NovaScribe vs Otter.ai - Complete Comparison 2026
Last updated: January 16, 2026
Editor's Note: NovaScribe is our product. We've compared features and pricing fairly — Otter.ai wins for live meetings and team collaboration. Pricing verified January 2026.
NovaScribe is better than Otter.ai for multilingual transcription (99 vs 3 languages) and costs 3-5x less ($0.20-0.60/hour vs ~$0.85/hour). Otter.ai is better for live meeting transcription with Zoom/Google Meet integration. Here's the complete comparison.
Quick Verdict
Choose NovaScribe if you need:
- ✓Multilingual transcription (99 languages)
- ✓Affordable monthly packages (from $2/month)
- ✓Podcast/interview/lecture transcription
- ✓Best value for high volume (6,000 min for $20)
Choose Otter.ai if you need:
- ✓Live meeting transcription
- ✓Zoom/Google Meet integration
- ✓Real-time collaboration with team
- ✓AI meeting summaries
Feature Comparison
| Feature | NovaScribe | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Languages Supported | 99 | 3 |
| Starting Price | $2/month | $16.99/month |
| Free Tier | 30 minutes | 300 minutes/month |
| Speaker Detection | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Live Transcription | ✗ | ✓ |
| Zoom Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| File Upload Transcription | ✓ | ✓ |
| Export Formats | TXT, DOCX, SRT, VTT | TXT, DOCX, SRT |
| Team Collaboration | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI Summaries | ✗ | ✓ |
| Best For | Podcasts, interviews, multilingual | Live meetings, team collaboration |
Pricing Comparison
NovaScribe Pricing
- Free Trial: 30 minutes
- Starter: $2/month (200 minutes)
- Basic: $5/month (1,000 minutes)
- Pro: $10/month (2,500 minutes)
- Studio: $20/month (6,000 minutes)
Cost per hour: ~$0.20-0.60 depending on plan
Otter.ai Pricing
- Free: 300 minutes/month
- Pro: $16.99/month (1,200 minutes)
- Business: $30/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Cost per hour: ~$0.85-1.50 depending on plan
Bottom line: NovaScribe is 3-5x cheaper for most users. Example: 10 hours/month (600 minutes). NovaScribe Basic ($5/mo, 1,000 min) = $5. Otter Pro ($16.99/mo, 1,200 min) = $17. NovaScribe saves $144/year for the same usage.
Pricing sources (January 2026):
- NovaScribe: novascribe.ai/pricing
- Otter.ai: otter.ai/pricing
When to Use Each Tool
Use NovaScribe For:
- 1
Podcast Transcription
Turn episodes into show notes and blog content
- 2
Multilingual Content
Transcribe in 99 languages with high accuracy
- 3
Budget-Conscious Users
Pay only for what you use, from $2/month
- 4
Video Subtitles
Export SRT/VTT for YouTube and social media
Use Otter.ai For:
- 1
Live Meeting Transcription
Transcribe Zoom/Meet calls in real-time
- 2
Team Collaboration
Share and edit transcripts with colleagues
- 3
Meeting Summaries
AI-generated action items and summaries
- 4
English-Only Teams
Optimized for English meetings and calls
Our Verdict
NovaScribe is the better choice for content creators, podcasters, and anyone who needs affordable, multilingual transcription of recorded content.
Otter.ai is better for business teams who need live meeting transcription with Zoom integration and collaboration features.
If you're primarily transcribing recorded audio/video files and want to save money, NovaScribe is the clear winner. If you need real-time meeting transcription with team features, Otter.ai is worth the higher price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NovaScribe better than Otter.ai?
NovaScribe is better for multilingual transcription (99 languages vs 3) and affordable monthly packages starting at $2/month. Otter.ai is better for live meeting transcription and real-time collaboration features. Choose based on your primary use case.
Is NovaScribe cheaper than Otter.ai?
Yes, for most users. NovaScribe starts at $2/month for 200 minutes, scaling to $20/month for 6,000 minutes. Otter.ai's paid plans start at $16.99/month. NovaScribe's affordable packages save money especially for high-volume users.
Does NovaScribe have live transcription like Otter?
No, NovaScribe focuses on file-based transcription (uploading recordings). Otter.ai specializes in live meeting transcription with Zoom/Google Meet integration. Choose Otter for live meetings, NovaScribe for recorded content.
Which has better accuracy: NovaScribe or Otter.ai?
In our benchmark tests, both achieved 90-95% accuracy on clear English audio (4-6% Word Error Rate). NovaScribe excels with multilingual content. See our accuracy comparison methodology for test details.
Can I switch from Otter.ai to NovaScribe?
Yes, switching is simple. Export your recordings from Otter, then upload them to NovaScribe for transcription. There's no data migration needed since transcripts are text files you can copy anywhere.
Does NovaScribe integrate with Zoom like Otter?
NovaScribe doesn't have live Zoom integration. Instead, download your Zoom recordings and upload them to NovaScribe for transcription. This works for any video conferencing platform.
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