Who this comparison is for
People who record in-person meetings, interviews or calls they place themselves, who prefer the transcript to be made on their phone, and who do not want a bot in the participant list. It is not a ranking. Otter.ai and Mnemo make different choices, and the right one depends on the job.
The difference in one table
| Otter.ai (per otter.ai, 28 Sep 2026) | Mnemo | |
|---|---|---|
| How capture works | Meeting workflows for Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, plus in-app recording | Records what your iPhone’s microphone hears; never joins a call |
| Where transcription runs | On Otter’s service; see Otter’s privacy policy | On the iPhone only; recordings are never sent to a speech service |
| Free plan | Basic: 300 monthly transcription minutes, 3 lifetime file imports | Free app with no recording quota, including a free offline Whisper model |
| Paid plan | Pro: $16.99 a month, or $8.33 a month billed annually | Pro: €3.99 a month, €29.99 a year or €79.99 once (configured, not yet on sale) |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension, Mac and Windows apps | iPhone and iPad, iOS 18 or later |
| Team features | Business and Enterprise plans | None; Mnemo is a personal app |
| Answers with sources | See Otter’s product pages | Ask shows matching passages and opens the audio; written answers need Apple Intelligence (iOS 26) or your own AI key |
Otter figures are copied from Otter’s public pricing page on 28 September 2026 and may change; check the page before deciding. Mnemo figures come from the app’s own configuration.
When Otter is the better choice
- Your meetings happen in Zoom, Teams or Google Meet and you want notes captured there automatically.
- You need a shared workspace where colleagues read and comment on the same transcripts.
- You work on Android, in a browser or on Windows.
- You want live transcription inside the meeting platform.
Mnemo has none of these. Saying so plainly is more useful than a feature grid that hides it.
When Mnemo is the better fit
- The meeting is in a room, or you place the call yourself and record on the phone beside you; see recording a meeting without a bot.
- You want transcription on the device, with no Mnemo account.
- You need to find one sentence weeks later and open the exact passage and audio; see finding the exact moment.
- You prefer a one-time Lifetime option to a subscription.
Moving recordings across
If you already have audio files, from any recorder, open them in Mnemo from Files, Mail or Voice Memos and they are transcribed on the device. Check Otter’s own help pages for what it lets you export from your account.
Limits of this comparison
We have not measured either product’s transcription accuracy, and we do not compare speed. Otter facts are limited to what its public pages state; Mnemo is not yet on the App Store and its paid plans are configured but not on sale. Otter and Otter.ai are names of Otter.ai, Inc., used here only to identify the product; this page is not affiliated with or endorsed by Otter.ai.
Straight answers
Is there an Otter alternative that doesn’t use a meeting bot?
Yes. Mnemo records on your own iPhone and transcribes on the device; nothing joins the call. It has no Zoom, Teams or Meet integration.
Is Mnemo cheaper than Otter?
The Mnemo app is free with no recording quota. Its Pro plans are €3.99 a month, €29.99 a year or €79.99 once, configured but not yet on sale. Otter lists its prices on otter.ai/pricing.
Does Mnemo work for team meetings?
It can record a meeting in a room, but it is a personal app with no shared workspace. For team transcripts, a team product such as Otter is the better fit.
Does Mnemo work on Android?
No. Mnemo is for iPhone and iPad with iOS 18 or later.
Sources (accessed 28 September 2026)
Publisher-authored comparison, written by the maker of Mnemo. Facts about other products come only from the sources listed, as of 28 September 2026; product names are used only to identify them, and no affiliation is implied. Editorial method · Product facts