Review by Melanie L, editor-in-chief
Another common frustration? Customer support is slow to respond. While some users claim you don’t need it very often so it’s not so bad, others are clawing their hair out. Some users also report issues with billing after cancellation and automated email summaries being sent to unintended recipients.
📢 “Non-existent customer service and concerning/predatory practices.” — TrustPilot Review by Nate
📢 “No support.” — TrustPilot Review byPhill Lupton
What Users Don’t Like About Otter
All in all, here are some common drawbacks that users refer to during their reviews:
- Limited Free Plan. The 30 minute cap on meetings makes it almost useless, especially if there are delays and small talk. The monthly transcription minutes run out quickly.
- Flawed Speaker Identification. Sometimes the speaker identification can misattribute quotes that you then have to manually edit.
- Slow Customer Support. Many reviewers from many different sites report that Otter’s customer support is slow or non-existent. Some people claim to have been ignored for weeks even though the platform isn’t working and they’re still being billed.
- Weak Summaries. Some summaries miss action items or are just too vague.
- Transcript Inaccuracy. Even with custom vocabulary, the transcripts are often reported to have major mistakes.
- Awkward Search Feature. Some users don’t like the way you have to navigate the search function.
- Automatically Creates Accounts for Your Team. Multiple users have signed up for a single account, only to find that Otter has put their entire team on free accounts that upgrade automatically after a certain amount of time, with no notification. Some users claim this practice is downright predatory.
- Billing Issues. Some users claim to be billed after cancelling, while being unable to contact customer support.
- Post-Call Summaries. Some users cite the post-call summaries as a drawback because they can be sent to prospects with summaries of the entire call, even though the prospect only joined for a small part. This creates privacy concerns.
- Video Only in Enterprise. Video recording is only available on the Enterprise plan, which is poor compared to competitors.
The Bigger Issue: Otter Might Be Falling Behind
With AI-powered transcription now built into Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, some users feel Otter is struggling to keep up with competitors. Other AI meeting assistants offer more advanced features, making Otter feel a little… dated.
Otter has been referred to as “90s software” that was “good 5 years ago”. It lacks video recording in most of the plans and has barely branched away from simple transcription, meanwhile all the video conferencing platforms that Otter relies on have started offering the same service but better and cheaper.
The Verdict: A Useful Tool, But Not Without Flaws
Otter still provides valuable transcription features, especially for those who need a simple, accurate, and easy-to-use solution. But for teams needing better automation, customer support, and speaker recognition, it’s worth exploring alternatives.
With this new outlook, let’s take a peek at the Otter pricing structure.
How Much Does Otter Cost?
Otter offers a range of pricing plans to fit different needs, from solo users to large teams. Whether you just need basic transcription or enterprise-level features, there’s a plan for you. We’ll break down Otter’s pricing into the following categories:
- Free Plan
- Pro Plan
- Business Plan
- Enterprise Plan
For each plan, we’ll outline the price, the features, and who it’s best for. Let’s get started.
Free Plan: The Basics
Otter’s free plan certainly isn’t the best free plan on the market, but it’s not a bad place to start if you want to test out the tool. Let’s see what’s included.
Price: $0.00
What’s Included:
- AI Meeting Assistant: Records, transcribes, and summarizes your meetings in real-time.
- Language Support: Transcriptions and summaries available in English, French, or Spanish.
- Otter AI Chat: Chat live with Otter and teammates, and get answers to meeting questions.
- Collaboration: Add up to 5 teammates to your workspace for seamless sharing.
- Integrations: Joins Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet to automatically write and share notes.
- Usage Limits: 300 monthly transcription minutes, 30 minutes per conversation, and the ability to import and transcribe 3 audio or video files (lifetime per user).
Limitations:
- Transcription Caps: If you’re a meeting marathoner, 300 minutes per month might feel limiting.
- Conversation Length: Each session maxes out at 30 minutes. This is nice for quick chats, but pretty bad for deep dives.
- File Imports: Only 3 audio or video file imports allowed, and that’s for the lifetime of the account.
The free plan is ideal for individuals dipping their toes into AI transcription or those with light transcription needs.
Otter’s Pro Plan
This is where Otter’s pricing kicks in for real. The Pro plan is a big step up from the free plan, but compared to alternatives, may not be the best value for money.
Price: $16.99 USD per user/month (billed monthly) or $8.33 USD per user/month (billed annually).
What’s Included:
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Enhanced Team Features: Shared custom vocabulary, speaker tagging, and the ability to assign action items to teammates.
- Advanced Tools: Improved search, export, and playback options.
- Increased Usage Limits: 1200 monthly transcription minutes, 90 minutes per conversation, and the ability to import and transcribe 10 audio or video files per month.
The Pro plan is best for small teams or professionals needing more robust transcription capabilities without breaking the bank.
Otter’s Business Plan
This is where Otter starts to get expensive (depending on how big your team is). However, it unlocks more powerful features that are especially great for large teams.
