Otter.ai offers an ongoing Basic free plan and a separate Business free trial. This guide explains the difference so you can evaluate the right option and avoid confusing a free account with a trial that can become paid. Published terms reviewed October 13, 2026.
Otter.ai free trial versus free plan
| Question | Basic free plan | Business trial |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Ongoing free tier with limits | Temporary access to Business features |
| Payment information | Free-account route | Credit card required |
| What happens later? | Free-tier usage limits continue | Can charge for the current Workspace seats after the trial |
| What should you verify? | Whether limits fit your recordings | Trial end date, paid seats and cancellation status |
Otter’s Business trial documentation confirms that a trial exists. Basic is not a time-limited Pro trial. The retained Basic-plan illustration below accompanies the free-tier section.
What the Basic free plan includes
Basic has 300 monthly transcription minutes, a 30-minute conversation limit and three lifetime audio/video file imports. Its visible conversation history is limited to the 25 most recent conversations. Check Otter’s current plan comparison for other limits; a file-import allowance is separate from simply starting another in-app recording.
Use meeting length as well as monthly minutes
Example: four 20-minute meetings total 80 minutes and each stays within the 30-minute conversation cap. One 60-minute meeting is a different case: it exceeds the per-conversation limit even though 60 minutes is below the monthly allowance. This is a planning example, not a claim that we tested a recording.
How to start the Basic free plan
Choose the free Basic option when creating your Otter account. The retained signup screenshot below illustrates the free-account route. Selecting a Business trial is a separate choice with payment requirements.
How the Business free trial works
Otter requires a credit card for the Business trial. Its documented end-of-trial billing uses the current number of Workspace seats at the Business monthly rate if you have not cancelled. Find the end date in Account Settings → Plan; do not assume every account has the same trial duration.
How to cancel a Business trial before it becomes paid
- Sign in as a Workspace admin.
- Open Account Settings → Plan and find Cancel trial under Billing Contact.
- Review the confirmation, complete cancellation before expiry, and check the account shows the trial is cancelled.
These steps summarize Otter’s trial instructions. For an already-paid subscription, follow the paid-subscription cancellation instructions instead. Cancellation and account deletion are different actions; app-store purchases must be managed with the platform that bills them.
When a paid plan makes sense
Compare your typical session length, monthly workload, imports, exports and team needs with the pricing and plan-limit guide. For occasional short meetings, Basic may fit. Longer sessions or a team workflow can justify a paid option, but choose using your actual workload rather than a generic meeting count.
Eligible individuals can use education pricing; validated organizations can explore the nonprofit Business route. Compare other saving routes on the Otter.ai coupon and discount homepage.
Frequently asked questions
Does Otter.ai have a free trial?
Yes, Otter documents a Business trial. Basic is a separate ongoing free tier; see the comparison above.
Does the Business trial require a card?
Yes. Otter’s trial documentation requires payment information and describes automatic paid billing if the trial is not cancelled before expiry.
How long is my Business trial?
Check the end date in your account’s Plan settings. This guide does not promise a fixed duration for every account.
Is the Basic free plan unlimited?
No. Monthly minutes, session length, file imports and accessible history have limits.
Can I cancel a trial by deleting the app?
Use the actual cancellation route for the trial or billing platform. Removing an app is not a substitute for confirming cancellation.
Sources and offer terms
Source review: October 13, 2026. Otter pricing; Business trial terms; Cancellation guidance. USD web prices are before taxes; annual monthly equivalents require annual billing. This guide reviews published terms and does not claim checkout testing.
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