Taking notes is one of those tasks everyone hates, especially during long meetings or back-to-back calls where your focus should be on contributing, not scribbling. That’s why I decided to put dozens of AI note taker apps to the test.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve tried tool after tool from popular names like Krisp AI and Fireflies.ai to newer players like Otter AI and Sonnet to see which ones actually deliver.
What I found surprised me.
Some AI meeting note taker apps functioned in the background without you knowing, turning talks into text with almost perfect accuracy and making short summaries of meetings. Some people had trouble with accents, technical terms, or made people feel uncomfortable by using evident recording bots.
I looked at a lot of different sorts of meetings and picked the 10 top AI note takers for meetings in 2025. I’ll give you my full reviews of AI note takers, talk about how each one worked in real life, and tell you which one was the best of the bunch. These tools will revolutionize the way you collect and arrange information so that you don’t have to worry about forgetting important data again and save hours of typing.
What Is a AI Note Taker?
An AI note taker is an application that uses artificial intelligence to automatically record meetings, generate transcripts, and create structured summaries without you having to write anything down.
Think of it as a personal AI meeting assistant that works in the background: it listens, transcribes, and organizes your notes so you can stay fully engaged in the discussion.
The best part is accessibility. Many AI note taker apps require expensive monthly subscriptions, which puts them out of reach for students, freelancers, and small businesses. Free AI Note Takers levels the playing field, ensuring everyone can benefit from automated meeting transcription, searchable notes, and action items.
AI note takers are just a productivity boost. The software does it instantly, keeping everyone aligned and saving hours of manual work. That’s why in 2025, the best AI note taker for meetings is the one that combines accuracy, security, and a free plan worth using.
How Do AI Note Takers Work?
Behind the scenes, AI meeting note taker apps combine speech recognition, natural language processing (NLP), and summarization models to deliver notes that are clear and actionable. Here’s what happens step by step:
- Audio Capture & Meeting Transcription
- Bot-based apps send a virtual assistant to join your Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet.
- Bot-free apps capture audio directly from your device.
- Either way, advanced AI filters out background noise to create an accurate transcript.
- Instead of dumping raw transcripts, AI extracts key decisions, action items, and highlights. This makes review faster and far more useful.
- Notes can be edited, searched, and shared instantly. For businesses, this means no more confusion about “what was decided.” The AI-generated meeting summary keeps everyone aligned.
According to McKinsey, AI productivity tools can save professionals up to 3–4 hours per week normally lost to manual note-taking and follow-up. That time savings alone explains why AI note taker reviews consistently emphasize efficiency as the #1 benefit.
The Two Types of AI Note Taker Tools: Bot-Based vs. Bot-Free
Not all AI note taker apps work the same way. The market is split between bot-based and bot-free solutions, each with pros and cons depending on your needs.
Bot-Based AI Note Takers
These tools add a “virtual participant” into your meeting. The bot records audio, transcribes speech, and creates notes. While this makes the recording transparent, it can also feel intrusive—some users hesitate to speak freely when a bot is present. Plus, strict company privacy policies may block bots from joining meetings.
Best for: Teams that value transparency and want everyone to know the meeting is recorded.
Bot-Free AI Note Takers
Instead of joining as a participant, bot-free apps capture audio directly from your device. This allows for a more natural conversation flow, since no visible bot is in the meeting. It’s also a win for security, because much of the processing can happen locally—reducing risks associated with cloud storage or external data transfer.
Best for: Professionals and organizations that want discreet, secure, and seamless meeting transcription without interrupting the flow of discussion.
Trends in AI Note Taking for 2025 and Beyond
AI isn’t just a cool new thing anymore; it’s becoming a part of everyday jobs. A Grammarly 2023 survey found that 62% of employees want AI to handle meeting notes, and a third said it’s their #1 AI use case. Microsoft’s Work Trend Index shows 3 out of 4 knowledge workers already use AI tools, and the majority say it helps them save time (90%) and stay focused on meaningful work (85%). Translation? AI is freeing people from the busywork of note-taking so they can focus on strategy, creativity, and decision-making.
The market tells the same story. The AI note-taking market grew from $450M in 2023 and is forecasted to hit $2.5B by 2033 (source: Market Research Future).
AI note-taking will be as standard as email or Slack. It’s not just a “nice-to-have” anymore. It’s quickly becoming essential infrastructure for how teams record, recall, and act on information.
How We Ranked the Best AI Note Taker Apps in 2025
With dozens of AI note taker apps flooding the market, not all of them are worth your time or your data. To make this list of the best AI note taker tools, I relied on both hands-on testing and industry benchmarks. Each app was tested across multiple real-world scenarios: business meetings, online classes, brainstorming sessions, and one-to-one calls.
