Meeting assistants
Otter.ai: review, pricing, data and alternatives
Otter.ai transcribes meetings live, distinguishes speakers and summarizes discussions. It serves people who want to find information across multiple meetings or ask questions about their meeting records. A free tier exists; the first paid plan costs $8.49 per month. Access and transparency score: 85/100, #1 of 16 in its category.
| Access | 25/30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Openness | 20/30 | |
| Trust | 40/40 |
What is Otter.ai?
Otter.ai transcribes meetings live, distinguishes speakers and summarizes discussions. It serves people who want to find information across multiple meetings or ask questions about their meeting records.
According to its documentation, Otter.ai lets you:
- transcribe meetings live
- distinguish speakers
- summarize discussions
- find information across multiple meetings
- answer questions about meeting records
We file it under Meeting assistants, the category of tools to transcribe and summarise meetings, and it also overlaps with speech to text and note-taking and knowledge bases. The category lists 16 verified tools on this site.
The publisher is Otter.ai, Inc., based in United States. The service launched in 2018, which gives it some track record.
Who is it for?
It is mostly useful to these profiles: project managers, sales teams, students, and small business owners. The need it covers is simple to state: transcribe and summarise meetings.
Otter.ai is a good candidate if:
- you want to try before paying
- you plan to connect it to your tools or automations through its API
- you also work from your phone
Before deciding, run a trial on a real task and measure the time saved: it is the only criterion that really counts.
How much does Otter.ai cost?
Pricing model: freemium (limited free use, then paid). A free plan is offered, usually limited in volume or features.
The first paid plan costs $8.49 per month (Pro, per user per month, with annual billing), according to the pricing page, checked on October 24, 2026.
Per month, that is cheaper than the category median ($15 per month, based on tools with a published price).
To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.
Data and privacy
According to its privacy policy, data is processed in the United States.
For professional use, check that a data processing agreement (DPA) is offered, and do not send customers' personal data or confidential documents without one.
Exporting your content: yes (details on the official site). Being able to get your data back makes switching tools easier later.
Three habits apply to every AI tool:
- turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
- use a work account separate from your personal account
- review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it
Platforms, languages and API
Otter.ai runs on: web browser, Windows, macOS, iPhone and iPad, Android, and API.
Interface languages: English.
A public API lets you call it from your own programs or an automation tool, and plug it into an AI agent.
How we scored it
Our 85/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.
| Criterion | Points | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 25/30 | free tier, published price, French interface |
| Openness | 20/30 | API, data export, open code |
| Trust | 40/40 | identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists |
The full calculation is explained on our method page.
Comparison with alternatives
Otter.ai against other tools in the meeting assistants category:
Verdict
Otter.ai is among the most accessible and transparent tools in its category.
Strengths
- Free tier to try it
- Cheaper than its category median
- Public API
- Established since 2018
- Available on many platforms
Avoid if…
- You handle sensitive personal data without a processing agreement
Alternatives
Categories and jobs
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is Otter.ai free?
Yes, a free plan exists, with usage limits. The first paid plan costs $8.49 per month.
Where is Otter.ai data stored?
According to the publisher, in the United States.
Does Otter.ai have an API?
Yes, a public API is documented.
What are the alternatives to Otter.ai?
In the same category: Read AI, Sybill, tl;dv, and Avoma.
Otter.ai or Read AI: which one to choose?
Otter.ai starts at $8.49 per month, Read AI at $15 per month and our score is 85/100 for Otter.ai and 83/100 for Read AI. Try both on the same task before paying.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score