Otter.ai has become a popular AI tool for transcribing meetings and generating notes, but it’s not the only option. Many professionals seek an Otter AI alternative for more features, better language support, or fewer usage limits when creating meeting notes and minutes. Otter.ai’s free plan, for example, is capped at 300 minutes per month (with only 30 minutes per meeting and 3 file imports in total), and it supports only a few languages (English, French, and Spanish). If you need unlimited transcripts, broader language coverage, or advanced AI summaries, exploring alternatives is essential. In this article, we’ll analyze the best Otter.ai alternatives in the AI transcription and meeting notes space. Each alternative is evaluated on key features like accuracy, language support, integration, and summarization capabilities, so you can efficiently capture meeting notes and meeting minutes with the tool that fits your needs.

What to Look for in an Otter.ai Alternative

When choosing a meeting transcription tool, consider the following factors:

• Accuracy and AI Features: High transcription accuracy is vital. Look for tools that not only transcribe but also provide AI-generated summaries or insights (e.g., action items, highlights). Some apps even let you have an AI conversation or Q&A with the transcript for deeper analysis.

• Language Support: If you work with international teams, multi-language support is key. Otter.ai’s language options are limited, so alternatives that transcribe in dozens of languages can be advantageous. Also consider if the tool can identify speakers in multi-speaker meetings (speaker diarization).

• Integration and Platforms: Consider where and how the tool works. Some solutions join your online meetings (Zoom, Teams, etc.) to record automatically, while others let you upload recordings after the meeting. Also check platform compatibility – web, desktop, mobile (iOS/Android) – depending on whether you need on-the-go note taking or in-call assistants.

• Free Usage and Limits: AI transcription services often have free plans with limits. Compare free tier offerings (minutes per month, storage duration, number of meetings) and pricing for premium plans. For instance, some tools offer generous free transcriptions (hundreds of minutes), whereas others limit features unless you upgrade.

• Unique Features: Finally, identify any unique selling points. This could be CRM integration for sales calls, the ability to batch import recordings (e.g. from voice memo apps), real-time collaboration on notes, or strong privacy compliance for sensitive meetings. These can differentiate one product from another and might be crucial for your use case.

With these criteria in mind, let’s compare the top alternatives to Otter.ai for automated meeting transcription and note-taking.

Quick Comparison of Top Otter.ai Alternatives

The table below provides a snapshot of the best Otter.ai alternatives and their notable features:

⭐ VOMO AI is our top choice, highlighted below, due to its comprehensive features and ease of use.

Now, let’s examine each of these alternatives in detail and see how they position themselves in the AI transcription and meeting notes space.

1. VOMO AI – The Best All-in-One Otter.ai Alternative

VOMO AI is a powerful iOS app that offers a full-cycle solution for meeting transcription and note-taking. It sets itself apart with a four-step workflow for handling your meetings:

1. Record: Capture audio directly using the VOMO app’s recorder, or even use iPhone’s built-in Voice Memos (VOMO allows batch importing of recordings from Apple Voice Memos). This means you can record anywhere – whether in-person meetings, phone calls, or online meetings – and later import the audio for transcription.

2. Transcribe: Once audio is recorded or imported, VOMO swiftly converts it to text with high accuracy. It supports automatic speaker identification to differentiate who said what, and handles recordings in over 50 languages. This broad language support and diarization ensure your meeting transcripts are detailed and globally usable.

3. Summarize: VOMO’s AI then generates a concise summary of the meeting, along with key points and action items. This saves time when reviewing meeting minutes, as you get the essential highlights without reading full transcripts. The app can also format the transcript intelligently (e.g., removing filler words and correcting minor errors) to produce clean meeting notes.

4. Ask AI (Chat): Finally, one of VOMO’s standout features is the ability to have an AI conversation with your transcript. Using the built-in AI assistant, you can query the transcript for more details or context. For example, you might ask, “What decisions were made in this meeting?” or “Summarize the action items regarding the project deadline,” and the AI will answer based on the transcript content. This interactive Q&A capability turns your static transcript into a dynamic source of insights, far beyond what Otter.ai offers by default.

