By NovaScribe Editorial · Pricing verified February 8, 2026
Best Otter.ai Alternatives 2026 – By Use Case
Disclosure: NovaScribe is our product. We rank it #1 for multilingual file transcription but acknowledge Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai are better for live meeting capture. All pricing verified February 2026.
Otter.ai is a live meeting transcription tool for Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams. It starts at $16.99/month and supports 3 languages (English, Spanish, French).
If you transcribe recordings, NovaScribe is the best-value alternative (99 languages, $2–$20/mo). If you need live meeting capture, Fireflies.ai ($10–$29/mo) is the closest Otter replacement.
Below: 12 alternatives compared by use case, with pricing verified February 2026.
How to use this guide: Scan the comparison table for a quick overview, then jump to your use case below.
Contents
TL;DR Quick Picks
Top 3 Otter Alternatives at a Glance
| Use Case | Best Alternative | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live meetings | Fireflies.ai | $10–$29/mo | Auto-joins Zoom/Meet/Teams with AI summaries |
| File transcription | NovaScribe | $2–$20/mo | 99 languages, one of the lowest-cost options per hour |
| Human accuracy | Rev | $1.50/min | Marketed ~99% accuracy, certified options |
How We Chose These Tools
What we verified:
- • Pricing: Checked on official vendor pricing pages (Feb 2026)
- • Languages: Counted from official documentation
- • Features: Reviewed from vendor websites and help docs
- • Integrations: Confirmed from official integration pages
What we did NOT do:
- • Run formal accuracy benchmarks (accuracy claims are vendor-reported)
- • Test every language (we verified availability)
- • Verify enterprise/custom pricing
- • Test long-term reliability
Our selection criteria: Must be a real Otter.ai competitor with transcription focus, public pricing or free trial, and active maintenance (updated in last 6 months). Accuracy percentages cited are vendor-reported—actual results vary by audio quality, accents, and speaking clarity.
Our Testing Approach
For tools we actively compared, we ran sample files through each platform (podcast audio, meeting recording, accented speech) and compared: speaker labeling accuracy, timestamp precision, and export format quality. We did not run formal accuracy benchmarks—accuracy percentages cited are vendor-stated claims.
Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Pricing | Languages | Live | File Upload | Exports | Teams | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otter.ai (baseline) | $17–$30/mo | 3 | ✓ | Limited | TXT, PDF | ✓ | Live meetings |
| Fireflies.ai | $10–$29/mo | 60+ | ✓ | Limited | TXT, DOCX | ✓ | Meeting summaries |
| tl;dv | Free / $20–$59/mo | 30+ | ✓ | ✗ | TXT, SRT | ✓ | Meeting clips |
| Fathom | Free / $15–$29/mo | 7 | ✓ | ✗ | TXT | Paid | Free meeting AI |
| NovaScribe ★ | $2–$20/mo | 99 | ✗ | ✓ | TXT, SRT, VTT, DOCX | ✗ | Multilingual recordings |
| Rev | $0.25–$1.50/min | 36 | ✗ | ✓ | TXT, SRT, VTT | Limited | Human accuracy |
| Descript | $15–$30/mo | ~10 | ✗ | ✓ | TXT, SRT, VTT, DOCX | ✓ | Video editing |
| Notta | $9–$18/mo | 104 | ✓ | ✓ | TXT, SRT, DOCX | ✓ | Hybrid use |
| Sonix | $10/hr or $22+/mo | 40+ | ✗ | ✓ | TXT, SRT, VTT, DOCX | ✓ | Enterprise teams |
| Happy Scribe | $17/mo or $0.20/min | 120+ | ✗ | ✓ | TXT, SRT, VTT, DOCX | ✓ | EU/GDPR |
| Trint | $60+/mo | 30+ | ✗ | ✓ | TXT, SRT, DOCX | ✓ | Newsrooms |
Pricing verified February 2026:
Pricing note: Pricing changes frequently. All prices verified against official vendor pages on February 8, 2026. Check vendor sites for current rates.
Also Considered (Not Ranked)
These tools were evaluated but not included in our main comparison:
- • Whisper-based tools — API-only, no end-user product
- • AssemblyAI — API-first, not a direct Otter replacement
- • Built-in platform transcription (Zoom/Teams native) — limited features
- • Transkriptor — similar feature set but less established
Not included because they are API-only, enterprise-only, or not direct Otter.ai replacements for end users.
