Otter.ai vs Read AI
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Otter.ai has the lower starting price: about $17 a month, against $20 for Read 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
- Meeting summaries
- Engagement metrics
- Email and chat summaries
- Search Copilot
- Integrations with CRMs
| Feature | Otter.ai | Read AI |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Meeting assistant that records, transcribes and summarizes your calls | Meeting summaries plus AI search across your email, chat and calls |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $16.99/mo | $19.75/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Otter.ai | Read AI |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
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Pricing compared
Otter.ai has the lower starting price: about $17 a month, against $20 for Read 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
4 plans
Free
Free
- 5 meeting transcripts / month
- Unlimited enterprise search
- Summaries and meeting coach
Pro
$19.75/mo
- Per user
- Unlimited meeting transcripts
- 100 file upload credits / month
- Unlimited storage
Enterprise
$29.75/mo
- Per user
- Audio and video playback
- Video highlights
Enterprise+
$39.75/mo
- Per user, requires 5+ licenses
- HIPAA compliance
- SAML and SCIM
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
Read AI
- Covers meetings, email and chat
- Useful meeting metrics
- Works on major call platforms
- Engagement scores can feel intrusive
- Free plan has a monthly meeting cap
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 Read AI if you want:
- Covers meetings, email and chat
- Useful meeting metrics
- Works on major call platforms
Watch out: engagement scores can feel intrusive.
Otter.ai vs Read AI FAQ
What is the difference between Otter.ai and Read AI?
Otter.ai: Meeting assistant that records, transcribes and summarizes your calls. Read AI: Meeting summaries plus AI search across your email, chat and calls. Both are productivity tools.
Is Otter.ai or Read AI cheaper?
Otter.ai has the lower starting price: about $17 a month, against $20 for Read AI.
Do Otter.ai and Read AI have free plans?
Otter.ai: Yes. Read AI: Yes.
Who makes Otter.ai?
Otter.ai is made by Otter.ai, based in United States.
Who makes Read AI?
Read AI is made by Read AI, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Otter.ai or Read AI?
Choose Otter.ai if you value works with zoom, meet and teams and searchable archive of all calls. Choose Read AI if you value covers meetings, email and chat and useful meeting metrics.