Overview: Otter.ai vs Fireflies.ai
Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai are two of the most popular AI-powered meeting transcription tools on the market. Both offer automatic transcription, speaker identification, and AI summaries, but they have key differences in pricing, integrations, and target users that make each better suited for specific use cases.
Otter.ai, founded in 2016, is widely recognized for its real-time transcription capabilities and user-friendly interface. Fireflies.ai, launched around 2015-16, has evolved into a more enterprise-focused solution with extensive integrations and advanced search features across transcripts.
Otter.ai at a Glance
- Founded: 2016
- Languages: English (US/UK)
- Free Plan: 300 min/month
- Pro Price: $17/month
- Best For: General users, individuals
Fireflies.ai at a Glance
- Founded: 2015-16
- Languages: 69+
- Free Plan: 800 min storage/seat
- Pro Price: $10/month
- Best For: Sales, ops, collaboration
Pricing Comparison
Both tools offer free plans, but they structure their pricing differently. Fireflies.ai has more affordable paid tiers, while Otter.ai offers more generous free transcription minutes upfront.
| Plan | Otter.ai | Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 300 min/month, 30 min/meeting | 800 min storage/seat |
| Pro/Individual | $17/month (1,200 min) | $10/month |
| Business | $20/user/month (6,000 min) | $19/user/month |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | $39/user/month |
| Cost per Minute | ~$0.034/min | ~$0.0056/min |
Winner on Pricing: Fireflies.ai offers better value per minute and lower entry-level pricing, making it more cost-effective for high-volume users.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Otter.ai | Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time Transcription | Yes | Yes |
| Languages Supported | English only (US/UK) | 69+ languages |
| Speaker Identification | Yes | Yes |
| AI Summaries | Yes | Yes |
| Searchable Transcripts | Yes | Advanced |
| CRM Integration | Limited | Extensive |
| Zoom/Teams/Meet | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Zapier Integration | Paid only | Yes |
| Custom Vocabulary | Paid only | Yes |
Integrations Comparison
One of the biggest differences between these tools is their integration ecosystem. Fireflies.ai has a significantly larger integration library, especially for sales and CRM tools.
Otter.ai Integrations
- Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams
- Dropbox, Google Drive
- Slack (limited)
- Zapier (paid plans)
- Calendar sync (Google, Outlook)
Fireflies.ai Integrations
- Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex
- Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive
- Slack, Notion, Asana, Trello
- Zapier, Make (Integromat)
- 50+ CRM and productivity tools
Winner on Integrations: Fireflies.ai clearly leads with its extensive integration library, especially for CRM and sales tools, making it ideal for go-to-market teams.
Best Use Cases
Choose Otter.ai If You:
- Need simple, reliable real-time transcription
- Primarily work in English-speaking environments
- Want a generous free plan (300 min/month)
- Are an individual user or small team
- Prefer a clean, straightforward interface
- Don't need extensive CRM integrations
- Record lectures, interviews, or personal meetings
Choose Fireflies.ai If You:
- Work with international or multilingual teams
- Need deep CRM integration (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Are part of a sales or customer success team
- Want better cost efficiency at scale
- Need advanced search across all transcripts
- Require extensive automation via Zapier
- Want enterprise-grade features and security
Pros and Cons
Otter.ai
Pros
- Excellent real-time transcription accuracy
- Generous 300 min/month free plan
- Clean, intuitive user interface
- Good mobile app experience
- Strong Zoom integration
Cons
- English-only transcription
- Limited CRM integrations
- Higher cost per minute than competitors
- 30-min meeting limit on free plan
- Fewer automation options
Fireflies.ai
Pros
- 69+ languages supported
- Extensive CRM integrations
- Better cost efficiency at scale
- Advanced transcript search
- Mature enterprise features
Cons
- Smaller free tier storage
- Steeper learning curve
- More complex interface
- Some features locked to higher tiers
- Can be overwhelming for simple needs
Final Verdict
Both Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai are excellent meeting transcription tools, but they cater to different audiences. Your choice should depend on your specific needs:
Choose Otter.ai if you're an individual user, student, journalist, or part of a small team that primarily works in English. Its generous free plan and intuitive interface make it perfect for straightforward transcription needs.
Choose Fireflies.ai if you're on a sales team, work in a multilingual environment, or need deep CRM integrations. Its enterprise-scale features and cost efficiency make it ideal for growing businesses and established organizations.
