MeetKeep vs Otter.ai

Otter now does both: OtterPilot joins your calls, and its desktop app records without one. So the difference is not the bot. It is where the audio goes. Otter transcribes in the cloud, and its policy says de-identified data trains its own models — with no user-facing switch to turn that off (only Enterprise workspaces are excluded by default). MeetKeep transcribes on your Mac, so there is nothing to upload. On price: $59 once against Pro at about $100 a year.

Facts verified on 2026-08-28

Audio never leaves your MacOtter transcribes in the cloud. Its policy says de-identified audio and transcripts (the latter “may contain Personal Information”) train its own models, and individual users get no setting to turn that off. MeetKeep transcribes on-device: nothing to upload, nothing to train on.

$59 once, not $100 a yearOtter Pro is $8.33/month billed annually — about $100 a year, every year. MeetKeep is $59 once with free updates forever: it pays for itself in seven months.

Chinese transcription and voiceprintsMeetKeep transcribes Chinese, English and 25 European languages on-device, and recognises people by locally stored voiceprints. Otter can transcribe Simplified Chinese (beta) and remembers speakers across conversations too — but both happen in its cloud, against voice models kept on its servers.

Head to head

Feature	MeetKeep	Otter.ai
Feature	Local meeting notetaker for Mac	Cloud transcription, bot or desktop
Privacy & data
No bot joins the call	YesCaptures system audio, never joins	PartialBot by default; bot-free desktop app too
Where audio is transcribed	On-device (never uploaded)	Cloud
Works offline	Yes	No
Audio/transcripts used for training?	NoData never leaves your Mac	PartialDe-identified audio & transcripts train its models; no user-facing opt-out
Pricing
Pricing model	$59 one-time	Subscription: Pro $8.33/mo billed annuallyPricing varies by region
First-year cost (individual paid tier)	$59	≈$100
Every year after	$0 — free updates forever	≈$100 again, every year
Free tier	7-day full trial	300 min/mo, ≤30 min per meetingAlso: last 25 convos, 3 lifetime imports
Transcription & notes
Speaker separation	Yes	YesFree tier too
Voiceprint recognition across meetings	YesLocal voiceprints; any platform, and in person	PartialCloud-side: remembers speakers across conversations, stored on its servers
Notes traceable back to the audio	Yes	Not verified
Transcription languages	Chinese, English + 25 European languages	Not verified
Platform
Native Mac app	YesApple Silicon, macOS 15+	Yes
Mobile app	No	Yes
Bring your own AI key (BYOK)	YesAny provider; only text is sent	No
Individuals can buy directly	Yes	Yes

Prices and features belong to their vendors, all checked against their own sites on the date shown at the top. Spot something stale? Tell us.

Which one is for you

Choose MeetKeep if…

Your meetings cannot go to the cloud: client calls, comp reviews, legal discussions.

You would rather pay $59 once than about $100 a year, forever.

You need Chinese transcription, or you meet on Tencent Meeting, Lark or DingTalk.

You want the same person recognised in every meeting, not relabelled each time.

Try MeetKeep free for 7 days

Otter is the better fit if…

You record on your phone — Otter has iOS and Android, MeetKeep is Mac-only.

You want a notetaker to attend on your behalf — that is exactly what OtterPilot does.

A permanent free tier matters more: 300 minutes a month, 30 minutes per meeting.

Your team needs the same tool on Windows.

Where they win, we say so. An all-green table is worth nothing.

What three years cost

MeetKeep$59

One purchase. Updates free forever.

Otter.ai≈$300

≈$100/year × 3 years, and it keeps going.

Otter’s pricing varies by region; check their site for yours.

Common questions

Does MeetKeep join my meetings like OtterPilot does?

No. MeetKeep captures your Mac’s system audio and never enters the meeting, so there is no participant for anyone to see. It works the same way in Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Slack Huddles, Tencent Meeting, Lark and DingTalk. Follow your local laws and company policy on recording consent.

Can I bring my old recordings over from Otter?

Yes. MeetKeep imports audio and video files, transcribes them on-device and runs the same speaker separation and notes. Export from Otter and drop them in — note Otter’s free tier allows only three lifetime imports.

Is the $59 really the whole price?

$59 once, two Macs, free updates forever, a 7-day trial and a 14-day refund. AI notes use your own API key — only text is sent to the provider you choose, never audio.

Your next meeting, just show up

7-day full-featured trial. No credit card, no subscription.

Download for Mac See all 12 tools compared Switching from Otter.ai? Read the guide

macOS 15+ · Apple Silicon · $59 once