1) 300 Minutes Per Month Breakdown
300 minutes equals 5 hours of transcription total. How far that goes depends on your meeting length and recording habits.
| Use Pattern | Monthly Minutes Used | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 10 meetings x 30 minutes | 300 | Full monthly budget used |
| 8 meetings x 25 minutes | 200 | 100 minutes remain |
| 15 meetings x 20 minutes | 300 | No buffer for extra calls |
2) Reset Timing Based on Signup Date
Otter resets your free minutes monthly on your signup anniversary day. Example: sign up on March 18, then each cycle runs from the 18th to the 17th.
Practical Example
- Signup date: April 9
- Cycle 1: April 9 to May 8
- Cycle 2 reset: May 9
- Unused minutes from Cycle 1 do not roll over
3) What Counts Toward the Limit
Counts
- Live meeting transcription time
- Uploaded audio and video transcription time
- All speakers in the same recording session
- Any daily extension minutes you use
Does Not Count
- Minutes from previous cycles after reset
- Time after transcription is stopped
- Manual notes taken outside Otter transcription
- Unused allowance from earlier months
4) Tips to Maximize Free Minutes
- Record only decision-heavy parts of meetings instead of full sessions.
- Stop transcription during breaks and off-topic discussion.
- Use a short meeting agenda so sessions end closer to 20-25 minutes.
- Check your usage weekly so you do not run out near the end of the cycle.
- Use manual notes for low-priority internal check-ins.
Example Optimization Plan
If you run three 45-minute meetings per week, transcribe only the final 20 minutes (decisions and action items). That reduces usage from 540 minutes to 240 minutes in a 4-week cycle.
5) When to Upgrade
Consider upgrading when free usage creates recurring friction instead of savings.
- You hit 300 minutes before your reset date in most months.
- Your core meetings regularly exceed free session constraints.
- You need more uploads, longer sessions, or team workflow features.
- The time spent managing limits costs more than a paid plan.
Need More Than 300 Minutes?
Get a tailored recommendation in 2 minutes.
FIND YOUR BEST OPTION