Alter: macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required. Otter.ai: Real-time meeting transcription, summaries and conversational AI search Below, they line up on price, capture method, and how each fits a real meeting stack.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Alter when freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot matters most, and Otter.ai when note-taking for interviews and lectures matters most. Trial each on a few real meetings before you commit — the better fit usually shows fast.
macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required.
Real-time meeting transcription, summaries and conversational AI search
Alter is a native macOS application that records, transcribes, and analyzes meetings directly on the user's Mac without sending a bot into the call. Instead of joining a meeting as a visible participant, Alter captures audio from the system output and microphone, so it works across Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype, Discord, and in-person conversations. Transcription runs through on-device models, with a choice of an optimized Parakeet model for major languages or Whisper for broader language coverage, and speaker identification is performed locally. Because processing happens on the device, recordings and transcripts stay on the Mac and the app can operate without an internet connection. Beyond raw transcripts, Alter generates summaries and action items, lets users chat with their meetings, and connects to tools such as Notion, Slack, Linear, Asana, and Jira. It targets solopreneurs, freelancers, consultants, and other professionals who want private, bot-free meeting capture on macOS. The product is actively developed and operating in 2025 and 2026. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Otter.ai joins Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams calls to transcribe them live, identify speakers, and generate summaries with action items. The free Basic plan includes 300 transcription minutes per month; paid plans raise the minute cap, allow longer meetings, and add advanced AI workflows and team features. Otter integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zapier, and offers an MCP server for AI assistants.
Best suited for
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Otter.ai is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Alter | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | On-device transcription using built-in Whisper and Parakeet models | Real-time transcription |
| Standout feature | Bot-free capture of system audio and microphone across any meeting or call app | OtterPilot auto-join agent |
| Team usage | Automatic speaker identification performed locally | AI summaries and action items |
| Integrations | AI summaries, action items, and chat-with-your-meeting Q&A | Searchable meeting notes |
| Languages & capture | Integrations with Notion, Slack, Linear, Asana, Jira and other tools | Live highlights and comments |
| Best-fit workflow | Offline operation with recordings and transcripts stored locally | Real-time transcription |
Alter
Choose Alter if you need freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot — strengths include local processing keeps recordings and transcripts on the user's own mac.
Otter.ai
Choose Otter.ai if you need real-time meeting transcription — strengths include fast, accurate real-time transcription.
Alter
Otter.ai
It depends on your workflow. Alter is strong for freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot, while Otter.ai is strong for live transcription you can read during the meeting. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades and Otter.ai is from $8.33/mo. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary.
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