How to Cancel Otter.ai 2026 — AI Transcription You Can Get Free
Updated March 2026 • 6 min read
Otter.ai was the go-to AI transcription tool when it launched. But in 2026, every major meeting platform has built-in AI transcription. Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and even Apple Notes now transcribe meetings automatically. Paying $16.99-40/month for a standalone transcription tool is increasingly hard to justify.
How to Cancel Otter.ai
- Log into otter.ai
- Click your profile → Settings → Subscription
- Click Cancel Subscription
- You'll be downgraded to the free tier (300 minutes/month, 30 min per conversation)
- Export your transcripts before canceling if you need full archives
Otter.ai Pricing
- Free: 300 minutes/month, 30 min per conversation, basic features
- Pro ($16.99/month): 1,200 minutes/month, 90 min per conversation, AI summaries
- Business ($40/month/user): 6,000 minutes, admin controls, integrations
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Free Transcription Alternatives (Built Into What You Already Use)
- Google Meet: Built-in transcription for all Workspace users — automatic notes, searchable transcripts
- Zoom AI Companion: Free with Zoom — meeting summaries, action items, smart chapters
- Microsoft Teams Copilot: Transcription + AI summaries for Microsoft 365 users
- Apple Notes (iOS 18+): Live transcription on iPhone — works for in-person meetings too
- Whisper (OpenAI, free): Run locally, no subscription, best-in-class accuracy, unlimited usage
- Google Docs voice typing: Real-time transcription, free with any Google account
✅ For most people: Your meeting platform already transcribes for free. Zoom AI Companion + Google Meet transcription handles 95% of what Otter does. For offline/audio file transcription, Whisper is free and more accurate.
When Otter.ai Is Still Worth It
- You attend meetings across multiple platforms: Otter works across Zoom, Meet, Teams, and in-person — one tool for everything
- You need the OtterPilot bot: Joins meetings on your behalf and transcribes when you can't attend
- You do heavy interview work: Journalists, researchers, and podcasters who need speaker identification and searchable archives
- Your company doesn't have Google Workspace or Microsoft 365: Otter fills the gap
Export Your Data Before Canceling
- Go to each conversation and click Export (txt, docx, srt, or pdf)
- For bulk export, use Otter's API or request a data export through settings
- Free tier retains your transcripts but limits new recording time
- Consider batch-exporting your most important meetings before downgrading
💡 Pro tip for Whisper users: Install Whisper locally (pip install openai-whisper), drag in any audio/video file, and get a transcript in minutes. No internet required, no subscription, no data leaves your computer. It's what most AI transcription services use under the hood anyway.
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