Otter.ai vs Fireflies.ai
Side-by-side analysis, no fluff. We've tested both in real-world conditions.
Summary table
Otter.ai
Freemium
Fireflies.ai
Freemium
What's best about Otter.ai
- Real-time transcription is best-in-class with accurate speaker identification
- Free tier is genuinely useful at 300 minutes per month
- iOS/Android app captures in-person meetings too, not just video calls
- Full-text search across entire meeting history saves hours of scrolling
What's best about Fireflies.ai
- AskFred lets you query past transcripts conversationally — genuinely useful
- CRM sync (Salesforce, HubSpot) available on Pro, not just Business
- Generous 50+ integrations including Slack, Notion, and Zapier
- Conversation analytics (talk time, sentiment) help improve meeting quality
What's weakest about Otter.ai
- Pro plan at $16.99/mo is pricier than some competitors for similar features
- Accuracy drops with heavy accents or multiple simultaneous speakers
- CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot) limited to Business plan
- 30-minute conversation cap on free tier is limiting for longer meetings
What's weakest about Fireflies.ai
- Transcription is post-meeting, not real-time like Otter.ai
- Free tier limits are restrictive — best for testing, not sustained use
- Bot joining the call can feel intrusive to clients who aren't expecting it
- Audio quality issues reduce accuracy in noisy environments
Dimension scores
Fireflies.ai is the obvious pick if you value the ai notetaker that attends every meeting for you..
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai?+
In our tests, Fireflies.ai (4.4/5) edges out Otter.ai (4.3/5). Fireflies.ai: The AI notetaker that attends every meeting for you.
Does Otter.ai have a free plan?+
Yes, Otter.ai has a free plan available. Paid plans start at $16.99/mo.
Does Fireflies.ai have a free plan?+
Yes, Fireflies.ai has a free plan available. Paid plans start at $18/mo.
How does Otter.ai differ from Fireflies.ai?+
Otter.ai stands out for: Real-time transcription is best-in-class with accurate speaker identification; Free tier is genuinely useful at 300 minutes per month. Fireflies.ai excels at: AskFred lets you query past transcripts conversationally — genuinely useful; CRM sync (Salesforce, HubSpot) available on Pro, not just Business.