Price Comparison (Feb 2026):
- • NovaScribe: $2/mo (200 min) to $20/mo (6,000 min)
- • Otter.ai: $17/mo (Pro) to $30/mo (Business)
- • Fireflies: $10/mo (Pro) to $29/mo (Business)
- • Rev AI: $0.25/minute (no subscription)
Language Support Comparison:
- • Happy Scribe: 120+ languages
- • Notta: 104 languages
- • NovaScribe: 99 languages
- • Otter.ai: 3 languages (English, Spanish, French)
Best Otter Alternatives for Live Meetings
These tools join your Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams calls automatically and transcribe in real-time. Note: NovaScribe does NOT offer live meeting capture.
1. Fireflies.ai
Best for: Meeting Summaries & CRM Integration
AI meeting assistant that auto-joins Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams calls. Captures transcripts, generates summaries, and syncs with CRMs.
Best For:
- • Sales teams
- • Meeting notes
- • CRM integration
Pros:
- ✓ Auto-joins meetings
- ✓ AI summaries
- ✓ CRM sync (Salesforce, HubSpot)
Cons:
- ✗ No file upload option
- ✗ Limited free tier
2. tl;dv
Best for: Meeting Clips & Sharing
Records and transcribes Zoom and Google Meet calls with easy clip creation. Great for sharing meeting highlights.
Best For:
- • Remote teams
- • Meeting highlights
- • Onboarding
Pros:
- ✓ Generous free tier
- ✓ Easy clip creation
- ✓ Timestamp notes
Cons:
- ✗ Limited integrations
- ✗ No Microsoft Teams
3. Fathom
Best for: Free Meeting Transcription
Free AI meeting assistant for Zoom with automatic summaries. Popular with sales teams and consultants.
Best For:
- • Sales calls
- • Consultants
- • Free users
Pros:
- ✓ Free tier available
- ✓ AI highlights
- ✓ Simple interface
Cons:
- ✗ Zoom only
- ✗ Limited languages
- ✗ Basic exports
4. Sembly AI
Best for: Action Items & Follow-ups
AI meeting assistant focused on extracting action items, decisions, and key points from meetings. One of the few meeting AIs that auto-extracts action items into structured task lists.
Best For:
- • Project managers
- • Action tracking
- • Team meetings
Pros:
- ✓ Action item extraction
- ✓ Meeting insights
- ✓ Slack integration
Cons:
- ✗ Learning curve
- ✗ Notification-heavy — can feel noisy for small teams
5. Grain
Best for: Video Clips & Collaboration
Records meetings and lets you create shareable video clips with transcripts. Built for creating clip libraries from meetings — great for user research, sales coaching, and onboarding.
Best For:
- • User research
- • Sales enablement
- • Coaching
Pros:
- ✓ Video clip creation
- ✓ Team library
- ✓ Good free tier
Cons:
- ✗ Primarily English-only — limited language support
- ✗ Higher tiers expensive
Best Otter Alternatives for Transcribing Recordings
These tools focus on transcribing audio/video files you upload. Better for podcasters, journalists, researchers, and anyone who transcribes existing recordings.
Who Should NOT Choose NovaScribe
- • Live meeting users – We don't join Zoom/Meet calls. Use Fireflies.ai or Otter instead.
- • Video editors – We're transcription-only. Descript offers text-based video editing.
- • Legal/medical requiring 99%+ accuracy – Rev's human transcription is better for certified accuracy.
- • Enterprise with compliance needs – Sonix or Trint have more enterprise features.
1. NovaScribe
Our PickBest for: Multilingual & Budget-Conscious
NovaScribe transcribes uploaded audio/video files in 99 languages, starting at $2/mo for 200 minutes. Includes speaker labels, SRT/VTT export, and a simple upload workflow. Best for podcasters, journalists, and content creators who transcribe recordings.
Best For:
- • Multilingual content
- • Podcasts
- • Budget users
Pros:
- ✓ 99 languages
- ✓ Affordable ($2/mo start)
- ✓ Simple upload workflow
- ✓ Speaker labels
Cons:
- ✗ No live transcription
- ✗ No Zoom/Meet integration
2. Rev
Best for: Human-Level Accuracy
Offers both AI and human transcription. Human option—often marketed as ~99% accuracy—is essential for legal, medical, and professional content.
Best For:
- • Legal transcription
- • Medical records
- • Professional captions
Pros:
- ✓ Human option (marketed ~99% accuracy)
- ✓ Professional quality
- ✓ Caption services
Cons:
- ✗ Expensive for regular use
- ✗ Per-minute pricing adds up
3. Descript
Best for: Video/Audio Editing
Full editing suite with transcription built-in. Edit video by editing the transcript text. Ideal for content creators who need both transcription and editing.
