Otter.ai review (2026): features, pros and cons, and what to check before you buy
Meeting transcription and AI notes tool with a visible bot option, free tier, and per-user paid plans; SSO and SCIM are Enterprise-only with a 100-user minimum.
Our take for buyers
Otter.ai is a meeting transcription and AI notes tool that suits individuals and small teams, and Sales teams can look at its Otter Sales Notetaker. G2 shows a 4.4 rating from about 500 reviews. For a shortlist, the main question is whether your security and admin needs fit below the Enterprise tier, because that is where most of them sit.
It is a weaker fit for teams under 100 users that need SSO or SCIM, and for teams that need botless capture. Otter.ai positions the visible bot as an option, so confirm in a trial how meeting capture behaves with your external guests. Reviewers like the familiar interface and free tier but find pricing details confusing on higher tiers.
Pros
- Easy to start with a usable free tier.
- Wide adoption and familiar interface.
Cons
- Free and Pro minute caps are tight.
- Review counts and pricing details are confusing on higher tiers.
- Best for
- Individuals and small teams wanting a free or low-cost transcription tool.
- Starting price
- Free (Basic); Pro $8.33/user/month billed annually
- G2 rating
- 4.4 (500 reviews)
What is Otter.ai?
Meeting transcription and AI notes tool with a visible bot option, free tier, and per-user paid plans; SSO and SCIM are Enterprise-only with a 100-user minimum. A low-risk starting point for individuals and small teams, thanks to a usable free tier and per-user plans. Admins should plan around the fact that SSO and SCIM need Enterprise with a 100-user minimum, and the trust center lists SOC 2, HIPAA and GDPR. Otter.ai was founded in 2016 and is based in Mountain View, US.
Category: AI Meeting Assistants
Otter.ai key features
| Criterion | What we found |
|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per user; free, Pro, Business, Enterprise. |
| Target company size | Individuals to teams; Enterprise for large orgs with 100-user minimum for SSO. |
| Meeting platform support | Zoom and Google Meet video replay noted on Enterprise; full platform list not confirmed by the vendor. |
| CRM and workflow integrations | Custom CRM and dialer integrations on Enterprise; Otter Sales Notetaker. |
| Privacy and security | SOC 2 and HIPAA (2025 announcement); Trust Center badges: CCPA, GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, VPAT, TX-RAMP Level 2; subprocessors include Anthropic and AWS. |
Otter.ai plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free | per user | 300 min/month, 30 min per conversation, 3 lifetime imports |
| Pro | $16.99/mo monthly or $8.33/mo annual | per user | 1,200 min/month, 90 min per conversation, 5 billed users |
| Business | $24/mo monthly or $19.99/mo annual | per user | Unlimited meeting minutes, 4 hours per conversation, up to 25 billed users |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | per user | SSO, SCIM (minimum 100-user license), HIPAA add-on, API and webhooks |
Pricing page ambiguous on imported-file limits for Business/Enterprise.
Who should shortlist Otter.ai
A strong fit for
- Individuals and small teams wanting a free or low-cost transcription tool.
- Sales teams using Otter Sales Notetaker.
A weak fit for
- Teams under 100 users that need SSO or SCIM.
- Teams needing botless capture.
Otter.ai alternatives
Fireflies.aiTeams wanting broad integrations and a free tier.
FathomIndividuals and small teams wanting unlimited free recording.
AvomaSales and customer success teams wanting meeting notes plus coaching.
tl;dvTeams that want EU-hosted meeting data and a low per-seat price.
Read AITeams that want meetings, email and messages summarized in one tool.
CirclebackTeams wanting transparent public pricing through the Enterprise tier.
Security, admin and compliance
Otter.ai lists SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA and TX-RAMP Level 2 on its Trust Center. SSO and SCIM are Enterprise only with a 100-user minimum, and HIPAA is an Enterprise add-on. The Trust Center names Anthropic as a subprocessor and AWS as infrastructure, so review that against your own vendor policy. A DPA is not listed on the Trust Center, which shows privacy policy and breach notices only. Audit logs and data residency are not published. Ask for all three before signing.
- SAML SSO
- Enterprise only (100-user minimum)
- SCIM provisioning
- Enterprise only (100-user minimum)
- Public DPA
- Not listed on Trust Center; privacy policy and breach notices only.
- Certifications
- SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, TX-RAMP Level 2.
Contract and buying terms
- Contract
- Monthly plans available on Pro and Business.
- Implementation
- Customer Success Program on Enterprise.
- Starting price
- Free (Basic); Pro $8.33/user/month billed annually.
- Pricing model
- Per user.
- Free plan or trial
- Free plan.
What to test in an Otter.ai demo or trial
Start by testing the free Basic plan on a few real meetings to judge transcript quality and the 30 minute per-conversation limit, then check whether Pro's 90 minutes or Business's 4 hours fit your longest calls. Reviewers say the free and Pro minute caps are tight, so measure your monthly minutes. If you sell, trial Otter Sales Notetaker against your CRM or dialer setup, since custom CRM and dialer integrations are listed on Enterprise. Ask which imported-file limits apply to Business and Enterprise, because the pricing page is ambiguous.
Questions to ask Otter.ai before you sign
These are the points Otter.ai's public pages leave open. Get the answers in writing before procurement signs off.
- Which plan includes audit logs, and how long are they kept?
- Where is our data stored, and can we choose the region?
- What will the price be at renewal, and is the increase capped?
Things to know before a demo
- SSO and SCIM need Enterprise with a minimum 100-user license.
- Business plan caps at 25 billed users; Pro at 5.
- Business monthly price is $24, with 20% off for 3+ months.
- HIPAA is an Enterprise add-on.
- Trust Center lists Anthropic as a subprocessor and AWS as infrastructure.
Head-to-head comparisons
Otter.ai FAQ
What is Otter.ai used for?
A low-risk starting point for individuals and small teams, thanks to a usable free tier and per-user plans. Admins should plan around the fact that SSO and SCIM need Enterprise with a 100-user minimum, and the trust center lists SOC 2, HIPAA and GDPR. It suits individuals and small teams wanting a free or low-cost transcription tool.
Does Otter.ai support SSO and SCIM?
Yes, but only on Enterprise, and both require a license of at least 100 users. Pro and Business do not include them.
Who is Otter.ai best for?
It fits individuals and small teams that want a free or low-cost transcription tool, and sales teams using Otter Sales Notetaker. It is a poor fit for teams under 100 users that need SSO or SCIM, or that need botless capture.
Which compliance certifications does Otter.ai list?
The Trust Center lists SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, VPAT and TX-RAMP Level 2 badges. HIPAA is sold as an Enterprise add-on, and a DPA is not listed there.
Vendor profile
- Founded
- 2016.
- Headquarters
- Mountain View, US.
- Employees
- 200-500 (sources differ)
- Funding or owner
- About $70M to $73M raised (sources differ), Series B Feb 2021.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Otter.ai's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.