The same notes — without a bot in the room
Both tools live-transcribe and write a solid AI summary. The difference is where each one can actually capture the meeting.
Works in person
An Otter bot needs a video call to join. MeetingSidekick listens through your device, so it captures the meetings that happen in the room.
Nothing joins the call
No extra "participant" appears in the meeting. Good for candid 1:1s, interviews, and calls where a recording bot isn't welcome.
Nothing to install
It's a web page. No desktop app, no browser extension, no calendar connection to set up — open it and press Start.
Your audio, your notes
Audio is used to transcribe — not to train models. Nothing's shared unless you share it, and you can delete anything permanently.
MeetingSidekick vs. Otter
The honest version — where each tool can capture a meeting.
| MeetingSidekick | Otter | |
|---|---|---|
| No bot joins the call | Yes | Bot / app |
| In-person meetings & lectures | Yes | Phone app |
| Nothing to install (runs in browser) | Yes | App |
| Works on your phone | Yes | Yes |
| Live transcript | Yes | Yes |
| Summary + action items | Yes | Yes |
| Chat with the meeting afterward | Yes | Yes |
| Free to start, no credit card | Yes | Free tier |
Comparison reflects each product's primary capture method as of June 2026; competitors' features change, so check their current docs. Otter and Otter.ai are trademarks of their respective owner. MeetingSidekick isn't affiliated with or endorsed by them. See the full comparison with Fireflies, Fathom & Granola.
Switching from Otter, answered
Is MeetingSidekick a free Otter alternative?
Yes — it's free to start with no credit card, including two hours of recording each month. Paid plans add more hours and speaker names.
Does MeetingSidekick join my Zoom or Teams call like Otter's bot?
No. Nothing joins your call. MeetingSidekick captures your own device's audio in the browser, so there's no bot in the meeting — and that's why it also works for in-person meetings.
Can it transcribe in-person meetings?
Yes. Because there's no bot to dial in, it works in a conference room, lecture, or interview — anywhere you can hear the conversation. A bot-based tool can't do that.
Do I need to install anything?
No. MeetingSidekick runs in your browser on your laptop or phone — there's nothing to install and no extension to add.
Is it private?
Your audio is used to transcribe your meeting, not to train AI models. Nothing is shared unless you choose to share it, and you can delete anything permanently.
Try it on your next meeting — in person or online.
Free to start, no credit card. Press Start and you'll have a summary with action items in minutes.
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