Is it just me, or is Otter no longer enough for real work?
I used Otter.ai for over two years. Back when all I wanted was a meeting transcript, it did the job. But as my meetings became faster-paced, more outcome-driven, and cross-functional, I found myself needing more than just “notes.”
I needed a meeting tool that didn’t just listen — it had to think with me.
So I tested 5 of the most talked-about Otter alternatives in 2025. Here’s how they really performed — and why one of them completely changed how I run meetings.
TL;DR: These Tools Are Fine. One Is Different.
| Tool | What It’s Good At | Starting Price | Why I Didn’t Stick With It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proactor | Real-time insights, action items, cross-meeting memory | Free trial, then from $15.99/month (affordable & powerful) | The only one that helped me do better work — not just document it. |
| Fireflies.ai | Broad integrations, 100+ languages | Free; Pro $10, Business $19, Enterprise $39/month | Accurate, but lacks true context awareness. |
| Fathom | Instant highlight clips, Zoom sync | Standard $19, Pro $29/month | Great for content — weak for actual execution. |
| Avoma | Sales coaching, CRM sync, reporting | Startup $19, Organization $29, Enterprise $39/seat/month | Too heavy for agile teams, best for enterprise. |
| MeetJamie | Fast summaries, privacy-first setup | Free; Paid from €24–€99/month | Simple and clean, but not built for scale or depth. |
#1 Proactor — The Only One That Actually “Got” the Meeting
Let’s get right to it: Proactor wasn’t just the best tool I tested — it was in a different category altogether.
Other tools gave me transcripts. Some even offered pretty summaries. But Proactor listened like a teammate, surfaced what mattered, and suggested what to do next — all while the meeting was still happening.
What makes it different?
- Suggests follow-ups and tasks in real-time, not just after
- Automatically pulls insights, objections, next steps — with context
- Uses a built-in chat assistant (Potor) to recall prior meetings and answer questions like “What did the client say about budget last time?”
- Outputs a structured Wiki after every call, with action items, AI insights, and summarized decisions
The result? I didn’t just remember what we said — I actually acted on it, faster than ever.
The others gave me a receipt. Proactor gave me momentum.
Pricing:
- Free trial available
- Pro: $15.99/month (annual billing)
- Business: $39.99/month (annual billing)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Proactor pricing feels like one of those rare times where you get way more than what you paid for.
2. Fireflies.ai — Powerful, but Lacks a Real Brain
Fireflies is impressive in terms of reach: it integrates with Zoom, Meet, Teams, Slack, Notion — basically your whole tool stack. It supports over 100 languages and has a GPT-style bot to query past calls.
But here’s the thing:
- It transcribes everything, but doesn’t know what matters.
- It can detect “action items,” but you have to dig for them.
- It feels more like a smart recorder than an active participant.
Pricing:
- Free: $0
- Pro: $10/month
- Business: $19/month
- Enterprise: $39/month
Fireflies is affordable upfront, but you may quickly wish it did more once your needs get serious.
Verdict: A solid recorder with good integrations, but still feels like a reactive tool, not a proactive assistant.
3. Fathom — Great for Content, Weak on Execution
Fathom is fast, sleek, and perfect for content teams. You can tag moments in real-time and create video snippets right after meetings.
But:
- It doesn’t understand tasks, blockers, or priorities.
- It can’t recall themes across multiple calls.
- It’s not built for ownership — just reflection.
Pricing:
- Standard: $19/month per user
- Pro: $29/month per user (2 user min)
- Free read-only accounts available
Fathom makes sense if content is your main game — otherwise, it can feel like an expensive extra.
Verdict: Fathom is like a video highlighter for Zoom — fast and intuitive. But it’s not built to manage long-term workflows.
4. Avoma — Enterprise Muscle, But Too Much for Most
Avoma is robust — especially for sales orgs. You get coaching tools, pipeline tracking, CRM integrations, even revenue forecasting.
But:
- It’s expensive
- It requires heavy onboarding
- It’s not agile enough for fast-moving teams or general collaboration
Pricing:
- Startup: $19/seat/month (recorders only)
- Organization: $29/seat/month
- Enterprise: $39/seat/month
Avoma can be great if you’re running a full sales operation — but for most teams, it might be more than you really need.
Verdict: If you run a revenue team and want call coaching + sales forecasting, Avoma is top-tier. But for day-to-day notes? Too much.
5. MeetJamie — Clean, Light, but Limited
Jamie is all about privacy and simplicity. It runs natively on your laptop (no bots), summarizes calls in 20+ languages, and works with in-person or virtual meetings.
It’s fast. It’s elegant. It’s secure.
But:
- It doesn’t connect to your tools or calendars
- It doesn’t offer suggestions, reminders, or deeper intelligence
- It’s not built for long-term knowledge capture
Pricing:
- Free: €0
- Standard: €24/month
- Pro: €47/month
- Executive: €99/month
- Jamie’s upper tiers feel expensive considering the lack of smart integrations or workflow depth.
Jamie’s minimalist vibe is refreshing, but you might pause when the higher-tier pricing kicks in.
Verdict: Jamie is like your minimalist notetaker — fast, clean, and respectful of your privacy. Just don’t expect deep AI.
Why Proactor Was the Only One That Stayed
I didn’t just need transcription.
I needed:
- Real-time awareness of what was happening in the meeting
- Suggestions that weren’t obvious or annoying
- A way to remember, link, and act on conversations across weeks
Only Proactor delivered on all three. The others documented the meeting.
Proactor joined the meeting.
That’s the difference.
Final Thoughts: If You Want More Than Notes, Choose More Than a Note-Taker
Otter got us used to automatic transcripts.
But 2025 isn’t about saving what was said. It’s about surfacing what to do — faster, smarter, and without more mental load.
That’s what Proactor is for.
If you’re done with passive AI note-takers and want an assistant that actually helps you think, decide, and move — go try Proactor now.
