Fathom AI Notetaker: An Honest Review + 6 Better Alternatives [2026]

The Fathom AI Notetaker is best known for its free plan, one of the most generous in the meeting AI category. It records, transcribes, and summarizes your calls across the major platforms, Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, and it does so with a clean interface that takes almost no setup. That combination has made Fathom a popular starting point for individuals and small teams who want a simple way to keep a record of their meetings.

If you are weighing whether to commit to Fathom more seriously, this guide covers its strengths and its limits honestly. It then compares Fathom with six other tools that may serve you better in 2026, especially if you need more than meeting recordings and transcripts, from broader platform coverage to language support and automation that carries the work forward after the call.

The Verdict (TL;DR)

Fathom is one of the easiest meeting tools to start with. Its free plan records, transcribes, and summarizes unlimited meetings on Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, and the interface stays clean and fast. Fathom falls short once your needs grow past basic meeting capture. It has no mobile app, connects to fewer tools, supports fewer languages, and stays focused on the meeting itself.Choose Fathom if you meet only on Zoom, Meet, or Teams and want a free, simple notetaker. If you need broader platform coverage, 100+ languages, deeper integrations, or an AI Assistant that also works across email, Slack, and CRM, Fireflies is the stronger pick.

What Is the Fathom AI Notetaker?

The Fathom AI Notetaker is a tool that records, transcribes, and summarizes your video meetings automatically. It works on Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. Within minutes of a call ending, it produces a transcript, an AI summary, and a list of action items.Fathom can capture a meeting in three ways, as full audio and video, as audio with a transcript, or as a transcript only. The two transcript modes can run without a meeting bot. More than 300,000 companies use it, mostly individuals and small teams that want a fast, simple way to keep a record of their meetings.

How does Fathom work?

The flow is the same on every supported platform, from the moment Fathom joins to the tasks it hands you afterward.

1. Joins the call on Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams, either as a visible bot or in a mode that records without one.
2. Records the meeting in your chosen capture mode.
3. Transcribes the conversation with speaker labels, handling accents and overlapping speech.
4. Generates an AI summary when the call ends.
5. Pulls out action items so the tasks and next steps are ready without a rewatch.

What platforms does Fathom support?

Fathom works with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. It does not list Webex or GoToMeeting among its supported video platforms.

Who is Fathom for?

Fathom is best for individuals and small teams that meet mostly on Zoom and want a straightforward way to record and transcribe their calls. Individuals get the most from the free plan, which covers unlimited recording and transcription at no cost. The paid tiers suit teams that want to share calls and search across them, and sales and customer success teams in particular move up for CRM field sync and Deal View.

Fathom AI Notetaker Pricing

As of June 2026, here is how Fathom's plans and pricing break down.

What Fathom Does Well

Fathom is best known for its free plan, one of the most generous in the category. On the free tier you get unlimited meeting recordings and transcription across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, with no caps on recording length or storage. You also get instant AI summaries of your own calls. Advanced summaries, action items, and follow up drafts sit on the paid plans, but for an individual the free tier already covers a lot of ground.

Post meeting documents arrive fast. The moment a call ends, Fathom delivers a recap. On its paid plans it pulls out action items so the next steps are ready without a rewatch.

The interface is clean and easy to learn. There is little to configure, and most people are recording within their first meeting.

Fathom is also strong on Zoom, where it built its early reputation and passed Zoom's own security review.

Where Fathom Falls Short

Fathom's gaps tend to matter most once a team grows or works across more than a few tools.

Limited platform and capture support

Fathom records on three platforms, Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. There is no Webex, no GoToMeeting, and no way to transcribe an uploaded audio or video file. Fathom captures live calls only, so an existing recording cannot be dropped in for a transcript.

Fewer languages than global teams need

As of June 2026, Fathom transcribes in 38 languages. While it covers the major business languages, other meeting tools nowadays, like Fireflies, provide more language supports even more than 100 languages. For global teams that meet across many regions, that gap might matter.

