Otter.ai Review (2026) — AI Meeting Notes, Tested
A reliable meeting note-taker that joins Zoom/Meet/Teams, transcribes live and summarises. Accuracy is good in clear audio; the free tier is limited but enough to judge it.
The Good
- Joins and transcribes meetings automatically
- Summaries + action items
- Searchable transcript archive
- Integrates with Zoom/Meet/Teams
The Bad
- Accuracy drops with accents/crosstalk
- Free tier minutes are limited
- Privacy/consent needs managing
Overview
Otter.ai transcribes meetings in real time, generates summaries and action items, and keeps a searchable archive — it can auto-join your Zoom, Meet or Teams calls.
What it's good at
Hands-off notes. Connect your calendar and Otter shows up to calls, captures a live transcript, and produces a summary with action items you can share. The searchable archive is handy for "what did we decide?" moments.
Where it falls short
Accuracy dips with strong accents, crosstalk or poor microphones. Free-tier minutes are limited, and auto-joining meetings means you must handle consent and privacy responsibly.
Should you use it?
For anyone in lots of meetings who wants reliable notes without typing, Otter is a solid pick. Verify important details against the transcript, and set expectations about recording.
Pricing
- Free — $0: Limited monthly minutes, Basic summaries
- Pro — $17/mo: More minutes, Advanced summaries, Team features
Who it’s for
- Meeting notes and summaries
- Interview and lecture transcription
- Searchable call archive
- Capturing action items
FAQ
Does it join meetings by itself?
Yes — connect your calendar and the Otter assistant joins Zoom/Meet/Teams calls to transcribe and summarise.
How accurate is it?
Good with clear audio; heavy accents, crosstalk or poor mics reduce accuracy, as with all transcription tools.