Otter is the biggest name in the category, and its free tier is generous on paper. The catch is the bot: it joins your calls, sometimes uninvited, and everything it hears goes to Otter's servers before you see a word of it.
| Otter.ai | TinyScribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Bot joins your call | Joins your call | None — never joins your call |
| Processing | Cloud transcription and storage, account-tied | Transcription on-device, summaries via Apple Private Cloud Compute |
| Account required | required | None |
| Training on your data | opt-out | None |
| Price | $8.33/mo (300 minutes/month free) | $49.99 one-time (Free for 30 meetings) |
| Cost over 3 years | $300 | $49.99 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | macOS 27+, Apple silicon |
Prices checked August 2026.
Transcription happens on your Mac using Apple's SpeechAnalyzer — fully on-device, fully offline. Summaries are the one thing that leaves your Mac: they go through Apple's Private Cloud Compute, where Apple states nothing is stored and nothing is used for training.
There is no bot. TinyScribe only captures what happens on your own Mac — no meeting invite, no third party joining your call to listen in.
TinyScribe is a one-time purchase, not a subscription: $49.99 once, free for the first 30 meetings, no recurring bill.
When Otter is the better choice: you need Android support, you collaborate across a team that already lives in Otter, or you record meetings you don't personally attend. TinyScribe only captures what happens on your own Mac.
See how TinyScribe stacks up against other Otter.ai alternatives: Best Otter.ai alternatives for Mac