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A Free Otter.ai Alternative
Otter.ai is a capable live-transcription and meeting-assistant tool. If you would rather not create an account or let a bot record the call — and you already have a transcript — MinutesAI is a simpler, free alternative.
Summary, action items & decisions in seconds — your text is never saved.
Reading your meeting and writing the notes…
MinutesAI vs. Otter.ai
| Feature | MinutesAI | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Account to start | No — paste and go | Yes |
| Joins your meeting | No bot | Records the meeting (bot/app) |
| How you get notes | Paste a transcript you have | Live transcription |
| Stores your data | Not stored on our servers | Stored in your Otter account |
| Price | Free (daily limit) | Free tier + paid plans |
Reflects each tool’s general approach as of June 2026. Otter’s features and pricing change — verify on otter.ai.
When Otter is the better choice
If you want live captions during the call, an ongoing searchable archive of every meeting, or built-in recording, Otter does those things and MinutesAI does not. MinutesAI is focused on one job: turning a transcript you already have into clean notes, instantly and without an account.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Otter.ai alternative?
Yes. MinutesAI is free and needs no signup — paste a meeting transcript and get a summary, decisions, and action items. It does not record live like Otter; it works from a transcript you already have.
Does this alternative record my meeting like Otter?
No. MinutesAI does not record or join meetings. It summarizes a transcript you paste in. If you need live recording, Otter is the better fit.
Do I need an Otter account to use this?
No. MinutesAI is independent of Otter and needs no account at all.
Is my data stored like it is in Otter?
No. Otter keeps your recordings and transcripts in your account. MinutesAI uses your transcript only to generate the notes and does not store it on our servers.
How do I get a transcript to paste?
Google Meet, Teams, and Zoom can each produce a transcript — see our platform guides. You can also paste an Otter transcript you exported.