TranscribeAudio vs Otter.ai
Both tools transcribe audio in real time, but they work very differently. See how TranscribeAudio compares to Otter.ai on features, privacy, and price.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | TranscribeAudio | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time transcription | ||
| Works in browser (no download) | ||
| No bot joins meetings | ||
| Languages supported | 57 | English + limited others |
| Free plan | 30 min/month | 300 min/month |
| Starting price | $4.99/mo | $16.99/mo |
| Floating overlay captions | ||
| Works with any tab audio |
Real-time transcription
Works in browser (no download)
No bot joins meetings
Languages supported
Free plan
Starting price
Floating overlay captions
Works with any tab audio
Why Choose TranscribeAudio Over Otter.ai?
TranscribeAudio captures audio directly from your Chrome tab without joining meetings as a bot. Otter.ai requires a bot participant to join your calls, which is visible to everyone in the meeting. TranscribeAudio gives you real-time captions in a floating overlay that you can drag anywhere on screen, while Otter.ai requires you to switch to a separate app or tab to read the transcript.
Privacy: No Bot, No Notifications
When you use Otter.ai with Zoom or Google Meet, a bot participant named 'Otter.ai' joins the call. Everyone in the meeting can see it, which can change the dynamic of sensitive conversations. With TranscribeAudio, the transcription happens entirely in your browser tab. No bot joins, no one is notified, and audio is sent directly from your browser to OpenAI for real-time processing via WebRTC.
Language Support
Otter.ai primarily supports English transcription with limited support for a few other languages. TranscribeAudio supports 57 languages including Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Korean, Arabic, Portuguese, Hindi, and Thai. The spoken language is detected automatically.
Pricing Comparison
TranscribeAudio starts at $4.99/month for 120 minutes of transcription, or you can use the free plan with 30 minutes per month and no credit card required. Otter.ai's Pro plan starts at $16.99/month. TranscribeAudio also offers a Pro plan at $9.99/month for unlimited transcription.
How It Works
- 1
Install TranscribeAudio
Add the free Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store. Click the puzzle icon in your toolbar and pin TranscribeAudio for quick access.
- 2
Open any audio source in Chrome
Navigate to your Zoom meeting, YouTube video, podcast, or any page with audio playing in Chrome.
- 3
Click Start Transcribing
Click the TranscribeAudio icon in your toolbar and hit 'Start Transcribing.' A floating caption window appears instantly.
- 4
Read captions in real time
Live text appears in the overlay as audio plays. Drag the overlay anywhere on your screen to keep it visible without blocking content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does TranscribeAudio join my meetings like Otter.ai does?
No. TranscribeAudio captures audio directly from your Chrome browser tab. It does not join meetings as a participant, and no one in the meeting is notified. This is the key difference from Otter.ai, which adds a visible bot named 'Otter.ai' to your calls.
Is TranscribeAudio more affordable than Otter.ai?
Yes. TranscribeAudio's Starter plan is $4.99/month for 120 minutes. The Pro plan is $9.99/month for unlimited transcription. Otter.ai's Pro plan starts at $16.99/month.
Can TranscribeAudio transcribe in languages other than English?
Yes. TranscribeAudio supports 57 languages using OpenAI's Whisper-based speech recognition, and the language is detected automatically from the audio. Otter.ai primarily supports English with limited multilingual capabilities.
Does TranscribeAudio work with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams?
Yes. TranscribeAudio works with any audio playing in a Chrome tab, including Zoom (web client), Google Meet, Microsoft Teams (web), and any other browser-based meeting platform.
What happens to my audio data?
Audio is captured from your browser tab and sent directly to OpenAI for real-time transcription via WebRTC. TranscribeAudio does not store your audio or transcriptions on its servers.
Other Comparisons
See all featuresReady to Start Transcribing?
Install the extension, sign in, and get real-time captions in under a minute. Free plan included.