Notedly vs Otter.ai
Notedly and Otter.ai can both take notes during a live lecture. Notedly writes study notes in standard, Cornell or outline format as the lecture goes, on Premium Plus. Otter is a transcription and meeting-notes app that joins Zoom, Google Meet and Teams.
On this page
At a glance
| Feature |
 Notedly
|
OOtter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Try without an account | Yes, 1 free summary | Not listed |
| Free plan | 10,000 words a month for pasted text, web articles and YouTube | 300 transcription minutes a month, up to 30 minutes per conversation; keeps your 25 most recent conversations[1] |
| Paid price (monthly) | $9.99 Premium, $24.99 Premium Plus (includes live lectures) | Pro $16.99, or $13.59 with a .edu email[1] |
| Paid price (yearly) | $49.99 Premium, $129.99 Premium Plus | Pro $79.99 with a .edu email[1] |
| Live lectures | Yes, on Premium Plus: study notes build in your browser as the lecture goes | Live transcription on every plan, on the web and in its iOS and Android apps[1][2] |
| Zoom, Google Meet and Teams | No meeting bot; Notedly records from your browser's microphone | Joins Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet to write and share notes[1][2] |
| What you get | Study notes in standard, Cornell or outline format | A transcript with speaker identification, plus automated summaries with action items and outlines[1] |
| Recorded lectures | YouTube links on every plan; audio uploads on Premium | Audio and video file imports: 3 lifetime on Free, 10 a month on Pro[1] |
| Readings and PDFs | Pasted text and web articles on every plan; PDFs on Premium | Not listed |
| Practice quizzes | On Premium | Not listed |
| Platforms | Web, plus a Chrome extension | Web, desktop, iOS and Android apps, and a Chrome extension[1] |
Choose Notedly if
- You want notes you can study from, in Cornell or outline format, not a transcript to read through.
- Your classes are in person and you want the notes written while the lecture is happening.
- Your course is also readings and YouTube lectures, and you want them all in one account.
- You want to start free on readings and YouTube, with your first summary needing no account.
When Otter.ai may fit better
- Your classes or meetings are on Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams and you want an assistant to join and take notes.
- You need a searchable, word-for-word transcript that identifies speakers.
The short version
Otter is built around the transcript. It records and transcribes meetings and classes, joins Zoom, Google Meet and Teams calls, and adds summaries. Notedly is built around study notes. On Premium Plus it writes standard, Cornell or outline notes while the lecture is happening, and the same account turns your readings and YouTube lectures into notes too.
On price, Otter Pro costs less per month than Premium Plus, especially with a .edu email. Premium Plus also covers your readings, YouTube lectures, PDFs and practice quizzes, with 1,000,000 words a month.
Where Notedly is stronger
- Notes, not a transcript. You get notes in the format your class uses: Cornell, outline or standard. See how live lecture notes work.
- The whole course. Paste textbook chapters and articles, or YouTube lectures, on any plan. Long videos with captions work, and short videos without captions are transcribed by AI. Upload PDFs and audio on Premium.
- Try it first. Your first summary works without an account, and the free plan includes 10,000 words a month. The limits are published on our pricing page.
- Study tools. Turn notes into practice quizzes on Premium.
Frequently asked questions
Is Notedly or Otter better for lecture notes?
For in-person lectures you want to study from, Notedly: on Premium Plus it writes standard, Cornell or outline notes while the lecture is happening, and keeps them next to your readings and YouTube lectures. If your classes are on Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams and you want an assistant to join and transcribe them, Otter is built for that.
Does Notedly record live lectures like Otter?
Yes. Live lecture notes are part of Premium Plus ($24.99 a month or $129.99 a year). Open Notedly in your browser, pick a note style and start recording, and your notes build as the lecture goes. Notedly records from your browser's microphone; it doesn't join Zoom, Meet or Teams calls.
Is there a free Otter alternative for students?
Notedly is free for readings and YouTube lectures: your first summary needs no account, and a free account includes 10,000 words a month. Live lecture notes need Premium Plus. Otter's free plan includes 300 transcription minutes a month, up to 30 minutes per conversation.
Does Otter have a student discount?
Yes. Otter's pricing page lists 20% off Pro for students and teachers with a .edu email: $13.59 a month or $79.99 a year. Notedly Premium is $9.99 a month or $49.99 a year for readings, YouTube and PDFs, and Premium Plus adds live lecture notes for $24.99 a month or $129.99 a year.