Unlimited usage: VOMO’s generous policy for premium users is another advantage. Premium subscribers get unlimited imports and AI conversations, so you won’t hit a cap when managing a large volume of meetings. This contrasts with Otter.ai’s strict limits on imports and monthly minutes. VOMO offers a free trial (so users can test all features for several days) and then a paid plan for continued unlimited use.

Integration and platform: As a mobile-centric tool, VOMO is ideal for those who prefer taking notes on an iPhone or iPad. You can use it on the go, which is great for journalists, researchers, or anyone recording interviews and meetings outside the office. It also integrates with Apple’s ecosystem (e.g., Share to VOMO from Voice Memos app in bulk) for convenience. While it is currently an iOS-only app (no dedicated Android or desktop app yet), its focus on the Apple platform means it’s highly optimized for iPhone users.

In summary, VOMO AI is a top-tier alternative to Otter.ai that covers the entire process from recording to summarization to interactive analysis. Its combination of unlimited transcriptions (for premium users), multi-language support, and AI-driven conversation with your notes makes it a comprehensive solution for meeting notes. For iOS users especially, VOMO AI positions itself as the #1 choice for converting conversations into actionable meeting minutes.

2. Notta AI – Best for Multi-Language Transcription

Notta AI is another strong Otter.ai competitor, known for its extensive language support and easy meeting transcription. Notta offers live transcription for meetings and audio files, and it stands out by supporting 104 languages and dialects – far more than Otter’s limited language set. This makes Notta a great choice for international teams or anyone needing transcription in languages beyond English. If your meetings involve bilingual discussions or non-English content, Notta can handle it without breaking a sweat.

Notta can sync with your calendar and integrate with popular conferencing platforms (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet) to automatically join and record meetings on your behalf. After each session, it provides a transcript and even basic summaries or highlights of the meeting. This hands-off approach (where an AI assistant attends the meeting for you) means you don’t have to remember to hit “record” – the tool captures everything once scheduled.

However, there are a few points of differentiation to note. Notta’s accuracy is solid but has been reported at around 98%, which is slightly lower than some leading services like Rev’s VoiceHub or others claiming higher accuracy. In practice, a 98% accuracy is still very good for most use cases, but ultra-critical applications might find minor errors to correct. Additionally, Notta’s integration options beyond the main video meeting platforms are somewhat limited. If your workflow involves less common apps, or if you need deep integration (e.g., automatic CRM entry or project management updates), Notta might not cover those out of the box.

Pricing: Notta offers a free plan with limited transcription hours and features, and paid plans starting around $14 per month for expanded usage. The paid tiers unlock more transcription minutes and advanced capabilities. In comparison to Otter, Notta’s free tier might be more generous in some aspects, but you’ll likely need a subscription for regular heavy use (as with most of these tools).

In summary, choose Notta AI if multi-language transcription is your top priority or if you want an Otter alternative that can auto-join meetings and transcribe without manual effort. It’s a well-rounded platform positioned for global usage, though be mindful of its integration scope and ensure it fits your particular workflow.

3. Fireflies.ai – Best Free Plan for Meeting Transcripts

If you are looking for an Otter.ai alternative with a strong free plan, Fireflies.ai is a top contender. Fireflies is an AI meeting assistant that can automatically join your meetings, record the conversation, and produce transcripts and summaries. Its free tier is notably generous: Fireflies’ free plan allows unlimited recording and transcription of meetings, with up to 800 minutes of storage for your recordings. This is far more capacity than Otter’s free offering and gives individuals or small teams a chance to use the service extensively without immediate cost. Unlike many “free” plans that feel like just a trial, Fireflies’ free version is robust enough for regular use.

Features: Fireflies integrates with a wide array of conferencing platforms and workplace apps. It works with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and more – essentially any platform where you can invite the Fireflies bot. Additionally, it connects with collaboration and CRM tools such as Slack, Notion, HubSpot, and others. This means your meeting notes can automatically flow into the tools where your team works. For example, after a meeting, Fireflies can log the transcript or summary in your Slack channel or create tasks in your project management app based on action items discussed.

During meetings, Fireflies can produce an AI-generated summary and outline, similar to Otter’s live summary feature. Team members can also highlight important moments and comment on the transcript in the Fireflies dashboard, making post-meeting collaboration easy. And with the click of a transcript section, you can playback that portion of audio – useful for reviewing tone or exact phrasing.

