As we move into the 2026 business season, the “AI Notetaker” market has matured beyond simple transcription. For UK-based IT directors and Operations managers, the choice between Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai is no longer about who has the better UI—it’s about data residency, API stability, and seamless Microsoft 365 governance.
| Key Feature | Otter.ai (2026) | Fireflies.ai (2026) | TechSol Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Use Case | Live transcription & Field Work | Workflow Automation & CRM Sync | Fireflies for Sales; Otter for Field |
| GDPR/UK Compliance | Standard (US-centric storage) | Advanced (Private Storage options) | Fireflies (Enterprise Tier) |
| Microsoft 365 Sync | Occasional auth “ghosting” | Deep integration via Power Automate | Fireflies |
| UK English Accuracy | 94% (Regional dialect support) | 91% (Struggles with heavy accents) | Otter.ai |
Technical Auditor Insights: Beyond the Brochure
During our recent lab audit at CMP TechSol, our engineering team moved past the marketing fluff to stress-test these platforms in a high-latency environment. Here is what the sales pages won’t tell you:
- API Latency Observations: While both claim “real-time” sync, our tests showed Fireflies.ai has a 1.2s lead in webhook triggers for Slack notifications. However, Otter.ai’s local mobile cache is superior for field engineers working in low-signal areas (e.g., London Underground).
- Microsoft 365 Friction: We found that Otter.ai occasionally loses “Authorised App” status within the Azure AD tenant after major Microsoft 365 updates, requiring a manual re-handshake from the Global Admin.
Technical Specifications & Deployment
| Deployment | SaaS, Mobile (iOS/Android), Chrome Extension |
| API Availability | Otter: Enterprise Only | Fireflies: Business & Enterprise |
| 2026 Pricing (Est.) | Otter: £15/user/mo | Fireflies: £14.50/user/mo |
Implementation & Onboarding
Deploying AI notetakers across a 50+ person organisation isn’t as simple as “plug and play.” Improper configuration leads to “Shadow IT” risks. Our team at CMP TechSol specialises in structured rollouts, ensuring your calendar permissions are hardened.
Secure your connection with NordVPN →
To support our independent research and technical lab audits, CMP TechSol partners with some of the software providers reviewed on this site. If you purchase via our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an IT consultancy, we only recommend platforms that satisfy our internal benchmarks for security, scalability, and B2B performance.