What is Otter.ai? π¦¦
Otter.ai is a pioneer in AI-powered transcription, launched in 2016. Its name is almost synonymous with real-time transcription, making it a favorite among journalists, students, and professionals who need instant, high-fidelity records of conversations.
π Complete Feature Comparison
| Feature | 𦦠Otter.ai | π₯ Fireflies | π Notta | π¬ tl;dv | β‘ Supernormal | π Rev.ai |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Pro/Mo) | $16.99 | $10 | $8.17 | $18 | $10 | Pay-per-use |
| Free Plan | 300 min/mo | Unlimited | 3 min/recording | Unlimited | Generous | Trial only |
| Languages | 3 | 60+ | 58 | 30+ | English | 30+ |
| Accuracy | ~90% | ~90% | ~98.86% | ~95% | ~93% | ~99% |
| Real-Time | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Video Recording | Enterprise | Yes | No | Unlimited Free | Yes | No |
| CRM Integration | Basic | Excellent | Limited | Good | Good | API only |
| Best For | English teams, students | Sales teams, CRM users | Global teams | Research, sales coaching | Freelancers, startups | Pure transcription |
π° Pricing Comparison
| Tool | Free Plan | Pro/Starter | Business | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 𦦠Otter.ai | 300 min/mo | $16.99/mo | $30/mo | Custom |
| π₯ Fireflies.ai | Unlimited | $10/mo | $19/mo | $39/mo |
| π Notta | 3 min/recording | $8.17/mo | $14.17/mo | Custom |
| π¬ tl;dv | Unlimited recordings | $18/mo | $59/mo | Custom |
| β‘ Supernormal | Generous | $10/mo | $19/mo | Custom |
| π Rev.ai | Trial | $0.02/min | Volume discounts | Custom |
π Detailed Competitor Analysis
Otter.ai vs Fireflies.ai π¦¦π₯
Fireflies Wins:
- β Better CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- β Unlimited free transcriptions
- β Meeting download feature (Otter lacks this)
- β 24/7 live chat support
- β 60+ languages vs Otter's 3
- β Superior real-time transcription
- β Better team collaboration features
- β 8 years market experience
- β More established brand recognition
- β Better for journalists & students
Otter.ai vs Notta π¦¦π
Notta Wins:
- β 58 languages vs Otter's 3
- β ~98.86% accuracy vs ~90%
- β Real-time translation (42 languages)
- β Save $106/year ($8.17 vs $16.99/mo)
- β 5-minute processing for 1-hour meeting
- β Real-time transcription during meetings
- β Better free plan (300 min/mo vs 3 min/recording)
- β Advanced collaboration features
- β More established since 2016
- β Better English-specific accuracy
Otter.ai vs tl;dv π¦¦π¬
tl;dv Wins:
- β Unlimited FREE video recordings
- β Video clips from transcripts
- β Scheduled multi-meeting reports
- β Viewership analytics
- β Better for research & sales coaching
- β Superior real-time collaboration
- β Better mobile app experience
- β More mature platform
- β Better for live events & lectures
- β Stronger brand trust
Otter.ai vs Supernormal π¦¦β‘
Supernormal Wins:
- β Extremely easy to use
- β Beautiful, well-formatted notes
- β One-click summaries & action items
- β High-quality meeting templates
- β Generous free tier
- β More advanced features
- β Better analytics & insights
- β Real-time live transcription
- β Multiple language support
- β Better for power users
Otter.ai vs Rev.ai π¦¦π
- β ~99% transcription accuracy
- β Human transcription option
- β Pay-per-use pricing flexibility
- β Better for high-volume needs
- β Stronger API for developers
- β Full meeting management platform
- β Speaker identification
- β Real-time transcription
- β Team collaboration features
- β AI-powered summaries
β οΈ Otter.ai Limitations
- βLimited Language Support: Only 3 languages (English, Spanish, French) - unsuitable for global organizations
- βNo Download Option: Users cannot download recordings - must rely on in-app access only
- βNoisy Environment Issues: Users report transcription accuracy drops significantly in noisy settings
- βVideo Recording Limited: Video recording only available on Enterprise plans
- βHigher Pricing: Pro plan at $16.99/mo is more expensive than alternatives like Notta ($8.17) and Fireflies ($10)
π― Our Recommendations
Choose Otter.ai
- β English-speaking teams
- β Need real-time transcription
- β Journalists & students
- β Team collaboration priority
- β Want proven reliability
Choose Fireflies
- β Sales teams using CRM
- β Need unlimited free tier
- β Want meeting downloads
- β Require 24/7 support
- β Multi-language meetings
Choose Notta
- β Global/multilingual teams
- β Need real-time translation
- β Budget-conscious users
- β Highest accuracy priority
- β Fast post-meeting processing
Choose tl;dv
- β Research teams
- β Sales coaching needs
- β Want free video recording
- β Need video clip sharing
- β Multi-meeting reports
Choose Supernormal
- β Freelancers & solopreneurs
- β Value simplicity
- β Want beautiful notes
- β Minimal learning curve
- β Quick summaries priority
Choose Rev.ai
- β Pure transcription needs
- β Developers (API focus)
- β Highest accuracy required
- β Pay-per-use preference
- β Human transcription option
π Final Verdict
Otter.ai remains a solid choice for English-speaking teams who prioritize real-time transcription and collaboration. However, it's no longer the only game in town.
π‘ If languages matter: Notta (58 languages) or Fireflies (60+ languages)
π° If budget matters: Notta ($8.17/mo) or Fireflies ($10/mo)
π¬ If video recording matters: tl;dv (unlimited free)
β‘ If simplicity matters: Supernormal
Not sure which tool is right for you? Take our quiz for a personalized recommendation!
π Related Comparisons
π¦¦π₯ Otter vs Fireflies
Real-time vs CRM integration
π𦦠Notta vs Otter
Multilingual vs English focus
π¦¦π¬ Otter vs tl;dv
Transcription vs video clips
β‘𦦠Supernormal vs Otter
Simplicity vs power features
π Otter Alternatives
Complete list of options
π Free AI Tools
Best free tier options
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