Descript vs Otter:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Otter had more branded searches than Descript among audio and video transcription platforms worldwide. Otter had about 382,000 branded searches, while Descript had 308,000. Otter made up 20.2% of all audio and video transcription platform searches we track, and Descript accounted for 16.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about audio and video transcription platforms, Descript and Otter each appeared in four of the five answers. Descript was mentioned before Otter in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Otter, about 24% more searches than Descript
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Descript, named ahead of Otter in 3 of 4 answers
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Top audio and video transcription platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Descript and Otter were each mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Descript was listed before Otter in three out of four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Descript1st
- Otter2nd
TurboScribe3rd
Rev4th
Happy Scribe5th
Sonix6th
Trint7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- TurboScribe4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Otter4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Descript4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Rev4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Sonix3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Happy Scribe1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Trint1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about audio and video transcription platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which audio video transcription platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best audio video transcription platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best audio video transcription platform for turning recordings into text?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“audio video transcription”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best transcription software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Descript or Otter more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Descript and Otter by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven audio and video transcription platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Otter, Descript. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | TurboScribe | Otter | Descript | Happy Scribe | Sonix | Rev | Trint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 39% | 26.9% | 18% | 6.5% | 5% | 3.3% | 1.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 42.1% | 23.9% | 19.5% | 5.7% | 5.4% | 2% | 1.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 41.8% | 23.7% | 19.4% | 5.7% | 6.2% | 2.1% | 1.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 37.9% | 26.4% | 21.4% | 5.2% | 5.6% | 2.1% | 1.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 37.9% | 26.8% | 21.5% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 1.7% | 1.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 44.8% | 25.8% | 16.9% | 5% | 4.7% | 1.7% | 1.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 45.1% | 25.8% | 17% | 5% | 4.6% | 1.7% | 0.88% |
| May 2026 | 49.3% | 23.3% | 15.4% | 4.5% | 4.7% | 1.8% | 0.96% |
| Jun 2026 | 52.1% | 20.1% | 16.3% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 2.2% | 1% |
| Jul 2026 | 48.1% | 22.5% | 18.4% | 3.6% | 4% | 2.5% | 0.93% |
| Aug 2026 | 48.1% | 22.3% | 18.4% | 3.6% | 3.9% | 2.8% | 0.93% |
| Sep 2026 | 52.9% | 20.2% | 16.3% | 4% | 3.7% | 1.9% | 1% |
How has the Descript and Otter comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Otter was ahead of Descript in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Descript’s share of searches among audio and video transcription platforms worldwide moved from 18% to 16.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 379K to 308K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Otter’s share of searches among audio and video transcription platforms worldwide moved from 26.9% to 20.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 568K to 382K.
How did search popularity change for audio and video transcription platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Descript lost share of searches among audio and video transcription platforms worldwide, from 18.4% to 16.3%.
In September 2026, Otter lost share of searches among audio and video transcription platforms worldwide, from 22.3% to 20.2%.
How are branded searches counted?
16 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Descript’s and Otter’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Descript
7 branded search terms
- descript
- descript app
- descript audio transcription
- descript software
- descript transcribe
- descript transcription
- descript video editor
Otter
9 branded search terms
- otter ai
- otter ai app
- otter ai transcription
- otter app
- otter meeting notes
- otter transcribe
- otter transcription
- otter.ai
- otterai
Other head-to-heads among audio and video transcription platforms
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