AI Note Taker: What It Is and Which Free Plans to Try
How AI note takers work, what each free plan gives you, and whether you may use one.
An AI note taker is an app that records a meeting, writes the transcript, and turns it into a summary and action items. Some send a bot into the call, and others capture audio from your device. Fathom, Otter, Fireflies, Granola and Read AI all have free plans, with very different limits.
Checked November 2026 on each tool's own site.
How an AI note taker works
- • It captures the call: a bot joins as a participant, or an app records audio on your device
- • It writes a transcript, often with speaker names
- • It turns the transcript into a summary and action items
- • You search past meetings and share the notes
Free AI note takers compared
| Tool | Free plan | Paid plans from, per user a month |
|---|---|---|
| Fathom | Unlimited recordings and transcripts, instant AI summaries | $16 billed yearly |
| Otter | 300 minutes a month, up to 30 minutes per conversation, 3 file imports in total | $8.33 billed yearly |
| Fireflies | Limited AI summaries, 400 minutes of storage per team, 20 AI credits | $10 billed yearly |
| Granola | AI meeting notes and chat, 30 days of history, no bot | $14 |
| Read AI | 5 meeting transcripts a month | $15 billed yearly |
| MeetGeek | 3 hours a month, transcripts kept for 3 months | $9.99 billed yearly |
| Notta | 120 minutes a month, up to 3 minutes per conversation | $8.17 billed yearly |
| Bluedot | 5 meetings in total, no bot | $14 billed yearly |
How to choose
- • You want it free with no meeting limit: start with Fathom
- • You do not want a bot in the call: look at Granola or Bluedot
- • Your company uses Microsoft Teams: check Facilitator first
- • You need CRM updates: compare paid plans, because free plans rarely include them
What is the best AI note taker?
We found no independent ranking, and we ran no tests, so we do not name one winner. Fathom has the most generous free plan on this page. Granola and Bluedot suit people who want no bot in the call.
Can ChatGPT take notes?
It can turn a transcript or your rough notes into meeting notes. Paste the text and ask for a summary and action items. An AI note taker also captures the call for you, so you do not need to bring the text.
Is the AI note taker free?
Many have a free plan, but the limits differ. Fathom has unlimited recordings. Otter gives 300 minutes a month. Bluedot stops at 5 meetings in total. Check the limit before you rely on one.
Is AI note taker legal?
It can be, if you follow consent rules. Many places require some or all participants to agree before you record. Tell everyone at the start of the call, and check your company policy. This is not legal advice.
Is it okay to use an AI note taker?
Usually, if people know about it and your company allows it. Avoid it for sensitive talks where people would speak less freely, and check where the tool stores your data.
How much do AI notetakers cost?
Most have a free plan. On this page, paid plans start between $8.17 and $16 per user a month, billed yearly, and Granola Business is $14.