What to do
Otter Basic provides 300 free monthly minutes, but a 30-minute transcription limit and 3 lifetime file imports.
Otter.ai alternative for saved audio and video
Transcribe a saved recording →WORKFLOW CHECK · October 13, 2026
Choose the correct transcription workflow
What to know
LongScribe's strength here is transcription of existing media, not Otter's live meeting assistant.
LongScribe signed-in Free: 60 minutes across 20 recordings per month. Premium: $4.99/month / 5,000 minutes, Premium Pro: $14.99/month / 20,000 minutes. Per-job duration, file size and account restrictions still apply. The anonymous demo is a separate limited preview.
LongScribe has a commercial interest in this comparison. Otter facts reviewed October 13, 2026. Official sources: Otter Basic limits · Otter current pricing. Always check current vendor terms.
Automated transcripts need review against the source. No comparative accuracy advantage is claimed.
| Decision point | LongScribe | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow | Saved files and supported public URLs | Live meetings and imported recordings |
| Free monthly minutes | 60 across 20 monthly jobs | 300 minutes monthly on Basic |
| Free file-import count | 20 monthly jobs, subject to per-job caps | 3 audio/video imports per account lifetime |
| Free per-recording limit | Plan-specific duration and file rules | 30 minutes of transcript on Basic |
| Live meeting capture | No meeting bot | Live meeting and assistant features |
| Downloads | Eligible TXT, DOCX, SRT, JSON | Export availability depends on Otter plan |
Compare the Free limits, not just the minute count
Otter Basic advertises 300 transcription minutes each month, up to 30 minutes per transcription and three audio/video file imports over the account lifetime. LongScribe signed-in Free has a smaller recurring monthly allowance and three monthly jobs, with its own per-job rules. More total minutes does not mean every file or use case is eligible.
Where Otter has a real advantage
Otter provides live meeting transcription, Zoom/Teams/Meet workflows, AI meeting summaries and collaboration features. Choose it when the live meeting assistant is the main product.
Where LongScribe fits better
LongScribe focuses on speech from already saved recordings or supported accessible media URLs. There is no bot joining the original meeting. It produces timed transcripts for review, library search and eligible TXT/DOCX/SRT/JSON exports.
What paid plans change
LongScribe Premium and Premium Pro provide larger allowances and different job/upload limits. Otter sells individual and team plans and adds advanced meeting functionality. Check both providers' live checkout and selected billing term before comparing costs.
Do not treat ASR accuracy as proven
No controlled cross-product benchmark is reported here. Try the same authorized recording and verify names, languages, speaker turns and timing against the source.
Frequently asked questions
Does Otter Basic offer 300 free minutes?
Yes, Otter currently advertises 300 transcription minutes per month, subject to separate per-transcription and import limits.
Can Otter Basic import unlimited recordings?
No. Otter's official Basic help currently lists three audio/video file imports per account lifetime.
Can Otter transcribe a 90-minute recording for free?
Otter Basic advertises a 30-minute transcription access limit per conversation or file. Check paid tiers for longer jobs.
Does LongScribe join live meetings?
No. It transcribes accessible saved recordings after the call. For live meeting capture Otter has a different, stronger workflow.
Can I export subtitles from LongScribe?
Eligible completed signed-in jobs support timed SRT as well as TXT, DOCX and JSON. Verify the transcription first.