An Otter AI alternative for files, and when Otter fits better
The short answer
Otter's AI Meeting Agent joins Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet calls and writes notes while people talk. Kotosay works on the recording after the call, or on any audio and video file you already have.
If most of your work is files, Kotosay fits that. If you mainly need live notes during meetings, Otter is built for it. When you compare Otter.ai alternatives, decide first whether you need a bot in the call or a transcript of a file.
What to check before you switch
A file tool and a meeting assistant solve different problems. Run through these points with your own month in mind.
- How many recordings you upload in a typical week, and how long they run.
- Whether you need the text during the meeting or after it.
- Which exports you hand on, such as DOCX for a report or SRT for a video.
- Where the files are stored and when they are deleted.
File imports on Otter's free plan
On November 9, 2026, Otter's pricing page listed 3 file imports in total per user on its free Basic plan, with 30 minutes per conversation and 300 minutes a month. Otter Pro listed 10 imports a month and 1,200 minutes.
On Kotosay, a free account transcribes the first 5 minutes of 3 files every day, and Unlimited takes files up to 10 hours.
On November 10, 2026, the same page listed 90 minutes per conversation on Pro and 4 hours on Business, where file imports were unlimited.
Taking your recordings out of Otter
On November 10, 2026, Otter's pricing page listed mp3 and txt exports on the free Basic plan, and mp3, txt, pdf, docx and srt on Pro. That means you can download the sound of a conversation as an MP3 and upload it here, even when the original recording lives only in Otter.
Export Otter's text as well if you want its version next to the new transcript. Keep both in one folder per meeting or project.
Trying Kotosay on an Otter recording
- Export one conversation from Otter as MP3.
- Upload the MP3 on Kotosay. The first 5 minutes show without an account.
- To read the whole conversation, open that file with Single file for $4.99, paid once.
- Read both transcripts at the same timestamps and compare names, figures and the passages where people talk over each other.
An Otter AI alternative free for uploaded files
People who look for free Otter AI minutes for uploads usually have a stack of recordings. Kotosay's free account suits that: 3 files a day, read, edit and copy every transcript, with no card. Exports and translation come with Unlimited.
Your recording, uploaded after the call
Record the call with Zoom, Teams, Meet or your phone, then upload the file. Nothing joins the meeting, and the people in it see only the recording you started. Laws on recording calls differ by country and state, so tell everyone before you record.
Where Otter is the better fit
- Live transcription while the meeting runs.
- An AI Meeting Agent that joins your calendar meetings on its own.
- Automatic summaries, decisions and action items after each meeting.
Using both tools side by side
You can keep Otter for live calls and send interviews, lectures and older recordings to Kotosay. The two never get in each other's way, because Kotosay never joins a meeting. It only sees the files you upload.