Best AI Meeting Notes Apps in 2026
An AI notetaker records the call, writes the transcript and turns it into a summary with action items, so nobody has to take notes. The big split in 2026 is whether a bot joins the meeting or the app listens on your own device. Here are the leading options, from per-seat SaaS to a free open-source app that never sends audio to the cloud.
AI Meeting Notes Tools Compared
| Tool | Pricing | Free tier |
|---|---|---|
| Granola | Free · paid from $14/user/mo | |
| Fireflies.ai | Free · paid from $10/seat/mo | |
| Meetily | Free · paid from $10/user/mo | |
| Otter.ai | Free · paid from $8.33/user/mo |
The Best AI Meeting Notes Tools, Ranked
1. Granola
Free tier· Free · paid from $14/user/moBot-free AI notepad: it listens to your device audio, and you jot rough notes that AI turns into a clean summary. No bot joins the call.
- No bot joins the call
- Your own notes steer the summary, so it captures what you cared about
- Works with any meeting app, including in-person
2. Fireflies.ai
Free tier· Free · paid from $10/seat/moAI notetaker that records, transcribes and summarises calls, then pushes notes and action items into your CRM and project tools.
- Deepest CRM and workflow integrations in the category
- Conversation intelligence for sales teams
- Transcribes in 100+ languages
3. Meetily
Free tier· Free · paid from $10/user/moOpen-source, privacy-first AI meeting notes. Transcribes locally with Whisper or Parakeet and summarises without sending audio to the cloud. Free Community Edition.
- Open source (MIT) and free
- Audio never leaves your machine
- No bot joins the call
4. Otter.ai
Free tier· Free · paid from $8.33/user/moAI meeting assistant that joins Zoom, Meet and Teams to transcribe live, summarise and pull out action items. Free for 300 minutes a month.
- Real-time transcript you can read during the call
- Generous free plan to try it
- Strong search and AI chat across past meetings
How to choose a ai meeting notes tool
- Decide first whether a visible bot in the call is acceptable. Otter and Fireflies send one, while Granola and Meetily record on your device.
- Choose Otter.ai for live transcripts you can read during the call and a free plan to start with (300 minutes, 30-minute meetings).
- Choose Fireflies.ai when notes need to land in a CRM, and for conversation intelligence on sales calls.
- Choose Granola if you like typing your own rough notes and want AI to fill in the rest, with no bot at all.
- Choose Meetily for a free, MIT-licensed app that transcribes locally with Whisper, which suits privacy-sensitive or regulated teams.
- All the paid plans are per seat. Count only the people who actually run meetings, not everyone who attends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best ai meeting notes tools for startups in 2026?⌄
The best ai meeting notes tools for startups in 2026 include Granola, Fireflies.ai, Meetily, Otter.ai. Compare them by pricing, free tiers, and features in the list above.
What is the best free ai meeting notes tool?⌄
Free ai meeting notes options include Granola, Fireflies.ai, Meetily, Otter.ai — all offer a free tier suitable for bootstrapped startups and MVPs.
How do I choose a ai meeting notes tool?⌄
Start with your budget and team size, prefer tools with a free tier to validate, and make sure your pick integrates with the rest of your stack. App Stack Builder can recommend a complete, budget-aware stack in about 60 seconds.
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