Here are the criteria I used to evaluate and rank the best AI note takers for 2025:
- Every tool here can record and generate meeting summaries, but I looked closely at accuracy of meeting transcription, filler-word removal, speaker detection, and AI-powered summarization.
- I tested how well each note taking app integrated with popular platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. A top pick had to be versatile enough for hybrid workflows.
- A productivity tool should save time, not add it. Navigation, onboarding, and export options were weighted heavily.
- With sensitive meeting data at stake, I checked whether apps offered bot-free options, local processing, or encryption. This was critical for enterprise users.
- Since the free option is important, I evaluated how generous each AI note taker’s free plan is, including transcription limits, meeting duration caps, and storage.
- Every app listed here was personally tested by me in at least 3 different meeting types (team sync, client call, and lecture). My experience plays a major role in these AI note taker reviews.
Top 10 AI Note Taker Tools in 2025
The best AI note taker apps are: Krisp AI, Fireflies, Otter, Meetgeek, Granola, Fathom, Fellow, Jamie, Tactiq, and Supernormal.
Features | Krisp | Fireflies | Otter | Meetgeek | Granola | Fathom | Fellow | Jamie | Tactiq | Supernormal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transcription | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Real Time Transcription | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Speaker Recognition & Memory | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Task, Decision & Topic Detection | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
AI Assistant | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Supported Languages | 95 | 100 | 4 | 50 | 20 | 28 | 92 | 100 | 63 | 60 |
AI Chat | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
AI Summaries | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Mobile App | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Krisp AI— Best Bot-Free AI Note Taker for Meetings
Key Features
- Both real-time transcription and post-meeting summary
- AI-powered noise cancellation
- Clean meeting summaries with action items and key takeaways
- Krisp AI note taker Integrates with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and more
- Full call and meeting recording for future reference
- AI chat inside meeting notes
- Speaker identification for clear voice attribution
- Multilingual support
Pros
✅ Improves focus in noisy environments
✅ Accurate, smooth, and free transcription (60min/day)
✅ Call recording: so you never miss a nuance
✅ AI chat boosts collaboration and reduces follow-up friction
✅ Speaker identification aids in fast scanning of notes
✅ Language flexibility supports international conversations
Where Krisp isn’t ideal
❌Free plan caps may not fit enterprise teams
⭐ G2 Rating for 2025 September: 4.7/5 (Krisp reviews on G2)
Fireflies – Best AI Note Taker for Team Collaboration
Key Features
- Real-time transcription for Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, Webex
- AI summaries, action items, topic detection
- Integrations: Slack, Notion, HubSpot, Salesforce, Asana, CRMs
- “AskFred” AI assistant + smart search & analytics
- Mobile apps, Chrome extension, API access
- GDPR, SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA (higher tiers)
Pros
✅ Collaboration features: highlight, comment, share
✅ Broad integrations keep workflows seamless
✅ Free plan: unlimited transcription + 800 minutes storage
✅ Searchable archives for quick decisions
✅ Analytics (sentiment, speaker talk time) add insights
Cons
❌ Bot can join late or feel intrusive
⭐ G2 Rating for 2025 September: 4.6/5 (Fireflies reviews on G2)
Otter.ai – Best AI Note Taker for Education & Training
Key Features
- Real-time transcription in Zoom, Teams, Meet
- AI Chat + OtterPilot for summaries and action items
- Free plan: unlimited meetings, 300 minutes/month, 3 imports
- Cross-platform: web, iOS/Android, Chrome extension
- Paid plans expand to 1,200–6,000 minutes & CRM/SSO
Pros
✅ Real-time transcription and summaries
✅ AI Chat answers questions instantly
✅ Multi-device support
✅ Free tier good for light use
✅ Supports English, French, Spanish
Cons
❌OtterPilot may seem intrusive in sensitive meetings, as its presence can disrupt conversation flow
⭐ G2 Rating for 2025 September: 4.4/5 (Otter reviews on G2)
Meetgeek – Best AI Note Taker with Analytics
Key Features
- Free plan: 5 hours transcription, 3-month storage
- AI summaries, highlights, action items
- Supports 60+ languages
- 7,000+ integrations via Zapier + Slack, Notion, Salesforce
- Chrome extension, iOS/Android apps, offline recording
- Enterprise-grade compliance: SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA
Pros
✅ Automated summaries & decision tracking
✅ Huge integration ecosystem
✅ Works across web, mobile, offline
✅ Free plan includes summaries & search
✅ Team-ready with custom bots and storage control
Cons
❌ Advanced features (team spaces, templates) need paid plan
⭐ G2 Rating for 2025 September: 4.6/5 (MeetGeek reviews on G2)
Granola – Best Lightweight AI Note Taker for Productivity
Key Features
- Bot-free device-level capture (Zoom, Meet, Teams, Webex)
- AI “Writeups” polish rough notes into shareable docs
- Customizable meeting templates (standups, pitches, etc.)
