· Whispr Notes · 3 min read
Otter.ai vs Fireflies.ai: Which is More Secure for Meetings?
Introduction
Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai are two of the most well-known AI-powered meeting transcription tools available in 2025. Many users compare them by features—like real-time transcription or team collaboration—but security is often the deciding factor for business and privacy-minded users.
In this article, we take a data-driven, unbiased approach to compare Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai on the key security dimensions that matter most: encryption, HIPAA compliance, AI training policies, and enterprise-grade certifications. Let’s find out which one truly protects your sensitive meetings.
At-a-Glance Comparison
| Security Feature | Otter.ai | Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption at Rest | Industry-standard (AES-256) | Industry-standard (AES-256) |
| HIPAA Compliance | Available with Enterprise plan + BAA | Available with Enterprise plan + BAA |
| AI Training on User Data | Uses de-identified data; manual review with opt-in | Claims no training on user content without consent |
| SOC 2 Type II Certified | Yes, on higher-tier plans | Yes, at least SOC 2 Type II for business plans |
Detailed Breakdown
Encryption at Rest
What it is: Encryption at rest ensures that stored data—like audio files and transcripts—is encrypted on disk, protecting it even if the storage is compromised.
- Otter.ai: Uses AES-256 encryption to protect stored data, meeting industry expectations.
- Fireflies.ai: Also uses AES-256 encryption, widely trusted as secure.
Conclusion: Both services meet baseline expectations on this front.
HIPAA Compliance
Why it matters: For healthcare workflows or handling protected health information (PHI), HIPAA compliance and a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) are non-negotiable.
- Otter.ai: Offers HIPAA compliance for Enterprise customers. A BAA can be signed as part of that agreement.
- Fireflies.ai: Also supports HIPAA compliance when customers are on qualifying Business/Enterprise plans and will sign a BAA.
Conclusion: Both platforms can comply with HIPAA—but only for users who enable Enterprise-tier plans and request a BAA.
AI Training on User Data
Why it matters: Whether your meeting transcripts are used to train AI models affects your data’s exposure and long-term privacy.
- Otter.ai: Your data is used to train AI only in de-identified form. Any manual review requires opt-in consent via explicit checkboxes.
“We train our proprietary artificial-intelligence technology on de-identified audio recordings… manual review is only by opt-in.”
- Fireflies.ai: States that they do not train their AI on customer content by default. Content may be used only if explicit user consent is given, and otherwise is kept private.
Conclusion: Fireflies.ai offers stricter default privacy here, since it doesn’t use customer content for AI improvements unless explicitly allowed. Otter.ai uses de-identified data more passively, though still requires user consent for manual review.
SOC 2 Type II Certification
Why it matters: SOC 2 Type II ensures that the company’s data security practices have been audited by a third party over time and meet stringent standards of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
- Otter.ai: SOC 2 Type II certification is available with higher-tier (Business/Enterprise) plans.
- Fireflies.ai: Also advertises that it holds SOC 2 Type II compliance, particularly in its business-tier offerings.
Conclusion: Both platforms provide enterprise-grade certification, reinforcing their corporate-level security posture.
Winner for Security?
Bottom line: Both Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai offer solid, industry-standard security measures for encryption, HIPAA compliance, and SOC 2 Type II certification—if you’re on the right plan.
The real difference lies in how they handle AI training:
- If your priority is maximum default privacy, and you don’t want your transcripts used to improve AI models, Fireflies.ai has the edge—since it does not train on your content unless you say so.
- If you’re okay with de-identified training for potentially better accuracy, and you’re proactive about protecting your account (e.g. enabling 2FA), Otter.ai remains a strong, secure choice—especially with enterprise features and certifications.
The Best of Both Worlds: Security & Privacy
Tired of making tradeoffs? We believe you deserve top-tier security and a guarantee that your data remains yours alone. We’re building a new kind of AI note-taker with a strict zero-knowledge privacy policy. Join our waitlist to be the first to try it.
