The Otter alternative for recordings that can't leave your computer.
Otter is good at live meetings. But every recording goes to Otter's servers. Ratproof transcribes on your computer, and never receives the file.
What Otter says
-
Transcription
only begin[s] after the file has been fully uploaded to Otter's servers
. -
Its privacy policy includes
training our proprietary AI technology on de-identified audio recordings and on transcriptions (which may contain Personal Information)
. -
Otter Notetaker
automatically joins your Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams meetings
.
Why some organisations block it
CUNY blocked Otter in September 2025 because such tools store CUNY meeting content on unapproved, non-CUNY cloud
servers
. The University of Nebraska and Morgan State University have also blocked it
from their meetings.
In August 2026, a US federal court let several claims in a class action against Otter go ahead, including federal wiretap claims (In re Otter.ai Privacy Litigation). These are allegations. Nothing has been proven.
Side by side
| Feature | Otter | Ratproof |
|---|---|---|
| Your recording | Uploaded to Otter's servers | Stays on your computer |
| Transcribes offline | No | Yes, after the first visit |
| Account | Required | None |
| Free file imports | 3 for life, 30 minutes each | Unlimited |
| Paid plan | $16.99 a month, or $8.33 a month billed yearly | $9.99 a month, or $79 a year |
| Speaker labels | Yes | Yes, on your computer |
| Joins live meetings | Yes | No. Transcribes recordings |
| Languages | English and 5 more | English, Spanish, Italian, Swedish |
Otter's US prices and Basic plan limits, from otter.ai on 12 October 2026.
Which one to use
Otter for live meetings where everyone is fine with a bot and the cloud, or when you need a language other than English, Spanish, Italian or Swedish.
Ratproof when the recording shouldn't leave your computer: a client call, an interview with a source, a research participant, an HR conversation. Or when you just have a lot of files and don't want a monthly cap.
Questions
Is there an Otter alternative that does not upload my recordings?
Yes. Ratproof transcribes inside your browser, on your own computer. The recording is never uploaded, and you can check that in the Network tab or by going offline.
Does Otter train its AI on my recordings?
Otter's privacy policy lists training its AI on de-identified audio recordings and transcriptions. Its settings let you choose whether to share conversations for training and human review.
Can Otter work offline?
Otter can keep recording without internet, but its help centre says transcription needs a connection and happens on Otter's servers.
How many files can I import on Otter for free?
Three per account, for life, with 30 minutes per conversation (Otter's Basic plan, October 2026). Ratproof has no limit on free transcription.
Does Ratproof join my meetings like Otter Notetaker?
No. Ratproof never joins a call. You record the meeting, or use a recording you already have, and Ratproof transcribes the file.