Otter.ai vs Fireflies.ai
Plans, free access, limits and intended use side by side, taken from each vendor’s own pages. No score and no winner: the facts show where the two differ.
Change tools
Record and transcribe meetings, then summarize, search and share them with AI.
Check storage, export and sharing defaults before you record
- Free access
- Otter.ai: Free access
- Fireflies.ai: Free access
- Paid from
- Otter.ai: USD 8.33 per user per month
- Fireflies.ai: USD 10 per seat a month
- Plans listed
- Otter.ai: 4
- Fireflies.ai: 4
- Public API
- Otter.ai: Not confirmed
- Fireflies.ai: Not confirmed
Where Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai differ
- Pricing checkPrices confirmed for Otter.ai; some prices or terms not confirmed for Fireflies.ai.
Head to head
Each value from the tool’s profile and the vendor’s own pages
| Otter.ai | Fact | Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Access and price | ||
| Free access availableBasic · USD 0 | Free accessSame | Free access availableFireflies Free · USD 0 |
| USD 8.33 per user per monthPro · billed annually · USD 16.99 billed monthly | Lowest listed paid plan | USD 10 per seat a monthFireflies Pro · billed annually |
| Free plan; paid Pro and Business | Pricing model | Free $0; Pro $10 per seat a month, billed annually |
| 4 | Plans listedSame | 4 |
| Not confirmed | Public API | Not confirmed |
| Not confirmed | Card to start | Not confirmed |
| Not confirmed | Open source | Not confirmed |
| What it is for | ||
| Meeting transcripts, summaries and action items | Built for | Individuals and teams who want searchable meeting transcripts and action items |
| Audio & voice | CategorySame | Audio & voice |
| Platforms |
|
| Works with |
|
| How current | ||
| Profile sources checked | ||
| Prices confirmed · Sep 26, 2026 | Pricing checkDiffers | Some prices or terms not confirmed · Oct 4, 2026 |
Official source check for both tools. No hands-on testing and no score: “Differs” marks a documented difference, not a better tool.
Plans and prices
Otter.ai
Prices confirmed · Sep 26, 2026- BasicUSD 0free with no end date
- ProUSD 8.33 per user per monthbilled annually · USD 16.99 billed monthly
- BusinessUSD 19.99 per user per monthbilled annually · USD 30 billed monthly
- EnterpriseContact sales
Fireflies.ai
Some prices or terms not confirmed · Oct 4, 2026- Fireflies FreeUSD 0
- Fireflies ProUSD 10 per seat a monthbilled annually
- Fireflies BusinessUSD 19 per seat a monthbilled annually
- Fireflies EnterpriseUSD 39 per seat a monthannual only
Strengths and limits
Otter.ai
Strengths
- Free plan without an end date: Basic costs nothing, has no time limit and still includes the meeting notetaker, live transcription and 300 minutes a month.
- Works on the main meeting platforms: The notetaker joins Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, and the desktop app records calls without a bot joining.
- Downgrades archive rather than delete: Cancelling or downgrading archives older conversations instead of removing them, and archived conversations can still be exported.
Limits to plan around
- 30-minute cap on the free plan: Basic shows only the first 30 minutes of each conversation or import until you upgrade to a paid plan.
- Six transcription languages: Only English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Chinese (Simplified) are transcribed.
- Subscriptions are non-refundable: Cancellation stops the next renewal only, and Otter asks for it at least 24 hours before the billing date.
Fireflies.ai
Strengths
- Real free plan: Free costs $0 with transcription, limited AI summaries, 20 AI credits, meeting search and the apps, so you can test before paying.
- Plenty of capture routes: Bot, Chrome extension, file upload, desktop and mobile apps cover live calls, recordings and in-person conversations.
- Stated security programme: The provider lists SOC 2 Type II and GDPR and says meeting content is not used for AI training; HIPAA and private storage sit on Enterprise.
Limits to plan around
- Export and video sit behind Pro: Video recording and downloading transcripts, summaries and recordings are listed under Pro, not Free.
- Small Free storage: Free keeps 400 minutes, under seven one-hour meetings, and the pricing page and help center disagree on whether that is per team or per user.
- Open sharing by default: New recap links default to teammates and anyone with the link, and meeting audio can include voice data some jurisdictions treat as biometric.
See both products
Start from your task, not from a winner.
Run both tools on the same real task, then compare the result, how much editing it needs and how fast it uses your plan’s allowance.
How we reviewChange this pair
Choose tools
Choose two tools below. You can replace either selection at any time.
Audio & voice
Automation
Coding
Data & spreadsheets
Images & design
Presentations
Research & sources
Video & editing
Website builders
Writing & content
Comparing tools from different categories is fine, and often useful — a writing assistant and a research tool solve different halves of the same job. The table will show you exactly where they diverge.
Questions about comparing tools
How does the comparison work?
Add two tools to the comparison tray from any tool card, then open this page. The table pulls each tool's verified plan details, platforms, strengths and limits from its profile, so both columns carry the same kind of evidence, with a separate source-check date for each tool.
Do you declare a winner?
No. The table sets two tools against each other on documented facts, not on a score. Which one wins depends on your task, your budget and your usage volume — three things we cannot see from here.
Why are some cells empty or marked unverified?
Because we could not confirm that detail on the vendor's own pages. Rather than filling the gap with a figure from elsewhere, we mark it and say why on the tool's profile.
Can I compare more than two tools?
Not at once. Two columns keep the differences readable and force a real decision. Remove either selected tool to replace it, or clear both to start a new pair.
Every figure in the table above comes from the linked profile, where the source and the verification date are listed. Browse all tools or read the editorial policy.