The short answer
Otter is good at writing down what was said. Most people leave it because of the bot, surprise sharing and the limits, not the transcript.
- SayBriefly: best overall. No bot, Mac and Windows, calls grouped into threads with "Since last call" on every note, and linked to the client's project, email and brief.
- Fathom: best free option, with unlimited free recording.
- Fireflies: best if you want Otter's model with more integrations.
- Granola: best for simple bot-free notes on desktop and mobile.
- Jamie: best for many languages.
We build SayBriefly, so read this with that in mind. Before writing, we read Otter reviews on Trustpilot, Capterra and Hacker News, and the news about the lawsuit. The same few complaints come up again and again. This guide is organised around them, and it says where Otter is still the better pick.
Otter tells you what was said. The question is what it adds up to.
Why people leave Otter
These are the complaints we saw most often, in order.
1. The bot joins meetings on its own
Once your calendar is connected, Otter's notetaker joins your Zoom, Meet and Teams calls automatically by default. Reviewers describe it turning up in meetings they never meant to record, including confidential ones. You can switch auto-join to meetings you pick, or use Otter's desktop app without the bot, but many people only find that out after the awkward moment.
2. Transcripts shared with people who did not expect them
A common complaint, especially on Hacker News, is Otter sending meeting notes to attendees, sometimes with a sign-up link. For client work that is a real problem: your client gets an email from a tool they never agreed to.
3. Limits and surprise billing
Otter's own pricing page lists a 30 minute cap per meeting on the free plan and 90 minutes on Pro, with 300 free minutes a month. On Trustpilot, many reviews are about unexpected charges and auto-renewal.
4. Speaker labels and accuracy in busy calls
With several people talking, or background noise, reviewers report wrong speaker labels. When the wrong person gets an action item, the note stops being useful.
5. Six languages
Otter lists English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Chinese. Teams working in other languages look elsewhere.
6. The lawsuit
In August 2025 a class action, Brewer v. Otter.ai, was filed in California, claiming Otter recorded people without their consent and trained its AI on those recordings. It was still unresolved in 2026, according to public reporting.
The real difference: project memory
Otter can chat across your meetings. Most tools here can. What none of them does is keep the story of a client in one place.
Calls with the same people become one thread
SayBriefly groups recurring calls by the same meeting link, calendar series or people. In your notes they stack under the latest call, and one click opens the history.
Every new note starts with "Since last call"
Before writing a note, SayBriefly reads the previous calls in the thread. The note opens with what got done, what is still open and who owes it, what was asked again, and what changed.
Example of the layout. Real notes only show what was said on the calls.
Linked to the client's project, email and brief
Each call sits in the client's project next to their Gmail threads, the agreed brief and your tasks. Ask the agent, Scribbble, "what did they ask for across all our calls and emails, and is it in the brief?" and it answers from all of it, with sources.
All 5 Otter alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Bot in the call? | Mac + Windows | Emails your guests? | Linked to project, email and brief |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 SayBriefly | Client work across many calls | No bot | Yes | Only if you switch on sharing | Yes |
 Otter | Transcripts (for reference) | Bot by default, or its desktop app | Yes | See its sharing settings | No |
 Fathom | Free recording, CRM sync | Bot, or bot-free (Mac only) | Yes | Not stated | No |
 Fireflies | Many integrations | Bot by default, or a Chrome extension | Desktop app | Not stated | No |
 Granola | Simple bot-free notes | No bot | Yes | Not stated | No |
 Jamie | Many languages | No bot | Yes | Not stated | No |
Checked on each tool's own website, September 2026. "Not stated" means we could not confirm it on their site.
The 5 best Otter alternatives, reviewed
1. SayBriefly: best Otter alternative overall
SayBriefly records the call from your computer, so no bot joins and nothing announces itself. It works with Google Meet, Zoom, Teams and browser calls, and the note is ready about a minute after the call, with decisions, action items and owners. Notes stay with you: guests only get them if you switch sharing on.
Where it pulls ahead of Otter is what happens after the note: calls grouped into threads, "Since last call" on every new note, and each call linked to the client's project, email and brief, with tasks on one to-do list.
Why people switch to it
- No bot, on Mac and Windows
- Never emails your client unless you choose to share
- Threads and Since last call
- Notes, tasks, calendar, booking and dictation in one app
Worth knowing
- No iPhone or Android app yet
- Email works with Gmail for now
Pick SayBriefly if your work runs across many calls with the same clients.
See how it works on the SayBriefly AI notetaker page.
