Can Otter AI convert audio to text for free?
Yes, Otter AI converts audio to text for free on the Basic plan, but with tight limits: 300 transcription minutes per month, 30 minutes per conversation, and only 3 uploaded audio/video files total for the life of the account. Live recordings you make in the app count against the 300 minutes; heavy file conversion needs a paid plan.
Why — the first-principles explanation
There are two different ways to 'convert audio to text' in Otter, and the free plan treats them very differently. Live recording, talking into the app, draws from your 300 monthly minutes. File import, uploading a recording you already have, draws from a separate, much stingier bucket: just 3 files ever on the free tier.
This split exists because uploaded files are the power-user feature. Someone converting a stack of old interviews or podcasts is exactly the professional Otter wants to convert into a paying customer, so it gives you just enough imports to try the feature (3) and no more. Live recording is cheaper to give away because casual users rarely fill 300 minutes.
So the honest answer depends on your use. If you want to record and transcribe a few short live conversations, free works fine month after month. But if your goal is to batch-convert existing audio files to text, the free plan lets you do it exactly 3 times, then you'll need Pro (10 imports/month) or Business (unlimited).
An example that makes it click
Think of a free copy machine that lets you make lots of copies of pages you write there on the spot (live recording, up to 300 minutes), but only lets you feed in 3 documents you brought from home, ever (file uploads). If you just want to jot and copy notes as you go, it's great forever. If you showed up with a box of 50 old files to scan, you'll hit the 3-file wall fast and have to pay.
How to do it
- Sign up for the free Basic plan at otter.ai, no credit card required.
- To convert live audio, open the app and tap record; this uses your 300 monthly minutes.
- To convert an existing file, click Import and upload an audio or video file (only 3 allowed lifetime on free).
- Wait for Otter to process the file, then read, edit, and export the text.
- If you need to convert more than 3 files, upgrade to Pro for 10 imports per month or Business for unlimited.
Key facts
- The free Basic plan converts audio to text within 300 total transcription minutes per month.
- Live in-app recordings are capped at 30 minutes each on the free plan.
- Uploading existing audio/video files is limited to 3 files total (lifetime) on the free plan.
- Pro raises file imports to 10 per month; Business offers unlimited imports (as of 2026-07).
- Otter exports the converted text and lets you edit it before sharing.
Live meeting transcription, notes, and summaries.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.▶ The 60-second explainer (script)
Can Otter AI convert audio to text for free? Yes, but watch the fine print, because there are two kinds of conversion with very different limits. If you record live in the app, you get 300 minutes a month free, with a 30-minute cap per session. That's plenty for the occasional interview or note. But if you want to upload audio or video files you already have, the free plan only lets you do that 3 times, total, for the entire life of your account. So free is great if you're recording and transcribing as you go. If your real goal is to convert a pile of existing recordings into text, you'll hit that 3-file wall almost immediately and need to upgrade, Pro gives you 10 file imports a month, and Business makes them unlimited.
What authoritative sources say
People also ask
How many audio files can I convert for free?
Only 3 uploaded files total on the free Basic plan, ever. Live recordings are separate and draw from your 300 monthly minutes instead.
What audio formats can Otter convert?
Otter accepts common audio and video formats such as MP3, WAV, M4A, and MP4. Upload the file and Otter transcribes it.
Is the free conversion good quality?
Yes, the free plan uses the same engine as paid plans, so accuracy (roughly 75-90% depending on audio) is the same; only the usage limits differ.
How do I convert more files without paying a lot?
Pro, at about $8.33/user/month billed annually, gives you 10 file imports per month, which covers most personal batch-conversion needs.