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Fathom is our best overall pick for most buyers: it has a free plan, a $15 starting price and covers meeting summaries, shared calls and searchable context. Tactiq and Fireflies.ai are worth comparing if bot-free transcripts or per-seat pricing matter more. Don’t choose on entry price alone: the published summaries flag team minimums, credit caps, seat requirements and privacy concerns across this category. The ranked list below weighs broad usefulness and value first, then specialist fit. Prices are listed starting points; check the provider’s current plan terms before you commit.
Quick picksThe shortlist
FathomFathomBest overall · $15/mo
TactiqTactiqBest bot-free transcripts · €6.67/mo
Fireflies.aiFireflies.aiBest for busy teams · $10/mo
Sembly AISembly AIBest for meeting follow-through · $10/mo
CirclebackCirclebackBest searchable history · $15/mo
GrainGrainBest for AI workflows · $15/mo
Otter.aiOtter.aiBest for searchable notes · $8.33/mo
AvomaAvomaBest for sales workflows · $19/mo
MeetGeekMeetGeekBest for multi-device capture · $15.99/mo
GranolaGranolaBest bot-free meeting notes · $14/mo
TwinMindTwinMindBest personal memory · $11.99/mo
Noty.aiNoty.aiBest low-cost transcripts · $3.33/mo
MetaviewMetaviewBest for recruiting teams · $100/mo
ZocksZocksBest for financial advisors · $67/mo
SupernormalSupernormalBest for meeting deliverables · Free
Highlight AIHighlight AIBest for daily briefs · $35/mo
Minutes AIMinutes AIBest for offline minutes · $1.99/mo
tl;dvtl;dvBest for CRM auto-logging · $18/mo
ScreenAppScreenAppBest for recording search · $19/mo
BubblesBubblesBest for screen recording · $12/mo
Read AIRead AIBest for free testing · $15/mo
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FathomFathom | 8.0 | $15/mo | Yes | — |
| TactiqTactiq | 7.2 | €6.67/mo | Yes | — |
| Fireflies.aiFireflies.ai | 7.1 | $10/mo | Yes | — |
| Sembly AISembly AI | 7.5 | $10/mo | Yes | 7 days |
| CirclebackCircleback | 7.5 | $15/mo | Yes | — |
| GrainGrain | 7.6 | $15/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| Otter.aiOtter.ai | 6.6 | $8.33/mo | Yes | — |
| AvomaAvoma | 7.2 | $19/mo | No | 14 days |
| MeetGeekMeetGeek | 6.8 | $15.99/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| GranolaGranola | 6.7 | $14/mo | Yes | — |
| TwinMindTwinMind | 6.8 | $11.99/mo | Yes | 7 days |
| Noty.aiNoty.ai | 6.5 | $3.33/mo | No | 7 days |
| MetaviewMetaview | 7.0 | $100/mo | Yes | — |
| ZocksZocks | 7.2 | $67/mo | No | — |
| SupernormalSupernormal | 6.8 | Free | Yes | — |
| Highlight AIHighlight AI | 6.8 | $35/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| Minutes AIMinutes AI | 6.8 | $1.99/mo | Yes | — |
| tl;dvtl;dv | 6.0 | $18/mo | Yes | Yes |
| ScreenAppScreenApp | 6.0 | $19/mo | Yes | 7 days |
| BubblesBubbles | 4.5 | $12/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| Read AIRead AI | 4.8 | $15/mo | Yes | — |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallFathomFathom
Fathom is the strongest starting point for buyers who want meeting summaries and searchable context without paying upfront: it has a free plan and a listed starting price of $15. It also suits small teams sharing calls and insights. Before switching a whole team, check the team minimums and paid-tier limits; the published summary flags both as things to verify.
What works
- Free plan includes unlimited recordings and transcriptions
- Free plan includes instant AI call summaries
- Bot-free or bot capture is available
What doesn't
- Team plan has a two-user minimum
- CRM field sync is listed under Business
- Enterprise is annual billing only
- Best bot-free transcriptsTactiqTactiq
Tactiq is a good fit if you want bot-free transcripts, meeting follow-up automations and multilingual coverage. Its listed starting price is $6.67, with a free plan, making it one of the lower entry points here. The catch: free AI is capped, and monthly prices aren't published in the published summary. Check the billing terms and AI limits before you roll it out.
What works
- Transcribes live without an AI bot joining
- Works with Zoom, Google Meet and Teams
- Supports transcription in over 60 languages
What doesn't
- Free plan allows 10 transcripts and 5 AI credits monthly
- Pro includes only 10 AI credits per month
- Paid monthly rates are not published
- Best for busy teamsFireflies.aiFireflies.ai
Fireflies.ai suits agencies with frequent client calls and teams that want per-seat transcription, auto-join and supported CRM or dialer connections. The listed starting price is $10, with a free plan. That price is not the whole decision: the published summary flags credit caps and privacy pushback. Check usage limits and recording policies before deploying it across client conversations.
