tl;dv vs Otter: which AI meeting recorder?
We may earn a commission from some links. It never changes our picks. How we make money
Both record your meetings and turn them into searchable text. The difference is what you do afterwards: rewatch and share video moments, or read a live transcript as people speak.
Start with tl;dv if…
You want to rewatch key moments, highlight them and share short video clips, across Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Start with Otter if…
You want to read a live transcript during the call, for lectures, interviews or fast discussions, with a monthly minutes allowance on the free plan.
A useful first comparison
Record the same 20-minute, non-sensitive meeting with both free plans, with everyone’s consent. A week later, try to find one decision in each. Note which was faster and which notes you’d actually share.
EDITORIAL GUIDANCE · NOT A HANDS-ON BENCHMARK| At a glance | tl;dvMeetings | Otter.aiMeetings |
|---|---|---|
| A useful fit for | Recording and replaying online meetings, with AI notes and clips | Remembering what was discussed |
| In plain English | An AI meeting recorder for Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams that records, transcribes and summarises calls. | Transcribe conversations and turn meetings into notes you can review. |
| Getting started | Free plan | Free plan |
| Learning curve | Straightforward | Straightforward |
| What to watch | The free plan limits AI notes to 10 meetings and keeps data for up to 3 months. Sign-up uses a Google or Microsoft work account. Get consent before recording. | Ask permission before recording. Check names, numbers and action items. |
| Paid pricing | Check current plans ↗ (opens in new tab) Prices, currency and tax vary by location. | Check current plans ↗ (opens in new tab) Prices, currency and tax vary by location. |
| Our first-step suggestion | Try tl;dv on one small take meeting notes task. Review the result before upgrading. | Try Otter.ai on one small take meeting notes task. Review the result before upgrading. |
| Next step | Paid link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t change our recommendations. Affiliate disclosureTry tl;dv ↗ (opens in new tab) | Try Otter.ai ↗ (opens in new tab) |
Two different habits
tl;dv (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission) is built around the recording. After the meeting, you get the video, a transcript and AI notes, and you can jump to the moment something was agreed, highlight it and share a clip with people who missed the call. Otter is built around the transcript. It shows text as people talk, so you can follow along or catch something you missed in real time, and it’s popular with students and interviewers. Neither is better across the board; it depends on whether you look back at video or text.
Side-by-side comparison
| tl;dv | Otter | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Rewatching and sharing video moments | Live transcripts and simple notes |
| Platforms | Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams | Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams |
| How it joins | Calendar auto-record, pasted link, Chrome extension (Meet) or desktop app (Zoom, Teams) | Assistant joins from your calendar |
| Free plan | Unlimited recordings and transcription; AI notes for 10 meetings | 300 transcription minutes a month |
| Pricing currency | Euros (EUR) | US dollars (USD) |
Who each is best for
tl;dv: best for sales, product and customer teams
If you often think “I need to show someone exactly what the customer said”, tl;dv fits. Clips and highlights make it easy to share evidence rather than a paraphrase. Its help centre describes auto-recording calendar events (all, internal or external meetings), a Chrome extension for Google Meet, and a desktop app that can record Zoom and Teams manually, including without a bot. See our how to use tl;dv tutorial.
Otter: best for students, interviews and fast discussions
If you want to read along, Otter fits. A live transcript helps in lectures, research interviews and meetings where people speak quickly or with accents you find hard to follow. The free plan’s 300 minutes a month covers a few hours of calls, and Pro is inexpensive on annual billing. It has fewer integrations than some rivals.
Pricing in plain English
| Plan | tl;dv | Otter |
|---|---|---|
| Free | €0: unlimited recordings, AI notes for 10 meetings | US$0: 300 transcription minutes/month |
| Entry | Pro: €29/seat/month, or €18 billed annually | Pro: US$16.99/month, or US$8.33/month billed annually |
| Next tier | Business: €39/seat/month, or €29 billed annually | Business: US$30/month, or US$24/month billed annually |
| Enterprise | By quote | Contact sales |
Prices checked on 14 October 2026 from the official pricing pages (tldv.io/app/pricing, which lists prices in euros (EUR), and otter.ai/pricing in US dollars (USD)). Prices are shown as listed, in the currency each provider uses. Australian GST and currency conversion may apply, and plans change often, so check current pricing on the provider’s site before you pay.
At the ECB reference rate for 13 October 2026 (1 EUR ≈ 1.60 AUD), tl;dv Pro at €18 a month is roughly AU$29 before GST. Otter Pro at US$8.33 a month is roughly AU$12 at 1 USD ≈ 1.43 AUD. Your card’s rate will differ. On paid plans, Otter is usually cheaper for an individual; tl;dv’s price buys you video features Otter doesn’t focus on.
Pros and cons
tl;dv
✓ Pros
- Replayable video with highlights and clips
- Unlimited recordings on the free plan
- Works across Meet, Zoom and Teams
- Desktop app can record without a bot
↳ Cons
- AI notes limited to 10 meetings on free
- Priced in euros, so AUD cost varies
- More than you need if you only want text
- Bot must be admitted from waiting rooms
Otter
✓ Pros
- Live transcript as people speak
- 300 free minutes a month
- Simple interface for beginners
- Low annual Pro price
↳ Cons
- Monthly minute limits on free
- Less focused on video clips
- Fewer integrations than some rivals
- Transcripts still need checking
Consent and accuracy
Tell everyone when a recorder is present and get consent; recording laws vary between Australian states and territories. Both tools can mishear names, numbers and jargon, so check notes before sharing. If you want searchable written notes across many meetings instead, consider Fireflies (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission); see Otter vs Fireflies and Fireflies vs tl;dv.
Our verdict
Choose tl;dv if you rewatch and share meeting moments. Choose Otter if you want a live transcript and a cheaper individual plan. If you’re unsure, record the same meeting with both free plans and see which you open again a week later. See also our Otter alternatives and the best AI meeting note-takers.
Frequently asked questions
Is tl;dv better than Otter?
tl;dv is better for rewatching and sharing video moments. Otter is better for live transcripts during the call. Both work with Zoom, Google Meet and Teams.
Which is cheaper, tl;dv or Otter?
For an individual on annual billing, Otter Pro (US$8.33 a month) was cheaper than tl;dv Pro (€18 a month) when we checked on 14 October 2026.
Do tl;dv and Otter have free plans?
Yes. tl;dv’s free plan includes unlimited recordings with AI notes for 10 meetings. Otter’s includes 300 transcription minutes a month.
Why are tl;dv prices in euros?
tl;dv’s pricing page lists prices in euros (EUR). Your Australian card will convert at its own exchange rate, and GST may apply.
Can tl;dv record without a bot?
tl;dv’s help centre says its desktop app can record meetings without a bot, as well as sending a bot to Zoom, Meet and Teams calls.
Is Otter good for students?
Otter’s live transcript and free minutes suit lectures and study groups. Check your institution’s rules on recording classes first.
Popular AI tool comparisons
Start with a specific decision, then explore the differences in plain English.
This page includes paid links (we may earn a commission if you sign up through them, at no extra cost to you). It doesn’t change our recommendations. Read our affiliate disclosure.
Prices are shown as marked: US dollars (US$), euros (€) and Australian dollars (AU$). Australian GST and currency conversion may apply. Confirm the final price at checkout.