kitio.aiOtter.ai vs Just The Gist
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Just The Gist is completely free, while Otter.ai is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Live transcription
- Automatic meeting summaries
- Action item extraction
- AI chat across meetings
- Mobile recording
- On-device Whisper transcription
- Local AI summaries
- YouTube link support
- Clickable timestamps
- Optional cloud models
| Feature | Otter.ai | Just The Gist |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Meeting assistant that records, transcribes and summarizes your calls | Free Mac app that transcribes and summarizes videos on-device |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | $16.99/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Otter.ai | Just The Gist |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Just The Gist is completely free, while Otter.ai is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Basic
Free
- 300 minutes per user/month
- 30 minutes per conversation
- 3 lifetime file imports
Pro
$16.99/mo
- Per user
- 1,200 recording minutes/month
- 90 minutes per conversation
- 10 file imports/month
Business
$30/mo
- Per user
- Unlimited meetings and recordings
- Custom AI workflows
- 4 hours per conversation
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Advanced security and admin
- Schedule a demo
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Otter.ai
- Works with Zoom, Meet and Teams
- Searchable archive of all calls
- Good mobile app for in-person talks
- Free plan caps each conversation length
- Bot joining calls can bother guests
Just The Gist
- Free with no account
- Audio stays on your Mac
- Works offline by default
- Mac only, Apple Silicon required
- Needs macOS 14 or later
- Local model downloads are large
Which one should you choose?
Choose Otter.ai if you want:
- Works with Zoom, Meet and Teams
- Searchable archive of all calls
- Good mobile app for in-person talks
Watch out: free plan caps each conversation length.
Choose Just The Gist if you want:
- Free with no account
- Audio stays on your Mac
- Works offline by default
Watch out: mac only, apple silicon required.
Otter.ai vs Just The Gist FAQ
What is the difference between Otter.ai and Just The Gist?
Otter.ai: Meeting assistant that records, transcribes and summarizes your calls. Just The Gist: Free Mac app that transcribes and summarizes videos on-device. Both are productivity tools.
Is Otter.ai or Just The Gist cheaper?
Just The Gist is completely free, while Otter.ai is freemium.
Do Otter.ai and Just The Gist have free plans?
Otter.ai: Yes. Just The Gist: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Otter.ai?
Otter.ai is made by Otter.ai, based in United States.
Who makes Just The Gist?
Just The Gist is made by Just The Gist.
Which should I choose, Otter.ai or Just The Gist?
Choose Otter.ai if you value works with zoom, meet and teams and searchable archive of all calls. Choose Just The Gist if you value free with no account and audio stays on your mac.