Limitations: The main drawback with Fireflies is its language support – currently, it focuses on English (and a set of about 40 languages/dialects to a lesser extent). Unlike Notta or VOMO, it does not offer translation or transcription in dozens of languages; its strength lies in English meeting scenarios. Additionally, some advanced features (like video recording of meetings or certain integrations) are reserved for the paid plans. But these limitations aside, Fireflies is often praised for giving a “complete” experience even on free: for instance, you get collaborative editing and a decent amount of storage without paying.

Pricing: Should you need more than the free tier offers, Fireflies’ Pro plan starts at roughly $10/user per month, increasing storage and adding features. Business plans allow unlimited storage and more administrative control, at higher pricing tiers.

Overall, Fireflies.ai positions itself as an accessible, integration-rich alternative to Otter.ai, especially attractive if you want to automate meeting notes without paying upfront. Its ability to transcribe meetings across many platforms and deliver summaries makes it a strong choice for individuals and teams, as long as English transcription meets your needs.

4. tl;dv – Great for Recording Zoom/Google Meet Meetings

tl;dv (shorthand for “Too Long; Didn’t Video”) is a popular AI meeting tool tailored for those who rely heavily on video conferencing. It’s an excellent free alternative to Otter.ai if your workflow is centered on Zoom or Google Meet. With tl;dv, you install a Chrome extension or integrate it with Zoom, and the tool will record and transcribe your meetings automatically. Notably, the free version of tl;dv offers unlimited recording and transcription for Zoom/Meet sessions, which is a standout offer. You can record every meeting without worrying about hitting a cap, something Otter’s free plan cannot match.

Features: tl;dv provides real-time transcription in over 30 languages, allowing non-English meetings to be captured (though the accuracy may vary by language). After recording, tl;dv generates AI-powered meeting notes, including timestamped highlights of key moments. Users can later click on these highlights to jump to that moment in the recording – very helpful for reviewing important discussions without watching the entire meeting. You can also manually mark or tag important parts during the meeting to create a quick index of the call.

Another strength is tl;dv’s growing list of integrations and workflow automation (available in the Pro plan). It can sync transcripts and insights to tools like Notion or CRM systems, helping you turn raw meeting data into organized knowledge. It has reportedly gained a large user base (over a million users) due to its free capabilities.

Limitations: There are a few considerations with tl;dv. First, its accuracy is around 90% for transcripts, which is a bit lower than some competitors that often claim 95%+. This means you might need to do light editing on the transcriptions, especially if speakers have heavy accents or there’s crosstalk. Second, tl;dv is limited to Zoom and Google Meet in terms of automatic recording on the free plan. If you use Microsoft Teams or other platforms, tl;dv might not directly support them (at least not on the free tier). Essentially, it’s ideal if your meetings are on those two major platforms; otherwise, you’d have to record and upload videos manually to tl;dv, which is less convenient.

Pricing: tl;dv’s Pro plan (about $20/user/month) expands its capabilities – including more integrations, support for additional platforms, and higher accuracy features. But many users find the free tier sufficient for basic needs.

In summary, tl;dv is positioned as the go-to free solution for Zoom and Google Meet users who want a quick way to get transcriptions and summaries. It undercuts Otter by offering unlimited use at no cost (with some trade-offs in accuracy and scope). For startups or small teams that live in video calls and need to quickly share meeting minutes, tl;dv is a compelling alternative.

5. Avoma – AI Meeting Assistant for Sales and Teams

Avoma is a meeting transcription tool with a focus on actionable insights, particularly for sales and customer-facing teams. As an Otter.ai alternative, Avoma differentiates itself by not just transcribing meetings, but also analyzing them for business intelligence. It’s often described as an AI meeting “coach” or assistant for sales calls.

Key Features: Avoma will record and transcribe your online meetings (common platforms like Zoom, Teams, Google Meet are supported). After transcription, it generates a summary of the call and, importantly, extracts key insights such as action items, topics discussed, and even sales-related signals. For example, in a sales call, Avoma might flag a competitor mention, a pricing question, or a follow-up task, and it can automatically log these into your CRM or task management system. This level of intelligent parsing goes beyond the basic transcript+summary that Otter provides, tailoring the output to what teams need to know next.

