Fireflies.ai vs Otter.ai
Short version: Fireflies.ai is the better fit for teams that want cheap, reliable AI notes and transcripts across meetings, while Otter.ai is built for anyone who wants cheap, reliable meeting transcription and notes.
Fireflies.ai
AI notetaker for every meeting
Free plan
Free plan; paid from ~$10/seat/mo, AI features on higher tiers
Otter.ai
Popular AI transcription & meeting notes
Free plan
Free plan; paid from ~$8/seat/mo annual
At a glance
| Spec | Fireflies.ai | Otter.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 | 60+ | 20+ |
| Founded | 2016 | 2016 |
Feature comparison
Fireflies.ai offers 9 of 11 tracked conversation intelligence features; Otter.ai offers 6.
| Feature | Fireflies.ai | Otter.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 |
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
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
Which should you choose?
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
Choose Otter.ai if…
- you want accurate live transcription and captions
- you want generous free plan
- you want simple and broadly compatible
The verdict
Both are solid conversation intelligence tools. The best choice comes down to fit: Fireflies.ai for teams that want cheap, reliable AI notes and transcripts across meetings, and Otter.ai for anyone who wants cheap, reliable meeting transcription and notes.
Browse all tools →Frequently asked questions
Is Fireflies.ai or Otter.ai cheaper?
Fireflies.ai and Otter.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, Fireflies.ai or Otter.ai?
Neither is strictly better, they're built for different priorities. Fireflies.ai is the stronger pick for teams that want cheap, reliable AI notes and transcripts across meetings, while Otter.ai suits anyone who wants cheap, reliable meeting transcription and notes.
What's the main difference between Fireflies.ai and Otter.ai?
Fireflies.ai is beginner-friendly and budget-friendly, while Otter.ai is beginner-friendly and budget-friendly. On tracked conversation intelligence features, Fireflies.ai covers 9 and Otter.ai covers 6.