2. Fathom: best free Otter alternative
Fathom is the one reviewers like most: its free plan records and transcribes without a limit, and Ask Fathom answers questions across all your calls. On Premium, action items sync to Asana, HubSpot and Salesforce. Its complaints are mild: the bot announces itself, and its newer bot-free mode is Mac only.
Good
- Unlimited free recording
- Well reviewed
Worth knowing
- Bot-free recording is Mac only for now
- Tasks live in your CRM, not in Fathom
Pick Fathom if you want a strong free plan.
3. Fireflies: best for integrations
Fireflies works like Otter, a bot joins and transcribes, with a long list of integrations and AskFred for questions across meetings. Reviewers complain about the bot rejoining calls, speaker labels and cancelling a subscription, so it fixes Otter's limits more than its annoyances.
Good
- Unlimited transcription on the free plan
- Many integrations
Worth knowing
- The bot is the default
- Some AI features use credits
Pick Fireflies if integrations matter more than the bot.
4. Granola: best for simple bot-free notes
Granola records from your computer with no bot and writes clean notes, with AI chat across meetings and mobile apps. Reviewers mention everyone else becoming "Them" in group calls and no audio playback, and Granola itself now faces a recording-consent class action.
Good
- No bot, clean notes
- Desktop and mobile apps
Worth knowing
- Basic keeps 30 days of history
- Calls are not linked to projects, email or a brief
Pick Granola if you only want the bot gone.
5. Jamie: best for many languages
Jamie runs on your device without a bot, supports 99+ languages and leans on GDPR. If Otter's six languages are the problem, Jamie is the direct fix.
Good
- 99+ languages
- No bot, EU focus
Worth knowing
- Plus is capped at 20 notes a month
- Tasks are managed outside the app
Pick Jamie if your calls are not in English.
A word on recording consent
Going bot-free fixes the awkward bot, but it does not remove the need for consent. Both Otter and Granola face class actions over recording people who did not agree. Whatever tool you pick, tell the people on the call that you take notes, the same way you would mention it before a phone recording. Many studios put a line in their contract and say it at the start of the first call.
Where Otter still wins
Otter is a mature product. If you want a full transcript you can search and share, apps on every platform including mobile, and a low paid entry price, it is a solid choice. Its desktop app can also record without the bot if you set it up that way.
How to choose an Otter alternative
| Your situation | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Client work, many calls with the same people | SayBriefly | No bot, threads, Since last call, project memory |
| Want a strong free plan | Fathom | Unlimited free recording |
| Need lots of integrations | Fireflies | Long integration list |
| Only want the bot gone | Granola | Simple, bot-free, mobile apps |
| Calls in many languages | Jamie | 99+ languages |
How we made this list
We checked each tool's own pricing and product pages in September 2026 and read public reviews on Trustpilot, Capterra and Hacker News, plus news coverage of the lawsuits. We only state what a vendor says about itself; review themes are described as what users report. Prices change, so check before you buy. SayBriefly is our product, and we have said where the others are the better choice.
Questions people ask about Otter alternatives
What is the best Otter alternative?
SayBriefly, if your work runs across many calls with the same clients. It records from your computer on Mac and Windows with no bot, groups recurring calls into threads, opens every new note with Since last call, and links calls to the client's project, email and brief.
Is there a free Otter alternative?
Fathom's free plan records and transcribes without a limit. Fireflies' free plan has unlimited transcription with 400 minutes of storage per seat. Granola and Jamie have limited free plans. Check each pricing page, as limits change often.
How do I stop Otter from joining my meetings?
In Otter's settings, change auto-join from all meetings to meetings you pick yourself, or disconnect your calendar. Otter's desktop app can also record without the bot.
Does Otter email my meeting notes to everyone?
Many reviews complain that Otter shared transcripts with attendees they did not expect. Check Otter's sharing settings before your next call. SayBriefly only emails notes to guests if you switch on sharing yourself.
How long can an Otter meeting be?
Otter's pricing page lists a 30 minute limit per meeting on the free plan, 90 minutes on Pro and 4 hours on Business (checked September 2026).
How many languages does Otter support?
Otter's pricing page lists six: English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Chinese. Jamie advertises 99+ languages if you need more.
Is Otter safe to use with clients?
Otter was named in a 2025 class action, Brewer v. Otter.ai, over recording people without consent. Whatever tool you use, with a bot or without, tell the other people on the call that you take notes.
Can ChatGPT replace Otter?
Not on its own for calls. A meeting note taker has to capture the audio first. SayBriefly records the call, writes the note, and its agent answers questions across your calls, client email and the brief.
Which Otter alternative remembers past meetings?
Most, Otter included, can chat across meetings. SayBriefly also groups calls into threads, opens each new note with what changed since the last call, and links calls to the client's project, email and brief.