Avoma also offers a collaborative workspace for meeting knowledge. Teams can comment on transcripts, highlight important snippets, and share summaries. It integrates with tools like HubSpot, Salesforce (for CRM), and project management platforms, so that meeting outcomes flow into your existing workflows. This is extremely useful for sales teams that want to keep track of deal progress or customer success teams recording client meetings.

One of Avoma’s standout capabilities is its CRM integration: it looks for sales insights in conversations and can push notes directly into CRM fields or records. For example, key points from a customer call can be saved under that contact or deal in your CRM, saving manual data entry for the team.

Limitations: Avoma is currently geared towards English-language meetings and does not emphasize multi-language support. If your meetings are in other languages, Avoma might not be the best fit. Additionally, because of its advanced features, there is a bit of a learning curve and setup involved to tailor Avoma to your needs (as noted by some users). Its free plan is limited in how many hours you can transcribe (suitable for trying out, but teams will need a paid plan for regular use).

Pricing: Avoma typically offers a free basic tier (with a few hours of transcription per month and limited data retention) and then paid plans starting around $19/user per month for more hours and features. Higher plans unlock unlimited storage, more integrations, and team management features.

In essence, Avoma positions itself not just as a transcription service, but as an AI meeting management platform. If you are looking for an alternative to Otter that will do more than generate text – that is, help you take action on meetings, particularly in a sales or project context – Avoma is a top choice. Its English transcripts are highly accurate, and the value-add in summarization and integration can boost team productivity by turning meetings into organized, actionable data.

6. Fathom – Simple, Free Meeting Transcription with CRM Sync

Fathom is a lightweight, free alternative to Otter.ai that has gained popularity for its simplicity and useful integrations. It’s a tool that plugs into your Zoom (and now also Google Meet and Teams via integrations) to record, transcribe, and summarize meetings without fuss. Fathom’s core offering is free, which makes it very attractive to individuals and small teams.

Features: Once integrated, Fathom will automatically generate a transcript of your meeting and even create an AI-generated summary of the call notes. This summary can highlight key points or decisions made. A notable feature is Fathom’s ability to sync with CRM systems like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Close. After a sales call, for example, Fathom can push the transcript or summary to your CRM under the relevant lead or opportunity. This is similar to Avoma’s value proposition but delivered in a more straightforward, automated way for free users.

Another benefit users mention is the ease of control – Fathom lets you choose which meetings to record or not record with a simple interface. Some Otter.ai users have complained that managing the meeting assistant (ensuring it joins or doesn’t join certain calls) can be clunky. Fathom addresses this by making it easy to activate or pause recording for specific meetings, so you capture what you need without accidentally recording sensitive meetings you prefer not to.

Fathom also supports highlighting important moments during a call (you can press a button to mark a segment as important). After the meeting, you’ll have those highlights extracted, which can serve as quick bookmarks in the conversation.

Limitations: The primary limitation of Fathom is that it currently does not offer a mobile app. It’s designed to work with your online meetings via desktop. So if you were hoping to use it to record an in-person conversation or any scenario outside of a web meeting, Fathom won’t directly help (unlike VOMO or Otter which have mobile apps for on-the-go recording). Additionally, its language support isn’t broad – it’s mainly for English meetings (there’s no strong indication of multi-language transcription in its feature set). For companies needing non-English transcription, Fathom wouldn’t be the right tool.

Since Fathom is free for the base features, sustainability and support might also be considerations. They do offer paid plans (~$19/month) with more advanced features and support, which likely fund the free tier’s continued availability.

In summary, Fathom is positioned as an easy, no-cost Otter.ai alternative for standard meeting environments, especially if you use a CRM and want meeting notes to flow there automatically. It covers the basics very well: record, transcribe, summarize – and even addresses some integration pain points that Otter has. If you primarily need English meeting transcripts and like the idea of not paying a dime (while enjoying CRM sync), Fathom is absolutely worth checking out.

7. Descript – Best for Transcription + Editing (Podcasts & Meetings)

Descript is a bit different from the other tools on this list. It’s primarily known as an audio and video editing software, but it includes powerful AI transcription features. Many content creators (like podcasters, video producers, and journalists) use Descript to transcribe recordings and then edit those recordings by editing the text. As an alternative to Otter.ai, Descript can serve those who want transcription alongside editing capabilities and are perhaps working with recorded meetings or interviews after the fact, rather than live note-taking.