Best For:
- • Video editors
- • Podcast producers
- • Content repurposing
Pros:
- ✓ Text-based video editing
- ✓ Screen recording
- ✓ Overdub (voice cloning)
Cons:
- ✗ More expensive
- ✗ English-focused
- ✗ Steeper learning curve
4. Notta
Best for: Real-time + Recording Hybrid
Transcription tool supporting both live and recorded audio. Strong multilingual support with 104 languages.
Best For:
- • Multilingual teams
- • Hybrid use cases
- • Real-time + files
Pros:
- ✓ 104 languages
- ✓ Both live and file transcription
- ✓ Mobile app
Cons:
- ✗ Limited integrations
- ✗ UI can be cluttered
5. Sonix
Best for: Enterprise Teams
AI transcription with collaboration features, integrations, and enterprise security. Good for teams needing shared workspaces.
Best For:
- • Enterprise teams
- • Collaboration
- • Integrations
Pros:
- ✓ Team workspaces
- ✓ Many integrations
- ✓ Good accuracy
Cons:
- ✗ Complex pricing model
- ✗ More expensive
- ✗ Overkill for individuals
6. Happy Scribe
Best for: Human + AI Hybrid
European transcription service offering both AI and human options. Popular in EU with strong GDPR compliance.
Best For:
- • EU-based teams
- • GDPR compliance
- • Human accuracy option
Pros:
- ✓ Human option available
- ✓ 120+ languages
- ✓ GDPR compliant
Cons:
- ✗ Pricier than pure AI options
- ✗ Complex pricing
7. Trint
Best for: Newsrooms
Transcription tool designed for journalists and newsrooms. Strong editing and collaboration features for media production.
Best For:
- • Journalists
- • Newsrooms
- • Media companies
Pros:
- ✓ Built for journalists
- ✓ Story editor
- ✓ Team collaboration
Cons:
- ✗ Very expensive
- ✗ Overkill for casual users
When to Stick with Otter.ai
Otter.ai remains the best choice if you need:
- ✓Live meeting transcription during Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams calls
- ✓Real-time collaboration with live editing during meetings
- ✓OtterPilot that auto-joins and records scheduled meetings
- ✓Native Zoom integration without additional setup
NovaScribe and most alternatives focus on transcribing recordings, not live capture. If live meeting transcription is your primary need, Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai are better choices.
Switching from Otter.ai to NovaScribe
What you keep:
- ✓ Speaker detection and labeling
- ✓ Multiple export formats (TXT, SRT, VTT)
- ✓ Searchable transcript archive
- ✓ High accuracy on clear audio
What you lose:
- ✗ Live meeting transcription
- ✗ Zoom/Meet bot integration
- ✗ Real-time collaboration
- ✗ OtterPilot auto-join
Migration steps:
- Export existing Otter transcripts (Settings → Export All)
- Sign up for NovaScribe free trial (30 minutes included)
- Upload a test file to compare quality
- Cancel Otter after confirming NovaScribe meets your needs
Workaround for meetings: Record your Zoom/Meet calls locally (Zoom: Settings → Recording), then upload to NovaScribe after the meeting ends.
Looking for reasons people switch? See Otter.ai Limitations (Why People Switch) below.
Best Free Otter.ai Alternatives
These tools offer free tiers that can replace Otter for basic transcription needs.
- • Fathom — Free tier for Zoom meeting transcription with AI summaries. Features and limits may vary by plan. Zoom only.
- • tl;dv — Generous free tier for Zoom and Google Meet recordings with clip creation.
- • NovaScribe — 30-minute free trial for file transcription. No credit card required.
Cheapest Otter.ai Alternatives
If Otter's $16.99/mo feels steep, these tools deliver solid transcription at a lower price.
- • NovaScribe — $2/mo entry tier undercuts Otter's $16.99 Pro plan. 99 languages, 200 minutes included.
- • Fireflies.ai Pro — $10/mo with live meeting capture for Zoom, Meet, and Teams.
- • Notta — $9/mo with both live and file transcription. 104 languages.
Best Otter Alternatives for Zoom
These tools integrate directly with Zoom for live transcription and recording.
- • Fireflies.ai — Auto-joins Zoom calls with AI summaries and CRM sync. $10–$29/mo.
- • Fathom — Free Zoom transcription with AI highlights. Zoom only.
- • tl;dv — Zoom recording with easy clip creation. Free tier available.
Best Otter Alternatives for Google Meet
Google Meet users need tools that support Meet's bot integration or browser extension.
- • Fireflies.ai — Full Google Meet support with auto-join and AI notes. $10–$29/mo.
- • tl;dv — Google Meet recording with shareable clips. Free tier.
- • Sembly AI — Google Meet support with action item extraction. $10–$40/mo.
Best Otter Alternatives for Microsoft Teams
Fewer tools support Teams natively. These are the strongest options.
