Otter.ai Pricing (Free vs Pro vs Business) — Updated September 2025

Updated: September 2025. This page is an independent, informational resource; pricing and features may change. Please verify details on the official site.

Pricing at a Glance

Otter.ai offers three primary tiers for individuals and teams. The table below summarizes the current publicly available pricing structure:

Note: Prices reflect standard rates as of September 2025. Enterprise plans with custom pricing and features are available for larger organizations. Verify current rates on the official Otter.ai pricing page.

What You Get on Each Plan

Free

The Free tier provides access to core transcription functionality with usage limitations. Users receive 300 minutes of transcription per month and a cap of 30 minutes per individual conversation or recording. The plan includes basic speaker identification, keyword search within transcripts, and the ability to export transcripts in common formats. Free accounts can import and transcribe audio files, though monthly minute allocations apply to all transcription activities. Real-time transcription is available for supported meeting platforms.

Pro

Pro accounts expand monthly transcription capacity to 1,200 minutes with a per-conversation limit of 90 minutes. This tier adds advanced search capabilities that allow filtering by speaker, date range, and custom vocabulary terms. Users can create and apply custom vocabulary lists to improve accuracy for industry-specific terminology or proper nouns. Pro subscribers can access transcripts across more devices and sync notes in real time. Additional features include the ability to share and collaborate on transcripts with granular permission controls, though collaboration features are more limited than on Business plans.

Business

The Business tier is designed for teams and organizations requiring centralized management. Each user on a Business plan receives 6,000 minutes per month with a four-hour cap per conversation. Plans are sold on a per-seat basis with a minimum user requirement. Administrative features include user provisioning, centralized billing, usage analytics across the organization, and workspace-level controls for shared transcripts and folders. Business accounts may include single sign-on (SSO) integration depending on the package. Priority customer support is standard, and organizations can establish shared custom vocabulary libraries for consistency across teams.

Which Plan Fits Common Needs?

Students and Researchers: The Free plan often suffices for occasional lecture recording or interview transcription where total monthly usage remains under 300 minutes and individual sessions are shorter than 30 minutes.

Solo Professionals: Freelancers, consultants, or independent professionals who conduct frequent client meetings or need to transcribe longer recordings typically find the Pro plan appropriate, given the increased monthly capacity and extended per-conversation limits.

Small Teams: Teams of 3-10 people collaborating on shared projects may benefit from Business accounts when centralized billing and admin oversight justify the per-seat cost, particularly if combined monthly usage would otherwise require multiple Pro subscriptions.

Larger Organizations: Enterprises with compliance requirements, SSO needs, or teams exceeding 10 users generally negotiate Enterprise agreements that include custom pricing, dedicated support, and additional security or integration features not available on standard Business plans.

Usage Limits, Overages & Gotchas

Monthly Minutes: Transcription minutes reset at the beginning of each billing cycle. Minutes consumed through live meeting transcription, uploaded audio files, and recorded conversations all count toward the monthly total.

Per-Conversation Caps: Individual recordings or meetings cannot exceed the plan’s per-conversation limit even if monthly minutes remain. For example, a Free user cannot transcribe a 45-minute lecture in a single session, as the 30-minute cap applies.

Overage Behavior: Otter.ai does not automatically charge for overages. When monthly minutes are exhausted, transcription services become unavailable until the next billing cycle or until the account is upgraded. Users do not incur unexpected charges.

Retention and Export: Transcripts remain accessible indefinitely on all plan types, though very old transcripts on Free accounts may have reduced functionality. Export formats and batch export capabilities vary by tier, with Business users typically having the most comprehensive options.

Integration Limits: Calendar and meeting platform integrations (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams) may have different behavior across plans. Free users can still connect these services, but automatic meeting join and transcription features are more robust on paid tiers.

Discounts & Special Cases

Annual Prepayment: Subscribers who pay annually receive reduced per-month pricing compared to month-to-month billing. The discount typically ranges from 17% to 40% depending on the plan tier.

Student Discounts: Otter.ai has offered discounted or extended Free plan features for verified students in the past. Eligibility requirements and discount structures vary, so students should verify current offers on the official site or through their educational institution.

Nonprofit Organizations: Some nonprofit entities may qualify for reduced Business or Enterprise pricing. Verification of nonprofit status is generally required, and discounts are not automatically applied.

Educational Institutions: Schools and universities may negotiate custom Enterprise agreements with volume pricing for faculty and student access.

Discount availability and terms change periodically. Prospective users should confirm current offers directly with Otter.ai.

Billing, Renewals & Refunds

Billing Cycles: Paid plans renew automatically at the end of each monthly or annual period. Monthly subscribers are billed on the same calendar date each month, while annual subscribers renew on the anniversary of their initial purchase.

Proration: When upgrading mid-cycle from a lower tier to a higher tier, Otter.ai typically prorates the cost difference and charges only for the remaining portion of the billing period. Downgrades generally take effect at the next renewal date rather than immediately.

Cancellation: Subscribers can cancel at any time. Access to paid features continues through the end of the current billing period, after which the account reverts to the Free tier. Unused minutes do not carry over.

Refunds: Refund policies are determined on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. Users experiencing technical issues or billing errors should contact support directly. Annual subscriptions may have different refund terms than monthly plans.

Enterprise Agreements: Organizations on custom Enterprise contracts may have negotiated billing terms, including invoice payment options and non-standard renewal windows.

FAQs

Is Otter.ai free?

Yes, Otter.ai offers a Free plan with 300 minutes of transcription per month and basic features. No credit card is required to create an account.

How much is Pro monthly vs yearly?

Pro costs $16.99 per month when billed monthly, or $10.00 per month when billed annually ($120 per year).

What happens if minutes are exceeded?

Transcription services become unavailable for the remainder of the billing cycle. Otter.ai does not charge overage fees. Users must wait for the next cycle or upgrade to continue transcribing.

Can multiple users share a plan (teams/seats)?

The Free and Pro plans are individual accounts. Business plans are designed for teams and sold on a per-seat basis, allowing organizations to manage multiple users under a single billing arrangement.

Are there student or nonprofit discounts?

Otter.ai has offered student discounts and nonprofit pricing in the past. Availability and terms vary, so interested parties should verify eligibility on the official website or by contacting sales.

How do renewals and refunds work?

Plans renew automatically at the end of each billing period. Refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. Cancellation can be done at any time, with access continuing until the end of the paid period.

Does plan choice affect transcript retention or export?

All plans allow indefinite transcript retention. Export capabilities and formats differ across tiers, with Business plans typically offering the most comprehensive export options.

Sources & Update Log

Official Resources:

• Otter.ai Pricing Page: https://otter.ai/pricing
• Otter.ai Help Center: https://help.otter.ai
• Otter.ai Terms of Service: https://otter.ai/terms

Update History:

• September 29, 2025: Initial publication with current pricing structure and plan features.

Related Reading

For additional context on meeting transcription tools and best practices, see our other informational resources on privacy considerations for transcription services and effective meeting documentation workflows.