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Verdict · Transcription · by Otter

Is Otter.ai worth paying for in 2026?

Otter's free plan is generous for light users, but paying is essential for teams needing higher limits, unlimited history, and advanced integrations.

Evidence: docs Pricing & docs No user reports yet Not yet tested by us
Cheapest paid
$16.99/user/moPro · 5 billed users workspace size
What's free
$0Workspace Size 5, Max number of concurrent meetings 1, Meeting & recording tran…
Our test score
—Not tested by us yet
Prices checked
Verdict published Sep 28, 2026
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Who should pay

  • Teams needing more than 300 monthly transcription minutes or longer meetings (up to 90 mins on Pro, 4 hours on Business).
  • Users who need unlimited conversation history instead of the 25 most recent recordings kept on the free plan.
  • Teams requiring integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zapier, which are available on the Pro plan and above.

Who shouldn't

  • Individuals or small groups who only need to transcribe up to 300 minutes per month and don't mind a 25-recording history limit.
  • Users who do not need to import pre-recorded files or need more than the 3 lifetime imports allowed on the free plan.
  • People who do not need to join multiple concurrent meetings, as the free plan allows only one at a time.

Free vs paid: the plans

Prices checked Sep 27, 2026

Business

Basic

$0
  • Workspace Size5
  • Max number of concurrent meetings1
  • Meeting & recording transcription monthly limit300 minutes per user
  • Imported file transcription monthly limit300 minutes per user
  • Max transcription time per conversation30 minutes
  • Max number of pre-recorded audio/video files for import and transcription3 lifetime per user
  • Conversation history25 most recent
  • Custom vocabulary5 terms

Pro

$16.99/user/mo
  • Workspace Size5 billed users
  • Max number of concurrent meetings2
  • Meeting & recording transcription monthly limit1,200 minutes per user
  • Imported file transcription monthly limit1,200 minutes per user
  • Max transcription time per conversation90 minutes
  • Max number of pre-recorded audio/video files for import and transcription10 monthly per user
  • Conversation historyUnlimited
  • Custom vocabularyTeam: 100 names + 100 other terms; User: 100 names + 100 other terms

Business

$30/user/mo
  • Workspace Size25 billed users
  • Max number of concurrent meetings3
  • Meeting & recording transcription monthly limitUnlimited
  • Imported file transcription monthly limit6,000 minutes per user
  • Max transcription time per conversation4 hours
  • Max number of pre-recorded audio/video files for import and transcriptionUnlimited
  • Conversation historyUnlimited
  • Custom vocabularyTeam: 800 names + 800 other terms; User: 200 names + 200 other terms

Enterprise

Custom
  • Workspace SizeUnlimited
  • Max number of concurrent meetings3
  • Meeting & recording transcription monthly limitUnlimited
  • Imported file transcription monthly limit6,000 minutes per user
  • Max transcription time per conversation4 hours
  • Max number of pre-recorded audio/video files for import and transcriptionUnlimited
  • Conversation historyUnlimited
  • Custom vocabularyTeam: 800 names + 800 other terms; User: 200 names + 200 other terms
Prices in USD from Otter's own pricing page. Checked automatically every day.
Screenshot of the top of Otter.ai's pricing page (otter.ai) as captured on Sep 28, 2026.
The vendor's pricing page as we saw it on Sep 28, 2026 · source Captured by shouldipayBot · 1440 px wide, not logged in
otter.ai · Sep 28, 2026

The full analysis

What's free

The Basic plan is free and includes live transcription, speaker identification, and multi-language support. You get 300 monthly transcription minutes for both live meetings and imported files. You can join one concurrent meeting at a time, and each conversation can last up to 30 minutes. The plan allows three lifetime imports of pre-recorded audio or video files. Conversation history is limited to the 25 most recent recordings. You also get access to iOS and Android apps, a custom vocabulary of 5 terms, and basic AI chat features.

What paying adds

Upgrading to Pro ($16.99/month per user) increases your monthly transcription limit to 1,200 minutes and allows meetings up to 90 minutes long. You get 10 monthly imports of pre-recorded files and unlimited conversation history. The Pro plan also adds advanced AI workflows, team vocabulary, and integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zapier.

The Business plan ($30/month per user) offers unlimited meeting transcription and allows you to join up to three concurrent meetings. Imported file transcription increases to 6,000 minutes per user, and meetings can last up to 4 hours. You get unlimited file imports, enhanced admin features like activity logs, and prioritized support. The Enterprise plan offers custom pricing with unlimited workspace size, SSO, SCIM, and HIPAA compliance as an add-on.

Bottom line

If you use Otter.ai occasionally and stay under 300 minutes per month, the free plan is sufficient. However, if you need to record longer meetings, require unlimited history for easy retrieval, or need to integrate with your CRM tools, paying for Pro or Business is worth it. The jump from free to paid unlocks significant capacity and workflow automation features that are essential for regular professional use.

Cheaper or free alternatives

Fireflies.aiFree optionFree plan · paid from $18/mo per user

The Free plan is $0 per user, which is cheaper than Otter.ai's paid tiers. It provides 400 minutes of storage per team for transcription needs.

All alternatives to Otter.ai →

Compare Otter.ai

Questions people ask

How many minutes are included in the free plan?

The free Basic plan includes 300 monthly transcription minutes for meetings and imported files combined.

Can I import pre-recorded files on the free plan?

Yes, but you are limited to 3 lifetime imports of pre-recorded audio or video files on the Basic plan.

What is the difference between Pro and Business plans?

Pro allows 1,200 monthly minutes and 90-minute meetings, while Business offers unlimited meeting transcription, 6,000 imported file minutes, and 4-hour meeting limits.

Does the free plan allow multiple concurrent meetings?

No, the free Basic plan allows only one concurrent meeting. Paid plans allow two (Pro) or three (Business/Enterprise) concurrent meetings.

How this verdict was made

  1. Prices, every dayWe read the vendor's own pricing and documentation pages automatically, every day.
  2. User reportsPublic posts and reviews, filtered for relevance. Only a short excerpt and the link are kept, never usernames.
  3. Our own testsA public task suite, run on the free and paid tiers where we have access. Blind AI judges score each answer; a person scores the ones they disagree on.
  4. Draft, check, reviewAI drafts the verdict from this evidence. Every draft is checked automatically against the sources, and a person reviews first verdicts, changed answers and anything the checks flag.

How we make money

The "Visit" buttons go through shouldipay.ai/go/ and may be affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you subscribe. Commissions never decide a verdict: the evidence on this page does. Verdicts are drafted with AI from the vendors' own pricing and documentation pages and checked automatically against those sources before they are published; a person reviews first verdicts, changed answers and anything the checks flag. Affiliate disclosure