Afterword vs Otter · checked 26 Oct 2026
Afterword vs Otter. One joins your call. One doesn't.
Otter's notetaker joins Zoom, Meet and Teams to write notes in its cloud. Afterword never joins: it listens from your Mac and keeps the audio, transcript and notes on it.
Line by line.
From Otter's own pricing page and from how Afterword is built. Tap a row for the detail.
Otter's plans list a notetaker that "Joins Zoom, MS Teams, and Google Meet to automatically write and share notes."1 Otter can also record from its own app.
Afterword transcribes with Apple's on-device speech models and uploads nothing. Otter transcribes and stores your conversations in your Otter account.
Afterword has no meter. Otter's free Basic plan includes 300 monthly transcription minutes, and Pro has 1,200 in-app recording minutes.1
Afterword is $39 once or $29 a year. Otter Pro is $16.99 a month, or $8.49 a month billed annually.1
Afterword writes plain markdown to a folder you pick. Otter exports mp3 and txt on Basic, and more formats on paid plans.1
Afterword needs the internet once, to activate. Otter transcribes in the cloud.
Afterword needs macOS 26 on Apple silicon. Otter has web, iOS and Android apps.1
Pick the one that fits.
Otter is a solid, popular tool. Here's when each is the right call.
Otter, if
- You want notes on your phone, Windows or the web.
- Your team shares one workspace with admin controls.
- You need Salesforce or HubSpot sync.
- You want live captions inside Zoom.
Afterword, if
- You don't want a bot in your calls.
- Your calls should never leave your Mac.
- You want no minute limits.
- You'd rather pay $29 a year.
Questions.
Yes. Afterword records Zoom, Meet and Teams from your Mac's own audio, so nothing joins the call, and it transcribes on-device.
For one person, yes: $29 a year versus Otter Pro at $8.49 a month billed annually ($101.88 a year), with no minute limits. Prices checked 26 Oct 2026.
Afterword starts with your next call. Your old Otter notes stay in Otter; you can export them as text and keep them next to Afterword's markdown files.
Try a week without the bot.
Download it, pick a folder, join your next call. $39 once, or $29 a year after seven days free.
- 01
Otter pricing page: plan features including the notetaker that joins meetings, 300 monthly minutes on Basic, Pro at $16.99 a month or $8.49 billed annually, export formats, iOS and Android apps. otter.ai/pricing
Checked 26 October 2026; prices and features may have changed. Otter is a trademark of its owner. Afterword isn't affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Otter.ai. Spot something out of date? Tell us and it gets fixed.