The deciding limit between Otter and Potok is language range: Otter handles 6 languages, English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Chinese, while Potok covers about 30 with good published results. Potok also works through a Telegram bot and takes files up to 2 GB, though it does not translate.
Turn a recording into text
In Telegram, write to @potok_now_bot and add your file. The finished text appears in the conversation when recognition ends.
Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram
Up to 2 GB per file · speaker labels and timestamps · six export formats · about 30 languages
Key facts
- Otter lists 6 recognition languages; Potok lists about 30, so check your language against both lists.
- Otter caps a conversation at 90 minutes on Pro, while Potok accepts one file up to 2 GB.
- Otter exports MP3, TXT, PDF, DOCX and SRT on Pro; Potok exports TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT.
- Otter does not state translation on its public pages, and Potok offers no translation of text.
At a glance
| Otter | Potok | |
|---|---|---|
| Recognition languages | 6 (English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese) | About 30 |
| Translation of transcripts | Not stated on its public pages | Not available |
| Speaker labels | Yes | Yes, can be switched on |
| Export formats | MP3, TXT, PDF, DOCX, SRT (Pro) | TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT |
| Telegram bot | Not stated on its public pages | Yes, @potok_now_bot |
| Largest file | 90 minutes per conversation on Pro | Up to 2 GB |
Facts about Otter come from its public pages and from third-party reviews. They can change; check the vendor's site before you decide.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Upload limit | Files up to 2 GB |
| Speakers and time | Speaker labels and timestamps are optional switches |
| Input | Audio, video and voice messages |
| Where to use it | The Telegram bot @potok_now_bot, plus its mini app for big uploads |
| Translating | The text keeps the language of the audio and is not translated |
Common mistakes when choosing
| What goes wrong | Effect | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing Otter for a language outside its six | Transcript quality drops or the language is unsupported | Confirm your language before you commit to either tool |
| Assuming a 90-minute conversation limit also applies to Potok | You split long files that did not need splitting | Check the 2 GB file size limit instead |
| Expecting an SRT export without checking the plan tier | Subtitle export turns out locked for you | Verify which formats your plan includes in Otter |
| Forgetting that Potok gives no translation | Foreign-language output cannot be produced there | Use a translation tool afterwards if you need one |
| Deciding from one line of the table alone | A strong line can hide a weak one that matters for your recording | Go through every row and mark the ones that are deal breakers for you |
More
Languages are listed on the languages page; converters and calculators are in tools; terms are explained in the glossary.
Questions and answers
Which languages does Otter recognize?
Otter lists English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Chinese, which is far narrower than the list Potok supports.
How long a recording can Otter handle?
Otter allows 90 minutes per conversation on Pro, while Potok accepts a file up to 2 GB.
Is there a Telegram bot for transcription?
Yes, you can send audio to @potok_now_bot in Telegram and receive the transcript back in the same chat.
Does Potok label speakers?
Yes, speakers appear as Speaker 1, Speaker 2 and so on, not by name, so you rename them in the finished text.
Which export formats does Potok offer?
Potok exports transcripts to TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT, which covers documents and subtitles alike.
What does the table say about largest file?
For Otter it lists 90 minutes per conversation on Pro, and for Potok it lists Up to 2 GB. Vendor pages change, so read the current version before you rely on this line.
Sources
The dates show when each source was opened. Pages are edited over time; read the original before you rely on a detail.
- Otter.ai, official website, Otter.ai · checked
- Whisper speech recognition system (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
Run your own recording through it
Drop an audio or video file, or a voice message, into the chat with @potok_now_bot; the recognized text is sent back there.
Go to @potok_now_bot in Telegram