A smaller integration catalog

Fathom does connect to Slack, Salesforce, HubSpot, Asana, and Zapier, and it added Claude and ChatGPT on every plan. The limit is breadth. Its native catalog is far smaller with fewer CRMs and lighter coverage for project management, dialers, and storage tools. Teams on a wider or less common stack are more likely to hit a missing connection.

No built-in AI Skills or automation layer

Fathom captures meetings well, but it does not run the work that comes after them. It has no native library of automations to draft the follow up email, update the CRM, or push tasks into your other tools without an outside connector.

Desktop only, with no mobile app

Fathom runs on Mac and Windows desktops only. There is no native mobile app yet, though an iOS version is in development, and there is no support for Chromebooks or Linux.

Fathom Security and Privacy

Fathom is a secure choice for most business use. It holds SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, and HIPAA compliance, and it supports single sign on and SCIM provisioning. All data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, and Fathom has passed Zoom's own security reviews. For EU and UK users, Fathom stores data in the United States and will sign a Data Processing Agreement under GDPR.

Data handling is where the detail gets specific. Fathom does not permit its AI vendors, which it names as Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google, to train their models on your meeting data. Fathom itself does use customer data, with identifying details removed, to improve its own models, and you can opt out in your settings. Admins on Team Edition can opt out an entire organization at once.

If you need certifications Fathom does not carry, such as FERPA, or a policy that rules out training on your data entirely, the alternatives below go further.

6 Best Fathom Alternatives in 2026

If Fathom's limits are a dealbreaker, these six tools cover the gaps, from broader platform support to deeper automation. Here is how they compare in 2026.

1. Fireflies

Fireflies is the #1 AI Assistant for meetings, email, Slack, CRM, and work. It records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings across every major platform, then automates the work that follows. Where Fathom stays inside the meeting, Fireflies extends into your email, Slack, and CRM, which is why it leads this list. It is trusted by more than 20 million people across over 1 million organizations, including 75% of the Fortune 500.

• More than 200 AI Skills that automate follow up emails, CRM entry, candidate scoring, and deal risk flags.
• AskFred for natural language questions across all your meetings, with Connectors that pull context from email, Slack, and CRM.
• Apps for iOS and Android, a desktop app, and a Chrome extension.
• Voice Agents that run calls on your behalf and Live Assist that supports you during the call.
• 100+ languages, 100+ integrations, and 99% accuracy in English with 95% in other languages.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid from $10 per seat per month on Pro, $19 on Business, and $39 on Enterprise, billed annually.

Security: SOC 2 Type II and GDPR on every plan including Free, with HIPAA and FERPA at Enterprise. Fireflies.ai does not use customer data to train any AI models.Best for: teams that want one assistant across meetings, email, Slack, and CRM, not just a notetaker.

2. Granola

Granola is a clean AI notepad built for people who live in back to back meetings. It captures audio on your device, enhances the notes you type with AI, and keeps the interface minimal with no bot in the room. It has become popular with founders and smaller teams who value polish over depth.

• AI notes that build on what you write, plus AI chat within and across meetings.
• Multilingual support and customizable note templates.
• Integrations with Attio, Notion, Slack, HubSpot, Affinity, and Zapier, plus MCP and API on paid plans.
• Desktop apps for Mac and Windows, an iOS app for in-person meeting notes and phone calls, and an Android app launched July 2026.
• The option to opt out of model training, which is on by default.

Pricing: Basic is free. Business is $14 per user per month and Enterprise is $35 per user per month.

Security: SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR, encrypted and private by default, no HIPAA. Granola trains its own models on your anonymized data unless you opt out.Best for: founders and small teams who want a clean notepad more than a deep automation layer.

3. Otter.ai

Otter is one of the older names in meeting transcription, popular in education and with individuals. It records and transcribes on Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, and has added AI Chat and a set of AI agents for specific roles.

• Live transcription, speaker identification, and AI Chat within and across meetings.
• AI agents for sales, education, media, SDR, and recruiting.
• Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zapier integrations, plus an Otter MCP server.
• iOS and Android apps.

Pricing: Free plan with 300 transcription minutes per month. Pro from $8.33 per user per month annually, Business from $19.99, and Enterprise custom, with HIPAA available as an add-on.