Price: $30 USD per user/month (billed monthly) or $20 USD per user/month (billed annually).
What’s Included:
- Everything in Pro, plus:
- Admin Controls: Usage analytics and prioritized support to keep your team running smoothly.
- Concurrent Meeting Support: Joins up to 3 concurrent virtual meetings to automatically write and share notes.
- Expanded Usage Limits: 6000 monthly transcription minutes, 4 hours per conversation, and unlimited audio or video file imports.
The Business plan is ideal for larger teams requiring advanced collaboration features and administrative oversight.
Otter’s Enterprise Plan
The Enterprise plan is where Otter’s pricing becomes customized. You’ll need to reach out to their sales team to get a specific quote based on your business needs.
Price: Custom pricing, because one size doesn’t fit all.
What’s Included:
- Everything in Business, plus:
- Advanced Security: Single Sign-On (SSO), organization-wide deployment, and domain capture.
- New Additions: Video Replay for Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, and OtterPilot™ for Sales.
- Compliance Controls: Enhanced security measures to keep your data safe.
The Enterprise plan is designed for large organizations with specific security, compliance, and deployment needs.
Top 5 Alternatives to Otter
Otter is a popular AI-powered transcription tool, but it’s not the only option. Depending on whether you want better accuracy, a more generous free plan, or deeper integrations, these alternatives might be a better fit.
We’ll cover the following 5 AI meeting assistants:
- tl;dv
- Fireflies
- Fathom
- Rev
- Tactiq
Let’s take a look at each one in more detail.
1. tl;dv – The AI Meeting Assistant That Does More
tl;dv is a powerful meeting transcription tool that uses AI agents for meetings to automate workflows, streamline integrations, and provide juicy insights from all your team’s calls. tl;dv is more flexible than Otter, working as a direct replacement for everyday calls, but also presenting you with a number of specific features that focus on customer-facing calls, specifically for sales and customer success.
While Otter has OtterPilot for Sales, it doesn’t scratch the surface of tl;dv’s speaker analytics dashboard, AI objection handling tips, and sales playbook monitoring. Sales managers can schedule recurring reports to receive AI insights pulled from all their team’s sales calls in any given timeframe. These reports can be about anything you want, from specific objections to feature requests and everything in between.
Why Choose tl;dv?
- More Affordable. tl;dv offers a better free plan with unlimited recordings, transcripts, and summaries without time limits.
- Smarter AI Summaries. Their summaries are more accurate, providing stronger action items and key insights.
- Deep Integrations. It works natively with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, but it can also integrate deeply with CRM systems like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive so you can automatically fill them out with meeting notes after every call.
- Better Team Collaboration. Tag teammates in notes, add highlights, and automate workflows.
- Multi-Meeting Intelligence. tl;dv’s AI can pull data from multiple meetings at once, remember past interactions, and give contextually aware insights.
- Custom Meeting Note Templates. tl;dv takes meeting notes how you want it to. You can use preset templates, or edit/create your own! This allows you to generate notes in any style you want, including one that will fully automate filling out your CRM and other external tools.
- Better Language Support. Otter is only available in English, Spanish, and French, while tl;dv offers transcripts in more than 40 languages and has a localized platform in 7 languages.
- Video Recording is Free. Otter is audio-only until the Enterprise plan, while tl;dv provides audio and video recording for free.
If Otter’s free plan feels too restrictive or its sales features fall short, tl;dv is a strong upgrade. For a more detailed comparison, check out our comprehensive breakdown: tl;dv vs Otter.
2. Fireflies – AI Transcription with a Search Function That Works
Fireflies is a popular AI meeting assistant that has been around since Otter was the leader. With Fireflies, you can also automate workflows with custom meeting notes. It also has a powerful search function that makes Otter’s seem weak by comparison.
Why Choose Fireflies?
- Better Search & Filters. With Fireflies, you can quickly find keywords, topics, or action items.
- Conversation Intelligence. It analyzes meetings for sentiment and trends.
- More Integrations. Fireflies doesn’t just work with Zoom, MS Teams, and Google Meet, it also works for more obscure video conferencing platforms like Skype, Webex, and GoToMeeting.
- Stronger Free Plan. Fireflies’ free plan provides unlimited transcription minutes, blowing Otter’s out the water.
Fireflies is great if you need in-depth meeting insights and advanced search capabilities.
3. Fathom – A Free AI Meeting Assistant with Instant Summaries
If you’re looking for a free alternative to Otter that delivers instant summaries, Fathom might be the right choice. It automatically generates meeting highlights and AI-powered recaps, making it a great fit for busy professionals who need quick insights without sifting through full transcripts. While it’s free for individuals, businesses are charged on a rather odd per-company basis.
Why Choose Fathom?
- Instant AI Summaries. Fathom automatically highlights key moments and provides instant summaries, so you don’t have to review the entire meeting.
- Completely Free. Unlike Otter’s limited free plan, Fathom offers unlimited transcriptions and summaries at no cost.
