Skip to main content
Comparisons10 min read

Notah vs Otter.ai: Best AI Meeting Notes for Arabic Teams [2025]

Detailed comparison of Notah and Otter.ai for meeting transcription. See which tool is better for Arabic support, MENA compliance, and bilingual teams.

NT
Notah Team
AI & Productivity Experts

Quick Answer

Notah is the better choice for Arabic-speaking teams with 94% dialect accuracy vs Otter.ai's 70% MSA-only support. Both are priced similarly at $10/month, but Notah offers MENA data residency and code-switching support.


Notah vs Otter.ai Premium Comparison

Introduction


Choosing between Notah and Otter.ai for your AI meeting notes? Both are powerful transcription tools, but they serve different audiences. This comprehensive comparison helps you decide which is right for your team.


2.5M+
Otter.ai users
primarily English-speaking markets

95%
Arabic dialect accuracy
Notah's MENA-focused AI models

Quick Overview


FeatureNotahOtter.ai
English Transcription✅ 96% accuracy✅ 96% accuracy
Arabic Support✅ All dialects (94%)⚠️ MSA only (70%)
Gulf/Saudi Dialects✅ Native support❌ Not supported
Code-Switching✅ Arabic-English❌ Limited
MENA Data Residency✅ Regional servers❌ US only
Free Tier✅ Unlimited meetings✅ 300 min/month
Starting Price$10/month$10/month

Why Teams Switch from Otter.ai to Notah


1. Arabic Language Support


The biggest difference is Arabic transcription quality.


Otter.ai Arabic Accuracy (MSA) 70%
Otter.ai Arabic Accuracy (Dialects) 45%
Notah Arabic Accuracy (All Dialects) 94%

⚠️ Warning: Otter.ai only supports Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which nobody speaks in real business meetings. Gulf Arabic, Saudi Arabic, and Levantine Arabic are completely unsupported.

2. Bilingual Meeting Handling


MENA professionals constantly switch between Arabic and English mid-sentence. This is called code-switching.


✓ Notah Code-Switching
Seamlessly handles mixed Arabic-English sentences
✓ Otter.ai Behavior
Treats Arabic words as errors or skips them
✓ Real-World Impact
40% of MENA meeting content may be lost
✓ Business Cost
Missed action items, decisions, and context

3. Data Residency and Compliance


ℹ️ Info: For Saudi Arabia (PDPL) and UAE regulations, data residency matters. Otter.ai stores all data in US servers, while Notah offers MENA regional storage.

Where Otter.ai Excels


  • Brand recognition - More established, widely known
  • English-only teams - Excellent if you never use Arabic
  • US market focus - Optimized for American English accents

  • 💡 Pro Tip: If your team operates 100% in English and doesn't need MENA compliance, Otter.ai is a solid choice. But if you have ANY Arabic usage, Notah is the clear winner.

    Conclusion: Which Should You Choose?


    Choose Notah if:

  • Your team uses Arabic (any dialect)
  • You operate in MENA markets
  • You need regional data compliance
  • You want unlimited free transcription

  • Choose Otter.ai if:

  • Your team is 100% English-only
  • You're based in the US with no MENA operations

  • ℹ️ Info: Most MENA teams that try both tools choose Notah within one week due to the dramatic difference in Arabic accuracy.

    Ready to try Notah? Start your free trial and experience the difference Arabic-native AI makes.


    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Notah better than Otter.ai for Arabic meetings?

    Yes, Notah supports all Arabic dialects (Gulf, Saudi, Egyptian, Levantine) with 94% accuracy, while Otter.ai only supports Modern Standard Arabic at 70% accuracy. For any Arabic usage, Notah is significantly better.

    Does Otter.ai support Arabic dialects?

    No, Otter.ai only supports Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which is rarely spoken in business meetings. Gulf Arabic, Saudi Arabic, and other dialects are not supported.

    Which is cheaper, Notah or Otter.ai?

    Both have similar pricing at $10/month for Pro plans. However, Notah offers unlimited meetings on the free tier vs Otter.ai's 300 minutes/month limit.

    Ready to transform your meetings?

    Try Notah free and experience AI meeting notes built for bilingual, MENA-focused teams.

    Try Notah Free →
    Notah vs Otter.ai: Best AI Meeting Notes for Arabic Teams [2025] | Notah Blog