# Otter.ai vs Skim

> Otter.ai: Record, transcribe and summarize meetings, with action items and searchable AI chat
> Skim: Find the five contract clauses most likely to cost you money before you sign

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

## Verdict

Otter.ai is listed under Audio & Speech AI and Skim under Productivity. Otter.ai scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.4 vs 7.6 out of 10), led by ease of use. Only Otter.ai has a free plan or trial. Only Otter.ai is available on Windows, macOS and iOS and offers an API.

### 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 Skim if

- You want a tool built for quick pre-signature review of leases, contractor quotes and terms of service, drafting a reply to push back on a clause.
- Simple one-off $9 price covering up to 3 documents, with no subscription.
- No account or prompt writing required.

## Pricing

| | Otter.ai | Skim |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | No |
| Starting price | $0 | $9 |

## Features

| Feature | Otter.ai | Skim |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 |
| Five red flags | Not listed | Yes |
| Plain-English rewrite | Not listed | Yes |
| Paste-ready reply | Not listed | Yes |
| PDF upload or pasted text | Not listed | Yes |
| No account | Not listed | Yes |
| Free sample | Not listed | Yes |
| One-time pricing | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Otter.ai | Skim |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| macOS | Yes | No |
| iOS | Yes | No |
| Android | Yes | No |
| API | Yes | No |
| 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

## Skim strengths

- Simple one-off $9 price covering up to 3 documents, with no subscription
- No account or prompt writing required
- Output includes a rewrite and a ready-to-send reply, not just a list of risks
- Free sample report to judge quality before paying
- Privacy page clearly states what is and is not stored

## Skim limitations

- Only the first 20,000 characters of a document are analyzed
- Document text goes to xAI, whose retention Skim does not control
- Fixed five-flag output with no follow-up chat
- Operator, company and contact details are not disclosed on the site
- Not legal advice, and no independent reviews found

## FAQ

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

It depends on your workflow. Otter.ai is built for meeting transcription and summaries. Skim is built for quick pre-signature review of leases, contractor quotes and terms of service, drafting a reply to push back on a clause.

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

Otter.ai: Record, transcribe and summarize meetings, with action items and searchable AI chat. Skim: Find the five contract clauses most likely to cost you money before you sign.

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

Otter.ai has a free plan or trial; Skim is paid only.

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

Otter.ai starts at $0 and Skim starts at $9. See the pricing table above for what each tier includes.