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Otter.ai vs Video to Text

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, Video to Text at $9.90. Both have a free tier. Only Otter.ai ships a public API.

Otter.aiMeeting transcription with per-plan minute and length capsVideo to TextTurns uploaded video or audio, or a social media link, into a timestamped transcript with speaker labels.

Side by side

FactOtter.aiVideo to Text
CategoryMeeting AssistantsSpeech-to-Text & Transcription
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starts at$8.33 month$9.90 one_time
Public APIYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Chrome Ext, APIWeb
CompanyOtter.aiDKPhhh
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

Video to Text

Video to Text is a bare-bones, pay-as-you-go transcription tool: paste a social link or upload a file, get back a transcript with timestamps and speaker labels. The credit pricing rewards batch use, since accounts get 30 free credits, but there's no subscription option for regular users.

Pros

  • Accepts direct social media links, not just file uploads
  • Speaker labels and automatic language detection across 99 languages
  • Exports to TXT, SRT, VTT, and CSV
  • Linked social videos cost a flat 1 credit regardless of length

Cons

  • No subscription plan, only prepaid credit packs
  • Run by a single individual rather than a company, with only an email for support
  • No API for automating transcription

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 Video to Text if you need

  • One-off transcription of a YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram video
  • Users who don't want a recurring subscription for occasional transcripts
  • Anyone needing SRT/VTT subtitle files rather than plain text

More comparisons

All Otter.ai alternatives →All Video to Text alternatives →Browse all Meeting Assistants →