What works
- Free team plan covers light, individual use
- Pro tier starts at $10/seat/month billed annually
- Reddit users rate transcription accuracy above Otter
What doesn't
- AI credits capped at 20-50/month even on paid tiers
- Free plan limited to 400 storage minutes and 2-hour calls
- One Reddit user reported fabricated email content from the AI
- Best for meeting follow-throughSembly AISembly AI
Sembly AI is a strong option when meetings need to produce assigned tasks or follow-up documents, rather than just transcripts. The published summary also lists offline transcription among its use cases. It starts at $10 and has a free plan. Credit limits are the main stated caveat, so check how those limits fit your team’s meeting volume before committing.
What works
- Records Zoom, Google Meet, Teams and Webex
- Supports offline recording through the Sembly app
- Transcribes in 45+ languages and identifies speakers
What doesn't
- Free plan includes only one meeting hour monthly
- Free plan has 750 monthly credits
- Annual discounts require paying upfront
- Best searchable historyCirclebackCircleback
Circleback is worth considering if you need searchable meeting history across international calls and in-person conversations. It has a free plan and a listed starting price of $15. The important qualification is that useful limits and team controls cost extra, according to the published summary. Compare those paid capabilities with your actual workflow before treating the entry price as your likely bill.
What works
- Free plan includes unlimited meetings
- Records online and in-person meetings
- Can record without a bot
What doesn't
- Free history is limited to 30 days
- Free automations are limited
- Pro starts at $15 per user monthly
- Best for AI workflowsGrainGrain
Grain is a fit for teams connecting meeting data to Claude or ChatGPT, syncing sales conversations, or seeking bot-less transcription. Its listed starting price is $15, with a free plan. The main value check is team cost: the published summary says team features cost more and require two seats. That makes Grain less straightforward for a solo buyer.
What works
- Transcribes computer audio without a bot joining
- Optional bot can record video
- Exports transcripts to Claude or ChatGPT
What doesn't
- Free meetings are limited to 45 minutes
- Free history lasts 30 days
- Free plan has one seat and no shared workspace
- Best for searchable notesOtter.aiOtter.ai
Otter.ai is a sensible shortlist option for teams that prioritize searchable meeting notes, live summaries and supported CRM sync. The listed starting price is $8.33, with a free plan. Its meeting feature set is a plus, but the published summary explicitly warns buyers to check limits and recording policies. Confirm both before relying on it for regular team or sales calls.
What works
- Live transcription with speaker recognition
- Action items captured from meetings
- Searches past meetings with Otter AI Chat
What doesn't
- Basic allows only three lifetime file imports
- Pro limits file imports to 10 monthly
- Pro meetings are capped at 90 minutes
- Best for sales workflowsAvomaAvoma
Avoma covers more than note-taking for sales teams: the published summary highlights scheduling, lead routing and CRM workflows alongside standardized meeting notes. It starts at $19, with no free plan listed in the published details. Check seat caps and add-on costs before switching; those charges can matter when comparing Avoma with tools priced mainly around meeting transcription.
What works
- Live speaker-identified transcription in 75+ languages
- Custom templates generate structured meeting notes
- Scheduling covers 1:1, group and round-robin workflows
What doesn't
- No free plan; the listed trial lasts 14 days
- Startup is capped at 25 paid seats
- Organization is capped at 100 paid seats
- Best for multi-device captureMeetGeekMeetGeek
MeetGeek is a candidate for teams that want CRM and task automation, or need to capture in-person and phone calls as well as meetings. Its listed starting price is $15.99, with a free plan, and the published summary cites unlimited transcription hours. Public user feedback is sparse, so weigh that uncertainty alongside the advertised coverage and your need for automation.
What works
- Free Basic plan includes 3 hours of transcription monthly
- Bot, desktop, and mobile capture cover calls and in-person talks
- Meeting Skills automations push notes into CRMs and tasks
What doesn't
- Transcription runs post-meeting, not live, per one Reddit comparison
- Free plan caps meetings at 2 hours and transcripts at 3 months
- Extra transcription hours cost $0.50 each on the Pro plan
- Best bot-free meeting notesGranolaGranola
Granola is aimed at teams using Zoom, Meet and Teams that want bot-free notes and MCP-connected AI workflows. Its listed starting price is $14, with a free plan. The published summary describes the notes as generally useful but flags Reddit complaints about inconsistency. If dependable results are essential, test the fit against your own workflow before moving a team over.