Features: With Descript, you can import an audio or video file (for example, a Zoom meeting recording or a podcast file) and it will generate a transcript. The unique aspect is that the transcript is tied to the media; you can delete a sentence in the text and it will cut that portion out of the audio/video. This text-based editing is a standout feature of Descript – it’s like using a word processor to edit an AV file. For meetings, this means you could easily remove tangents or pauses from a shared recording before sending it out.

Descript also has a screen recorder and can directly record meetings (it has integration to start a Zoom or Teams recording via the app), but it’s not as seamless an in-call assistant as Otter or others. It’s something you manually operate. After recording, you get the transcript and can generate summaries or even overdub voices (one of Descript’s advanced features allows you to create an AI voice clone to fill in small words, useful if you need to correct a word in a video without re-recording).

For collaboration, Descript allows multiple people to comment and correct transcripts, similar to a Google Doc. So a team can refine meeting notes or edit a webinar transcript together.

Limitations: As a meeting notes tool, Descript is less automated than Otter.ai. It doesn’t join meetings by itself or write real-time notes for you during a call. It’s best used after the meeting, when you have a recording that you want to transcribe and perhaps edit. Also, Descript’s focus is on English transcription (with some support for a few other languages), and its free plan limits you to 3 hours of transcription (though you get full use of editing features on that plan). So, unlike others on this list, Descript’s free tier is not sufficient for heavy meeting transcription usage – it’s more a trial for occasional use or short files.

Pricing: Descript’s paid plans start at about $12 per month, which increases the transcription hours and unlocks higher-end features like unlimited overdub and filler word removal. For someone who just needs to occasionally transcribe meetings and also wants to polish the recordings, this could be worthwhile. But if you only care about raw transcription and summaries, Descript might be overkill.

In summary, Descript is the best choice when your needs straddle transcription and media editing. It can absolutely be used as an Otter.ai alternative for transcribing meeting recordings, and its transcripts are quite accurate, rivaling Otter’s quality. The added benefit is you can easily turn those transcripts into edited videos, podcasts, or cleaned-up shareable clips. For teams creating content out of their meetings (e.g. marketing webinars, training sessions, podcasts of meetings), Descript offers a unique two-in-one solution.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Meeting Notes App

There are plenty of capable Otter AI alternatives for meeting transcription and note-taking. The best choice ultimately depends on your specific requirements:

• If you want a comprehensive, end-to-end solution on iOS with unlimited usage, VOMO AI is the top pick. It covers recording, transcription, summarization, and interactive Q&A in one package, making it ideal for power users who generate a lot of meeting minutes and need deeper insights from their notes.

• For those prioritizing multi-language support, tools like Notta AI (with 100+ languages) excel, ensuring accurate notes in your team’s native language.

• If budget is a concern and you need a strong free plan, Fireflies.ai and tl;dv offer generous free tiers that can handle a significant amount of meeting note-taking without costing a cent.

• Teams focused on sales calls or client meetings might lean towards Avoma or Fathom, which integrate meeting insights into CRM and emphasize action items and follow-ups.

• And if your workflow involves editing recordings or producing content from meetings, Descript provides a unique blend of transcription and media editing that no traditional meeting assistant offers.

Each of the above alternatives positions itself slightly differently in the AI transcription and meeting notes space, so you can differentiate them by their strengths — be it unlimited usage, language prowess, integration depth, or additional AI features. By understanding these differences, you can select a tool that not only matches Otter.ai in capability but perhaps even exceeds it in the areas that matter most to you.

In 2025 and beyond, AI-powered meeting notes apps are becoming indispensable for productivity. Whether you stick with Otter.ai or switch to a more fitting alternative, leveraging these tools will ensure you never have to manually write meeting minutes again. Consider starting with our #1 recommendation, VOMO AI, especially if you’re an iOS user looking for a modern, feature-rich way to manage your meeting notes and transcripts. With the right app at your disposal, you can focus on the conversation at hand, while the AI takes care of capturing every detail for you.