Best AI Tools for Meeting Notes (With Free Options)
Typing notes while trying to listen is a bad combination. AI meeting tools can record, transcribe, and summarize a call for you, and pull out action items afterward. Most have free plans with limits, so you can try one before paying. Plans change often, so check each tool’s site for current details.
First, a quick word on consent
Tell everyone in the meeting you’re recording, and check your employer’s policy before you use any note-taker. Recording laws vary by location, and some workplaces don’t allow third-party tools.
1. Fathom: best free plan for individuals
Fathom works with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. Its free plan includes unlimited recording and transcription, but advanced AI summaries are limited to the first five calls each month. Best for: people who want free notes and don’t have back-to-back meetings. Link: Fathom
2. Otter.ai: best for live transcription
Otter shows a live transcript as people talk. The free plan includes 300 transcription minutes a month, with a 30-minute cap per conversation, so it suits short calls. Best for: students and anyone who wants to read along in real time. Link: Otter.ai
3. Fireflies.ai: best for sharing notes with a team
Fireflies joins calls on many platforms and connects to other work apps. The free plan has limits on storage and AI summaries. Best for: teams that want notes to flow into other tools. Link: Fireflies.ai
4. Granola: best if you don’t want a bot in the meeting
Granola captures audio from your own device instead of joining the call as a visible participant. It has a free plan with limited meeting history. Best for: one-on-one meetings and people who find bots awkward. Link: Granola
How to choose
- Mostly short calls? Otter’s free plan may be enough.
- Lots of meetings and want it free? Try Fathom.
- Don’t want a bot to join? Try Granola.
- Sharing with a team? Try Fireflies.
Test one tool for a week before you decide, and don’t sign up for paid plans until you’ve hit a free limit.
Turn your notes into action items
Once you have a transcript, paste it into a chatbot with this prompt:
“Summarize these meeting notes in five bullet points. Then list action items with an owner and a deadline for each. If something is missing, write ‘not stated’ instead of guessing: [paste notes].”
AI can mishear names and numbers, so skim the summary before you send it to anyone. More prompts like this are in our post on 10 Easy AI Prompts to Save Time at Work.
Keep going
Internal link: What Is ChatGPT? A Simple Beginner’s Guide
Internal link: 7 Best Free AI Tools for Beginners