- “Ask Granola” chat for instant queries
- Transcript text only—no audio/video storage
- Free trial: 25 meetings, AI chat, template access
Pros
✅ Minimalist, bot-free experience
✅ Polished summaries and writeups
✅ Custom templates save time
✅ Instant AI transcript cleanup
✅ Great for execs who want actionable insights
Cons
❌Granola does not provide real-time transcription
⭐ G2 Rating for 2025 September: 5/5 (Granola reviews on G2)
Fathom – Best Free AI Note Taker for Zoom Users
Key Features
- Auto transcription in Zoom, Meet, Teams (28 languages)
- Summaries & action items within 30 seconds
- “Ask Fathom” for instant Q&A from calls
- HubSpot CRM sync + Slack, Google Docs, Zapier
- Free plan: unlimited meetings, 5 AI summaries/month
Pros
✅ Lightning-fast meeting summaries
✅ CRM sync makes it ideal for sales teams
✅ Ask Fathom removes need to replay calls
✅ Flexible use on mobile & desktop
✅ Free plan generous with unlimited transcriptions
Cons
❌Fathom does not offer real-time transcription.
⭐ G2 Rating for 2025 September: 5/5 (Fathom reviews on G2)
Fellow – Best AI Note Taker for Structured Meetings
Key Features
- Auto-joins Zoom, Meet, Teams as co-pilot
- AI notes, summaries, transcripts + centralized library
- Collaborative agendas, briefs, AI action items
- Integrations: HubSpot, Salesforce, Asana, Slack, Notion
- Supports 90+ languages, SOC 2 + GDPR/HIPAA compliant
- Centralized admin & access controls
Pros
✅ Covers full meeting lifecycle (before, during, after)
✅ “Ask Fellow” chatbot for instant queries
✅ 50+ integrations across CRMs and PM tools
✅ Enterprise-grade compliance and admin tools
✅ Multi-language support
Cons
❌ Advanced CRM sync and templates require upgrade
⭐ G2 Rating for 2025 September: 4.7/5 (Fellow reviews on G2)
Jamie – Best AI Note Taker for Concise Summaries
Key Features
- Bot-free transcription, works online & in-person
- AI summaries, transcripts, action items, speaker ID
- “Ask Jamie” AI assistant with GPT-4 + Claude
- Custom templates & industry-specific terminology
- GDPR-compliant, EU hosting
- Free plan: 10 meetings/month, 30 minutes each
Pros
✅ Bot-free & privacy-first
✅ Accurate summaries and transcripts
✅ Custom templates for workflows
✅ Ask Jamie boosts follow-ups
✅ GDPR/EU data hosting
Cons
❌ No live transcription—only post-meeting notes
⭐ G2 Rating for 2025 September: 4.9/5 (Jamie reviews on G2)
Tactiq – Best AI Note Taker for Google Meet & Teams
Key Features
- Live transcription for Zoom, Meet, Teams (no bot)
- AI summaries & action items on demand
- Smart AI workflows (emails, Jira tickets, etc.)
- Supports 30+ languages
- Chrome extension with export to Docs, Notion, Dropbox
- Free plan: 10 transcripts/month + 5 AI credits
Pros
✅ Real-time transcription
✅ AI workflows automate tasks fast
✅ No bot—meetings flow naturally
✅ Simple Chrome extension setup
✅ Free plan good for testing
Cons
❌ Pro plan pricey for midsize teams
⭐ G2 Rating for 2025 September: 4.5/5 (Tactiq reviews on G2)
Supernormal – Best AI Note Taker for Startups
Key Features
- Bot-free capture for Google Meet, Zoom, Teams
- Speaker-labeled transcripts, AI summaries, action items
- “Ask Norma” AI assistant for instant Q&A
- Integrates with Asana, Slack, HubSpot, Salesforce, Zapier
- Free Starter: unlimited meetings, 1,000 min storage/user
- Paid plans: Pro & Business add unlimited storage, templates, automation
Pros
✅ Bot-free and seamless capture
✅ Clear, structured summaries with labels & actions
✅ Wide integration support
✅ Free plan generous with 1,000 minutes storage
✅ Ask Norma AI chat adds search & context
Cons
❌ Limited export formats—best for link sharing
⭐ G2 Rating for 2025 September: 4.4/5 (Supernormal reviews on G2)
Best Free AI Note Taking Apps by Use Case
AI Note Taking Apps for Students
Tool | Why It’s Great for Students | Free Plan Highlights |
Otter.ai | Real-time lecture transcription with speaker tags, searchable notes, AI chat for quick Q&A | 300 minutes/month, 30-min meeting cap, 3 file imports |
Krisp AI | Removes background noise in shared dorms, offers accurate bot-free transcription & summaries | Free transcription minutes, 60 min/day noise cancellation, multilingual support |
Meetgeek | Supports 60+ languages, generous free features, offline recording for lectures | 5 hours/month, 3-month transcript storage |
