Updated May 2026 · Independently reviewed · This page contains affiliate links — see our affiliate disclosure

Try Otter.ai free →

Otter.ai review — what is it and who is it for?

Otter.ai is an AI meeting assistant and transcription tool that records, transcribes, and summarises both online and in-person meetings. Launched in 2016, it was one of the first AI transcription tools to gain widespread adoption and remains one of the most recognised names in the space.

Otter works with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams for online meetings, and also records in-person conversations via its iOS and Android mobile app — making it unique among mainstream AI notetakers. For UK businesses where client meetings, site visits, or in-person consultations are a core part of the workflow, this is a significant differentiator. See how it compares in our full Fathom AI notetaker review.

In 2026, Otter has evolved beyond simple transcription to include AI summaries, action item extraction, an AI chat interface for querying meeting content, and OtterPilot — an automated meeting bot that joins calendar-scheduled calls on your behalf. The free plan is genuinely usable for occasional users, though the minute limits mean it runs out quickly for anyone with a busy meeting schedule.

Otter.ai review — key features for UK businesses

In-person meeting recording

This is Otter’s most important differentiator in 2026. The mobile app lets you record face-to-face conversations directly on your phone — client consultations, site visits, interviews, or any meeting that doesn’t happen on a screen. The audio is transcribed in near real-time and available as a searchable transcript within minutes of the meeting ending. For UK estate agents doing property viewings, tradespeople doing site consultations, or recruiters doing in-person interviews, this is a feature no other mainstream notetaker offers.

Online meeting transcription

Like Fathom and Fireflies, Otter joins your Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams calls as a bot participant and produces real-time transcriptions with speaker identification. OtterPilot can join meetings automatically based on your calendar, meaning you don’t need to remember to start a recording. The transcription supports English, French, and Spanish — significantly fewer languages than competitors like Fireflies (60+).

AI summaries and chat

After each meeting, Otter generates a summary with key discussion points and action items. The Otter AI Chat feature lets you ask questions about your meeting content — “what did we agree on pricing?” — and get instant answers. This is available on all paid plans and limited to 20 queries per month on the free tier.

Slide capture

A useful but overlooked feature: Otter can automatically capture screenshots of presentation slides shared during video calls and attach them to the transcript at the relevant timestamp. For anyone attending demo calls or training sessions where slide content is important, this creates a much richer meeting record than a transcript alone.

Integrations

Otter integrates with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Dropbox, and Salesforce. HubSpot integration is available but limited compared to Fathom AI. The Salesforce and HubSpot CRM sync is restricted to the Enterprise plan — meaning most UK small businesses won’t have access to automatic CRM updates without a significant price jump.

Pros and cons of Otter.ai

Otter.ai review — pricing plans 2026

Otter.ai prices in USD only — there is no GBP option on their website. UK businesses pay in dollars at the prevailing exchange rate. At current rates, approximate GBP equivalents are shown below. US digital services are subject to UK reverse charge VAT for VAT-registered businesses.

* GBP prices are approximate conversions at current exchange rates (May 2026). Actual prices charged in USD: Pro $8.33/user/month (annual) or $16.99/month; Business $20/user/month (annual) or $30/month. Exchange rates fluctuate — check the current rate before purchasing. US digital services are subject to UK reverse charge VAT for VAT-registered businesses.

Otter.ai vs Fathom AI — which should UK businesses choose?

Summary: Choose Otter.ai if in-person recording is important to your workflow — it’s the only mainstream tool that does it. Choose Fathom AI if you only do online meetings and want a more generous free plan, better UK accent accuracy, and easier HubSpot integration. See our full Fathom AI review for a detailed breakdown.

Otter.ai and GDPR — what UK businesses need to know

This section matters more for Otter.ai than for most tools, given a significant legal development in 2025.

In August 2025, a US class action lawsuit was filed against Otter.ai alleging that the service recorded private conversations without proper consent from all participants. The complaint alleged that non-Otter users attending meetings where OtterPilot was enabled had no knowledge their conversations were being recorded and processed. While the lawsuit is in US courts, the underlying issue — whether all meeting participants have given valid consent to being recorded — is directly relevant to UK GDPR compliance.

