Best Free Alternatives to tl;dv

What's free: You get 800 minutes of storage total (not monthly), AI transcription for meetings up to 90 minutes, basic search, and 3 public channels for sharing. I've used this for client calls and found the transcription accuracy solid.

Limitations: Only 800 minutes lifetime storage—once you hit it, you must delete old meetings or upgrade. No AI summaries on free tier (big limitation vs tl;dv), and you're limited to 3 public channels.

Best for: Freelancers or solopreneurs who need accurate transcription for occasional client meetings but don't require AI analysis.

What's free: 300 monthly transcription minutes, 30-minute per conversation limit, basic transcription, and import of 3 audio/video files monthly. I've relied on Otter for quick team syncs—the mobile app is surprisingly good.

Limitations: 300 minutes monthly disappears fast with regular meetings. The 30-minute per conversation cap means longer meetings get cut off. No team features or advanced AI on free plan.

Best for: Students or individual professionals who need transcription for classes or short meetings under 30 minutes.

What's free: 1 hour of transcription monthly, basic text-based editing, and screen recording. What surprised me was how well the editing works—it's genuinely useful for cleaning up recordings.

Limitations: Only 1 hour of transcription per month is painfully limited. Watermark on exports, no filler word removal, and limited overdub features. I burned through my hour in two meetings.

Best for: Content creators who need occasional transcription for editing podcasts or videos, not for regular meeting documentation.

What's free: 60 minutes weekly of noise cancellation on calls, basic voice clarity features. I tested this during noisy coffee shop calls—it works shockingly well for the free tier.

Limitations: Only 60 minutes per week means you'll run out by Wednesday if you have daily meetings. No meeting transcription or recording—just audio enhancement.

Best for: Remote workers who need better audio quality on occasional calls but don't need meeting documentation features.

What's free: 5 meetings monthly with basic transcription and AI summaries. I was surprised to find actual AI summaries included—most free tiers don't offer this.

Limitations: Only 5 meetings per month is extremely restrictive for regular users. Limited integration options and basic analytics compared to paid alternatives.

Best for: Small teams with very few monthly meetings who still want AI summaries without paying.

What's free: 30 minutes of transcription or subtitling monthly with manual editing tools. The interface is clean and straightforward for quick transcription needs.

Limitations: 30 minutes monthly is barely enough for one substantial meeting. No automated meeting joining or recording—you must upload files manually.

Best for: Individuals who need occasional transcription for interviews or research, not for regular meeting documentation.