Otter.ai vs Fireflies: Complete Comparison 2026

Choosing between Otter.ai and Fireflies? We compare both tools across features, pricing, pros and cons to help you decide which is the better fit in 2026.

Otter.ai8.2

Otter.ai · Productivity

Otter.ai is an AI meeting assistant that joins calls to transcribe, summarise and capture action items in real time. Its OtterPilot can automatically attend Zoom, Meet and Teams meetings, generating searchable notes and highlights. Otter is widely used by teams who want accurate, automatic meeting records.

Fireflies8.1

Fireflies.ai · Productivity

Fireflies.ai is an AI notetaker that records, transcribes and analyses meetings across major conferencing platforms. Beyond transcripts, it offers conversation analytics, topic tracking and CRM integrations aimed at sales and customer teams. Fireflies turns every call into searchable, actionable data.

Key differences at a glance

•Otter.ai scores higher overall (8.2 vs 8.1).
•Both start at $16.99/mo (Otter.ai) and $10/mo (Fireflies).
•Otter.ai leans on accurate live transcription.
•Fireflies leans on strong meeting analytics.

Side-by-side comparison

Feature	Otter.aiOtter.ai	FirefliesFireflies.ai
Quality score	8.2 / 10	8.1 / 10
Starting price	$16.99/mo	$10/mo
Free tier	Yes — Free tier available	Yes — Free tier available
API input price	—	—
API output price	—	—
Speed	Fast	Fast
Context window	—	—
Categories	Productivity	Productivity
Key features	Real-time meeting transcription Automatic meeting summaries Action-item capture Auto-join Zoom/Meet/Teams	Auto-record and transcribe meetings Conversation and topic analytics AI summaries and action items CRM and app integrations
Pros	+ Accurate live transcription + Auto-joins your meetings + Good free tier	+ Strong meeting analytics + Good CRM integrations + Useful free tier
Cons	− Transcription stumbles on heavy accents − Best features need paid plans	− Analytics shine mainly for sales teams − Storage limits on lower tiers

Specs compared

Otter.ai holds the higher quality score (8.2 vs 8.1 out of 10).

Otter.ai

Choose Otter.ai if you want accurate live transcription and a free tier to start.

Fireflies

Choose Fireflies if you want strong meeting analytics and a free tier to start.

Pricing comparison

Otter.ai

$16.99/mo

Fireflies

$10/mo

On monthly plans, Fireflies is the cheaper option at $10/mo — roughly 41% less than Otter.ai's $16.99/mo.

Both offer a free tier, so you can try each before paying for anything.

Which should you choose?

The right pick depends on what you're optimising for. Here's how Otter.ai and Fireflies line up against the priorities that usually decide it.

→On a tight budget, Fireflies is the lower-cost choice to start with.
→If top overall quality matters most, Otter.ai edges ahead on our score.

The verdict

Overall, Otter.ai edges ahead with a quality score of 8.2 versus 8.1 for Fireflies. Choose Otter.ai if you want accurate live transcription. That said, Fireflies is the better pick when strong meeting analytics matters most — so the right answer depends on your priorities and budget.

Try Otter.ai →Try Fireflies →

Frequently asked questions

Q. Which is better, Otter.ai or Fireflies?

On our scoring, Otter.ai edges ahead (8.2/10), but the right pick depends on your priorities and budget — see the breakdown above.

Q. Is Otter.ai or Fireflies cheaper?

Otter.ai starts at $16.99/mo and Fireflies at $10/mo. Check current rates before committing.

Q. Can I use Otter.ai and Fireflies together?

Yes — many teams use more than one AI tool, picking Otter.ai for some tasks and Fireflies for others where it's stronger.