This isn’t unique to Otter — any AI notetaker raises similar consent questions. But the class action makes it more salient for Otter specifically, and UK businesses should be aware of it.

Who should use Otter.ai?

Best for: UK businesses that regularly hold in-person client meetings — estate agents, tradespeople, recruiters, consultants · Individuals who want cheaper paid transcription than Fathom (≈£6.50 vs ≈£12/month annually) · Anyone who needs slide capture alongside transcription · Teams using Dropbox who want seamless file sync

Consider alternatives if: You only do online meetings and want the best free plan — Fathom AI has unlimited recordings vs Otter’s 300 min/mo · You need transcription in more than 3 languages — Fireflies.ai covers 60+ · You want HubSpot or Salesforce CRM sync without paying Enterprise pricing · You’re in a regulated sector and need EU data hosting

Otter.ai review — frequently asked questions

Can Otter.ai record in-person meetings?

Yes — this is Otter’s key differentiator. The iOS and Android mobile app lets you record in-person conversations directly on your phone. The audio is transcribed in near real-time and produces a full searchable transcript. No other mainstream AI notetaker (Fathom, Fireflies, tl;dv) offers in-person recording.

Is Otter.ai free?

Yes, Otter has a permanently free plan that includes 300 minutes of transcription per month, 30 minutes per conversation, and 3 lifetime file imports. It’s usable for occasional meetings but limited for anyone with a busy schedule. The free plan does include in-person recording via the mobile app, which is a genuine differentiator at £0.

Is Otter.ai GDPR compliant for UK businesses?

Otter.ai is certified under the UK–US Data Privacy Framework and offers a Data Processing Agreement for UK customers. However, data is stored in the US, and the responsibility for informing and obtaining consent from all meeting participants lies with the account holder — not Otter. A 2025 US class action lawsuit highlighted consent issues with OtterPilot auto-joining meetings. UK businesses should ensure all participants are informed before using Otter in client-facing settings. Consult the ICO guidance if you’re in a regulated sector.

How does Otter.ai pricing compare to Fathom?

Otter’s Pro plan at approximately £6.50/month (annual) is cheaper than Fathom’s Premium at approximately £12/month (annual). However, Otter’s free plan is significantly more restricted — 300 min/mo versus Fathom’s unlimited recordings. For heavy meeting users, Fathom’s free plan is better value; for occasional users who want more features than the free tier, Otter’s Pro plan is competitively priced. See our Fathom AI review for a full comparison.

Does Otter.ai work with Microsoft Teams?

Yes — Otter works with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet. OtterPilot can auto-join calendar-scheduled Teams meetings. As with all notetaker bots on Teams, ensure all participants are informed that the meeting is being recorded and transcribed.

What happened to Otter.ai’s Pro plan minutes?

In 2026, Otter reduced the Pro plan transcription limit from 6,000 minutes per month to 1,200 minutes — without reducing the price. This is a significant downgrade. Users with 5+ meetings per day can exhaust 1,200 minutes in approximately two weeks. Heavy meeting users should consider whether the Business plan (6,000 min/mo at approximately £16/month annually) better fits their needs.

Otter.ai review — the bottom line

Otter.ai’s unique selling point in 2026 is clear: it’s the only mainstream AI notetaker that records in-person meetings. For UK businesses where face-to-face client work is central — estate agents, tradespeople, recruiters, consultants — this makes Otter worth serious consideration even alongside stronger alternatives for online meetings.

For purely online meeting workflows, Fathom AI offers a better free plan, better UK accent accuracy, and easier HubSpot integration. Otter wins on price at the paid tier (≈£6.50 vs ≈£12/month annually) and on in-person recording. The GDPR situation requires more care than with Fathom — ensure consent is obtained from all participants, especially in client-facing settings.

Start on the free plan to test both the online and in-person recording — the 300 minutes will last several weeks for a typical user. If in-person recording is important to your workflow, Otter’s Pro plan at approximately £6–7/month (annual) is reasonable value.

→ See also: Fathom AI notetaker review · Best AI tools for UK accountants · Best AI tools for UK estate agents

Last updated: May 2026. Pricing in USD — GBP equivalent approximate at time of writing. This page contains affiliate links — see our affiliate disclosure for details.