Best free AI note-taker (2026): what each free plan actually includes
Every major AI note-taker has a free plan, but they cap different things: minutes, meetings, history, or AI credits. Pick the one whose limit you won't hit.
Prices and limits come from the vendor pages linked on this page, checked Oct 21, 2026. We have not tested these tools hands-on; “Unknown” means we couldn't verify it. Vendors change pricing often, so confirm before you buy.
Pick by the limit that matters to you
- Most meetings recorded, free: Fathom (unlimited recordings and transcription listed) or Fireflies with Auto-join on (unlimited transcription; summaries use credits). Try Fireflies →
- Predictable monthly minutes: Otter, 300 minutes per user per month.
- No bot in the meeting: Granola (device audio), or Fireflies' Chrome extension.
- Webex or uploaded files: Fireflies (Webex listed; uploads up to 100MB/150 min, 1 credit each).
Free plans compared
| Tool | What's free | The catch | Platforms | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fathom | Unlimited recordings + transcription; instant AI summaries | AI action items are on paid plans | Zoom, Meet, Teams (Mac & Windows) | source | Pricing → |
| Fireflies.ai | 3 transcriptions by default; unlimited with Auto-join on | AI summaries/action items use 20 one-time AI credits; 400 min storage; 2-hour cap | Zoom, Meet, Teams, Webex; Chrome extension (no bot) | source | Try Fireflies → |
| Otter.ai | 300 transcription minutes per user per month | 25 most recent conversations; max 5 members; 3 lifetime file imports | Zoom, Teams, Meet | source | Pricing → |
| Granola | AI meeting notes, no bot | 30-day meeting history; no Notion/Zapier/HubSpot integrations | Device audio: Zoom, Meet, Teams and others | source | Pricing → |
| Read AI | 5 meeting transcripts per month | Paid plans for unlimited transcripts | Zoom, Meet, Teams | source | Pricing → |
| tl;dv | AI notes for 10 meetings (Oct 16 check) | Unknown | Unknown in our data | source | Pricing → |
When free stops working for a team
Free plans are built for individuals. Once a team wants shared history, admin controls or integrations, the cheapest paid seats (annual billing) are: Otter Pro $8.33 (max 5 users), Fireflies Pro $10, Granola Business $14 (monthly), Fathom Team $15 (2-user minimum), Read AI Pro $15. See what your whole team would pay in the cost calculator.
Details: Fireflies free plan limits · Fireflies vs Fathom.
Get your team's exact number
Team size, annual or monthly billing, SSO or not. Every tool's bill, sorted.
FAQ
What is the best free AI note-taker?
It depends on which limit you'd hit. Fathom's free plan lists unlimited recordings and transcription with AI summaries. Fireflies Free is unlimited for transcription with Auto-join on but AI summaries use 20 one-time credits. Otter Basic gives 300 minutes per user per month. We haven't tested quality hands-on.
Is there a completely free AI note-taker for Zoom?
Fathom, Fireflies, Otter, Read AI and Granola all have free plans that work with Zoom; each has a different limit (see the table).
Which free AI note-taker works without a bot?
Granola captures your device audio, so no bot joins. Fireflies' Chrome extension can also record without adding a bot.
Which free AI note-taker works with Microsoft Teams?
Fathom, Fireflies, Otter, Read AI and Granola all list Microsoft Teams support. See our guide to AI note-takers for Microsoft Teams for tenant-policy issues.