Fireflies vs Otter (2026): which AI meeting assistant should you use?
By Will
Fireflies and Otter are both AI meeting assistants that record, transcribe and summarise your calls, but they are built around different strengths. Fireflies is the more integration-heavy tool, built to plug into a CRM and let you query past meetings with its AskFred assistant. Otter is built around the accuracy of its live, real-time transcription.
In short: choose Fireflies if you want the meeting notes to feed into a wider sales or CRM workflow, and choose Otter if live captions during the call are the priority.
How we compared
- Live transcription accuracy versus post-call summary quality.
- What each free plan actually includes.
- Integrations, especially with CRMs and sales tools.
- Pricing per seat on the entry paid tier.
| # | Tool | Best for | Rating | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FirefliesBest for CRM-connected teams | Sales teams, Recruiters | Free plan (400 min storage); Pro from $10/seat/mo billed annually | Visit | |
| 2 | OtterBest for live captions | Students and journalists, Teams that want live captions | Free plan (300 min/mo); Pro from $8.33/user/mo billed annually | Visit |
#1 · Best for CRM-connected teams
Fireflies
Unlimited transcription on every plan and the wider integration list, ideal if meeting notes need to flow into a CRM or sales workflow.
#2 · Best for live captions
Otter
The more accurate real-time transcription of the two, better suited to anyone who wants to follow along with captions during the call itself.
Fireflies vs Otter: the key differences
Fireflies has the broader integration list, unlimited transcription even on its free plan, and the AskFred AI assistant for asking questions about past meetings, but its free-tier storage is capped at 400 minutes per team, and the more advanced summary features draw down a limited pool of AI credits. Otter's biggest strength is the accuracy of its live captions, which appear on screen as people speak rather than only after the call ends, but its free plan is capped at 300 minutes a month and even paid Pro plans cap individual meetings at 90 minutes.
Which should you choose?
Choose Fireflies if your team wants meeting notes to connect to a CRM or a wider sales stack, and you value being able to search or ask questions across every past meeting.
Choose Otter if you or your team read along with live captions during calls, or if real-time accuracy matters more than integrations.
If neither quite fits and budget is the deciding factor, it is worth also looking at Fathom, which has the most generous free plan of the three.
Frequently asked questions
Does Fireflies or Otter have live captions?
Both offer live transcription during calls, but Otter's real-time captions are generally considered more accurate, which is its main selling point over Fireflies.
Which has the better free plan, Fireflies or Otter?
Fireflies, on balance. Its free plan includes unlimited transcription with 400 minutes of storage per team, while Otter's free plan caps usage at 300 minutes a month.
Which is better for sales teams?
Fireflies, mainly because of its wider CRM integration list and the ability to search across every past meeting with AskFred. Otter is a stronger fit if the sales team specifically wants live captions during calls.