Grain vs Otter.ai
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
The verdict
Both Grain and Otter.ai are credible ai meeting notes tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Grain — AI meeting notes for revenue teams.
Otter.ai — AI meeting notes and transcription.
Grain vs Otter.ai: side by side
| Dimension | Grain | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free – $19/seat/mo | Free – $17/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Best for | Sales Teams | Teams, Students |
| Platforms | Web, Mac, Windows | Web, Ios, Android |
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.4/5 |
Grain key facts
- Vendor
- Grain
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $19/seat/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Mac, Windows
- Best for
- Sales Teams
- Editor rating
- 4.6 / 5
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- Remote
Otter.ai key facts
- Vendor
- Otter.ai
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $17/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Ios, Android
- Best for
- Teams, Students
- Editor rating
- 4.4 / 5
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Mountain View, CA, USA
Frequently asked questions
Is Grain better than Otter.ai?
Neither is universally better — Grain edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Grain or Otter.ai cheaper?
Grain is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $19/seat/mo. Grain starts at free – $19/seat/mo; Otter.ai starts at free – $17/mo.
Can Grain replace Otter.ai?
Yes for most teams — both are ai meeting notes tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.