Otter.ai vs Fireflies.ai: Which Productivity App Wins in 2026?
Choosing between Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai? This comprehensive comparison covers pricing, features, pros and cons to help you make the right decision.
Quick Summary
Choose Fireflies.ai if you want:
- Automatically joins meetings
- Good AI summaries
- CRM integrations
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Otter.ai | Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 8.5/10 | 8.3/10 |
| Free Tier | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Starting Price | $17/mo | $10/mo |
| Category | Meeting Tools | Meeting Tools |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Chrome, Zoom | Web, Chrome, Zoom, Teams, Meet |
| Founded | 2016 | 2016 |
Key Features
Otter.ai Features
- Real-time transcription
- Speaker identification
- Meeting summaries
- Action items
- Search
- Zoom integration
- Collaboration
- Mobile recording
Fireflies.ai Features
- Auto-join meetings
- Transcription
- AI summaries
- Action items
- Topic tracking
- CRM integration
- Search
- Analytics
Pros & Cons
Otter.ai
Pros
- + Accurate transcription
- + Good free tier
- + Real-time captions
- + Searchable archive
- + Meeting summaries
Cons
- - Paid for full features
- - Accuracy varies with accents
- - Storage limits
- - English focused
Fireflies.ai
Pros
- + Automatically joins meetings
- + Good AI summaries
- + CRM integrations
- + Searchable library
- + Affordable
Cons
- - Can feel intrusive
- - Accuracy varies
- - Learning curve
- - Privacy concerns
Pricing Comparison
The Verdict
Both Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai are excellent meeting tools tools, but they serve different needs.
Choose Otter.ai if: You value accurate transcription and good free tier.
It's best for meetings and journalists.
Choose Fireflies.ai if: You prioritize automatically joins meetings and good ai summaries.
It's ideal for sales and customer-success.
Otter.ai vs Fireflies.ai FAQ
It depends on your needs. Otter.ai (8.5/10) excels at accurate transcription, while Fireflies.ai (8.3/10) is known for automatically joins meetings. Otter.ai has the higher overall rating.
Both Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai offer free tiers. Otter.ai's paid plan starts at $17/mo, while Fireflies.ai starts at $10/mo.
Yes, many users combine Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai in their productivity stack. You can connect them using automation tools like Zapier or Make. This works well if Otter.ai handles your real-time transcription while Fireflies.ai manages auto-join meetings.
Otter.ai offers: Real-time transcription, Speaker identification, Meeting summaries. Fireflies.ai provides: Auto-join meetings, Transcription, AI summaries. The "better" features depend on what you need most.
Otter.ai is generally user-friendly. Fireflies.ai has a steeper learning curve. Both offer tutorials and onboarding to help you get started.
Otter.ai is available on Web, iOS, Android, Chrome, Zoom. Fireflies.ai supports Web, Chrome, Zoom, Teams, Meet. Both offer cross-platform sync.
For teams, consider: Otter.ai is more individual-focused. Fireflies.ai is better for personal use.
Consider switching if Fireflies.ai's strengths (Automatically joins meetings, Good AI summaries) address pain points you have with Otter.ai. Both tools typically offer data export, making migration possible. Test Fireflies.ai with a free trial first.
Key differences: Pricing (free tier vs free tier), Focus (Meeting Tools vs Meeting Tools), Platforms (5 vs 5 platforms).
Otter.ai users love: Accurate transcription, Good free tier. Common complaints: Paid for full features. Fireflies.ai users appreciate: Automatically joins meetings, Good AI summaries. Common issues: Can feel intrusive.