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Still deciding? Read our full Otter.ai review before you switch.
The short answer: Fathom has one of the more generous free plans, Fireflies is the natural choice if integrations and search across meetings matter most, and Granola is the pick if you do not want a bot joining calls. Prices were checked against each vendor's pricing page on November 9, 2026.
Why Look for Otter.ai Alternatives?#
Otter.ai is widely used for meeting transcription. People usually compare alternatives for these reasons:
Limits on the free plan. Free includes 300 transcription minutes a month, and meeting length is capped at 30 minutes. Longer calls quickly run into that.
Per-seat pricing adds up. Pro is $16.99 per user per month billed monthly, with a discounted price on annual billing, and Business is listed at $30 per user per month.
Bots in calls. Some teams and clients do not like a visible meeting bot, which has led to growth in tools that capture audio from the device instead.
Top Otter.ai Alternatives#
1. Fathom#
A note taker with a free plan for individuals that includes unlimited recordings and call summaries. The Team plan is $19 per user per month billed monthly or $15 on annual billing, with a two-user minimum, and Business is $34 or $25. It offers a choice between bot-free capture (in beta) and bot capture.
- Price: Free / $15/user/mo Team (annual) / $25/user/mo Business (annual)
- Best for: Individuals and small teams who want a strong free plan
- Trade-off: Team features require at least two paid users
2. Fireflies.ai#
A meeting assistant with broad integrations and team analytics. The free plan is free forever with limited AI credits. Pro is $18 per seat per month billed monthly or $10 on annual billing. Business is $29 or $19, and a higher tier is $39 per seat per month on annual billing.
- Price: Free / $10/seat/mo Pro (annual) / $19/seat/mo Business (annual)
- Best for: Teams who want a searchable meeting library and CRM integrations
- Trade-off: AI features draw from a credit allowance
3. Granola#
An AI notepad that captures device audio without a bot joining your call. Basic is free, with limited meeting history. Business costs $14 per user per month, and Enterprise costs $35 per user per month.
- Price: Free / $14/user/mo Business / $35/user/mo Enterprise
- Best for: People in back-to-back meetings who dislike bots
- Trade-off: Check whether device-audio capture meets your recording consent requirements
4. tl;dv#
A meeting recorder with Pro and Business plans billed per seat in euros. Pro costs 18 euros a month on annual billing or 29 euros billed monthly. Business costs 29 euros a month on annual billing or 39 euros billed monthly.
- Price: Free / 18 euros/seat/mo Pro (annual) / 29 euros/seat/mo Business (annual)
- Best for: European teams and meetings that need clips and highlights
- Trade-off: Higher monthly-billed price than the annual rate suggests
5. Read AI#
Combines meeting notes with a measure of meeting engagement. Free covers five meetings a month. Pro costs $15 per user per month on annual billing or $19.75 billed monthly, with higher tiers at $22.50 and $29.75.
- Price: Free (5 meetings/mo) / $15/user/mo Pro (annual)
- Best for: Teams that want meeting analytics along with notes
- Trade-off: The free plan is small, with 5 meetings a month
6. MeetGeek#
Offers automated meeting notes with a free plan that includes three hours of transcription a month and workflows after each meeting. Pro is listed at $15.99 per user per month with 20 hours of transcription a month.
- Price: Free (3 hours/mo) / $15.99/user/mo Pro
- Best for: Teams wanting automation after a meeting ends
- Trade-off: Free transcription hours are limited
- Read our full MeetGeek guide
7. Notta#
A transcription tool for live meetings and uploaded files. Free includes 120 transcription minutes a month. Pro is listed at $8.17 a month on annual billing, $97.99 a year in total, with 1,800 transcription minutes a month.
- Price: Free (120 min/mo) / $8.17/mo Pro (annual)
- Best for: Multilingual transcription and file uploads
- Trade-off: Free conversations are limited to three minutes
Comparison Table#
| Tool | Free Plan | Paid From | Bot-Free Option | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fathom | Unlimited recordings | $15/user/mo (annual) | Yes, in beta | Strong free plan |
| Fireflies.ai | Yes, limited AI credits | $10/seat/mo (annual) | Check vendor | Integrations and search |
| Granola | Yes, limited history | $14/user/mo | Yes | Device-audio capture |
| tl;dv | Yes | 18 euros/seat/mo (annual) | Check vendor | Clips and highlights |
| Read AI | 5 meetings/mo | $15/user/mo (annual) | Check vendor | Meeting analytics |
| MeetGeek | 3 hours/mo | $15.99/user/mo | Yes | Post-meeting automation |
| Notta | 120 min/mo | $8.17/mo (annual) | Check vendor | Multilingual transcription |
How to Choose the Right Otter.ai Alternative#
To minimize cost: start with Fathom's free plan, then compare Notta's and MeetGeek's paid prices.
To avoid bots: Granola is built around device-audio capture, and Fathom and MeetGeek offer bot-free options.
For sales teams: Fireflies and Fathom's Business plan have the stronger CRM features.
For Europe: consent rules for recording apply in many countries. Check who must agree before you record, and review each vendor's data processing terms.
For more on Otter itself, read our Otter.ai guide and our MeetGeek guide.
FAQ#
What is the best free alternative to Otter.ai?#
Fathom's free plan is the strongest here, with unlimited recordings and call summaries. Fireflies, Granola, MeetGeek and tl;dv also have free plans with their own limits.
Is Fireflies better than Otter?#
Fireflies is often stronger on integrations and searching across meetings, while Otter is a well-known choice for transcription and in-meeting notes. Compare the free plans on a real meeting to see which suits your workflow.
Which meeting note taker works without a bot?#
Granola captures device audio without a bot joining the call. Fathom offers bot-free capture in beta, and MeetGeek lists both bot and bot-free recording. Always inform participants as required by the rules that apply to you.
Is Otter.ai free?#
Yes, Otter.ai has a free plan with 300 transcription minutes a month and a 30-minute limit per meeting. Paid plans remove or raise those limits.
