Otter.ai and Wave are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. Otter.ai: AI meeting assistant that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings in real time with an auto-joining meeting agent. Wave: Cross-platform AI note taker that records and transcribes meetings, calls, and voice memos into summaries. They overlap on ai-meeting-assistants, so the right pick depends on team size, budget, and which meeting workflows you automate.
For ai-meeting-assistants workflows, shortlist Otter.ai when real-time meeting transcription matters most, and Wave when recording browser-based meetings without a bot joining matters most. Both record across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams; trial each on real meetings before committing.
Otter.ai is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Wave is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
Records meetings, calls, lectures, and voice memos
Standout feature
OtterPilot auto-join agent
Bot-free tab audio capture plus combined tab and mic mode
Team usage
AI summaries and action items
Speaker-labeled transcripts with summaries and action items
Integrations
Searchable meeting notes
Apps for iOS, Android, web, Mac, Windows, and Chrome
Languages & capture
Live highlights and comments
Support for dozens of languages
Best-fit workflow
Real-time transcription
Encrypted cloud storage with no model training on user data
Best for
Otter.ai
Choose Otter.ai if you need real-time meeting transcription — strengths include fast, well-known real-time transcription.
Wave
Choose Wave if you need recording browser-based meetings without a bot joining — strengths include bot-free capture across many platforms and devices.
Pros & cons
Otter.ai
+ Fast, well-known real-time transcription
+ Auto-join agent reduces manual setup
- Advanced features and higher minute limits require paid plans
Wave
+ Bot-free capture across many platforms and devices
+ Handles both online meetings and in-person voice memos
- Feature set may differ between mobile, web, and extension
FAQ
Is Otter.ai or Wave better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. Otter.ai is strong for real-time meeting transcription, while Wave is strong for recording browser-based meetings without a bot joining. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do Otter.ai and Wave compare on price?
Otter.ai is a free tier with paid upgrades and Wave is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Can I use both Otter.ai and Wave?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.