Otter.ai review
Live meeting transcription with AI summaries and chat
- Otter.ai
- Free + paid plans
- Web, iPhone & iPad, Android, Mac, Windows
4.8 from 87.8K App Store ratings 5M+ Google Play downloads #58 in Productivity on the US App Store
Does it deserve #13?
Is Otter.ai worth it?
It depends on what you need. Otter.ai scores 8.0/10 and ranks #13 in AI Assistants. It's best for students, journalists and teams who want searchable transcripts of every meeting. Skip it if you don't want your recordings used to train AI. Price: Free: 300 minutes a month; Pro is $8.33 a month billed yearly or $16.99 monthly.
The verdict
Otter has typed up meetings and lectures for years. It writes live transcripts with speaker labels. Its notetaker can join Zoom, Meet and Teams on its own. AI Chat answers questions across your meetings. A new desktop app records calls and chats outside scheduled meetings. The free plan works but stops each conversation at 30 minutes. Otter trains its AI on recordings with personal details removed. It also faces a class action lawsuit over recording consent.
- Live transcripts with speaker labels
- Notetaker for Zoom, Meet and Teams
- AI Chat across meetings
- Desktop app for Mac and Windows
- MCP server for ChatGPT and Claude
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Apr 2026Otter for Desktop arrived on Mac and Windows to capture calls beyond scheduled meetings
- Apr 2026AI Chat can pull in Gmail, Drive, Notion and Jira, and Otter now works as an MCP server
Privacy 5.8/10
Otter trains its AI on de-identified recordings and transcripts, with no in-app opt-out. The App Store label lists identifiers used to track you and links audio, contacts and location to you.
What we like
- Years of experience with meeting and lecture transcripts
- Free plan includes 300 minutes a month
- Apps for phone, computer and web
What could be better
- Free conversations stop at 30 minutes
- Trains AI on recordings with personal details removed, by default
- Faces a class action lawsuit over recording consent
Students, journalists and teams who want searchable transcripts of every meeting
you don't want your recordings used to train AI
Questions about Otter.ai
Is Otter.ai worth it in 2026?
It depends on what you need. Otter.ai scores 8.0/10 and ranks #13 in AI Assistants. It's best for students, journalists and teams who want searchable transcripts of every meeting. Skip it if you don't want your recordings used to train AI. Price: Free: 300 minutes a month; Pro is $8.33 a month billed yearly or $16.99 monthly.
Is Otter free?
Yes. The Basic plan gives you 300 transcription minutes a month, up to 30 minutes per conversation, and keeps your 25 latest conversations. Pro is $8.33 a month billed yearly or $16.99 monthly.
Does Otter use my recordings to train AI?
Yes. Its privacy policy says it trains its AI on audio and transcripts with personal details removed. There's no setting to stop it, but you can object by emailing privacy@otter.ai.
Is Otter being sued?
Yes. A combined class action lawsuit filed in 2025 claims Otter's notetaker recorded people on calls without their consent. Otter denies it, and the case is still open.
What are the best alternatives to Otter.ai?
The closest alternatives are Fireflies.ai, Granola and ChatGPT. See all of them ranked on our Otter.ai alternatives page.
Where does Otter.ai rank?
Otter.ai ranks #13 of 16 in our AI Assistants ranking, with an overall score of 8.0 out of 10.