Otter AI alternatives, with or without a bot.
Otter's notetaker joins Zoom, Teams and Meet. If you want notes without a bot, notes from a meeting in the room, or your data in the EU, these are the options. Each one's facts were read on its own pages on 16 October 2026.
Five alternatives to Otter.
Starlog
Built for the meeting in the room: the phone on the table, and every other phone that joins, in one transcript with names. Calls from your own browser tab. Starlog vs Otter.
- Runs on
- Phones and computers, in the browser or installed as an app. Linux included.
- Records
- The phones on the table in the room, every phone that joins; calls from your own browser tab on a computer. No bot joins.
- Price
- 30 days free, then from €24 a year (Basic, 3 hours a month, speaker names included).
- Data
- Servers in Germany, in the EU. Made by a Swiss company.
- Learns from you
- Its own transcription learns from recordings in your private space unless you turn Help improve off in Settings. Company, team and secure meetings never.
Granola
A note taker on the computer that records the computer's own sound, with phone apps for meetings in person.
- Runs on
- Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Apple Watch. It names no Linux app and no web app.
- Records
- The computer's sound, so no bot joins; the phone apps record in person but cannot capture Zoom or Meet calls.
- Price
- Free with 30 days of history; Business US$14 a user a month.
- Data
- Amazon Web Services in the United States; it offers no EU data residency.
- Learns from you
- Anonymised data by default, with an opt-out.
- More
- Starlog vs Granola.
Fireflies
A note taker whose bot, Fred, joins calendar meetings.
- Runs on
- Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, and a Chrome extension. It names no Linux app.
- Records
- Its bot joins calls; the desktop app and the Chrome extension record without a bot; the phone app records in person.
- Price
- Free, unlimited transcripts only with Auto-join on (otherwise 3 meetings); Pro US$18 a seat a month, or US$10 a month billed yearly.
- Data
- The United States and other countries.
- Learns from you
- Its privacy policy says it does not use personal information to train AI models.
Fathom
A note taker for calls, with a bot or, on a Mac, without one.
- Runs on
- Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone. Not Android; it says it does not support Linux computers.
- Records
- A bot, or no bot on a Mac (a beta); the iPhone app records in person.
- Price
- Free with unlimited recordings and 5 advanced summaries a month; Premium US$20 a month, or US$16 a month billed yearly.
- Data
- All in the United States.
- Learns from you
- De-identified customer data by default, with an opt-out.
tl;dv
A note taker for calls from a German company, with or without a bot.
- Runs on
- Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, and a Chrome extension. It names no Linux app.
- Records
- A bot on Zoom, Teams and Meet, or no bot with the desktop app; the phone apps record in person.
- Price
- Free with AI notes on 10 meetings and recordings kept 3 months; Pro US$29 a seat a month, or US$18 a month billed yearly.
- Data
- In Europe (the EEA).
- Learns from you
- Its privacy policy says it does not train on customer content.
Three questions first.
Bot or no bot?
Otter, Fireflies, Fathom and tl;dv can send a bot into the call. Granola and Starlog never do. Fireflies and tl;dv also record without one on a computer, Fathom on a Mac (a beta), and so does Otter's desktop app.
A room or a call?
All of them have a phone app for meetings in person. Starlog also joins every phone in the room into one transcript. See in-person meetings.
Where does the data go?
Starlog stores meetings in Germany and tl;dv in Europe; Otter, Granola and Fathom keep data in the United States. Who learns from your recordings differs too: see each card.
Your phone is already ready.
Starlog opens in small groups. Join the waiting list, and start with 30 days free when it is your turn.
What people ask
Is there an Otter alternative with no bot?
Yes. Starlog and Granola never send a bot. Fireflies, Fathom (on a Mac) and tl;dv can record without one on a computer. Starlog records a call from your own browser tab, and a meeting in the room from the phones on the table.
Is there a free Otter alternative?
Fireflies, Fathom, tl;dv and Granola have free plans, each with limits shown on its card. Starlog starts with 30 days free, then costs from €24 a year.
Is there an Otter alternative that keeps data in the EU?
Starlog stores your meetings on servers in Germany (summaries are written by Anthropic in the United States; see sub-processors), and tl;dv in the EEA. Otter keeps data with Amazon Web Services in the United States.
Does Starlog record with the screen off?
Not yet on every phone. On Android, the web app keeps recording through calls and app switches, and its Black screen button keeps it recording while the screen looks off. Apps for iPhone and Android that record with the screen off are on the way.
Is my audio used to train AI?
Never anyone else's. Recordings in your own private space help improve Starlog's own transcription unless you turn it off in Settings; company and team meetings are never used. See privacy.
Can I try Starlog today?
Starlog opens in small groups. Join the waiting list and we write when it is your turn. Every account starts with 30 days free.
Checked on 16 October 2026. Sources: otter.ai, pricing; Otter help, the notetaker; Otter help, the desktop app; otter.ai, privacy policy; granola.ai; granola.ai, pricing; Granola help, transcription; Granola help, data; Granola help, model training; fireflies.ai, pricing; fireflies.ai, desktop download; Fireflies guide, the free plan; fireflies.ai, privacy policy; fathom.ai, pricing; Fathom help, devices; Fathom help, the iPhone app; Fathom help, data; tldv.io, pricing; tldv.io, desktop app; tl;dv help, the mobile app; tldv.io, privacy. Otter, Granola, Fireflies, Fathom and tl;dv are trademarks of their owners. Starlog is not affiliated with any of them. Spotted something out of date? Write to admin@starlog.pro.