Otter.ai vs Fireflies.ai
Short version: Otter.ai is the better fit for anyone who wants cheap, reliable meeting transcription and notes, while Fireflies.ai is built for teams that want cheap, reliable AI notes and transcripts across meetings.
Otter.ai
Popular AI transcription & meeting notes
Free plan
Free plan; paid from ~$8/seat/mo annual
Fireflies.ai
AI notetaker for every meeting
Free plan
Free plan; paid from ~$10/seat/mo, AI features on higher tiers
At a glance
| Spec | Otter.ai | Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Budget tier | Budget-friendly | Budget-friendly |
| Complexity | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly |
| Primary category | Conversation Intelligence | Conversation Intelligence |
| Integrations | 20+ | 60+ |
| Founded | 2016 | 2016 |
Feature comparison
Otter.ai offers 6 of 11 tracked conversation intelligence features; Fireflies.ai offers 9.
| Feature | Otter.ai | Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Call & meeting recording | ||
| Transcription | ||
| AI summaries & notes | ||
| Talk-time & topic analytics | ||
| Deal & pipeline intelligence | ||
| Coaching & scorecards | ||
| Auto CRM sync | ||
| Multi-language support | ||
| Free plan | ||
| API & webhooks | ||
| Priority / 24-7 support |
Otter.ai
Pros
- Accurate live transcription and captions
- Generous free plan
- Simple and broadly compatible
Cons
- Not sales-specific (no deal intelligence)
- Limited coaching/analytics
- English-centric
Fireflies.ai
Pros
- Generous free tier and very low paid pricing
- Accurate transcripts, summaries, and search
- Works across Zoom, Meet, Teams, and dialers
Cons
- Lighter deal/pipeline intelligence than Gong
- Coaching and analytics are basic
- AI credit limits on lower tiers
Which should you choose?
Choose Otter.ai if…
- you want accurate live transcription and captions
- you want generous free plan
- you want simple and broadly compatible
Choose Fireflies.ai if…
- you want generous free tier and very low paid pricing
- you want accurate transcripts, summaries, and search
- you want works across Zoom, Meet, Teams, and dialers
The verdict
Both are solid conversation intelligence tools. The best choice comes down to fit: Otter.ai for anyone who wants cheap, reliable meeting transcription and notes, and Fireflies.ai for teams that want cheap, reliable AI notes and transcripts across meetings.
Browse all tools →Frequently asked questions
Is Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai cheaper?
Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai sit in a similar price range (Free plan and Free plan), so the decision usually comes down to features and fit rather than price.
Which is better, Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai?
Neither is strictly better, they're built for different priorities. Otter.ai is the stronger pick for anyone who wants cheap, reliable meeting transcription and notes, while Fireflies.ai suits teams that want cheap, reliable AI notes and transcripts across meetings.
What's the main difference between Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai?
Otter.ai is beginner-friendly and budget-friendly, while Fireflies.ai is beginner-friendly and budget-friendly. On tracked conversation intelligence features, Otter.ai covers 6 and Fireflies.ai covers 9.