Best AI Note Takers for Meetings (2026)
Taking notes while running a meeting is hard. You either listen well or write well, rarely both. AI note takers fix that. They record or listen to your call, write a transcript, and give you a summary with action items when the meeting ends.
This guide compares five popular AI note takers listed in the Tools & Agents directory. How we put it together: we haven't tested these tools hands-on. Features and prices come from each vendor's own pricing pages, checked on October 16, 2026. Prices change and promos come and go, so confirm on the vendor's site. None of the links here are affiliate or sponsored links.
What to look for in an AI note taker
- Bot or no bot. Some tools join your call as a visible "bot" participant. Others record from your computer without joining. Bot-free tools feel less awkward with clients.
- Free plan limits. Free plans usually cap minutes, summaries or history.
- Where your meetings happen. Check support for Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and in-person meetings.
- Integrations. If you use a CRM, look for tools that push notes into it.
- Privacy. Always tell people you're recording, and check the vendor's security and data-use terms.
Who gets the most out of an AI note taker?
Small-business owners who spend a lot of time on calls tend to benefit most. That includes consultants and agencies running client calls, contractors doing remote estimates or supplier calls, salespeople who need to log calls in a CRM, and managers running weekly team meetings. If you spend more than a few hours a week in meetings, a note taker can give you back the time you'd otherwise spend writing up notes and chasing action items. If you rarely meet, a free plan is probably all you need.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Free plan | Paid plans start at (vendor page) |
|---|---|---|
| Otter.ai | Yes, 300 transcription minutes/month | Pro $8.33/user/mo billed annually |
| Fireflies.ai | Yes, limited AI summaries | Pro $10/seat/mo billed annually |
| Fathom | Yes, free forever | Team $15/user/mo (2-user minimum) |
| Granola | Yes, limited history | Business $14/user/mo |
| Krisp | 7-day free trial | Core $8/user/mo billed annually |
The 5 best AI note takers
1. Otter.ai: a long-standing, all-round option
Otter.ai offers live transcription, AI summaries and iOS and Android apps. It also lets you import audio and video files.
Pricing (otter.ai/pricing): The Basic plan is free with 300 monthly transcription minutes. Pro is listed at $8.33/user/month billed annually ($16.99 monthly) with 1,200 recording minutes and 10 file imports a month. Business is $19.99/user/month billed annually, with unlimited meetings and Salesforce, HubSpot and Zapier integrations. Otter also lists a student discount for .edu email addresses.
Good for: people who want a free starting point and mobile apps for in-person meetings.
2. Fireflies.ai: lots of integrations
Fireflies.ai works with Zoom, Google Meet, Teams and more. It offers a desktop app, mobile apps, a Chrome extension and API access.
Pricing (fireflies.ai/pricing): Free includes unlimited transcription, limited AI summaries and 400 minutes of storage per team. Pro is $10/seat/month billed annually ($18 monthly) with unlimited summaries and 8,000 minutes of storage per seat. Business is $19/seat/month billed annually, with unlimited storage and team analytics. Enterprise is $39/seat/month, annual only.
Good for: teams that want notes flowing into lots of other apps.
3. Fathom: a generous free plan
Fathom highlights instant call summaries and integrations with tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, Asana and Zapier.
Pricing (fathom.ai/pricing): Fathom has a free-forever plan. Its Team plan is listed at $15/user/month (a $19 price also appears) with a two-user minimum, and Business at $25 to $34/user/month, which adds CRM field sync and coaching scorecards. Fathom lists a "90 day guarantee" on paid plans.
Good for: sales and client-facing teams, and solo users who want a solid free tier.
4. Granola: notes without a meeting bot
Granola builds AI notes on top of the notes you jot down yourself. Its pricing page lists AI chat across meetings, shared folders, custom note templates, multiple languages and an option to opt out of model training.
Pricing (granola.ai/pricing): Basic is free with limited meeting history. Business is $14/user/month with unlimited notes and history, advanced integrations and API access. Enterprise is $35/user/month with SSO and admin controls.
Good for: people who meet with clients and don't want a bot showing up on the call.
5. Krisp: noise cancellation plus notes
Krisp started as a noise-cancellation app and now includes an AI note taker. Its pricing page lists bot-free transcription, audio and video recording, and AI notes.
Pricing (krisp.ai/pricing): A 7-day free trial requires no credit card. Core is $8/user/month billed annually ($16 monthly) with an unlimited AI note taker. Advanced is $15/user/month billed annually ($30 monthly) and adds accent conversion.
Good for: people taking calls from noisy places who also want meeting notes.
Which one should you pick?
- Want free? Start with the free plans from Fathom, Otter or Fireflies and see which summaries you like best.
- Meet with clients and dislike bots? Look at Granola or Krisp, which both say they work without a bot.
- Live in your CRM? Fathom Business and Otter Business both list CRM integrations. Fireflies offers many integrations too.
- Mostly in-person meetings? Choose a tool with a strong mobile app, such as Otter.
If you're comparing two of these head to head, see our Otter.ai vs Fireflies.ai, Fathom vs Fireflies.ai and Granola vs Otter.ai pages.
Tips for using an AI note taker well
- Tell people you're recording. It's polite, and in many places the law requires consent.
- Review the summary. AI can mishear names, numbers and jargon. Check before you send notes to a client.
- Use templates. Several tools let you shape summaries for sales calls, interviews or team check-ins.
- Watch the minutes. Free plans cap usage, so check your limits before an important meeting.
- Start small. Try one tool for a couple of weeks before rolling it out to the team.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best free AI note taker?
Fathom, Otter, Fireflies and Granola all list free plans. Otter's includes 300 transcription minutes a month. Fireflies offers unlimited transcription with limited summaries. Fathom calls its plan "free forever." The best one depends on how you meet.
Do AI note takers work for in-person meetings?
Some do. Otter lists iOS and Android apps, and Fireflies lists mobile apps. Check each tool's support for recording in the room.
Can I use an AI note taker without a bot joining the call?
Yes. Granola and Krisp both describe themselves as working without a bot on the call.
Are AI note takers accurate?
They're generally good, but they make mistakes with names, accents, numbers and technical terms. Always review the notes before relying on them.
Is it legal to record meetings with AI?
Recording laws vary by state and country, and some require everyone's consent. Tell people you're recording, and check your local rules.
Sources (checked October 16, 2026)
- Otter.ai pricing: https://otter.ai/pricing
- Fireflies.ai pricing: https://fireflies.ai/pricing
- Fathom pricing: https://www.fathom.ai/pricing
- Granola pricing: https://www.granola.ai/pricing
- Krisp pricing: https://krisp.ai/pricing
Information comes from vendor websites and may change. Tools & Agents hasn't tested these products hands-on. No affiliate or sponsored links appear in this article.