Otter.ai alternativeAn Otter.ai alternative that answers while you talk.
Otter writes down your meetings. ClearMeet does too, with no bot, and when someone asks you a question it shows a short answer you can say. Here's an honest comparison, from Otter's own pages, and the other Otter alternatives.
Free for 5 meetings a month. For Windows 10 and 11.
Last updated October 22, 2026 by the ClearMeet team at ClearMakes
What is ClearMeet, as an Otter alternative?
ClearMeet is an AI meeting assistant for Windows that, like Otter, writes a transcript, a summary and action items. Unlike Otter's bot, it never joins your call: it listens through your PC. It also shows short answers during the call, from the conversation and your own files. Free for 5 meetings a month; Pro is $20.
Why do people look for an Otter alternative?
Most often because of the bot and the limits. Reviewers say Otter's assistant joined meetings by themselves, and that the free plan's 30-minute cap per conversation runs out fast.
On review sites, people describe Otter's note taker inviting itself to their Zoom meetings and being hard to remove, speakers labelled “Speaker 1” and “Speaker 2”, and having to watch their transcription minutes (Capterra reviews of Otter, Trustpilot). Otter now also offers a desktop app that records without a bot, which solves the first problem if you use it.
ClearMeet and Otter, side by side
Both write down your meetings and both can work without a bot. The difference is what happens during the call: Otter shows the transcript, ClearMeet also gives you answers to say.
| What | ClearMeet | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan | Pro $20 a month, or $16 a month billed yearly | Pro $16.99 a month, or $8.33 a month billed yearly |
| Free plan | 5 meetings a month, up to 2 hours each, with every feature | 300 minutes a month, up to 30 minutes per conversation, 3 file imports in total |
| How it hears the call | No bot: it hears your PC's sound and your microphone, and turns speech into text on your PC | A note taker that joins the call, or a desktop app that records without a bot |
| Help during the call | Short answers to say, from the call and your own files; live notes and action items | A live transcript; live coaching in its sales agent |
| Answers from your own files | Yes: add PDFs, Word, Excel or slides to Notes | Not on the pages we checked |
| Hidden from screen shares | Most screen shares, on every plan | Not on the pages we checked |
| Runs on | Windows 10 and 11 only | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Chrome extension |
| Languages | English | See Otter's site |
When is Otter the better choice?
When you need a Mac or a phone app, or the most free minutes. Otter's yearly Pro plan is also cheaper than ClearMeet's.
Pick Otter if
- You use a Mac, an iPhone or an Android phone.
- You want 300 free minutes a month and mostly short calls.
- You want the lowest yearly price: $8.33 a month for Pro.
- You only need a transcript and notes, not help during the call.
Pick ClearMeet if
- You're on Windows and want answers you can say during the call.
- You want answers from your own price list, slides or documents.
- You never want anything joining your meetings.
- You want your call's audio to stay on your PC.
Other Otter.ai alternatives
ClearMeet isn't the only choice. If you're leaving Otter, these are the tools people compare most, each with no bot or a no-bot option.
- Granola: Notes you type, made better by AI, with no bot. Free plan: Basic: $0, with 30 days of meeting history. Runs on: macOS, Windows, iPhone, Android. Compared with ClearMeet
- Fireflies.ai: A bot or a desktop app, with help during the call in its desktop app. Free plan: 400 minutes of storage and 20 AI credits, once. Runs on: Windows and Mac desktop app, web, mobile. Compared with ClearMeet
- Cluely: Answers during the call, with no bot. Free plan: Starter: limited AI responses and limited meeting notes. Runs on: Windows 11 and macOS. Compared with ClearMeet
- Krisp: Noise removal as well as notes, on your device. Free plan: No free plan; a 7-day trial. Runs on: Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, Chrome. Compared with ClearMeet
- Bluedot: A Chrome extension and apps that never invite a bot. Free plan: 5 meetings, in total. Runs on: Chrome extension, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android. Compared with ClearMeet
All nine, in one table with each company's own prices: bot-free note takers compared. Want to know how a note taker works with no bot? An AI note taker without a bot.
How to switch from Otter to ClearMeet
It takes a few minutes, and you can keep Otter for your old transcripts. Nothing needs to be connected to your calendar or your meeting app.
- If Otter's assistant joins your calls by itself, turn that off in Otter's settings, or remove its access to your calendar.
- Download ClearMeet for Windows and sign in with Google, Microsoft or your email.
- Optional: add transcripts you still need, saved as text, Word or PDF files, to ClearMeet's Notes, with your own files.
- In your next call, press Start on the ClearMeet bar. When you're asked something, click Answer latest.
Recording laws differ by place: tell people when you record or transcribe a call.
Questions
Is there an Otter.ai alternative without a bot?
Yes. ClearMeet never joins your call: it listens to your PC's sound and microphone. Granola, Krisp and the desktop apps of Fireflies and Otter itself also work without a bot.
Is ClearMeet cheaper than Otter?
Not on price alone. Otter Pro is $16.99 a month, or $8.33 a month billed yearly; ClearMeet Pro is $20, or $16 billed yearly. ClearMeet's Free plan has every feature, including live answers, for 5 meetings a month.
Does Otter still use a bot?
It can. Otter's assistant can join your meetings, and Otter also has a desktop app that records without a bot. ClearMeet only works from your computer: it never joins the call.
Can I move my Otter transcripts to ClearMeet?
Not directly. If you have a transcript saved as a text, Word or PDF file, add it to ClearMeet's Notes, and answers in later meetings can use it.
Does ClearMeet work on a Mac or a phone like Otter?
No. ClearMeet is for Windows 10 and 11 only. If you need a Mac or phone app, Otter is the better fit.
Read next
- All bot-free note takers comparedNine tools, one table, each company's own prices.
- AI note taker without a botHow ClearMeet takes notes with nothing joining your call.
- Fireflies alternativeAnother tool with a bot or a desktop app, compared.
- Live answers in meetingsWhat ClearMeet does that a transcript can't.
- Meeting notes without a botEvery way to get notes with nothing joining your call.
- ClearMeet pricingFree, Pro, Plus and Team, with every feature on each.
Notes, plus answers, with no bot.
Free for 5 meetings a month, with every feature. For Windows 10 and 11.