StenoteAn Otter alternative that never joins your call.
Otter can join Zoom, Teams and Meet as a named notetaker. Stenote records from your own computer instead, so there is nothing for anyone to admit or remove.
Stenote is a good Otter alternative if clients or guests object to a notetaker in the call, or if you also record in person and on the phone. Otter is the better choice if you need its team workspace, Salesforce and HubSpot integrations, or a free plan with live transcription.
Your first hour is free. No card needed.
Stenote vs Otter at a glance
| Stenote | Otter | |
|---|---|---|
| How it records | From your own microphone and speakers. Nothing joins the call. | Can join Zoom, Teams and Meet to write and share notes, and offers a custom notetaker name and image. It also records in its own apps. |
| Visible to guests | No. Nothing appears in the participant list. | A notetaker appears in the call when it joins. |
| In-person and phone calls | Yes. It records whatever your device hears. | Yes, through its mobile and desktop recording. |
| Importing recordings | Yes. Upload a recording from your phone or a voice recorder. | Yes, with limits: 3 lifetime imports on the free Basic plan and 10 a month on Pro. |
| Free plan | Your first hour is free, no card needed. | Basic is free with 300 transcription minutes a month. |
| Integrations | Notion and Evernote export. | Salesforce, HubSpot and Zapier on Pro and above, plus an MCP server. |
| Price | $19.99 a month or $179 a year. One plan with everything. | Pro listed at $16.99 a month, or $8.33 a month billed yearly, when checked. Offers change often. |
Source: Otter pricing, checked 20 October 2026. Plans and promotions change, so check the vendor’s own page before you decide.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Stenote if you…
- take client, interview or sensitive calls where a bot would change the mood
- want to keep the recording and jump to the moment behind a note
- record in a room or on the phone as often as in a meeting app
- want your audio kept out of AI training
Pick Otter if you…
- want a notetaker that attends calls you are not on
- need team workspaces, admin controls or SSO
- rely on Salesforce, HubSpot or Zapier
- want a free plan with live transcription
How Stenote works
Open a meeting
Join Zoom, Teams or Meet as usual. When the meeting app opens your microphone, Stenote asks whether to take notes. Nothing records until you say yes.
Talk
Stenote listens from your own Mac or PC. Nothing joins the call, and nobody has to admit a notetaker.
Get the notes
A summary, action items with owners, chapters, named speakers and a searchable transcript, with the audio kept alongside.
Frequently asked questions
Does Stenote join my meetings as a bot?
No. Stenote records from your own microphone and speakers on your Mac, PC or phone. Nothing appears in the participant list.
Can Stenote attend a meeting I am not in?
No. Because it records from your own device, you need to be on the call. A bot-based tool such as Otter can attend without you.
How much does Stenote cost compared with Otter?
Your first hour in Stenote is free. After that it is $19.99 a month or $179 a year for one plan with everything included. Otter has a free Basic plan, and its paid plans are priced per user, so check its pricing page for current offers.
Do I still need to tell people I am recording?
Yes. Not having a bot in the call does not change consent rules, which vary by country and state. Tell people you are taking notes. This is not legal advice.
Be in the meeting.
Download Stenote and let it take the notes. No bot, no admitting anyone.
Last checked October 20, 2026. · Stenote vs Granola · How bot-free note takers work