Chirp and Otter.ai solve different problems. Chirp is a lightweight desktop app that transcribes your voice locally and pastes text into any application, all without an internet connection. Otter.ai is a cloud-based service designed for meeting transcription that requires an account and a constant internet connection. If privacy and desktop workflow matter to you, Chirp is the better fit.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Chirp | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $9.99/yr unlimited | $16.99/mo annual ($19.99/mo monthly) |
| Free tier | 28 free transcriptions | 300 min/mo, limited features |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux (desktop) | Web, iOS, Android |
| Privacy | 100% local, no data leaves device | Cloud-based, audio uploaded to servers |
| Internet required | No | Yes, always |
| Auto-paste | Yes, into any app (Fn / Alt+M) | No, copy from web/mobile app |
| Transcription history | Local SQLite, searchable, CSV export | Cloud storage, searchable |
| App size | ~95MB | Web app (no install) / mobile app |
| Account required | No | Yes, email signup required |
| Best for | Desktop voice-to-text, writing, notes | Meeting recording and transcription |
Privacy: Local vs Cloud
This is the fundamental difference. Chirp processes all audio locally on your device using whisper.cpp. Your voice recordings and transcriptions never leave your machine. Otter.ai uploads every recording to their cloud servers for processing and storage. For anyone handling sensitive information -- legal work, medical notes, confidential business discussions -- Chirp's local-only approach eliminates the risk of data exposure.
Desktop Workflow
Chirp is built for desktop productivity. Press the global hotkey (Fn on Mac, Alt+M on Windows), speak, and the transcribed text is automatically pasted into whatever app you're using -- email, Slack, your code editor, a document. Otter.ai has no desktop app. You access it through a web browser or mobile app, and you need to manually copy text from Otter's interface into your workflow.
Pricing
Chirp costs $9.99 per year for unlimited transcriptions. Otter.ai Pro costs $16.99 per month when billed annually, which works out to about $204 per year. Even Otter's free tier has limitations (300 minutes per month, shorter transcription lengths). Chirp includes 28 free transcriptions with no time limits, then $9.99/year for unlimited use.
When Otter.ai Makes More Sense
Otter.ai excels at meeting transcription. It can join Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams calls, identify different speakers, and generate meeting summaries. If your primary need is transcribing multi-person meetings with speaker identification and collaboration features, Otter.ai is purpose-built for that. Chirp is designed for individual desktop voice-to-text, not meeting recording.
Verdict
These tools serve different use cases. Otter.ai is a meeting transcription platform that lives in the cloud. Chirp is a privacy-first desktop voice-to-text tool that works offline. If you need to dictate text into desktop apps quickly, privately, and without paying for a monthly subscription, Chirp is the right choice at $9.99/year. If you need collaborative meeting transcription with speaker labels, Otter.ai fills that niche.
Last updated: February 2026. Pricing and features may change. Check each product's website for the latest information.