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Otter.ai vs Rango 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. Otter.ai starts at $8.33, Rango AI at $49. Both have a free tier. Only Otter.ai ships a public API.

Otter.aiMeeting transcription with per-plan minute and length capsRango AIAI agent that joins Zoom, Meet, or Teams calls to take notes and answer questions when addressed.

Side by side

FactOtter.aiRango AI
CategoryMeeting AssistantsMeeting Assistants
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starts at$8.33 month$49 month
Public APIYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Chrome Ext, APIWeb
CompanyOtter.aiUGO Media Inc.
Launched2016—
Last verifiedSep 6, 2026Sep 1, 2026

What our research says

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

Rango AI

Rango goes further than a note-taker by acting inside the call, pulling up files or answering questions when addressed by name, and by carrying memory across meetings so past decisions are searchable later. The free plan only covers a single 30-minute meeting, so evaluating the live-participation features requires paying before the second call.

Pros

  • Responds live during a call when addressed by name, not just after the fact
  • Cross-meeting memory lets users query decisions from past conversations
  • Connects to 20+ tools including CRM, email, and issue trackers
  • Meeting hours are metered individually with refunds available

Cons

  • Free tier is limited to a single 30-minute meeting
  • Per-hour pricing can add up for teams with heavy meeting loads

Which one fits

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

Choose Rango AI if you need

  • Sales teams wanting a meeting agent that can update CRM records automatically
  • Project managers who need decisions from months-old meetings searchable later
  • Teams already living in Slack, Salesforce, or Jira who want direct integration

More comparisons

All Otter.ai alternatives →All Rango AI alternatives →Browse all Meeting Assistants →