FenwriteCompare
The best Otter.ai alternatives in 2026, by what you actually need
Updated October 2026 ·
The best Otter alternative depends on why you're leaving. For a lower price on in-person recording, Fenwrite ($9.99 a month for the same 20 hours as Otter Pro's $16.99). For video calls without a bot, Granola. For many languages, Notta. For a wearable recorder, Plaud. For uploading files cheaply, TurboScribe. For free, Voice Memos on iPhone or Google Recorder on a Pixel. For a one-time purchase on Apple Watch, Just Press Record. We make Fenwrite, so it's first on the list; every other pick is here because it's the better choice for someone.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free | Paid (US) | Bot? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fenwrite | In-person meetings, classes and interviews on a phone | First hour, 10 min a recording | $9.99/mo or $79.99/yr | No |
| Granola | Video calls and calendar-driven work | Basic, 30 days of history | $14/user/mo (Business) | No |
| Notta | Many languages, imports, meetings | 120 min/mo, 3 min a recording | $14.99/mo (App Store) or $97.99/yr | Meeting transcription |
| Plaud | A dedicated wearable recorder | 300 min/mo with a device | $17.99/mo or $99.99/yr, plus device | No |
| TurboScribe | Uploading files | 3 files a day, up to 30 min each* | $10/mo billed yearly* | No |
| Voice Memos | Free on iPhone | Free | Free | No |
| Google Recorder | Free on Pixel | Free | Free | No |
| Just Press Record | One-time purchase, Apple Watch | None | $6.99 once | No |
As listed on each app's pricing page or US App Store listing, 28 October 2026. *TurboScribe's pricing page couldn't be loaded when we checked; its figures come from TurboScribe's blog and third-party pricing pages. Otter, for reference: free 300 min a month at 30 min a conversation; Pro $16.99 a month.
1. Fenwrite: best for in-person conversations on your phone
Our app. Press record and the transcript writes itself while people talk, with each voice labelled and names suggested from what they say; when you stop, you get the gist, decisions and to-dos with owners. No bot, no account, audio kept on the phone. Pro gives the same 20 hours a month as Otter Pro for $9.99 instead of $16.99, and recordings up to 3 hours instead of 90 minutes.
Watch out for: it doesn't do video calls or import files, transcription needs the internet, and the free tier is a one-hour trial, far smaller than Otter's. Fenwrite is coming soon to the App Store (iPhone and Apple Watch) and Google Play (Android). Fenwrite vs Otter in detail.
2. Granola: best for video calls without a bot
Granola takes notes from your computer's audio instead of sending a bot, enhances the notes you jot during the meeting, and is built around your calendar. It added Android in July 2026 and Apple Watch the same month, so it now covers in-person meetings from the phone too.
Watch out for: it needs an account and works best with your calendar connected; the free plan keeps 30 days of history. Fenwrite vs Granola.
3. Notta: best for many languages
Notta's App Store listing says it transcribes 58 languages in real time and translates into 42. Pro includes 1,800 minutes a month and recordings up to 5 hours, file imports and transcription for Zoom, Teams, Meet and Webex.
Watch out for: the free plan's 3-minute limit per recording is too short to judge it on a real meeting. Fenwrite vs Notta.
4. Plaud: best if you want a dedicated recorder
Plaud's devices (such as the NotePin and Note) record in-person conversations and, per Plaud's listing, phone calls, then sync to the Plaud app for transcripts and summaries. Plaud Desktop captures online meetings without a bot.
Watch out for: you buy and charge a device, and the plans cost more than most phone apps. Fenwrite vs Plaud.
5. TurboScribe: best for transcribing files you already have
If you record with something else and just need transcripts, TurboScribe's model is upload and transcribe, with an unlimited plan rather than a minute meter. It's reported to handle long files and many languages.
Watch out for: it's built around uploading files rather than recording live. *We couldn't load TurboScribe's pricing page when we checked; confirm the current plans on turboscribe.ai.
6. Apple Voice Memos: best free option on iPhone
Built in, no account, no allowance. Since iOS 18 it transcribes recordings on iPhone 12 and later, in English, and syncs audio across your Apple devices through iCloud. Great for voice notes and single-speaker recordings.
Watch out for: Apple doesn't describe speaker labels, summaries or action items, and it's Apple-only. Fenwrite vs Voice Memos.
7. Google Recorder: best free option on a Pixel
Google's Recorder app transcribes as it records, and Google says it adds speaker labels (Speaker 1, Speaker 2) on Pixel 6 and later in US English, which you can rename.
Watch out for: it's for Pixel phones only, and speaker labels are limited to US English.
8. Just Press Record: best one-time purchase for Apple Watch
A long-standing recorder with a one-tap Apple Watch complication; its listing says it records independently on the watch, syncs through iCloud Drive and turns speech into searchable text. No subscription is mentioned on its listing.
Watch out for: its listing doesn't mention speaker labels or AI summaries.
How we chose
We started from the reasons people give for leaving Otter: the price of Pro, minute and length caps, a bot joining meetings, and wanting something that works in a room rather than on a call. For each app we read its own pricing page or US App Store listing on 28 October 2026, and we say so where we couldn't. We didn't rank by star ratings, and we didn't include tools we couldn't check.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Otter?
On iPhone, Voice Memos: free, built in, and it transcribes on iPhone 12 and later in English, though without speaker labels or summaries. On a Pixel, Google's Recorder app transcribes and adds speaker labels (Pixel 6 and later, US English). For uploading files, TurboScribe's free tier is reported at 3 files a day of up to 30 minutes.
Which Otter alternative doesn't use a bot?
Fenwrite, Granola, Plaud, Voice Memos, Google Recorder and Just Press Record all work without sending a bot into your calls. Fenwrite and the phone apps record in the room; Granola's desktop app takes notes from your computer's audio.
Which is cheapest for 20 hours a month?
Of the apps here with a monthly allowance, Fenwrite Pro is $9.99 a month for 20 hours, against Otter Pro's $16.99 for the same 1,200 minutes. TurboScribe's Unlimited plan is reported at $10 a month billed yearly, for uploading files rather than live recording.
Is there an Otter alternative with an Apple Watch app?
Yes: Fenwrite, Notta, Granola (since July 2026) and Just Press Record all have Apple Watch apps, and Voice Memos records on the watch too. Otter's App Store listing names iPhone and iPad only (October 2026).
Sources
Otter.ai, Granola, Notta, Plaud, TurboScribe, Just Press Record, Apple Voice Memos and Google Recorder are trademarks of their respective owners. Fenwrite is not affiliated with any of them. Prices and features as listed on 28 October 2026 unless marked otherwise.
Keep reading
Fenwrite vs OtterOtter wins on its free tier and video calls; Fenwrite on price, long recordings and no bot.
Fenwrite vs GranolaGranola wins on desktop calls and your calendar; Fenwrite on no account and in-room recording.
AI note taker without a botRecord in the room instead of sending a bot, plus US and UK consent basics.