Choose Otter.ai for live meetings
Otter can join Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet calls and transcribe them in real time. Media2Text does not join calls.
OTTER.AI ALTERNATIVE
An Otter.ai alternative for recordings you already have.
Otter.ai is built around live meetings. Media2Text is built around files and public video links: upload a recording or paste a link, then review, translate, summarise and export the transcript.
Try Media2Text free →Where each tool fits
Choose Media2Text for files and links
Upload audio or video up to 6 GB, or paste a public YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X or Vimeo link.
Choose Media2Text for many languages
Media2Text documents 60 transcription languages, including mixed-language recordings. Otter lists six.
Switching takes three steps
- Download your recordings. Export meeting recordings from Zoom, Teams, Meet or your phone as MP4, M4A or another supported format.
- Upload them to Media2Text. For supported video, only the audio track is extracted and uploaded.
- Review and export. Rename speakers, fix names, then export TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT or another format.
Otter.ai vs Media2Text at a glance
Otter figures below come from Otter's public pricing page as of November 2026 and may change; check otter.ai/pricing for current details.
| Feature | Otter.ai | Media2Text |
|---|---|---|
| Main use | Live meeting notes and a meeting assistant | Uploaded recordings and public video links |
| Joins Zoom, Teams, Meet | Yes | No; upload the recording instead |
| Transcription languages | English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese | 60 documented languages, including mixed-language audio |
| Free plan | 300 minutes/month, 30 minutes per conversation, 3 lifetime file imports | Up to 2 lifetime tasks sharing 75 minutes, no credit card |
| Longest recording | 90 minutes on Pro, 4 hours on Business | 5 hours 15 minutes on paid plans; files up to 6 GB |
| File imports | 10 per month on Pro, unlimited on Business | Unlimited uploads on paid plans |
| Exports | mp3, txt; pdf, docx and srt on Pro | TXT, Markdown, DOCX, PDF, CSV, TSV, JSON, SRT, VTT |
| Public video links | Not the focus | YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Vimeo (beta) |
| Translated transcripts | See Otter's current plans | Translated track with original timing; side by side view |
| Paid pricing | Pro from $8.33 per user/month billed annually; Business $19.99 | Monthly from $9.50; one-time packs from $12.25 |
When Otter.ai is the better choice
If most of your transcription happens in live meetings, Otter is designed for that. Its assistant joins calls on Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, transcribes in real time and shares notes with participants. For teams that want automatic meeting notes without downloading anything, that is a real advantage, and Media2Text does not try to replace it.
When Media2Text is the better choice
You work with files
Interviews recorded on a phone, podcast episodes, lectures, voice memos, video projects and downloaded meeting recordings are all files. Media2Text accepts common audio and video formats up to 6 GB, and paid plans accept recordings up to 5 hours 15 minutes long. For supported video, the audio is extracted in your browser so the original video stays on your device.
You work in more than six languages
Media2Text documents 60 transcription languages with automatic identification and handles recordings that switch language, such as Tagalog and English. That matters for international research, multilingual teams and creators publishing in several markets.
You need subtitles and structured exports
Media2Text exports SRT and VTT subtitles from the same reviewed transcript, plus CSV, TSV and JSON for spreadsheets and data workflows. Create a translated track to export subtitles in another language with the original timing.
You transcribe public videos
Paste a supported public link from YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X or Vimeo instead of downloading the video first. Link import is in beta, and private, live, playlist and login-gated sources are not supported.
Using both
Some teams use a meeting assistant for live calls and a file-based tool for everything else: interviews, podcasts, lectures and video. If that is your situation, you do not need to choose one tool for every job.
Try it with a real recording
The fastest way to compare is to transcribe the same recording in both tools and check names, speaker turns and the passages you would actually quote. Media2Text's free trial includes up to 2 lifetime transcription tasks sharing 75 minutes, with no credit card.
Questions and limits
Is Media2Text a meeting bot like Otter?
No. Media2Text does not join live calls or transcribe in real time. It transcribes recordings you upload and supported public video links.
How do the free plans compare?
According to Otter's pricing page in November 2026, Otter Basic includes 300 monthly minutes, 30 minutes per conversation and 3 lifetime file imports. Media2Text's free trial includes up to 2 lifetime transcription tasks sharing 75 minutes, with no credit card.
Which exports does each tool offer?
Otter lists mp3 and txt on Basic, adding pdf, docx and srt on Pro. Media2Text exports TXT, Markdown, DOCX, PDF, CSV, TSV, JSON, SRT and VTT.
Can I translate transcripts in Media2Text?
Yes. You can create a translated transcript track that keeps the original speaker labels and timestamps, and review it side by side with the original.