Otter.ai Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Otter.ai pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $30 per user/month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Otter.ai offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- 300 monthly transcription minutes
- 30 minutes maximum per conversation
- 3 lifetime audio/video file imports (total, ever)
- 20 AI chat queries per user
- Real-time transcription
- Speaker identification
- Multi-language support
- Zoom, MS Teams, Google Meet integration
- iOS/Android apps
- Live transcription and summaries
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- Everything in Basic, plus:
- 1,200 in-app recording minutes per month
- 90 minutes maximum per meeting
- 10 audio/video file imports per month
- Advanced AI workflows
- Advanced meeting templates
- Unlimited storage
- Custom vocabulary (up to 200 terms)
- Advanced search, export & playback
- Zapier integration
- Taggable speakers
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| monthlyMinutes | 300 minutes | Unlimited/Higher |
| perMeeting | 30 minutes | Unlimited/Higher |
| fileImports | 3 lifetime total | Unlimited/Higher |
| aiChatQueries | 20 per user | Unlimited/Higher |
| conversations | 3 conversations for AI chat | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like Everything in Basic, plus: or 1,200 in-app recording minutes per month
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Otter.ai branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Pro Plan Comparison
| Basic $0 | Pro $16.99/user/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 10 included | 11+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Otter.ai branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Individuals testing the tool with very light, occasional meeting needs | Individual professionals with regular meetings and moderate transcription needs |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Otter.ai free?
Yes, Otter.ai offers a freemium plan with 10 core features included. However, there are limits on monthlyminutes, permeeting that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Otter.ai's free plan?
Otter.ai's free plan includes: 300 monthly transcription minutes, 30 minutes maximum per conversation, 3 lifetime audio/video file imports (total, ever), 20 AI chat queries per user, Real-time transcription, and 5 more features. Key limits include monthlyMinutes: 300 minutes, perMeeting: 30 minutes, fileImports: 3 lifetime total.
03 What's NOT included in Otter.ai's free plan?
The free plan excludes: Everything in Basic, plus:, 1,200 in-app recording minutes per month, 90 minutes maximum per meeting, 10 audio/video file imports per month, Advanced AI workflows. You'll also have Otter.ai branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Otter.ai's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like Everything in Basic, plus: or 1,200 in-app recording minutes per month, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $16.99/user/month.
05 Is Otter.ai's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Otter.ai's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
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