Fathom | Fast summaries (within 30 seconds), unlimited transcription — ideal for study groups | Unlimited meetings, 5 AI summaries/month |
Jamie | Bot-free, privacy-first, concise summaries — good for solo or group projects | 10 meetings/month (30 minutes each), 20 AI queries/day |
Best Free AI Meeting Notes Generators
Tool | Why It’s Great for Meetings | Free Plan Highlights |
Krisp AI | Bot-free transcription with AI-powered noise cancellation, clear summaries, and distraction-free collaboration | Free transcription minutes, 60 min/day noise cancellation, multilingual support |
Fireflies | Deep integrations with Slack, Notion, Salesforce, HubSpot; collaborative commenting and highlights | Unlimited transcription, 800 minutes storage/user |
Fathom | Lightning-fast summaries in 30 seconds, HubSpot CRM sync, timestamped highlights | Unlimited meetings, 5 AI summaries/month |
Fellow | Full meeting lifecycle: collaborative agendas, AI recaps, task follow-ups | 5 AI sessions/month, basic notes & transcripts |
Supernormal | Seamless bot-free capture with speaker-labeled transcripts, integrates with Asana, Slack, CRMs | Unlimited meetings, 1,000 min storage/user |
AI Transcription and Summarization Tools
Tool | Why It’s Great for Transcription & Summaries | Free Plan Highlights |
Krisp AI | Bot-free transcription with AI-powered noise cancellation, clear summaries, and distraction-free collaboration | Free transcription minutes, 60 min/day noise cancellation, multilingual support |
Jamie | Bot-free transcription with concise AI summaries and GPT-powered Q&A | 10 meetings/month (30 min each), 20 AI queries/day |
Granola | Polishes raw notes into AI ‘writeups’ with customizable templates | 25 free meetings, AI chat, template access |
Tactiq | Chrome-based live transcription with instant summaries and workflow exports | 10 transcripts/month, 5 AI credits |
Meetgeek | Transcribes in 60+ languages with strong summarization and analytics | 5 hours/month free, 3-month transcript storage |
Free Plan Pricing Comparison for AI Note Taker Tools (2025)
As of Sept 2025, the pricing for AI note-taking tools varies widely, with free plans offering different limits on transcription minutes, meetings, and AI-powered features, while paid plans start from as low as $7/month and go up to $47/month depending on the tool and plan tier.
Tool | Free Plan Highlights | Paid Plan Start |
Krisp | Transcripts, summaries, action items (limited) | $16–$30/month |
Fireflies | Unlimited transcription + 800 min storage | $10–$18/month |
Otter.ai | 300 min/month, 30-min meetings, 3 imports | $8.33–$20/month |
Meetgeek | 3 hrs transcription/month, 3-mo storage | $19/month |
Granola | 25 meetings free trial, AI chat, templates | $18/month (Individual), $14/user (Business) |
Fathom | Unlimited recordings/transcriptions, 5 AI summaries | $14/month (Team plan) |
Fellow | 5 AI sessions/month, notes, summaries, transcripts | $7/month |
Jamie | 10 meetings/month (30 min), 20 AI messages/day | €24/month (Standard), €47/month (Pro) |
Tactiq | 10 transcripts/month + 5 AI credits | Pricing varies (Pro/Team plans) |
Supernormal | Unlimited meetings, 1,000 min storage/user | $18–$29/month |
Final Verdict: Which Free AI Note Taker Wins in 2025?
After weeks of testing, one thing is clear: there’s no single “best” AI note taker for everyone. Each tool has its strengths—Fireflies for team collaboration, Fathom for sales, Supernormal for startups, and Jamie for quick summaries. But if you’re looking for a privacy-first, distraction-free experience, Krisp takes the crown.
Unlike bot-based tools, Krisp works quietly in the background, delivering accurate transcripts, record meetings, clean meeting summaries, and even removing background noise so you can focus. It’s GDPR-compliant, secure, and built for professionals who want AI-powered productivity without compromise.
With Krisp, you’ll stop worrying about missed details, messy notes, or noisy environments. Instead, you’ll get crystal-clear transcripts, structured action items, and smarter collaboration all in real time.
FAQs About AI Note Taker Tools
• AI summarization takes transcripts and uses NLP to turn them into key points, action items, and decisions. Most of the best programs do both, but productivity improvements truly show when it comes to summary.