An Otter.ai alternative for recordings you already have

If Otter falls short because your files are long, you have more than three to import or you speak Italian, Portuguese or another language it doesn't transcribe, HiText is a simpler alternative. Upload the audio or video, or share it from another app, and get the full transcript, an AI summary and a translation. It works on iPhone, Android and the web.

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Intervista con fornitore

Oct 6 · 1:12:40

SummaryTranscriptTranslation

Interview summary, translated from Italian:

Supplier: Ceramiche Rossi, Faenza
Lead time: Six weeks from the order.
Next step: Ask for a sample by the 20th.

1:12:40

Translated into English

How to switch from Otter in five minutes

1
Get your recordings
Use the original files: the phone recording, the Zoom or Teams download, the voice memo or the class you recorded.
2
Open them in HiText
Tap File and choose them, or share them from another app. Audio and video up to 2 GB, with the language detected automatically.
3
Read, translate, share
You get the full text, a summary with the key points and, if you want, the transcript translated into your language. Copy it or share it in one tap.

Why people look for an Otter alternative

According to Otter's own pricing page (October 2026), the free plan includes 300 minutes a month but caps each conversation at 30 minutes and allows only 3 file imports in total, and Otter transcribes six languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Chinese. Those are the three walls people usually hit.

Long files: a lecture or interview of an hour or more
Many files: a backlog of voice notes, classes or calls to transcribe
Other languages: Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Korean, Hindi or Arabic

Otter vs HiText, honestly

Otter is better if you want a bot that joins Zoom, Meet or Teams and writes live, or speaker labels
HiText is better if you already have the recording: 13 languages with auto-detection, files up to 2 GB, a summary, a translation and, for studying, a quiz and flashcards
Both let you copy and share the text; HiText doesn't export SRT subtitles or Word files in the standard app

For meeting minutes in Word

If what you really need is a finished document, minutes with decisions and tasks or an interview by speaker, HiText Business turns the recording into a Word file in the browser. For everyday transcripts, the app is enough: see transcribe interviews and meetings and how to get the Zoom recording or the Teams recording.

Frequently asked questions

Can HiText join my meetings like Otter?

No. HiText doesn't send a bot to your calls and doesn't transcribe live: it transcribes the recording once you have it. If you can't record the call on the platform, you can record the room with your phone and announce that you're recording.

Is there a limit per file?

The limit is the file size: up to 2 GB in the app and 1 GB in the browser, so a recording of an hour or two fits easily. There's no cap per conversation: if a file is longer than the free minutes you have left, you'll need Pro to transcribe all of it.

Does it label who is speaking?

Not in the standard app: you get the full text and a summary of who took part and what was decided. Transcripts labelled by speaker are part of HiText Business.

How much does it cost compared with Otter?

You start with 30 free minutes, no card needed. After that, HiText Pro is a subscription with the price shown in the app before you pay, and you can cancel any time from your App Store or Google Play settings.

Can I move my Otter transcripts to HiText?

HiText works from audio and video, not from text files. Transcribe the original recordings again and you'll also get the summary, the translation and, for classes, a quiz.

More tools

Bring your recordings, not a bot

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