Otter

What Is It, In Plain Words?

Otter turns speech into written notes as people talk, so you can read them back later. It's useful for appointments, talks and meetings.

It works in a phone app or on a computer and can tell different speakers apart.

What You Can Use It For

• Medical appointments. Have a written record of what was said (ask first).
• Talks and lectures. Read the notes afterwards.
• Family history. Record a relative telling stories and get a written version.

Getting Started Step By Step

On A Phone Or Tablet

1. Open the App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play (Android).
2. Search for Otter and check it's made by Otter.ai. Copycat apps exist.
3. Tap Get or Install, then open it.

On A Computer

1. Open your web browser and go to otter.ai. Check the address carefully, because look-alike sites exist.
2. Sign up with your email or Google or Microsoft account.
3. Press the Record button and let it listen.
4. Press stop when you're done. The notes are saved to your account.

Things To Try Typing

Things to try in the app.

What It Costs

Prices checked 16 October 2026 on the official Otter pricing page.

Privacy And Safety

• Always ask before recording someone. In some places, recording without permission is against the law.
• Recordings and notes are stored in your Otter account. Delete ones you don't need.
• Never type passwords, PINs, bank or card numbers, your National Insurance number (UK) or Social Security number (USA).

Good Points And Watch-Outs

Good Points

• Saves you writing notes.
• Search notes by word.
• You can make the text bigger on screen.

Watch-Outs

• Mistakes happen with accents and noise.
• It may join online meetings automatically if you connect your calendar. Check the settings.
• The free plan has monthly limits.

Similar Tools

• Live Transcribe: live captions of speech on Android.
• Speechify: reads documents and web pages aloud.
• NotebookLM: plain summaries of documents you upload.

Common Questions

Is Otter free?

Yes, the free Basic plan includes 300 minutes a month. Otter Pro costs extra.

Can I use it at a doctor's appointment?

Ask the doctor first. Many are happy for you to record.

Does Otter work in the UK?

Yes. Prices are shown in US dollars.