Otter.ai Review (2026): What to Know Before You Use It

It's a buyer's guide built from Otter's own plans page. It uses that page to explain what you get, then covers the questions small business owners should ask before an AI notetaker joins their calls.

What the free Basic plan includes

Otter's plans page describes Basic as for those who want to give it a try. It lists Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet support, AI chat within and across meetings, live transcription, speaker identification, audio recording playback, multi-language support, iOS and Android apps, 300 monthly transcription minutes and 3 lifetime audio or video file imports. That last limit is the one people miss: Basic is built around live meetings, so if you want to upload a back catalogue of recordings, you'll hit the import limit almost at once.

At a glance

Feature	Basic plan, per Otter's plans page
Meeting apps	Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet
Transcription	Live transcription with speaker identification
Monthly allowance	300 monthly transcription minutes
File imports	3 lifetime audio or video imports
Apps	Desktop, iOS and Android

Who Otter suits

• Consultants and coaches on back-to-back video calls.
• Small teams that want searchable notes from internal meetings.
• People who find it hard to listen and take notes at the same time.
• Anyone who wants to ask questions across past meetings with AI chat.

Privacy and consent come first

An AI notetaker joining a call changes the meeting. Tell people before you record, follow the recording rules where you and your callers are, and turn off automatic joining for sensitive calls such as HR, health or legal conversations. I've written about this at length: my piece on why AI meeting notetakers can create legal problems covers the rules, and how AI notetakers can damage client trust covers the relationship side.

Getting good transcripts

1. Use a decent microphone and ask people to mute when not speaking.
2. Name speakers early so identification improves.
3. Add company and product names to your vocabulary settings where available.
4. Review and correct summaries before you share them.
5. Store transcripts with the same care as any client record.

What to check before you upgrade

• How many minutes you use in a typical month.
• Whether you need to import old recordings.
• Which meeting platforms your clients use.
• Who in your team needs access to transcripts.
• How long recordings are kept and how you delete them.

Using AI summaries well

AI summaries are only as good as the conversation and the review that follows. Read each summary before you share it, correct names and numbers, and remove anything that shouldn't leave the room. If a summary will be sent to a client, treat it like any other client email: short, accurate and checked. Used that way, summaries save time without creating new problems.

Ask the AI chat specific questions, such as what was agreed about deadlines, rather than vague ones. Then check the answer against the transcript.

Setting it up for a small team

1. Decide which meetings it should join and which it shouldn't.
2. Agree a short script for telling people you're recording.
3. Set who can see transcripts and summaries.
4. Choose how long you'll keep recordings, and delete the rest.
5. Review the set-up after a month.

Alternatives to consider

Otter isn't the only option. Your video platform may offer built-in transcripts, and other AI meeting assistants focus on sales calls or specific languages. Compare them on accuracy with your accents and terms, privacy controls and how notes reach the tools you already use.

Accuracy, accents and jargon

Transcription accuracy depends on audio quality, accents, crosstalk and specialist vocabulary. Before you rely on any AI notetaker, run it on a few typical meetings and compare the transcript with what was said. Note where it trips up, such as product names or technical terms, and add those to any vocabulary settings. If accuracy matters for legal or medical records, keep a human check in the loop.

When a human notetaker is still better

For board meetings, sensitive client sessions or anything that could end up in a dispute, a person taking agreed minutes may still be the better choice. AI notes are brilliant for everyday calls, but they don't replace judgement about what should be written down.

My take

Otter is a capable meeting assistant, and the free Basic plan is a fair way to see whether AI notes help you. Start with internal meetings, get consent right before you use it with clients, and check the import limit if you've got old recordings. Used thoughtfully, it gives you back the attention you'd spend on note-taking.

Frequently asked questions

Is Otter.ai free?

Otter's plans page lists a free Basic plan for those who want to try it, with 300 monthly transcription minutes.

Does Otter work with Zoom, Teams and Google Meet?

Yes. Its plans page lists Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet support on Basic.

Can I upload recordings on the free plan?

Basic includes 3 lifetime audio or video file imports, according to Otter's plans page.

Do I need consent to record meetings?

Recording rules vary by location. Tell participants before recording and follow the rules that apply to you and them.

Does Otter identify speakers?

Its plans page lists speaker identification on Basic.

Is Otter good for client calls?

It can be, once you've got consent and turned off automatic joining for sensitive conversations.

Should I check AI meeting summaries?

Yes. Read and correct each summary before sharing it, especially with clients.

Which meetings should an AI notetaker skip?

Sensitive calls such as HR, health or legal conversations, and any meeting where people haven't agreed to recording.

How accurate is AI transcription?

It depends on audio quality, accents and jargon. Test it on your typical meetings before relying on it.

Should AI replace minute-taking?

For everyday calls it can help a lot, but sensitive or formal meetings may still need agreed human minutes.