Otter.ai Free Plan Minutes 2025: Exactly What You Get, Hidden Limits, and Smart Workarounds for Solo Founders
If you’re a solo founder or freelancer, chances are you’ve looked for ways to save time on meeting notes, client calls, or brainstorming sessions. Tools like Otter.ai promise to make life easier by automatically transcribing your conversations and even generating AI-powered summaries.
But the big question in 2025 is this: how much can you actually get for free with Otter.ai?
The free plan, also known as Otter Basic, looks attractive at first glance, but it comes with strict limits that can trip you up if you don’t know about them. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what the free plan includes, where the hidden restrictions lie, and how you can squeeze the most value out of it without paying a cent.
Why This Matters for Solo Founders
- Jumping between client calls
- Recording ideas for content or products
- Running discovery calls to close deals
- Interviewing people for a podcast or project
In each case, having an AI assistant capture everything saves time and mental energy. Instead of worrying about note-taking, you can focus on the conversation. Later, you can revisit the transcript, grab quotes, or scan the AI summary for key decisions.
But here’s the catch: Otter’s free plan isn’t designed to support heavy daily use. It’s a starter tier that shows you the tool’s power, while nudging you toward upgrading. Knowing the details upfront will help you avoid hitting a wall in the middle of an important project.
Otter.ai Free Plan: The Basics in 2025
| Feature | Free Plan (Basic) |
|---|---|
| Monthly transcription minutes | 300 minutes (resets monthly, no rollover) |
| Max duration per recording | 30 minutes per conversation |
| File imports | 3 lifetime uploads (audio or video) |
| Supported languages | English, French, Spanish |
| Real-time transcription | Yes – live in Zoom, Teams, Google Meet |
| AI summaries | Yes – automatic key points after each call |
| Otter AI Chat | 20 queries/month (max 3 per conversation) |
| Speaker ID | Basic (Speaker 1, 2… can be manually renamed) |
| Custom vocabulary | 5 words or names |
| Playback controls | 1× speed only (no fast/slow, no skip silence) |
| Export formats | .txt transcript, .mp3 audio only |
| Transcript storage | 25 most recent conversations visible |
| Collaboration | Invite up to 5 members to workspace |
| Integrations | Zoom, Google Meet, MS Teams (1 meeting at a time) |
What Works Well on the Free Plan
1. Real-Time Meeting Transcription
Invite the OtterPilot into calls, see live notes as you talk, and get a full transcript after.
2. Automated AI Summaries
Skim key takeaways, decisions, and topics in a minute, then paste into your follow-up email.
3. AI Chat About Your Meeting
Ask questions like “What decisions were made?” or “What action items were discussed?”
4. Multi-Device Access
Record on web or mobile, everything syncs seamlessly.
5. Basic Collaboration
Share transcripts with a co‑founder or VA, comment, and highlight together.
The Hidden Limits You Need to Know
1. 300 Minutes Per Month
Only five hours. Deleting transcripts doesn’t recover minutes – they reset monthly.
2. 30 Minutes Per Meeting
Otter records the whole call, but only transcribes the first 30 minutes on free.
3. Only 3 File Imports – Ever
Uploads are capped for the lifetime of the account.
4. Storage Limit of 25 Conversations
Only your 25 most recent are visible. Older ones are archived until you upgrade.
5. Playback and Export Restrictions
Playback is locked to 1×, and export is limited to plain text and MP3.
How the Free Plan Changed in Recent Years
- Before 2022: 600 minutes per month, 40 minutes per conversation, generous uploads.
- Late 2022: Reduced minutes to 300, 30‑minute cap, 3‑file lifetime import, 25‑conversation history limit.
- 2023–2024: Added AI summaries, AI chat, and multi‑language support to the free tier.
Workarounds to Make the Most of the Free Plan
- Record live instead of uploading files: Play audio on one device and record with Otter on another to avoid the 3‑file cap.
- Split long meetings: Stop and restart every 30 minutes for full coverage in parts.
- Time usage around resets: Minutes reset monthly on your billing date.
- Use the referral program: Earn bonus minutes or temporary Pro access.
- Combine with other tools: Google Meet captions, Microsoft Word Transcribe, Apple/Google voice recorders.
- Use trials for big projects: Activate a 7‑day Business trial to blitz a large backlog.
Is the Free Plan Enough for Solo Founders?
If you run a handful of short calls monthly, the free tier is great. If you run multiple client calls weekly or need bulk imports, you’ll outgrow it fast. Treat it like a smart demo or a sidekick in a wider toolkit.
Final Thoughts
Otter.ai’s free plan in 2025 gives you real value – live transcription, AI summaries, and chat – but the quotas are tight. With the workarounds above, you can stay productive without paying, and upgrade only when your usage justifies it.
