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The everyday-dictation Otter.ai alternative
Spokenly is completely free with local models and BYOK, with provider usage billed separately. Record system audio and microphone on Mac, then transcribe the saved meeting. Dictation also works on Windows, Linux, and iPhone.
Updated
Cost comparison
Spokenly
Free, Pro $9.99/mo
Otter.ai
$16.99/mo
You save
Up to $203.88/year
Why switch from Otter.ai to Spokenly
Voice input everywhere
Otter requires a meeting or recording. Spokenly is voice dictation in any app: Gmail, Slack, terminal, Notion, ChatGPT.
Free with local models
Otter Free caps at 300 minutes/mo. Spokenly's local models are unlimited at zero cost.
Audio stays on your device
Otter uploads everything to their cloud. Spokenly's Local Only Mode keeps audio on your Mac.
iOS app with custom keyboard
Spokenly's iOS keyboard works in every app. Otter's iOS app records and transcribes meetings only.
MCP for AI coding agents
Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor can request voice input directly. Otter has no developer integration.
No per-user fees
Otter Business is $30/user/mo. Spokenly is per-device with no team multipliers.
Side-by-side: where Spokenly differs
| Feature | Spokenly | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting recording on Mac | System audio + microphone, Mac | Cloud meeting workflow |
| Primary use case | Dictation + Mac meeting recording | Meeting transcription |
| Free tier limits | Unlimited local | 300 min/mo |
| Works in any app | Yes, system-wide | No, meetings only |
| Auto-join Zoom/Meet/Teams | No | Yes |
| Speaker diarization | Provider-dependent | Yes |
| Automatic meeting summaries | No | Yes |
| Calendar integration | No | Yes |
| iOS custom keyboard | Yes | No |
| Offline mode | Yes | No |
| BYOK | Yes | No |
| MCP for agents | Yes | No |
| Per-user pricing | Per device | Per user |
How to switch from Otter.ai in 5 minutes
- 1Download Spokenly from spokenly.app/download for daily dictation.
- 2Pick Parakeet or Whisper Large V3 Turbo locally, or BYOK with OpenAI/Deepgram keys.
- 3Set your dictation shortcut for system-wide voice input.
- 4Optional: install on iPhone for system-wide dictation with the custom keyboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I replace Otter or use both?
Spokenly covers Mac meeting recording and transcription as well as daily dictation. Keep Otter when you need its auto-join bots, automatic summaries, calendar sync, or shared team workspace.
Can Spokenly transcribe meetings?
Spokenly records system audio and your microphone on Mac without a meeting bot. The recording is saved in History for transcription with local or cloud models.
Is Spokenly really free if Otter charges $17/mo?
Yes. Spokenly's local Parakeet and Whisper models are completely free with no usage limits. We charge for cloud transcription via Pro, but BYOK with your own API keys is also free. See spokenly.app/pricing for the full breakdown. Students get 50% off at spokenly.app/students.
Does Spokenly work on Windows or web?
Spokenly for Windows is generally available at spokenly.app/windows. There is no web version yet. Otter still has a web app and Android. For Mac, Windows, Linux, and iPhone users, Spokenly is the more powerful daily dictation tool. See spokenly.app/dictation-for-mac for the full Mac feature list.
How does privacy compare?
Otter sends all audio to their cloud and stores transcripts on their servers. Spokenly's Local Only Mode keeps everything on your device. For confidential work, Spokenly is the privacy-first choice. See spokenly.app/legal-dictation-software and spokenly.app/medical-dictation-software for vertical-specific privacy notes.
Ready to try Spokenly?
Free to use with local models. No account required.
Download SpokenlyOther alternatives
This page is published by Spokenly. Pricing reflects publicly available information at the time of writing. Learn more about Otter.ai on their official site.
