# Otter.ai vs Runway

> Otter.ai: Record, transcribe and summarize meetings, with action items and searchable AI chat
> Runway: AI video, image and audio creation suite with Gen-4.5, agents and an API

- Otter.ai profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/otter-ai
- Runway profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/runway
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/otter-ai-vs-runway
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Otter.ai is listed under Audio & Speech AI and Runway under Image & Visual AI. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Otter.ai is available on Windows, macOS and Chrome Extension.

### Choose Otter.ai if

- You want a tool built for meeting transcription and summaries.
- Permanent free plan with 300 monthly transcription minutes.
- Works through a notetaker bot or bot-free via desktop apps and Chrome extension.

### Choose Runway if

- You want a tool built for Text-to-video and image-to-video generation.
- Combines video, image and audio generation and editing in one workspace.
- Offers Runway's own Gen-4.5 plus third-party models such as Seedance 2.0.

## Pricing

| | Otter.ai | Runway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Otter.ai | Runway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Live transcription | Yes | Not listed |
| Notetaker bot | Yes | Not listed |
| Bot-free recording | Yes | Not listed |
| AI summaries and action items | Yes | Not listed |
| Otter AI Chat | Yes | Not listed |
| Channels | Yes | Not listed |
| File import | Yes | Not listed |
| CRM sync | Yes | Not listed |
| Otter MCP server | Yes | Not listed |
| Gen-4.5 video model | Not listed | Yes |
| Creative Agent | Not listed | Yes |
| Multiple models | Not listed | Yes |
| Characters | Not listed | Yes |
| Aleph and Act-Two | Not listed | Yes |
| Audio tools | Not listed | Yes |
| Workflows and Recipes | Not listed | Yes |
| Runway Dev API | Not listed | Yes |
| Runway MCP | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Otter.ai | Runway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| macOS | Yes | No |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Chrome Extension | Yes | No |

## Otter.ai strengths

- Permanent free plan with 300 monthly transcription minutes
- Works through a notetaker bot or bot-free via desktop apps and Chrome extension
- Summaries, action items and AI Chat across past meetings
- Apps for web, iOS, Android, Mac and Windows, rated 4.8 on the App Store from 86K ratings
- Integrations with Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Slack and CRMs such as Salesforce and HubSpot

## Otter.ai limitations

- Free plan caps conversations at 30 minutes and file imports at 3 lifetime
- Pro caps monthly transcription at 1,200 minutes and meetings at 90 minutes
- Business costs $30 per user per month on monthly billing
- API access, SSO and HIPAA add-on require the Enterprise plan
- Transcription is limited to six listed languages

## Runway strengths

- Combines video, image and audio generation and editing in one workspace
- Offers Runway's own Gen-4.5 plus third-party models such as Seedance 2.0
- Creative Agent builds videos from a conversation
- Runway Dev API with Node and Python SDKs
- Free plan with 125 credits that do not expire
- Native iOS and Android apps

## Runway limitations

- Credit-based pricing: a 5-second Gen-4.5 clip costs 60 credits, so the 625 credits on Standard cover about 10 such clips
- Standard and Pro credits do not roll over at the end of the month
- Some App Store reviewers complain about the cost of failed or unusable generations
- 4K upscaling is unlimited only on Pro and Max

## FAQ

**Is Otter.ai better than Runway?**

It depends on your workflow. Otter.ai is built for meeting transcription and summaries. Runway is built for Text-to-video and image-to-video generation.

**What are the key feature differences between Otter.ai and Runway?**

Otter.ai: Record, transcribe and summarize meetings, with action items and searchable AI chat. Runway: AI video, image and audio creation suite with Gen-4.5, agents and an API.

**Does Otter.ai or Runway have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Otter.ai is freemium and Runway is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Otter.ai or Runway?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.