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Software · head to head

Otter.ai vs Zapier

Otter.ai logo

Otter.ai

Software

Transcription and meeting notes powered by AI

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zapier logo

Zapier

Software

Automate your work across 7,000+ app integrations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Otter.ai two separate limits apply at once, a monthly minute allowance and a per conversation cap, so a long meeting can be cut short with allowance remaining; Zapier the free plan allows 100 tasks per month and only two-step Zaps, one trigger and one action
  • They diverge on capability: Otter.ai covers Automatic transcription, Zapier covers App integrations.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Otter.ai and Zapier actually diverge.

Attributes where Otter.ai and Zapier differ
AttributeOtter.aiZapier
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, MacWeb, Api
Founded20162011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Otter.ai

  • Automatic transcription
  • Real-time transcription
  • Speaker identification
  • Searchable transcripts
  • Highlights and summaries
  • Sharing
  • Mobile apps
  • Zoom

Only in Zapier

  • App integrations
  • Workflow automation
  • Trigger-based actions
  • Multi-step Zaps
  • Data formatting
  • Conditional logic
  • Error handling
  • Team collaboration

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Salesforce
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Otter.ai

  • Transcribing meetings and generating summaries automaticallynot Zapier
  • Searching and sharing notes from recorded conversationsnot Zapier

Zapier

  • Lead managementnot Otter.ai
  • Data synchronizationnot Otter.ai
  • Email automationnot Otter.ai
  • Social media postingnot Otter.ai
  • Customer onboardingnot Otter.ai

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Otter.ai

  • Two separate limits apply at once, a monthly minute allowance and a per conversation cap, so a long meeting can be cut short with allowance remaining
  • The free plan cuts off at 30 minutes per conversation and 300 minutes a month
  • The Pro plan still caps a single conversation at 90 minutes
  • Even unlimited plans cap a conversation at 4 hours
  • Imported file transcription has its own separate monthly limit, at 6,000 minutes on Business
  • Paying monthly rather than annually roughly doubles the rate, from $8.33 to $16.99 on Pro

Zapier

  • The free plan allows 100 tasks per month and only two-step Zaps, one trigger and one action
  • Multi-step Zaps, filters, paths, webhooks and the formatter all require a paid plan
  • Premium app connectors are withheld from the free plan
  • Free Zaps poll for new data every 15 minutes against 2 minutes on Professional and 1 minute on Team
  • Paying monthly rather than annually costs 50 percent more, so the 2,000-task Professional plan is $73.50 a month instead of $49

Pricing, plan by plan

Otter.ai

Free
  • BasicFree
    • 600 minutes transcription
    • 3 searches
    • Basic sharing
  • Pro$10/month
    • 6000 minutes transcription
    • Unlimited searches
    • Team collaboration

Zapier

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100 tasks/month
    • 5 Zaps
    • Two-step Zaps
  • Starter$19.99/month
    • 750 tasks/month
    • 20 Zaps
    • Multi-step Zaps
  • Professional$49/month
    • 2,000 tasks/month
    • Unlimited Zaps
    • Custom logic

Which should you pick?

Choose Otter.ai if

  • You need automatic transcription.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Mac.
  • You also want real-time transcription.
Otter.ai review

Choose Zapier if

  • You need app integrations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want workflow automation.
Zapier review

Questions people ask

Is Otter.ai or Zapier better?
Neither clearly leads. Otter.ai starts at Free and Zapier at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Otter.ai or Zapier?
Otter.ai starts at Free and Zapier at Free.
Does Otter.ai or Zapier run on more platforms?
Otter.ai runs on Web, Ios, Android, Mac. Zapier runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Otter.ai for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Otter.ai best used for?
Otter.ai is most often used for transcribing meetings and generating summaries automatically, searching and sharing notes from recorded conversations. Of those, transcribing meetings and generating summaries automatically and searching and sharing notes from recorded conversations are not what Zapier is typically brought in for.
What can Otter.ai do that Zapier cannot?
Otter.ai covers Automatic transcription, Real-time transcription, Speaker identification, Searchable transcripts. Zapier covers App integrations, Workflow automation, Trigger-based actions, Multi-step Zaps. Both handle Slack, Salesforce, Cloud deployment.
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Related pages

More on Otter.ai

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