The best Otter alternatives in 2026
6 tools compared on what they do best, free plans, prices and recording without a bot.
The short answer
The best Otter alternative depends on why you're leaving. For follow-through after the meeting (tracked action items, a decision log and role-specific reports), choose Acta. For a bigger free plan, Fathom. For search and integrations, Fireflies. For notes without a bot, Granola. For transcripts in the original language, Notta.
Why people look for a Otter alternative
The free plan runs out
Reviews describe Otter's free plan as 300 minutes a month with a 30-minute limit per conversation, which an hour-long meeting goes past.
A transcript isn't a report
Otter is built around the live transcript. Teams that need a deal report, scorecard or project update still write it themselves.
Action items stop at a name
Otter attaches names to action items, but doesn't track them across meetings or remind owners when they're overdue.
Otter alternatives side by side
| Tool | Best for | Free plan or trial | Paid plans | Without a bot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acta | Teams that want follow-through: role-specific reports, action items tracked to done and a decision log. | 15-day free trial | Pro, per user | Desktop app & Chrome extension |
| Fathom | People who want free unlimited recording with short summaries. | Unlimited recording, limited AI | From about $16/month | Bot joins the call |
| Fireflies | Teams that mainly want searchable transcripts and a long list of integrations. | Yes, with AI credits | From $10/user/month | Bot joins the call |
| Granola | People who like writing their own notes and want AI to fill in the rest. | Last 30 days of notes | From $14/user/month | Bot-free only |
| Notta | People who need transcription in many languages. | 120 min/month, 3-min recordings | From about $8.17/month (annual) | Desktop app |
| Tactiq | People who want a free, lightweight transcript in the browser. | 10 meetings & 5 AI credits/month | From about $8/user/month (annual) | Chrome extension (live captions) |
Other tools' details are from their public pages and reviews as of October 2026 and November 2026; see the sources below. Plans and prices change, so check each vendor's pricing page.
The alternatives, one by one
- 1
Acta
Records Zoom, Google Meet and Teams with or without a bot, then does what Otter leaves to you: fills role-specific reports, tracks action items to done with a daily follow-up email and keeps a decision log.
Best for: Teams that want follow-through: role-specific reports, action items tracked to done and a decision log.
Try Acta free for 15 days - 2
Fathom
The closest swap if Otter's minutes run out: Fathom's free plan records unlimited meetings, with limits on AI features.
Best for: People who want free unlimited recording with short summaries.
Acta vs Fathom - 3
Fireflies
Searchable transcripts like Otter's, plus AskFred across meetings and a long list of integrations.
Best for: Teams that mainly want searchable transcripts and a long list of integrations.
Acta vs Fireflies - 4
Granola
For people who want notes without a bot in the call and like typing their own notes as they go.
Best for: People who like writing their own notes and want AI to fill in the rest.
Acta vs Granola - 5
Notta
If you need transcripts in the language that was spoken, across many languages.
Best for: People who need transcription in many languages.
Acta vs Notta - 6
Tactiq
A light, free Chrome extension for transcripts from live captions, if you mainly want the text.
Best for: People who want a free, lightweight transcript in the browser.
Acta vs Tactiq
How to choose
- If minutes are the problem, compare free plans first: Fathom records without a minute cap.
- If follow-up is the problem, look for an action item tracker and a decision log, not just a summary.
- If guests dislike bots, pick a tool with a desktop app or extension that records without one.
What is the best free alternative to Otter?
Fathom has the most generous free plan for recording, with unlimited meetings and limited AI. Tactiq has a free Chrome extension for transcripts. Acta is free for 15 days with unlimited recordings and transcriptions.
Is there an Otter alternative without a bot?
Yes. Acta records without a bot from its desktop app (Windows and Mac) and Chrome extension, and Granola and Jamie are bot-free only.
Which Otter alternative tracks action items?
Acta keeps every action item from every meeting in one tracker with owners and due dates, flags what's overdue and emails owners a daily follow-up.
Sources
- https://sonix.ai/resources/otter-ai-review-pricing/
- https://pipeline.zoominfo.com/sales/otter-ai-features
- https://sonix.ai/resources/fathom-pricing/
- https://www.usecarly.com/blog/fathom-pricing/
- https://fathom.ai/solutions/teams
- https://www.fathom.ai/solutions/sales
- https://sonix.ai/resources/fireflies-ai-pricing/amp/
- https://www.claap.io/blog/fireflies-pricing
- https://aident.ai/zh-CN/loadout/apps/fireflies_tools
- https://docs.granola.ai/help-center/getting-more-from-your-notes/chatting-with-your-meetings
- https://skillscouter.com/granola-review/
- https://www.usecarly.com/blog/granola-pricing/
- https://sonix.ai/resources/notta-pricing/
- https://sonix.ai/resources/notta-review-pricing/
- https://thebusinessdive.com/notta-review
- https://www.unite.ai/notta-ai-review
- https://help.tactiq.io/en/articles/8649126-understanding-tactiq-plans-and-pricing
- https://tactiq.io/learn/record-captions-in-google-meet
- https://www.laxis.com/blog/tactiq-review/
- https://www.meetjamie.ai/en/blog/tactiq-pricing