Otter.ai vs Notability
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Notability has the lower starting price: about $1 a month, against $17 for Otter.ai.
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
- Live audio transcription
- AI note summaries
- Chat with your notes
- Quizzes and flashcards
- YouTube link-to-note
- PDF annotation
| Feature | Otter.ai | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Meeting assistant that records, transcribes and summarizes your calls | Handwriting and audio note app with AI summaries and study tools |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $16.99/mo | $14.99/yr |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Otter.ai | Ginger Labs |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Pricing compared
Notability has the lower starting price: about $1 a month, against $17 for Otter.ai.
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
6 plans
Starter
Free
- 5 free notes
- All editing tools
- 7-day version history
Lite
$14.99/yr
- Unlimited notes
- Third-party backups on iOS
Plus
$19.99/yr
- Limited AI quizzes and flashcards
- Limited audio transcription
- 30-day version history
Business
$60/yr
- Per user
- Shared note libraries
- Admin controls
Pro
$99.99/yr
- Unlimited transcription
- Unlimited AI summaries
- Unlimited quizzes and flashcards
Business Pro
$180/yr
- Per user
- Chat with your notes
- Audit log and Intune MAM
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
Notability
- Excellent handwriting experience
- Audio synced with notes
- Low yearly prices
- Free plan holds only 5 notes
- Unlimited AI only on the Pro tier
- Chat with notes is a Business Pro feature
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 Notability if you want:
- Excellent handwriting experience
- Audio synced with notes
- Low yearly prices
Watch out: free plan holds only 5 notes.
Otter.ai vs Notability FAQ
What is the difference between Otter.ai and Notability?
Otter.ai: Meeting assistant that records, transcribes and summarizes your calls. Notability: Handwriting and audio note app with AI summaries and study tools. Both are productivity tools.
Is Otter.ai or Notability cheaper?
Notability has the lower starting price: about $1 a month, against $17 for Otter.ai.
Do Otter.ai and Notability have free plans?
Otter.ai: Yes. Notability: Yes.
Who makes Otter.ai?
Otter.ai is made by Otter.ai, based in United States.
Who makes Notability?
Notability is made by Ginger Labs, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Otter.ai or Notability?
Choose Otter.ai if you value works with zoom, meet and teams and searchable archive of all calls. Choose Notability if you value excellent handwriting experience and audio synced with notes.