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Buyer's guide · Updated
The best AI meeting note-takers, compared
AI note-takers join your Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams calls, transcribe them and send a summary with action items, so you can listen instead of typing.
We compared five popular tools on who they suit, how generous the free plan is, what the first paid plan costs and the main limits. Prices are as listed by each vendor (USD unless stated) and usually exclude tax. Always tell participants when a meeting is being recorded.
Comparison at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Key strengths | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fathom | Individuals who want a strong free plan | Yes (free forever) | $16/mo billed annually or $20 monthly (Premium) | Free plan has unlimited recordings and transcription, instant AI summaries, clips and search; choice of bot or bot-free capture (beta, Mac) | Advanced summaries, AI action items and the meeting assistant need Premium; team plans have a 2-user minimum |
| Otter.ai | Live transcription and captions | Yes (300 minutes a month) | $16.99/user/mo monthly; lower on annual billing (Pro) | Live transcription, speaker identification, AI chat across meetings, an MCP server, and iOS and Android apps | Pro caps meetings at 90 minutes each, with 1,200 in-app recording minutes; free plan allows only 3 lifetime file imports |
| Fireflies.ai | Teams that want search and analytics across calls | Yes | $10/seat/mo billed annually, or $18 monthly (Pro) | Records Zoom, Google Meet, Teams and more; Chrome extension can record without a bot; 100+ languages in beta | English is the primary language; video recording and analytics are on Business; sign-in is via Google or Outlook only |
| Read AI | Summaries across meetings, email and messaging | Yes (5 meetings a month) | $15/user/mo billed annually or $19.75 monthly (Pro) | Summaries for meetings, email and messaging, a meeting coach, 20+ languages, and apps for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS | Free plan covers only 5 transcripts a month; audio and video playback need the Enterprise plan ($22.50/mo annually) |
| tl;dv | Buyers who prefer euro pricing | Yes | €18/seat/mo billed annually, or €29 monthly (Pro) | Free plan available; Business tier at €29/seat/mo billed annually (€39 monthly) | Priced in euros; see the vendor site for current plan limits |
Prices as listed on each vendor's pricing page on 28 October 2026; they change often and usually exclude tax. “See site” means the vendor did not show a price we could verify.
Our take on each tool
Fathom
$16/mo billed annually or $20 monthly (Premium)
The best free plan in this list for one person: unlimited recording with instant summaries. Upgrade only if you need action items or CRM features.
Visit Fathom ↗Otter.ai
$16.99/user/mo monthly; lower on annual billing (Pro)
A long-standing choice with real-time transcripts you can follow during the call. Check the meeting-length caps if your meetings run long.
Visit Otter.ai ↗Fireflies.ai
$10/seat/mo billed annually, or $18 monthly (Pro)
Strong value on annual billing. App and CRM integrations start on Pro, while video, analytics and team features sit on Business, so teams get the most from it.
Visit Fireflies.ai ↗Read AI
$15/user/mo billed annually or $19.75 monthly (Pro)
Goes beyond meetings into your inbox and chats. The free plan is a trial in practice; Pro is the useful tier.
Visit Read AI ↗tl;dv
€18/seat/mo billed annually, or €29 monthly (Pro)
A credible alternative with a free tier. We could only verify its prices, not plan limits, on the pricing page, so check the feature list before you buy.
Visit tl;dv ↗How we picked
- We picked the note-takers most compared for Zoom, Google Meet and Teams, each with a self-serve plan an individual can start on.
- Every price, free-plan detail and limit was read on the vendor's own pricing page on 28 October 2026. Where we could not verify something there, we say so or write “See site”.
- Rankings weigh free-plan generosity, price and limits for a typical user. No vendor paid for placement.
FAQ
What is the best free AI note-taker?
Fathom's free plan offers unlimited recordings and transcription with instant summaries. Otter's free plan gives 300 minutes a month; Read AI's covers 5 meetings a month.
Do AI note-takers work with Zoom, Google Meet and Teams?
Otter, Fireflies and Fathom list support for all three on their pricing pages. For tl;dv and Read AI, check the vendor site for the app you use.
Can a note-taker record without joining as a bot?
Some can. Fireflies has a Chrome extension that records without the bot, and Fathom offers bot-free capture in beta on Mac.
Is it legal to record meetings with AI?
Rules vary by country and state, and many require consent. Always tell participants you are recording; this is general information, not legal advice.
Which note-taker is cheapest?
On annual billing, Fireflies Pro is listed at $10 per seat a month, the lowest paid entry price we verified here. Fathom's free plan costs nothing.
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