Quick verdict
Both Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai record, transcribe and summarize meetings across Zoom, Google Meet and Teams. The short version:
- Choose Otter.ai if you want the best live transcription to read as you talk, and you’re mostly a solo user who takes notes in real time.
- Choose Fireflies.ai if you want a team knowledge base: a searchable library of every meeting, CRM and app integrations, and conversation analytics — usually with a more generous free storage allowance.
For most individuals, Otter feels smoother for live notes; for teams and sales, Fireflies scales better.
At a glance
| Otter.ai | Fireflies.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Live notes, solo use | Teams, CRM, searchable library |
| Live transcription | Excellent (read in real time) | Good (focus is post-meeting) |
| Free plan | Around 300 min/month, ~30-min cap | More generous free storage/minutes |
| Integrations | Zoom, Meet, Teams, calendar | Zoom, Meet, Teams + many CRMs/apps |
| Standout | Otter Chat on transcripts | Conversation analytics + integrations |
| Paid (approx) | ~$8–$17 / user / mo | ~$10–$18 / user / mo |
Prices and free-tier minutes vary by source and change often — treat the numbers as approximate and confirm on each site.
Free plans and pricing
- Otter free: around 300 transcription minutes per month with a per-meeting cap (about 30 minutes). Great for trying live transcription and light solo use.
- Fireflies free: generally a more generous free allowance (more stored minutes) plus access to integrations, which suits teams testing it across members.
On paid tiers the two are close: both Pro plans land in the mid-teens per user per month, with cheaper annual billing. Confirm current pricing on otter.ai and fireflies.ai before deciding.
Where Otter.ai wins
- Live transcription you can read in real time during the meeting.
- Otter Chat: ask questions about the meeting and get answers from the transcript.
- Solo simplicity for individuals who mainly want fast, readable notes.
- Mobile capture for recording in-person conversations and voice notes.
Where Fireflies.ai wins
- Team knowledge base: every meeting stored, searchable and shareable.
- Integrations with many CRMs and apps.
- Conversation intelligence: analytics on talk-time, topics and trends.
- More generous free storage to test across a team.
- Automation rules to auto-record and route notes.
Which should you choose?
- Individual who wants live notes → Otter.ai.
- Team that needs a shared, searchable library + CRM → Fireflies.ai.
- Most free minutes on a budget → start with Fireflies’ free plan, but also compare Fathom in our roundup.
- Background noise is the real problem → pair either with Krisp.
Real-world scenarios: which one fits you
- “I’m a freelancer taking client calls.” → Otter. You’ll love reading the live transcript and asking Otter Chat “what did we agree on?” right after.
- “We’re a 6-person sales team.” → Fireflies. Everyone’s calls land in one searchable library, and it pushes notes into your CRM automatically.
- “I just want free notes and hate paying.” → Try Fireflies’ free storage first, but also test Fathom (see our roundup) — it’s often the most generous.
- “My calls are in noisy places.” → Either tool + Krisp for noise removal.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing on price alone. The free-minute numbers change often — pick on solo-vs-team fit first.
- Skipping the test. Run both on one real meeting; summary quality on your accents and topics is what matters.
- Forgetting consent. Tell participants a bot is recording.
- Over-buying. Most individuals never need a Business tier — start free.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai?
Otter is better for live, solo note-taking; Fireflies is better for teams that need a searchable meeting library and CRM integrations.
Is Otter.ai really free?
Yes, Otter has a free plan (around 300 minutes/month with a per-meeting cap). Heavier use needs a paid plan.
Is Fireflies.ai free?
Yes, Fireflies has a free plan too, usually with more generous storage/minutes plus integration access.
Do both work with Zoom, Google Meet and Teams?
Yes — both support all three and can auto-join scheduled meetings.
Which has better transcription accuracy?
Both are strong and similar; accuracy depends more on audio quality and accents than the tool.
Can I use both for free at the same time?
Yes — running each on one real meeting is the best way to decide before paying.