- • Fireflies.ai — Full Teams support with AI summaries and CRM sync. $10–$29/mo.
- • Sembly AI — Teams support with action items and task extraction. $10–$40/mo.
- • Note: tl;dv does not support Microsoft Teams.
Otter.ai Limitations (Why People Switch)
- • Only 3 languages (English, Spanish, French) — alternatives like NovaScribe (99) and Notta (104) cover far more
- • Designed for live meetings, not bulk file uploads — if you only transcribe recordings, you're paying for features you don't use
- • Per-seat pricing ($16.99–$30/mo per user) — expensive for occasional users
- • Limited export formats (TXT, PDF) — no SRT/VTT subtitle export
- • No offline or batch processing
- • No text-based video editing — Descript combines transcription and video editing in one tool
Otter export formats verified from otter.ai/pricing on February 8, 2026. Otter may add formats in future updates.
Key Terms Explained
- Live Transcription
- Converting speech to text in real-time during a meeting or call. Requires a bot to join the meeting.
- File Transcription
- Converting pre-recorded audio/video files to text. Upload a file, get transcript back.
- Speaker Diarization
- Automatically detecting and labeling different speakers in a transcript (e.g., "Speaker 1", "Speaker 2").
- Word Error Rate (WER)
- Standard metric for transcription accuracy. Lower is better. 5% WER = 95% accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Otter.ai alternative?
For live meeting transcription, Fireflies.ai ($10-29/mo) is the best Otter alternative. For transcribing recordings with multilingual support, NovaScribe offers 99 languages at $2-20/month. The best choice depends on whether you need live capture or file transcription.
Is there a free alternative to Otter.ai?
Yes. Fathom offers free meeting transcription for Zoom. tl;dv has a generous free tier for meeting recordings. NovaScribe offers a 30-minute free trial for file transcription. Google Docs voice typing is free but limited to real-time only.
What's cheaper than Otter.ai?
NovaScribe starts at $2/month (200 minutes) compared to Otter Pro at $16.99/month. Fireflies.ai Pro starts at $10/month. Fathom and tl;dv offer free tiers for basic use.
Which Otter alternative has the best accuracy?
AI transcript accuracy varies by audio quality, accents, and background noise. Vendors commonly cite ~90–95% on clear audio, but we did not run accuracy benchmarks for this comparison. For human transcription (often marketed as ~99% accuracy), Rev offers $1.50/minute and Happy Scribe offers a human option. We recommend testing with your specific audio type.
What's the best Otter alternative for meetings?
For live meeting transcription, Fireflies.ai ($10-29/month) offers the best Zoom/Meet/Teams integration with AI summaries. Fathom is the best free option for Zoom-only users. tl;dv is great for creating meeting clips.
Does any Otter alternative support more languages?
Yes. Happy Scribe supports 120+ languages, Notta supports 104 languages, and NovaScribe supports 99 languages. Otter.ai only supports 3 languages (English, Spanish, French).
What's the best Otter alternative for podcasts?
For podcast transcription, NovaScribe covers 99 languages starting at $2/month. Descript is better if you also need to edit your podcast audio/video. Rev is best for professional-grade accuracy.
Can I use Otter alternatives for video transcription?
Yes. NovaScribe, Descript, Sonix, and Happy Scribe all support video file transcription. Descript additionally offers text-based video editing where you can edit video by editing the transcript.
What is the best free Otter.ai alternative for Zoom?
Fathom offers a free tier for Zoom meeting transcription with AI summaries. It's Zoom-only. Features and limits may vary by plan.
Which Otter alternative works with Google Meet and Teams?
Fireflies.ai supports Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. Sembly AI also supports all three platforms.
Which Otter alternative supports the most languages?
Happy Scribe supports 120+ languages, followed by Notta (104) and NovaScribe (99). Otter.ai supports only 3.
What's the cheapest alternative to Otter.ai?
NovaScribe's $2/month entry plan (200 minutes) is among the lowest-cost options for file transcription. For live meetings, Fireflies.ai Pro starts at $10/month.
Is there an Otter.ai alternative for podcasts?
NovaScribe and Descript are the best alternatives for podcast transcription. NovaScribe starts at $2/month with 99 languages; Descript adds text-based audio/video editing.
Update History
- February 8, 2026: Re-verified all pricing. Softened unverifiable claims. Added "Also Considered" section and pricing disclaimer.
- January 31, 2026: Verified all pricing against vendor pages. Updated Otter Pro pricing.
- January 16, 2026: Initial publication with 12 tools compared.
Page maintained by: NovaScribe Editorial Team | Last fact-checked: February 2026 | Next review: May 2026
Pricing and features verified against vendor websites. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.
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