LesskeysOtter alternative that keeps the meeting on your computer
Otter suits teams sharing notes in the cloud; Lesskeys suits one person who wants the call transcribed on their own computer, with no bot and nothing uploaded.
macOS 13+ on Apple Silicon · No subscriptionWindows 10 and 11 · No subscription
Last reviewed
Pick one
Pick Otter or Lesskeys?
Pick Otter if
- A team shares notes, summaries and CRM syncs.
- You want web, phone and Chrome apps too.
Pick Lesskeys if
- The recording must stay on your computer.
- You speak more than six languages.
Side by side
Otter and Lesskeys, side by side
- No botjoins the call
- Offlineonce the models are downloaded
- Nothinguploaded
| What | Lesskeys | Otter |
|---|---|---|
| Audio stays on your computer | ✓ Nothing is uploaded | ✗ In Otter's cloud: Amazon Web Services in the United States |
| No bot in the call | ✓ No bot joins | ~ By default Otter Notetaker joins as a participant; the Mac and Windows desktop apps can record without a bot |
| Works offline | ✓ Once the models are downloaded | ✗ It runs in Otter's cloud |
| Languages | 99 | Six: English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Chinese (Simplified) |
| Pricing model | No subscription | A plan at no charge (300 minutes a month, 30 minutes per conversation). Pro: $16.99 per user per month billed monthly, or $8.33 on annual billing. Business: $30 monthly or $19.99 annual.Checked 15 October 2026. |
Sources, all read on 15 October 2026
- Otter pricing (plans, prices, export, languages, speakers)
- Otter privacy policy (where recordings are stored)
- Otter help: Notetaker (the bot joins by default)
- Otter help: desktop app (bot-free recording, Mac and Windows)
- Otter help: supported languages (six languages)
A row is missing when Otter's own pages do not state it; we leave it out rather than guess. Plans change, so check Otter's page before you buy.
Not for you?
What Lesskeys does not do that Otter does
Lesskeys is not a team notes service.
- No shared workspace
- No summaries or action items
- No calendar or CRM integrations
- No web or phone app
It only hears what plays on your computer, so it cannot sit in on a meeting you are not at. Whisper can get names and rare words wrong, so check anything that matters.
Switching
Try one call before you switch
Keep Otter running for a week.
Otter's pricing page lists mp3 and text export on every plan, and more formats on a paid plan. Save what you want to keep: Lesskeys does not import Otter conversations.
Tell the people you record; some places require everyone's consent.
On a Mac
Switching on a Mac
Lesskeys records the Mac's sound and the microphone as one.
macOS asks for Screen Recording permission the first time, because that is how a Mac lets an app hear the sound it plays. Lesskeys needs macOS 13 or later on Apple Silicon, and no bot joins the call.
On Windows
Switching on Windows
Lesskeys records the PC's sound and the microphone as one.
Windows asks for nothing beyond your microphone. Lesskeys needs Windows 10 (version 1903 or later) or Windows 11, and no bot joins the call.
Questions
Questions about Otter and Lesskeys
Can I transcribe a meeting without a bot, as with Otter's desktop app?
Yes. Lesskeys records the sound your computer plays and your microphone, so nothing joins the meeting. Otter's help says its desktop app can also record without a bot; the difference is that Lesskeys then keeps the audio on your computer.
Is there an Otter alternative with no subscription?
Lesskeys has no subscription. Otter sells monthly and annual plans, and also has a plan at no charge with minute limits; see the dated table.
Does Lesskeys label who said what, like Otter?
Yes, on your computer. Labels are automatic, you can name each speaker, and named voices are recognised in later recordings.
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