5 min
setup time
Live
real-time transcript
Free
300 min/month
3 languages
English, Spanish, French
Otter.ai is unique among AI meeting tools because it provides a live transcript visible during the meeting - not just a summary after. This is useful for accessibility, for teams that want to follow along, and for catching missed information in real time.
Setup involves creating an account, connecting your calendar, and enabling OtterPilot (the auto-join bot). After setup, OtterPilot joins your calendar meetings automatically and the live transcript appears on otter.ai and in the mobile app.
Otter.ai only supports English, Spanish, and French. If your meetings include other languages, Otter.ai will produce poor results. Use Fireflies.ai (100+ languages) or tl;dv (30+ languages) instead.
Create Your Otter.ai Account
Go to otter.ai and click "Get started free". Sign up with your Google account (recommended - automatically connects your Google Calendar) or email. The free plan includes 300 minutes/month and 30 minutes per individual meeting.
Enable OtterPilot for Automatic Meeting Join
After creating your account, go to Settings > OtterPilot. Enable "Auto-join calendar meetings". Otter will read your calendar and send OtterPilot to upcoming meetings automatically.
OtterPilot joins as a bot participant named "Otter.ai". Participants see it in the attendee list. A recording and transcription notification appears in the meeting interface.
Use Live Transcription During the Meeting
Once OtterPilot joins, go to otter.ai in your browser or open the Otter mobile app. You will see the live transcript updating in real time as people speak. Speaker labels appear once the system identifies voices (typically after 30 seconds).
To follow along: keep the Otter window open alongside your meeting window. The transcript scrolls automatically. You can type comments or highlight text in real time.
Review the Summary After the Meeting
After the meeting ends, Otter generates a summary that includes: automated outline by topic, action items, key highlights, and the full transcript with timestamps and speaker labels.
To access: go to otter.ai > My Conversations. Your most recent meeting is at the top. Click to open the full transcript and summary. You can edit speaker names, correct transcription errors, and add comments.
Share Notes and Export
To share: click the Share button in the conversation view. Options: share a link (anyone with the link can view), export as PDF or text, or send directly to email.
For Zoom integration: go to Settings > Integrations > Zoom. Enable the Zoom integration for tighter sync. For Slack: connect in Settings > Integrations > Slack and choose your channel for automatic summary delivery.
Otter.ai is the right choice if live transcription during the meeting is important to your workflow. For post-meeting notes and summaries only, Fathom or Fireflies.ai offer better value at lower cost (especially Fathom which is free and unlimited).
Remember the 30-minute meeting cap on the free plan. If you have regular 1-hour meetings, budget for the Pro plan or use Fathom/tl;dv as free alternatives with no length limits.
Evaluating Otter against alternatives? Read our MeetGeek vs Otter.ai comparison for a detailed breakdown of where each tool wins.
Tools Used in This Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Otter.ai join Zoom meetings automatically?
Yes. Enable OtterPilot in Settings > OtterPilot and connect your calendar. OtterPilot joins Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams meetings automatically based on your calendar. It appears as a bot participant named "Otter.ai" in the attendee list.
What is the Otter.ai free plan limit?
The free plan includes 300 minutes per month of transcription, with a 30-minute cap per individual meeting. You can also import 3 audio files per month. The free plan does not include OtterPilot automatic join for Teams meetings (only Zoom and Google Meet).
How do I get Otter.ai to transcribe a recorded meeting?
In the Otter dashboard, click "Import" and upload your audio or video file (MP3, MP4, WAV, M4A). Otter processes the file and returns a transcript. Free plan allows 3 file imports per month. There is no meeting length limit for imports (only live transcription has the 30-minute cap).
Is Otter.ai HIPAA compliant?
Otter.ai offers HIPAA compliance on Business and Enterprise plans only. The free and Pro plans are not HIPAA compliant. For healthcare use cases, ensure you are on a Business plan with a signed BAA (Business Associate Agreement) with Otter.ai.
What is the difference between Otter.ai and OtterPilot?
Otter.ai is the platform. OtterPilot is the bot that joins calendar meetings automatically. Think of OtterPilot as the automation layer - without it, you would need to manually start a recording or import files. With OtterPilot enabled, Otter joins and transcribes your meetings without any manual action.
