The Reality Check π―
Here's the thing about Notta's speaker identification: it's not consistent across the platform. Depending on how you record, you might get full speaker ID with all 58 languages, or you might get generic "Unknown speaker" labels.
If you're primarily recording English meetings through the Chrome extension or your laptop microphone, you may find that every speaker is labeled identically β which defeats the purpose of speaker identification entirely.
Where Speaker ID Works
- Screen recording: All 58 languages, up to 10 speakers
- File uploads: All 58 languages, up to 10 speakers
- Notta Bot meetings: All languages, unlimited speakers
Where Speaker ID is Limited
- Chrome extension: Japanese only for speaker ID
- Real-time microphone: Japanese only, up to 10 speakers
Official Documentation π
According to Notta's Help Center article on speaker identification, the feature availability varies significantly by recording method. Here's the official feature breakdown:

Screenshot from Notta's official Help Center showing speaker identification availability across different recording methods
How Notta Speaker ID Actually Works π¬
The Two Modes of Operation
When speaker identification is turned off, every speaker is labeled as "Unknown speaker" β making it impossible to follow who said what in multi-person conversations.
When speaker identification is enabled and working, speakers are labeled as "Speaker 1", "Speaker 2", etc. You can manually edit these names after transcription to reflect the actual participants.
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
| Feature | Speaker ID | Languages | Max Speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Recording | β Yes | All 58 | 10 |
| File Upload | β Yes | All 58 | 10 |
| Chrome Extension | β οΈ Limited | Japanese only | β |
| Microphone Recording | β οΈ Limited | Japanese only | 10 |
| Notta Bot (Meetings) | β Yes | All 58 | Unlimited |
Source: Notta Help Center - Does Notta support speaker identification?
Notta Bot: The Better Option for Meetings π€
When you use Notta Bot to join Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or Webex meetings, speaker identification works completely differently. Instead of voice recognition, it uses the participant's meeting account name. This bypasses the voice recognition limitations entirely.
Advantages of Notta Bot
- Works for all 58 transcription languages
- No speaker limit β handles large meetings
- Names are automatically correct (from meeting accounts)
- No voice training needed
- Works regardless of audio quality
The Catch
If multiple people join from the same account (like a shared conference room), all their speech gets grouped under that one name. Everyone needs to join from their own account for accurate speaker separation. Also, Notta Bot requires a paid plan (Business or higher) to join meetings.
Plan Availability & Pricing π³
Speaker identification is available on all Notta plans, including the free tier. The limitation isn't plan-based; it's feature-based.
| Plan | Price | Minutes/Month | Max Recording | Speaker ID | Notta Bot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 120 | 3 min | β | β |
| Pro | ~$8/mo | 1,800 | 5 hrs | β | β |
| Business | ~$17/mo | Unlimited | 5 hrs | β | β |
Source: Notta Pricing Page (February 2026)
Notta vs Competitors: Speaker ID π
If speaker identification is critical for your workflow, here's how Notta compares to the competition:
| Tool | All Features | Languages | Accuracy | Voice Profiles | Free Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notta | Partial | 58 | Not disclosed | β | 120 min |
| Fireflies.ai | β | 100+ | 95%+ | β | Unlimited |
| Otter.ai | β | 30+ | 90%+ | Basic | 300 min |
| Sembly AI | β | 45+ | 95% | β | Limited |
| Fathom | β | 25+ | 90%+ | β | Unlimited |
If you need reliable speaker identification for English meetings, Fireflies.ai or Sembly AI are better choices. Notta's speaker ID is usable if you primarily upload files or use screen recording, but the limited support for live recording is a significant drawback for most users. For a free option with unlimited transcription, Fireflies.ai is hard to beat.
Editing Speaker Names βοΈ
After transcription, you can manually edit speaker names to replace "Speaker 1" with actual names like "John Smith". This is available on all plans.
How to Edit Speaker Names
- Open the completed transcript
- Click on the speaker label (Speaker 1, Speaker 2, etc.)
- Enter the real name
- Choose to apply to all instances or just this one
Important Warning: If you upgrade your plan to unlock a longer transcript, the audio gets re-transcribed. This will overwrite your edited speaker names. Save your work before upgrading if you've made manual edits.
Best Alternatives for Speaker Identification π
If Notta's speaker ID limitations don't work for your needs, here are the best alternatives:
1. Fireflies.ai β Best Overall
- 95%+ speaker identification accuracy
- Works with all recording methods
- Voice profile enrollment for recurring speakers
- Unlimited transcription on free plan
- 100+ languages supported
Read our Fireflies.ai speaker ID guide β
2. Otter.ai β Best for Teams
- 90%+ speaker identification accuracy
- Learns voices over time for recurring meetings
- Calendar integration for automatic speaker names
- 300 minutes free per month
- Great collaborative features
Read our Otter.ai speaker ID guide β
3. Sembly AI β Best for Accuracy
- 95% speaker identification accuracy
- Voice ID enrollment for persistent recognition
- Works with 45+ languages
- Advanced analytics and insights
- CRM integrations
Read our Sembly AI speaker ID guide β
4. Fathom β Best Free Option
- Completely free for core features
- 90%+ speaker identification accuracy
- Works with Zoom, Meet, Teams
- Unlimited recordings
- CRM sync capabilities
Pros and Cons β β
Like any tool, Notta's speaker identification has its strengths and weaknesses. Here's what you need to know:
Pros
- Available on free plan β no paywall for speaker ID
- Works for file uploads β best experience is post-upload
- Notta Bot has unlimited speakers β no 10-speaker limit
- 58 language support β where speaker ID is available
- Manual name editing β can correct speaker labels after
Cons
- Limited live recording support β Chrome extension and mic have restrictions
- Accuracy not disclosed β Notta doesn't publish speaker ID rates
- No voice profiles β doesn't learn speakers over time
- 10-speaker limit β on most features except Notta Bot
- Re-transcription overwrites edits β upgrading plans loses manual name changes
Consider Alternatives If:
- You need reliable speaker ID for live English meetings β try Fireflies.ai
- You want voice profiles that learn over time β try Otter.ai
- You need the highest accuracy with voice enrollment β try Sembly AI
- You prefer unlimited free recordings β try Fathom
What Users Say π¬
Based on Trustpilot reviews and user feedback:
- "The identification of speakers was great and useful and the global text was totally close to the recording." β Charlotte, verified user
- "Notta accurately transcribes multiple languages, even mixed speech like Spanglish." β Carrie R., verified user
- "It doesn't summarize my interview at all. It only summarized some parts..." β Esma BaruΔija, verified user
- "Good, but struggles with tech jargon... Notta butchers SaaS terms ('Kubernetes' β 'Cooper nets')." β Jasmine Mellor, verified user
Note: Notta has a 1.4/5 rating on Trustpilot with 86% 1-star reviews, primarily due to billing issues and customer service complaints, not transcription quality.
Final Thoughts π
Notta's speaker identification is functional but fragmented. It works well for file uploads and screen recordings across all supported languages, and the Notta Bot offers the best experience for meetings. However, the limited support for Chrome extension and microphone recording is a significant constraint that makes it a poor choice for many English-speaking users.
If speaker identification is critical to your workflow and you primarily record live meetings in English, consider Fireflies.ai or Sembly AI instead. If you mostly upload files or use Notta Bot, Notta's speaker ID will serve you fine β just be aware of the customer service issues reported by many users.