Comparison
Seamo vs Otter.ai
One translates live. The other transcribes after.
| Feature | Seamo | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time translation | Yes (30+ languages) | No |
| Live captions | Yes (~0.6s) | Yes (transcription only) |
| Joins meetings as bot | No | Yes |
| Screen share safe | Yes (Invisible Mode) | N/A |
| AI meeting notes | Yes | Yes |
| Works beyond meetings | Yes (any audio) | No (meetings only) |
| Smart Dictionary | Yes | No |
| Ask AI mid-call | Yes | No |
| Free tier | ~30 min/mo | 300 min/mo transcription |
| Pro price | $19/mo | $16.99/mo |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows | Web, iOS, Android |
Data reflects publicly available information as of October 2026.
The core difference: translation vs transcription
Otter transcribes what's said in the original language. Seamo translates it into your language in real time.
If everyone speaks the same language, Otter works fine. If you work across languages, Seamo is the only option.
Bots in the room vs software on your machine
Otter joins meetings as a visible bot participant. Seamo is a desktop app that captures system audio directly on your computer.
No one knows you're using it.
Beyond meetings
Seamo works with any audio source: YouTube, podcasts, even face-to-face. Otter is meeting-specific.
Pricing compared
Both offer free tiers. Otter's paid plans focus on transcription minutes and team features. Seamo's plans focus on translation quality and AI features.
Which should you pick?
Choose Otter.ai if:
- You need meeting transcription in one language.
- You want mobile apps.
- You need team collaboration features.
Choose Seamo if:
- You work across languages.
- You need real-time understanding, not a post-meeting summary.
- You want to stay invisible on screen share.
- You use audio sources beyond meetings.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Otter.ai translate in real time?
- No. Otter transcribes speech to text in the original language. It does not translate between languages.
- Does Seamo join meetings as a bot?
- No. Seamo captures system audio directly. No bots, no extra participants.
- Can I use both?
- Yes. Some users use Seamo for live translation during the call and Otter for team-shared transcripts after.
- Which has better accuracy?
- For transcription in English, they're comparable. For translation across languages, Seamo is the only option of the two.
- Is Seamo invisible on screen share?
- Yes. On Mac, Seamo uses Core Audio Taps. There are no recording indicators visible to other participants.