Quick Comparison
| Feature | Snowball | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Contact management | Meeting transcription |
| Business card scanning | 2-second AI scan | Not available |
| Voice notes | Quick context capture | Full transcription |
| Contact database | Native feature | Not available |
| Real-time transcription | Not available | Native |
| Meeting recording | Not available | Native |
| CRM integration | 100+ | Limited |
| Follow-up reminders |
Transcription vs Context
Otter.ai transcribes entire meetings—great for documentation. But when you meet someone at an event and need to remember who they are and follow up, you need context capture tied to a contact, not a 30-minute transcript.
Key Differences
Contact-Attached Context
Snowball voice notes attach directly to contacts. You're not searching through transcripts—context is right there on the person.
Quick Capture
Record a 10-second voice note after meeting someone. No need to transcribe a full conversation.
Business Card Scanning
Scan a card, add a voice note, set a reminder. Otter.ai doesn't capture contact information.
Actionable Follow-Up
Built-in reminders and CRM sync turn voice notes into action. Otter.ai transcripts sit in a library.
When Otter.ai Makes Sense
- You need full meeting transcription
- Recording virtual meetings is your use case
- You want searchable meeting archives
- Compliance requires meeting documentation
When to Choose Snowball
- You meet people at events and need to remember them
- Quick context capture beats full transcription
- You need contacts in your CRM
- Follow-up tracking is essential
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use both?
Yes—Otter for meeting transcription, Snowball for contact capture at events. Different tools for different scenarios.
Does Snowball transcribe voice notes?
Snowball focuses on quick context capture. For full transcription needs, use Otter.ai.
Which is better for networking events?
Snowball—it's built for quick contact capture with voice context. Otter is designed for longer meetings.
Can I import Otter contacts to Snowball?
Otter doesn't create contact records. Use Snowball to manage people you meet, regardless of where you talked.