Otter.ai
Things 3
| Feature | Otter.ai | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $16.99/mo | From $9.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Best For | professionals, journalists, students, remote-teams | apple-users, gtd-practitioners, individuals, design-lovers |
| Founded | 2016 | 2009 |
| Live Transcription | ✓ | ✗ |
| Meeting Summaries | ✓ | ✗ |
| Speaker Identification | ✓ | ✗ |
| Search | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collaboration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Inbox | ✗ | ✓ |
| Today View | ✗ | ✓ |
| Areas And Projects | ✗ | ✓ |
| Headings | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tags | ✗ | ✓ |
| Quick Entry | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Otter.ai Pros
- Accurate transcription
- Real-time notes
- Meeting summaries
- Zoom integration
✗ Otter.ai Cons
- English-centric
- Free plan limited
- Occasional errors
✓ Things 3 Pros
- One-time purchase (no subscription)
- Stunning Apple-native design
- GTD workflow built in
- Keyboard shortcuts and natural language
✗ Things 3 Cons
- Apple ecosystem only
- No collaboration features
- No web version
The Verdict
Otter.ai is built for professionals and journalists, with a focus on live-transcription and meeting-summaries. Things 3 targets apple users and gtd practitioners and leads with inbox and today-view.
On pricing, Things 3 is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $9.99/mo compared to $16.99/mo for Otter.ai. That $6.999999999999998/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Otter.ai has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Things 3 requires a paid subscription from day one.
Things 3 edges out on user ratings (4.8 vs 4.3). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Bottom line: Things 3 has a slight overall edge — but if accurate transcription matters most to you, Otter.ai may still be the right call.