Otter vs tl;dv: which one fits you?
Otter is known for the live transcript you follow during the call. tl;dv is known for recordings, reports across many meetings and a desktop recorder that works without a bot. Both answer questions across your meetings.
Otter vs tl;dv in short
Pick Otter if you want to read, highlight and comment on the transcript while the meeting runs. Pick tl;dv if you want scheduled reports across meetings or to record without a bot. Neither keeps a decision log or a tracker of action items across meetings.
Otter vs tl;dv, side by side
With Acta as a third option, for teams that need follow-up after the meeting.
| Feature | Otter | tl;dv | Acta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chat across meetings | Otter AI Chat | Ask tl;dv | OneChat |
| Ask about files together with meetings | |||
| Action items with owners | With assignees | ||
| Action item tracker across meetings | |||
| Daily follow-up email of what's overdue | |||
| Decision log across meetings | |||
| Templates for different meetings | Playbooks (Business) | 42 templates | |
| Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams | |||
| Record without a bot | Desktop app | Desktop app & Chrome extension | |
| Free plan or trial | 300 min/month, 30-min calls | Limited AI notes | 15-day free trial |
| Paid plans | From about $8.33/user/month | From about $18/seat/month | Pro, per user |
Based on public pages and reviews as of October 2026; see the sources below. A dash means we didn't find it listed. Prices and plans change, so check each vendor's pricing page.
Pick Otter if you want
- Live transcripts you can highlight and comment on
- Otter AI Chat across your library
- Free plan: 300 minutes a month, 30 minutes per conversation
Best for: People who want a live transcript to follow and highlight during the call.
Acta vs OtterPick tl;dv if you want
- Ask tl;dv across meetings
- Scheduled multi-meeting reports
- A bot-free desktop recorder
Best for: Teams that want recordings with scheduled multi-meeting reports.
Acta vs tl;dvNeed follow-up, not just notes? Try Acta.
Acta records Zoom, Google Meet and Teams with or without a bot, fills 42 templates from the conversation, tracks every action item to done with a daily follow-up email, keeps a decision log across meetings, and answers across your meetings and files with OneChat.
Otter vs tl;dv: questions
Is Otter or tl;dv better?
Otter suits people who follow a live transcript during the call. tl;dv suits teams that want recordings with reports across many meetings.
Which costs less, Otter or tl;dv?
Reviews in 2026 list Otter Pro from about $8.33 per user per month and tl;dv from about $18 per seat per month billed annually. Prices change, so check both pricing pages.
Which one records without a bot?
tl;dv, with its bot-free desktop app as well as a meeting bot.
Is there an option that records with or without a bot?
Yes. Acta records Zoom, Google Meet and Teams with a notetaker from your calendar, or without a bot from the desktop app or Chrome extension, and tracks action items and decisions across meetings. It's free for 15 days.