Otter.ai vs Fathom
Fathom is the better free option for unlimited recording and summaries, while Otter offers live transcription with clear minute limits and a lower paid entry price on its annual Pro plan.
Pick Otter.ai if…
You want live transcription, Otter's apps on desktop and mobile, and a clear set of minute limits. A paid Pro plan from $8.33 per user per month billed annually is within your budget.
Pick Fathom if…
You want unlimited free recordings and transcriptions with AI summaries, and may later want CRM sync or coaching features on a Business plan.
Price
- Freemium
- Freemium
Starting price
Free plan
Open source
Works on
| Feature | AI notetaker that records and transcribes meetings in Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. | AI notetaker that records, transcribes and summarizes Zoom, Google Meet and Teams calls. |
|---|---|---|
| Price |
|
|
| Starting price | Pro: $8.33 per user per month billed annually ($16.99 per user per month billed monthly); USD, promotional discounts also shown | Premium $16 per user per month billed annually ($20 monthly); Team $15 per user per month billed annually ($19 monthly, 2-user minimum); USD |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Works on | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser extension, API | Web, macOS, API |
| Try Otter.ai (opens the Otter.ai website in a new tab) | Try Fathom (opens the Fathom website in a new tab) |
Both are AI notetakers that work with Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. Otter lists desktop apps for Mac and Windows, iOS and Android apps and a Chrome extension. Fathom's site lists its supported meeting platforms and offers bot or bot-free capture, with the bot-free option in beta on Mac.
The free plans differ most. Otter Basic gives 300 transcription minutes per month, 30 minutes per conversation, 3 lifetime file imports, 25 saved conversations and 20 AI Chat queries a month. Fathom Free lists unlimited recordings and transcriptions, instant AI summaries, clips, playlists and search across calls, though advanced summaries and Ask Fathom are limited.
On paid plans, Otter Pro is $16.99 per user per month ($8.33 billed annually) with 1,200 minutes and 90 minutes per meeting; Business is $30 monthly or $19.99 annually. Fathom Premium for individuals is $20 monthly or $16 annually, Team is $19 or $15 with a 2-user minimum, and Business is $34 or $25. Fathom's higher plans focus on team search, CRM field sync, Deal View and coaching metrics.
Pick by usage: heavy free users who run long meetings will hit Otter's free limits sooner, while those who want live transcripts and Otter's file imports may prefer Otter's paid plans. Some prices on both pages are promotional or tied to billing period, so check the current page before buying.
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Last updated 16 October 2026. How we make money