Description
Otter.ai is an AI meeting assistant that joins Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet calls to record, transcribe, and summarize them in real time. Beyond live meetings, it imports and transcribes audio or video files, generates automated summaries and action items after a call ends, and lets a user chat with Otter to ask questions about what was discussed. Otter added a suite of voice AI agents through 2025, including a Meeting Agent that can speak up during a call and an Enterprise-only Sales Agent for live call coaching, moving the product beyond passive note-taking.
Key Features
- Live meeting transcription — a bot joins Zoom, Teams, or Meet and transcribes the call in real time.
- Automated summaries and action items — generates a meeting recap and follow-up tasks after the call ends.
- Otter AI Chat — lets a user ask questions about a meeting’s content directly inside the app.
- File import and transcription — transcribes uploaded audio or video files, not just live calls.
- Speaker identification — automatically labels who said what in a multi-speaker conversation.
- Voice AI agents — a Meeting Agent and Enterprise-only Sales Agent that can participate in calls, not just record them.
How It Works
A user connects their calendar or invites the Otter bot directly into a Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet call, and Otter joins, records, and transcribes the conversation live with speaker labels. After the meeting, Otter generates a summary and a list of action items automatically, and the transcript stays searchable so a user can ask Otter AI Chat questions about what was said instead of re-reading the whole thing. Files can also be uploaded directly for transcription outside of a live meeting. On paid plans, Otter’s voice AI agents can go a step further, actively participating in or coaching a call rather than only capturing it afterward.
Technical Architecture & Overview
- Core Engine: Otter’s proprietary speech recognition and summarization models.
- Deployment: Web app, iOS and Android apps, and a meeting bot for Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet.
- API Surface: Otter API access is included on the Enterprise plan.
- Known Limits: Free and Pro plans have hard monthly minute caps with no pay-as-you-go overage; usage simply stops until the plan resets or is upgraded.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The meeting bot joins Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet without manual recording setup. | Free and Pro plans hit a hard stop at their minute cap, with no overage option. |
| Automated summaries and action items save reviewing a full transcript after every call. | Language support is limited to English, French, and Spanish. |
| Otter AI Chat lets a user ask questions about a meeting instead of searching it manually. | Otter API access is limited to the Enterprise plan. |
| The free Basic plan is generous enough to test real meeting workflows before paying. | The Business plan carries a 5-seat minimum, which can overshoot a small team’s needs. |
| Annual billing on Pro and Business cuts the price roughly in half versus paying monthly. | Advanced sales and coaching agents are Enterprise-only, priced through sales. |
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Basic | $0/month (300 min/month, 30 min/conversation) |
| Pro | $8.33/month billed annually (1,200 min/month) |
| Business | $19.99/month billed annually (unlimited meeting minutes) |
Platform Availability
Web | iOS | Android | API (Enterprise)
Best For
Individuals and small teams wanting automatic meeting transcription and summaries | Sales and customer success teams working across Zoom, Meet, and Teams | Enterprises wanting voice AI agents for live sales coaching
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Otter.ai have a free plan?
Yes. Otter’s Basic plan gives 300 transcription minutes a month, capped at 30 minutes per conversation, according to Otter’s official pricing page.
How much does Otter.ai cost?
Pro runs $8.33/month billed annually and Business runs $19.99/month billed annually, both roughly double if paid monthly instead; Enterprise is custom-priced, according to Otter’s official pricing page.
Does Otter.ai join Zoom calls automatically?
Yes. Otter’s meeting bot joins Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet calls to record and transcribe them live, according to Otter’s official site.
What languages does Otter.ai support?
Otter supports English, French, and Spanish for transcription and summaries, according to Otter’s official site.
Does Otter.ai have an API?
Yes. Otter API access is included on the Enterprise plan, according to Otter’s official pricing page.