- CRM Integration. Fathom syncs with Salesforce, allowing sales teams to update their CRM with insights automatically.
- In-Depth Financial Analysis. Fathom provides financial insights and analytics to get a clearer picture of your business performance.
If you want a no-cost solution with instant AI-generated insights, Fathom is worth considering. For businesses, however, it might be a bit steep, starting at $50 per month.
4. Rev – Industry-Leading Accuracy for Paid Transcription
Rev is a professional transcription service that offers AI-generated and human-made transcripts. While it’s only recently joined the AI meeting assistant arena, Rev’s speciality is in human transcription. It’s ideal for those who need high-accuracy transcription for business, legal, or media purposes.
Why Choose Rev?
- Best-in-Class Accuracy. Rev’s human transcription service boasts 99% accuracy, far surpassing Otter’s AI-only approach.
- Flexible Options. Choose between AI-generated transcripts for speed or human-made transcripts for precision.
- One-Time Payment. Unlike Otter’s subscription model, Rev allows you to pay per transcript, making it ideal for occasional users. However, it can be on the pricey side as you’re paying for an expert’s time.
- Speaker Labeling & Timestamps. Human transcriptions include accurate speaker labels and timestamps for easy navigation.
If you need industry-grade transcription with near-perfect accuracy, Rev is a strong Otter alternative.
5. Tactiq – Simple AI Transcription for Teams
Tactiq is a lightweight AI meeting assistant that offers real-time transcriptions (like Otter). It’s best for teams that want a simple, easy-to-use solution without additional bells and whistles. In short, it’s what Otter wants to be.
Why Choose Tactiq?
- Real-Time Transcription. Tactiq captures everything as it happens without needing third-party apps. It works with Zoom, Google Meet, and MS Teams.
- Works with Google Docs & Slack. Easily share meeting transcripts with your team in tools they already use.
- Speaker Recognition. It identifies different speakers automatically.
- Affordable Paid Plans. Tactiq offers a cheaper entry point compared to Otter’s Pro and Business plans.
If you want a straightforward transcription tool that gets the job done without any fuss, Tactiq is a solid option.
Is Otter’s Pricing Right for You?
Otter is a powerful AI meeting assistant, perfect for individuals and teams who need real-time transcription, automated notes, and seamless collaboration. If you’re tired of scrambling to take notes during meetings, Otter lets you stay fully engaged while it captures every word, timestamps key moments, and generates AI-powered summaries. Plus, with integrations for Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, it fits right into your existing workflow.
But let’s be real; Otter isn’t without flaws. The free plan is limited, speaker identification can be hit-or-miss, and customer support is slow when you need help. If accurate search, smarter summaries, or stronger CRM integrations are deal breakers for you, alternatives like tl;dv, Fireflies, and Fathom might be worth a closer look. tl;dv even offers unlimited free transcription, better sales insights, and multi-meeting intelligence, making Otter feel a little outdated.
So, is Otter’s pricing right for you? If you want a hassle-free, AI-powered note-taker that just works, it’s a solid bet. But if you’re looking for more advanced AI features, better customization, or a more generous free plan, you might find a better fit elsewhere.
FAQs About Otter's Pricing
Is Otter free to use?
Yes! Otter offers a Free plan that includes 300 minutes of transcription per month (30 minutes per conversation). However, it comes with limitations, like fewer export options and no advanced collaboration features.
How much does Otter Pro cost?
Otter Pro costs $16.99 per month (when paying monthly) or $8.33 per month (when billed annually).
It increases your monthly transcription limit to 1,200 minutes and unlocks features like advanced search, custom vocabulary, and bulk export.
What’s included in the Otter Business plan?
Otter Business costs $30 per user per month (or $20 per month when billed annually).
It’s designed for teams, offering collaborative workspaces, team-wide access to transcripts, live captions for meetings, and admin controls.
Does Otter offer an Enterprise plan?
Yes! The Enterprise plan comes with custom pricing and includes advanced security (SSO, SOC 2 compliance), API access, and dedicated customer support.
You’ll need to contact Otter’s sales team for a quote.
Can I pay for Otter monthly instead of annually?
Yes, Otter offers both monthly and annual billing. However, annual billing gives you a significant discount. For example, Otter Pro drops from $16.99/month to $8.33/month when paid annually.
Does Otter offer a free trial for paid plans?
Otter doesn’t have a traditional free trial, but you can use the Free plan indefinitely to test its basic features before deciding to upgrade.
What happens if I go over my transcription limit?
Once you hit your monthly limit, Otter stops transcribing until your minutes reset at the start of the next billing cycle. You’ll need to upgrade to a higher plan if you need more transcription time.
How do I cancel my Otter subscription?
You can cancel your subscription anytime from your account settings. However, some users report still being billed after cancellation, so be sure to double-check your billing confirmation and contact support if needed.
Does Otter offer refunds?
No, Otter’s subscriptions are non-refundable, even if you cancel mid-billing cycle. If you’re unsure about upgrading, it’s best to start with a monthly plan before committing to annual billing.
