Otter.ai is a popular app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to turn spoken words into written text automatically. People often use it to take notes during meetings, classes, or interviews, saving them time and effort. Here’s a simple guide on what Otter.ai does, how you can use it in different work settings, its pros and cons, and what it costs.
What is Otter.ai, and How Does It Work?
Otter.ai captures spoken words and quickly converts them into text. You can use it in real-time—meaning it types as you speak—or upload a recording, and it will transcribe it for you. It’s available on the web and as a mobile app, so you can use it anywhere.
Otter.ai also works with popular video-call tools like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. This feature lets you record and transcribe meetings automatically, which is helpful for keeping records without needing to take notes.
How Can You Use Otter.ai in Your Job or Studies?
1. Transcribing Meetings: Otter.ai can record and transcribe meetings, letting you focus on the discussion instead of taking notes. Later, everyone can read the transcript to catch any missed details.
2. Content Creation: Journalists, writers, or researchers can transcribe interviews or notes quickly, helping them pull out important information without needing to replay recordings.
3. Lectures and Training: Students and employees in training sessions can record lessons or training sessions to review later, ensuring they don’t miss anything important.
4. Team Collaboration: Teams can share transcripts, make comments, and highlight important sections, making it easy for everyone to stay on the same page.
5. Accessibility: Otter.ai can help people with hearing difficulties by providing written records of spoken content. It’s also useful for people who prefer reading over listening or need help with different languages.
Pros and Cons of Otter.ai
Pros:
• Good Transcription Quality: Otter.ai is usually quite accurate, especially in quiet settings.
• Real-Time Typing: It transcribes as you speak, which is perfect for live meetings or classes.
• Easy Sharing and Collaboration: You can share transcripts, and team members can add notes and highlights, making it a great team tool.
• Integrates with Video Calls: It connects with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, so you can record and transcribe meetings automatically.
• Simple Interface: The app is easy to use, even for beginners.
Cons:
• Accuracy Issues with Accents and Noise: If there’s background noise or people have strong accents, Otter.ai may make mistakes.
• Privacy Concerns: Since it stores data online, some users worry about security, especially when discussing private or sensitive topics.
• Editing May Be Needed: It’s not always perfect, so you might need to review and fix errors in the transcription.
• Limited Free Features: The free version has limits, so many users end up paying to get features like longer recording time and integrations.
• Not Always Accurate for Non-English Speakers: It works best for English; in other languages, accuracy may drop.
Otter.ai Pricing (2024)
Here’s what Otter.ai costs based on different plans:
1. Free Plan:
• 300 minutes per month (up to 30 minutes per conversation).
• Basic features, good for casual or occasional users.
2. Pro Plan: $16.99/month or $8.33/month billed annually
• 1,200 minutes per month (up to 90 minutes per conversation).
• Advanced tools like keyword search and Otter Assistant, useful for regular users.
3. Business Plan: $30/month per user or $20/month per user billed annually
• 6,000 minutes per month (up to 4 hours per conversation).
• Team features, analytics, and integrations, designed for work teams or companies.
4. Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing
• Custom features for large companies, including more support and security.
Is Otter.ai Right for You?
Otter.ai is a great tool for anyone who wants to save time on note-taking. It’s especially helpful if you work in a team, attend lots of meetings, or want to quickly transcribe interviews or classes. However, you’ll need to decide if its costs and possible privacy concerns are worth it, especially if you’re dealing with sensitive information.
