If you want AI meeting notes without a bot joining your calls, Unidesk is a private alternative to Otter for Mac and Windows. Otter's help center says its Notetaker can automatically join Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams meetings. Unidesk records from your own computer instead, so nothing joins the call, and its Free plan has unlimited meetings with transcripts and summaries made on your computer.
Unidesk vs Otter.ai at a glance
Otter statements are quoted from Otter's Notetaker overview (checked on 24 October 2026), and from its pricing and privacy and security pages (checked on 26 October 2026). Plans and prices change, so check Otter's pricing page for the latest.
| Feature | Unidesk | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| How it records meetings | From your computer's audio; nothing joins the call | "You can set Notetaker to automatically join any events that contain a Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams meeting link." |
| Meetings you can't attend | Not supported; it records only on your computer | "You can send Notetaker to join a meeting even if you're unable to." |
| Where meetings are kept | On your computer; no cloud sync | "Otter uses AWS S3 storage and enables AWS SSE (Server Side Encryption) on data" |
| Free plan | Unlimited meetings, transcripts and summaries on your computer | Basic, free: "300 monthly transcription minutes", and a "Max transcription time per conversation" of 30 minutes (pricing) |
| Also included | Notes, tasks, whiteboards, time tracker, dictation | On Basic: "AI Chat within and across meetings", "Live transcription", "iOS and Android apps" |
Why choose Unidesk
- No bot in the call. Some clients and teams don't want a third-party participant in their meetings. Unidesk listens on your computer instead.
- No minute limit on the Free plan. Free has unlimited meetings on your computer. Paid plans add cloud hours: 126 a month on Pro and 252 on Max.
- Privacy. On the Free plan, recordings, transcripts and summaries are made and stored on your computer, with no cloud sync. On paid plans, Unidesk doesn't store cloud audio on its servers; the model providers process it under their own terms. We don't use your meetings to train AI models.
When Otter is the better choice
- You want a bot to attend meetings for you. Otter's Notetaker can join a meeting you can't attend. Unidesk only records calls on your own computer.
- You want notes on your phone or in a browser. Unidesk runs on Mac and Windows only. Check Otter's site for its apps.
- Your team works from shared notes in the cloud. Unidesk keeps meetings on your computer and doesn't sync them.
- You need on-device transcripts in a language other than English. Unidesk's on-device transcripts are currently in English.
Switching from Otter to Unidesk
- Download Unidesk for Mac or Windows.
- Join your next call and click record. On a Mac, you can also accept the prompt when Unidesk spots the call.
- When the call ends, read the summary, decisions and action items.
Recording laws differ by place, and some US states require everyone on the call to agree. Tell everyone before you record, and stop if anyone objects.
Questions
Is Unidesk free? Yes. The Free plan has unlimited meetings, transcripts and summaries on your computer, with no time limit and no card.
Does it work with Zoom, Teams and Google Meet? Yes. It works with any app that plays sound on your computer.
What computer do I need? A Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later), or a Windows 10 or 11 PC. On-device AI runs best with 24 GB of memory; 16 GB works, but slower. On an older laptop, a Pro or Max plan does the work in the cloud.
Download Unidesk free for Mac or Windows.
Otter.ai, Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams are trademarks of their respective owners. They are named only to identify the products discussed. Unidesk is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by them. Statements about other products are quoted from their public websites on the date shown and may have changed since; check their sites for current information.