What works
- No bot joins calls, less intrusive for attendees
- Covers Zoom, Meet, Teams, Huddles and in-person talks
- MCP connector lets other AI tools read notes directly
What doesn't
- Free Basic plan caps meeting history at 30 days
- Reddit users report silent recording failures with no alert
- One founder says only ~60% of calls generate notes
- Best personal memoryTwinMindTwinMind
TwinMind is worth a look if you want searchable conversation memory and prefer to start on a free plan. The published summary lists a starting price of $11.99 and identifies AI-generated drafts as a use case for heavier users. The recommendation is conditional: check the plan terms before paying, especially if draft generation or frequent use is central to your decision.
What works
- Free plan includes transcription, summaries and daily recaps
- Homepage claims 16+ hours of capture
- Supports real-time transcription and translation in 140+ languages
What doesn't
- Pro and Max prices are monthly equivalents billed annually
- Monthly billing prices are not published
- Free is limited to five MCP tool calls daily
- Best low-cost transcriptsNoty.aiNoty.ai
Noty.ai has a low listed starting price of $3.33 and is aimed at teams that need transcripts and meeting tasks assigned and tracked. The published summary also notes eligibility for some schools and nonprofits. Before choosing Pro, check the hour and AI-credit caps; a low entry price is less useful if your regular meeting volume runs into those limits.
What works
- Live transcription with highlighted moments and comments
- Shareable summaries after meetings
- Detects tasks, deadlines, and assignees
What doesn't
- No free plan is listed
- Pro is limited to 100 hours monthly
- Pro includes 3 AI credits per meeting
- Best for recruiting teamsMetaviewMetaview
Metaview is a specialist pick for teams combining recruiting and interview workflows, including automated notes, scorecards and sourcing. The listed starting price is $100, with a free plan, and the published summary names unlimited profiles for high-volume sourcers. That price makes it a narrower fit than general meeting assistants. Compare the custom suite quote carefully before choosing it.
What works
- Free plan includes the first 100 sourced profiles
- Pro lists 200 sourced profiles monthly
- Max lists unlimited sourced profiles
What doesn't
- Pro costs $100 per user monthly
- Max costs $300 per user monthly
- Annual billing prices are not published
- Best for financial advisorsZocksZocks
Zocks is built for a more specific buyer: financial advisors and firms automating onboarding or servicing with CRM and planning integrations. Its listed starting price is $67. The published summary describes strong advisor workflows but also flags the price and thin public feedback as reasons for a careful fit check. It is not the obvious choice for general-purpose team notes.
What works
- Essentials includes unlimited meetings
- Notes support speaker attribution and configurable outputs
- Meeting prep includes agendas and client email drafts
What doesn't
- Essentials starts at $80 monthly or $67 annually per user
- Professional costs $140 monthly or $117 annually per user
- Account opening and document syncing require Ultimate
- Best for meeting deliverablesSupernormalSupernormal
Supernormal may suit agencies that turn meetings into client work, teams creating slides and briefs, or individuals trying meeting notes for free. The published summary does not list a paid starting price, so treat paid cost as not published here. Its broad meeting-to-deliverables pitch is tempered by unclear paid pricing and a lack of relevant Reddit feedback.
What works
- Free plan includes meeting notes without bots
- Free plan lists unlimited projects
- Team plan lists unlimited seats
What doesn't
- Team and Business prices are unclear
- Free plan has five daily credits
- Free plan has 15 monthly credits
- Best for daily briefsHighlight AIHighlight AI
Highlight AI is more than a meeting transcriber in the published summary: it targets frequent follow-ups, daily context briefs and meeting-derived drafts. It has a free plan, but its listed Pro starting price is $35. That is a meaningful commitment for an individual tool. Consider it if those extra outputs match your regular work, and check that the plan earns its keep.
What works
- Free plan includes 10 transcription hours monthly
- Meeting summaries capture decisions, owners, and next steps
- Pro includes unlimited meeting briefs
What doesn't
- Pro costs $35 per month
- Free plan allows only three follow-ups monthly
- Free plan has 500 chat credits monthly
- Best for offline minutesMinutes AIMinutes AI
Minutes AI is a lower-cost option for people taking minutes offline or sharing decisions by email. Its listed starting price is $1.99, with a free plan and minutes that do not expire, according to the published summary. The trade-off is that it is less compelling if you need documented AI features or team pricing. Check those gaps before treating it as a full meeting platform.
What works
- Works offline for note-taking
- Hotkeys speed up in-meeting notes
- Records decisions and next steps
What doesn't
- Free tier allows three minutes daily
- Unlimited plan costs $16.99 monthly
- Enterprise pricing is by inquiry
- Best for CRM auto-loggingtl;dvtl;dv
tl;dv offers CRM auto-logging, multilingual transcription and cross-meeting AI reporting for teams that need those functions. It has a free plan and a listed starting price of $18. The major caution in the published summary is a 2025 tenant-isolation failure that exposed six-figure meeting records. That incident deserves serious security review before you put sensitive calls in the system.
