Otter.ai is one of the most popular AI meeting-note tools, but its 2026 pricing comes with limits that catch heavy users off guard — including a quiet cut to the Pro plan’s monthly minutes. Here’s exactly what Otter costs, what each plan includes, and whether the free tier is enough.
Otter.ai Pricing in 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Transcription minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (Free) | $0 | $0 | 300 min/mo, 30 min/convo |
| Pro | $16.99/mo | $8.33/mo | 1,200 min/mo, 90 min/convo |
| Business | $30/user/mo | $20/user/mo | Unlimited live, 6,000 imported |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Unlimited + admin controls |
Annual billing nearly halves the cost — Pro drops from $16.99 to $8.33/month. Students and teachers with a .edu email get an additional 20% off Pro.
What Each Plan Actually Gets You
- Basic (Free) — 300 transcription minutes per month, capped at 30 minutes per conversation. Live transcription, basic summaries, and 3 file imports total. Fine for occasional use; the 30-minute cap kills it for full meetings.
- Pro ($16.99) — 1,200 minutes/month and 90 minutes per conversation, plus 10 monthly file imports, advanced search, and custom vocabulary. Important: Otter cut Pro from 6,000 to 1,200 minutes without lowering the price — a real downgrade for power users.
- Business ($30/user) — Unlimited live meeting transcription, up to 6,000 imported-file minutes per user, a 4-hour per-conversation cap, admin controls, and usage analytics. The right tier for teams.
- Enterprise — Custom pricing with SSO, advanced security, and dedicated support; contracts typically land in the mid-four-figures annually.
How Otter.ai Compares on Price
| Tool | Free tier | Paid entry | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otter.ai | 300 min/mo | $16.99/mo | Solo note-takers, students |
| Fireflies.ai | 800 min storage | $18/mo | CRM-integrated teams |
| tl;dv | Unlimited recordings | $29/mo | Sales call coaching |
| Rev | 45 min AI/mo | $0.25/min | High-accuracy transcripts |
Otter’s strength is live, in-the-room transcription and a slick mobile app. But its free minutes are the stingiest of the group, and the Pro minute cut means heavy users should compare carefully with Fireflies, which offers more storage minutes at a similar price.
Is Otter.ai Worth It?
It’s worth it if:
- You take a lot of live, in-person meeting notes — Otter’s real-time capture shines
- You’re a student — the free 300 minutes plus the 20% .edu discount go far
- You want a clean mobile experience for recording on the go
- Your meetings fit comfortably under the per-conversation caps
Look elsewhere if:
- You’re a heavy user — the 1,200-minute Pro cap is tight; Fireflies gives more
- You need deep CRM integration for sales calls — tl;dv or Fireflies win
- You need certified-accuracy transcripts — Rev’s human option is the standard
Tips to Lower Your Otter.ai Cost
- Pay annually — Pro drops from $16.99 to $8.33/month, a 50%+ saving.
- Use the .edu discount if you qualify — an extra 20% off Pro.
- Track your minutes — the 1,200/month Pro cap arrives faster than you’d think; export and archive regularly.
- Stay free if you’re occasional — 300 minutes covers light, short meetings without paying.
The Bottom Line
Otter.ai in 2026 remains the go-to for live meeting transcription, especially for students and solo professionals. The free plan is usable but limited, and most serious users land on Pro ($16.99, or $8.33 annual). Just know the Pro minute cut means heavy transcribers may get better value from Fireflies.ai. For teams, Business at $30/user unlocks the unlimited live transcription that makes Otter genuinely useful at scale.
Compare AI transcription tools side by side →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Otter.ai cost in 2026?
Otter offers a free Basic plan (300 min/mo), Pro at $16.99/mo ($8.33 annual), and Business at $30/user/mo ($20 annual). Enterprise is custom-priced.
Is Otter.ai free version good enough?
For occasional, short meetings, yes — but the free plan caps you at 300 minutes per month and 30 minutes per conversation, which is too tight for regular full-length meetings.
Did Otter.ai reduce its Pro minutes?
Yes. Otter cut the Pro plan from 6,000 to 1,200 transcription minutes per month without lowering the price, making it less attractive for heavy users than Fireflies.ai.