ZBy Zak, maker of Blurt·Updated September 26, 2026·7 min read
Choose Otter if…
you want a notetaker that joins calls on its own, even ones you don't attend, and your team shares live transcripts on the web and phone.
Choose Blurt if…
your clients or IT don't allow bots, you want transcription on your own computer, or you need Linux or dictation.
The short version: the biggest difference is the bot. Otter's notetaker joins your call as a participant; Blurt records from your own computer, so nothing joins. That one choice drives most of what follows: consent, privacy, and whether your calls get flagged. I make Blurt, so weigh that, but I've tried to be fair.
Yes. Otter's notetaker joins Zoom, Google Meet and Teams calls as a visible participant. Blurt never joins; it records from your own computer.
A bot is convenient: it can show up on its own. But it's also visible to everyone, and it's the thing clients, candidates and legal teams increasingly ask you to remove. With Blurt, the participant list is only people, and you tell them you're taking notes, in your own words, with the consent helper.
Security, consent and clients. Google Meet and Microsoft Teams now flag third-party recording bots, and many organizations turn them away by default.
In 2026, Microsoft Teams began tagging suspected recording bots in the meeting lobby, and Google Meet started flagging third-party notetakers as a potential risk. Separately, Otter faces a consolidated US class action, filed in 2025, alleging that its notetaker recorded people without their consent; Otter disputes the claims. None of this affects a recorder that never joins the call.
03
Where does your audio go?
Otter processes recordings in its cloud. Blurt transcribes on your computer by default, and never uses your conversations to train models.
With Blurt, audio and transcripts stay on your machine unless you turn on Blurt Cloud for best-model summaries or sync, and cloud audio is deleted after processing. Check Otter's current privacy policy for how it uses recordings, including for improving its models.
04
Can it record a call you don't attend?
Otter can; Blurt can't. This is Otter's genuine advantage.
Because Otter's bot is its own participant, it can join a meeting you've skipped and send you notes afterwards. Blurt records from your computer, so you need to be in the call. If sending a stand-in to meetings matters most to you, Otter is the better tool.
05
How do the prices compare?
They're close: Blurt Pro is $12 a month or $10 yearly; Otter Pro is about $17 monthly or about $8 yearly. Blurt's free plan has no monthly cap on local notes.
Blurt
Otter
Free plan
Unlimited local notes and dictation
Monthly minute limit
Individual
$12/mo · $120/yr
~$17/mo · ~$100/yr (Pro)
Team
$18/seat · $15 yearly
Business, higher per seat
Includes dictation
Yes
No
Otter prices from otter.ai/pricing, checked September 26, 2026, and they change often, including promotions. Check both sites before you buy.
06
Which is better for teams?
For live collaboration, Otter. For teams that can't use bots, or work across Mac, Windows and Linux, Blurt.
Otter's live shared transcripts and mature web and mobile apps suit teams who follow meetings together in real time. Blurt's Team plan offers shared folders, team search, admin-enforced consent notices and retention policy, and no bot for IT to approve.
Honestly
Who should choose Otter
You want a notetaker to attend meetings you skip
Your team follows live transcripts together in the browser
You record a lot on your phone
The people you meet with are fine with a bot
If that's you, Otter does it well.
And
Who should choose Blurt
Clients, candidates or IT have asked you to drop the bot
You want your audio processed on your own computer
You work on Linux, or across Mac, Windows and Linux
You'd like dictation in the same app
Try Blurt free
Switching
Moving from Otter.
Keep your history, lose the bot. About ten minutes.
1
Export from Otter
Download your conversations as text or Word files from Otter's web app.
2
Import into Blurt
Drop the files into Blurt, or run blurt import ./otter-export. They join your searchable archive.
3
Turn off the bot
Disconnect Otter's calendar auto-join, connect your calendar to Blurt, and your next call is recorded from your computer.
FAQ
Blurt vs Otter, quickly.
What's the best Otter alternative without a bot?
Blurt records from your own computer, so no bot joins. It also transcribes locally, runs on Mac, Windows and Linux, and includes dictation. Granola is another bot-free option on Mac and Windows.
Will people know I'm recording with Blurt?
Not automatically, which is why you should tell them. The consent helper can post a short notice in the meeting chat or email attendees beforehand.
Can Blurt join a meeting without me?
No. Blurt records from your computer, so you need to be in the call. If you need a stand-in, Otter's bot can do that.
Does Blurt work on phones like Otter?
Not yet. Blurt is a desktop app for Mac, Windows and Linux. For in-person meetings, use your laptop's microphone.
Sources
Otter pricing and plans, otter.ai/pricing (September 2026)
“Lawsuit claims AI service Otter secretly records private chats,” NPR, August 15, 2025
Microsoft Teams third-party bot detection, Office365ITPros, March 16, 2026