Capvo vs Otter.ai
Capvo and Otter.ai both turn meetings into searchable transcripts, but they take different routes. Otter.ai sends an assistant that joins your calls, while Capvo records in the background from your desktop with no bot and no browser extension, then exposes transcripts over a REST API and webhooks, hosted in the EU.
| Feature | Capvo | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| How it captures | Desktop app that records in the background. No bot joins the call, no browser extension. | An assistant joins your meeting to record it. |
| Platforms | Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, phone, and microphone, on Windows and macOS. | Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, plus web and mobile. |
| Developer API and webhooks | Yes. REST API, signed webhooks, and an MCP server for AI agents on the Pro plan. | Available on higher tiers; check their site. |
| Data residency | European Union (Frankfurt), encrypted at rest, operated under the GDPR. | US-based; review their data processing terms. |
| Free plan | 5 recordings per week with transcription included. | Free tier with monthly transcription limits; check their site. |
Otter.ai pricing and features reflect publicly available information and may change. Check their site for the latest.
The biggest difference is how the recording happens. Otter.ai relies on an assistant that joins the meeting to capture it, which appears in the participant list. Capvo runs on your machine and detects the call in the background, so nothing joins on your behalf.
Capvo is also built for developers and for European data requirements. Every transcript is available through a REST API and signed webhooks, and all audio and transcripts are stored in the EU (Frankfurt) under the GDPR.
Capvo is built and used daily at Astry, where every internal meeting is recorded and the transcripts flow into the team’s own tooling through the API.
Questions
- Is Capvo a good alternative to Otter.ai?
- Capvo is a strong Otter.ai alternative if you want recording without a bot in the call, a developer REST API and webhooks, and EU data residency. Otter.ai leans toward in-app notes and summaries.
- Does Capvo use a meeting bot like Otter.ai?
- No. Capvo records in the background from your desktop and never sends a bot to join the meeting, so your participant list stays clean.
- Where does Capvo store data compared to Otter.ai?
- Capvo stores audio and transcripts in the European Union (Frankfurt) under the GDPR. Review Otter.ai’s own data processing terms for where their data is held.
See what Capvo does or compare plans and pricing.