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Memo AI vs Otter.ai

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors. Memo AI starts at $25.99, Otter.ai at $8.33. Both have a free tier. Only Otter.ai ships a public API.

Memo AIConverts audio, video, and YouTube links into text with translation and speaker labels.Otter.aiMeeting transcription with per-plan minute and length caps

Side by side

FactMemo AIOtter.ai
CategorySpeech-to-Text & TranscriptionMeeting Assistants
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starts at$25.99 year$8.33 month
Public APINoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android, Chrome Ext, API
CompanyPemo LLCOtter.ai
Launched20232016
Last verifiedSep 1, 2026Sep 6, 2026

What our research says

Memo AI

Memo AI covers the basics of turning spoken audio into usable text, including straight from a YouTube link, and the free tier is genuinely unlimited on transcription rather than capped by minutes, which is unusual. The tradeoff is a single-device restriction on every tier and a company that discloses almost nothing about itself beyond an LLC name in the footer.

Pros

  • Free Basic tier has no cap on transcription or translation volume
  • Handles YouTube links directly, not just uploaded files
  • Lifetime pricing option avoids a recurring subscription

Cons

  • Every tier, free or paid, is limited to a single device
  • No transparency on the company beyond an LLC name in the copyright line
  • No API or integration options visible for pulling transcripts into other tools

Otter.ai

Still the default for English-language meeting notes, and the free tier is unusually usable. What determines the right plan is not features but the per-conversation ceiling: 30 minutes on Basic and 90 on Pro means a standard hour-long review truncates on the free tier and a workshop truncates on Pro. Pick the tier by your longest recurring meeting.

Pros

  • 300 free minutes a month makes evaluation real rather than token
  • Annual Pro at $8.33 is roughly half the month-to-month rate
  • An MCP server is exposed from the free tier, so assistants can query transcripts without the paid API
  • Business removes the minute cap entirely rather than raising it

Cons

  • The API and webhooks require Enterprise, which is quote-only
  • Per-conversation ceilings (30 min free, 90 min Pro) cut recordings mid-meeting
  • Basic allows three file imports in total, not per month
  • Month-to-month pricing is roughly double annual at both self-serve tiers

Which one fits

Choose Memo AI if you need

  • Podcast listeners or researchers who want quick transcripts of YouTube or local files
  • Anyone who wants translation across many languages bundled with transcription
  • Users comfortable with yearly or one-time lifetime billing instead of monthly

Choose Otter.ai if you need

  • Teams that live in Zoom, Meet or Teams and want notes without a note-taker
  • Accessibility use, where live captions matter as much as the transcript
  • Recruiters and researchers who need searchable interview records across a workspace

More comparisons

All Otter.ai alternatives →Browse all Speech-to-Text & Transcription →