The two biggest names in AI meeting notes take different approaches: Fireflies.ai is the searchable meeting library with a generous free tier, Otter.ai is the real-time transcription veteran with the best live captions.
Both record, transcribe, and summarize your calls. The differences are in the meter, the workflow, and how the bot shows up.
| Otter.ai | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Unlimited transcription, 800 min storage | 300 min/mo, 30-min session cap |
| Starting paid price | Pro from $10/user/mo (annual) | Pro from $8.33/user/mo (annual) |
| Live transcription | No — processed after the meeting | Yes — real-time captions |
| Languages | 100+ languages | English-focused, some multilingual |
| CRM integrations | Deep Salesforce/HubSpot sync | Salesforce/HubSpot on Pro+ |
| Best for | Searchable archive + generous free tier | Live captions + calendar autopilot |
Real-time transcription with OtterPilot — the meeting bot that shows up so you don't have to.
Free Basic (300 min/mo, 30-min sessions); Pro $16.99/mo monthly or $8.
Try Otter.ai →Fireflies wins on free-tier generosity and archive search; Otter wins on live experience. Sales teams lean Fireflies for CRM depth, executives lean Otter for live notes.
Both join as a visible participant by default. Granola is the bot-free alternative if that matters to you.
Fireflies Pro starts lower per seat, but its AI credits can add cost. Otter Business is $30/seat. Compare your meeting volume against each meter.
Both claim 90%+ on clear English; independent tests land around 88–95%. Test the free plan with your own calls.