What works
- Annual pricing ($18-$29/seat) undercuts many rivals
- Cross-meeting reports and sales coaching are unusual at this price
- Multilingual transcription covers 30+ languages, per the docs
What doesn't
- r/netsec reports a Firestore leak exposing 181,874 meeting records
- No tenant isolation reportedly let any user query others' meeting data
- Company's breach response described by commenters as blaming users
- Best for recording searchScreenAppScreenApp
ScreenApp is aimed at people searching past recordings, teams with frequent recorded conversations, and users needing video and audio analysis. It has a free plan and a listed starting price of $19. The published summary flags plan caps and cancellation complaints, so review the limits and cancellation terms before signing up. It is a better fit for recording search than a low-cost notes-only need.
What works
- Free plan available for trying core features
- Search recordings for information and moments
- Summaries include decisions and action items
What doesn't
- Free plan allows only 2 transcriptions
- Free recordings stop at 45 minutes
- Pro costs $30 monthly without annual billing
- Best for screen recordingBubblesBubbles
Bubbles may fit basic screen recording, occasional meeting capture or teams that need unlimited channels. Its listed starting price is $12, with a free plan. The published summary gives a specific warning: confirm Bubbles is the product you mean to buy before choosing its recording plans. That identity check should come before comparing its price with dedicated meeting assistants.
What works
- Free Basic plan listed
- Unlimited screen recordings on Basic
- Pro plans list unlimited recording length
What doesn't
- Product description conflicts with software pricing
- Basic meeting recordings capped at five weekly
- Basic recordings capped at 30 minutes
- Best for free testingRead AIRead AI
Read AI has a free plan, a listed starting price of $15 and integrations named for Salesforce and HubSpot. The published summary presents it as a cheap way for solo users to test AI notetakers, but also flags Reddit privacy and IT concerns strong enough to warrant caution. Check your organization’s security requirements and policies before connecting it to company meetings.
What works
- Free plan with unlimited enterprise search included
- Pro tier at $15/user/month undercuts many rivals
- Ask Read gives sourced answers across meetings and email
What doesn't
- Reddit admins report it self-adds to meetings without consent
- Removing it reportedly requires Entra ID permission changes
- One IT thread called it a 'huge pain in the ass' to fully remove
03How we chose
We compare AI meeting assistants on published pricing, plan limits, product documentation, and Reddit sentiment. We give more weight to details that affect a buying decision: what a plan includes, where usage is capped, and whether the vendor explains how recording and transcription work. We treat vendor claims and user reports as different kinds of evidence, and do not present Reddit comments as verified product specifications. When pricing or a limit is not published in the available material, we say so rather than estimate it. This is a source-based comparison, not a report of hands-on testing.
04Choose how you want meetings captured
Start with the capture method your team can actually use. The category includes bots and apps that record, transcribe, and summarize meetings, but those approaches may fit different workflows. Before choosing, check whether a product’s documentation explains how recording starts, what participants see, and where the transcript and summary go. If a bot joining calls would be awkward, prioritize options whose docs describe an app-based or other non-bot workflow; confirm the details with the vendor rather than assuming. Then consider what you need after the meeting: a readable transcript, a short recap, or searchable notes. A polished summary is not a substitute for a transcript if your team needs to verify exact wording. Match the capture method and output to your meetings, not to a feature checklist.
05Compare plan limits before comparing prices
A low listed price is only useful if the plan covers your actual meeting volume and workflow. Check the pricing page for user or usage caps, recording limits, transcript access, and which features require a higher tier. If a limit is not published, treat it as unknown and ask the vendor before switching; do not assume “free” means unlimited. Also check the docs for how recordings and transcripts are handled, and whether the product fits your team’s meeting platform and sharing needs. For a fair comparison, calculate the cost for the people who need access, then compare what each plan includes at that level. If you are replacing an existing tool, confirm how you will retain or export notes you still need. Price matters, but unclear limits can matter more.
Questions people ask
How do we choose an AI meeting assistant?
Start with how meetings should be captured, then check whether the transcript and summary fit your team’s work. Compare published pricing and plan limits, read the product docs, and treat user comments as reports rather than verified specifications. Confirm any unpublished limits with the vendor.
Do AI meeting assistants always join calls as bots?
No single answer applies to every product. The category includes bots and apps, so check the specific product’s documentation for its capture method, what meeting participants see, and how recording is started. If the docs are unclear, ask the vendor before adopting it.
Is a free AI meeting assistant enough?
It depends on your meeting volume and which features your team needs. Check the pricing page for usage, recording, and access limits rather than relying on the word “free.” If the limits are not published, treat them as unknown and confirm them with the vendor.
What should we check before switching meeting assistants?
Compare the plans your team would actually need, including published limits and prices. Check the docs for capture and data-handling details, and confirm how you can keep or export existing notes. Ask the vendor about any unclear limits before you move your workflow.