a fundamentally
different approach
Otter.ai is a cloud-based meeting assistant that joins your calls as a bot. Migas runs entirely on your Mac, captures audio locally, and never joins your meeting.
Otter is a mature, cloud-first platform with deep integrations, team collaboration features, and broad platform support. Migas takes the opposite approach: local-first processing, no meeting bot, and privacy by default. If your priority is keeping audio off the cloud and staying invisible on calls, Migas is the clear choice. If you need cross-platform support, CRM integrations, or enterprise team features, Otter is the more fully-featured product today.
feature comparison
| Migas | Otter.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| no bot joins your call | ✓ | ✗ |
| audio stays on your device | ✓ | ✗ |
| works offline | ✓ | ✗ |
| real-time transcription | ✓ | ✓ |
| live speaker identification | ✓ | post-meeting |
| AI chat with transcript | ✓ | ✓ |
| no signup required | ✓ | ✗ |
| your data used for training | ✗ | ✓ |
| multi-language support | English only | ✓ |
| mobile apps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Windows / Linux | ✗ | ✓ |
| CRM integrations | ✗ | ✓ |
| team collaboration | ✗ | ✓ |
Migas AI chat sends transcript text (not audio) to the cloud when you ask for summaries. Transcription, speaker identification, and all audio processing happen entirely on your Mac.
privacy and architecture
This is the biggest difference between Migas and Otter, and it's architectural, not just a policy choice.
how Otter works
Otter joins your meeting as a visible bot participant (named "Otter.ai" in the attendee list). It captures audio in the cloud, processes it on Otter's servers, and stores transcripts on their infrastructure. Everyone on the call can see that the meeting is being recorded by a third-party service.
how Migas works
Migas captures system audio directly on your Mac using macOS APIs. There is no bot, no calendar integration required, and no audio ever leaves your device. Transcription runs locally using on-device models. The only time data touches the cloud is when you explicitly use AI chat, and even then, only the transcript text is sent, never audio.
why this matters
- Participants on your call never know Migas is running. There is no awkward "can I record this?" moment.
- Your audio is never stored on a third-party server, so there is nothing to breach.
- Migas works in air-gapped or restricted network environments where cloud tools simply cannot.
- Otter's terms allow them to use your data for product improvement. Migas never sees your data.
pricing
| Migas | Otter.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| free tier | unlimited transcription, 50 AI requests | 300 min/month, 30 min/meeting |
| paid plan | $14/mo | from $8.33/mo (annual) |
| transcription limits (paid) | unlimited | 1,200 min/mo (Pro) |
| meeting length limit | none | 90 min (Pro) |
Otter's Pro pricing shown is for the annual plan. Monthly pricing is $16.99/mo. Otter also offers Business ($19.99/mo) and Enterprise tiers with higher limits and team features.
where Otter is the better choice
Migas is not the right tool for everyone. Otter is the better fit if you need:
- Cross-platform support (Windows, iOS, Android, web)
- CRM integrations like Salesforce and HubSpot for sales workflows
- Team collaboration with shared channels, folders, and permissions
- Multi-language transcription (French, Spanish, and more)
- Enterprise features like SSO, SCIM, HIPAA compliance, and admin controls
- Recording bot-free meetings on platforms beyond macOS
Otter has years of development across these dimensions and serves a fundamentally different use case: team-wide meeting intelligence at scale.
where Migas is the better choice
Migas is built for a different set of priorities:
- Privacy-first: audio never leaves your device, and there is no third-party data processing
- Invisible on calls: no bot in the attendee list, no "recording" notification to participants
- No account or signup required: download, open, and start transcribing
- Unlimited free transcription with no per-meeting time limits
- Works offline: transcription runs without an internet connection
- Real-time speaker identification: see who is speaking as they talk, not after the meeting ends
the bottom line
Otter and Migas are solving the same problem with opposite architectures. Otter is a cloud platform built for teams who want integrations, collaboration, and scale. Migas is a local-first tool built for individuals who want privacy, simplicity, and zero friction. Neither is universally better. The right choice depends entirely on what matters most to you.
choose Migas if
You want your meeting audio to never leave your Mac. You don't want a bot joining your calls. You value a simple, no-signup experience with unlimited free transcription.
choose Otter if
You need cross-platform support, team collaboration, CRM integrations, or enterprise compliance features. You are comfortable with cloud-based audio processing.
try Migas in your
next meeting
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