Security: SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and HIPAA as an Enterprise add-on, AES-256 encrypted. Otter trains its own models on your de-identified recordings, though its AI providers cannot.Best for: individuals, students, and small teams that want simple transcription in a familiar tool.

4. tl;dv

tl;dv leans into meeting workflows and automation, with a generous free tier and a strong focus on sales. It records and transcribes across the major platforms and adds AI notes, cross meeting insights, and a large integration library on its paid plans.

• Unlimited video recordings and transcription in 30+ languages on the free plan.
• AI notes, custom note templates, and AI action item assignment.
• 5,000+ integrations on Pro, plus an MCP server, API, and webhooks.
• A Chrome extension, a Mac and Windows desktop app, and an iOS and Android mobile app for in-person capture.
• Cross meeting AI insights, scheduled AI reports, and AI playbook monitoring on Business.

Pricing: Free plan available. Pro from $18 per seat per month annually or $29 monthly. Business from $29 annually or $39 monthly. Enterprise is custom.

Security: SOC 2 Type II and GDPR, AES-256 encrypted, with a choice of Europe or US AI hosting. No customer data is used to train the AI.Best for: sales teams that want meeting automation and a deep integration library at a moderate price.

5. Read AI

Read AI takes an AI first approach, with polished summaries and analytics that span meetings, email, and messaging. It works across the major platforms and recently added a Digital Twin assistant called Ada, though its automation depth stays lighter than Fireflies.

• Summaries for meetings, email, and messaging, plus a meeting coach and Topic Readouts.
• 25+ languages and apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
• Integrations with Notion, Salesforce, HubSpot, Jira, Confluence, and Zapier, plus MCP and API.
• File upload on paid plans, measured in monthly credits.

Pricing: On annual billing, Pro is $15 per user per month, Enterprise is $22.50, and Enterprise+ is $29.75. The Enterprise tiers carry a minimum seat count.

Security: SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR, TLS and AES-256 encrypted, HIPAA via BAA on Enterprise+ only. Your data stays out of product training unless you opt in.Best for: individuals and teams who want strong summaries and analytics across meetings, email, and chat.

6. Microsoft Teams Copilot

For organizations already standardized on Microsoft 365, Copilot brings AI directly into Teams meetings and across the full suite. It generates meeting recaps, summaries, and action items inside the tools your company already uses, grounded in your organization's own Microsoft 365 data.

• Meeting recap, summaries, and action items inside Teams, grounded in your M365 business data.
• Copilot across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote on the full paid tier.
• Agent creation via Copilot Studio, plus enterprise security, compliance, and data protection.
• Runs inside Teams and the Microsoft 365 apps, available on Windows, Mac, the web, iOS, and Android.
• No coverage for Zoom, Google Meet, or any platform outside Microsoft 365.

Pricing: Copilot is sold as an add-on requiring a separate qualifying Microsoft 365 license, not as a standalone product. For businesses up to 300 users, Microsoft 365 Copilot Business runs $18 per user per month on annual billing, or $25.20 monthly. For enterprise organizations, Microsoft 365 Copilot is $30 per user per month on annual billing.

Security: Inherits Microsoft 365 enterprise data protection, including GDPR, EU Data Boundary, and ISO/IEC 27018. Prompts, responses, and Microsoft Graph data stay inside your tenant and are not used to train the foundation models.

Best for: organizations already committed to Microsoft 365 that want AI built into Teams and the full M365 suite.

Fathom vs. the Alternatives

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fathom AI Notetaker free?

Yes, the Fathom AI notetaker is free. Its free plan records, transcribes, and summarizes unlimited meetings on Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, with no caps on recordings or storage. Paid plans add team features like shared call libraries, CRM sync, and admin controls, but an individual can use the core notetaker at no cost for as long as they want.

How much does the Fathom AI Notetaker cost?

Paid tiers run $20 a month for Premium, $19 per user for Team, and $34 for Business. Team and Business require two users. Premium is a single-user plan. Annual billing lowers each rate, to $16, $15, and $25.

Is Fathom Notetaker safe and secure?

Yes, the Fathom notetaker is safe and secure for most business use. It holds SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, and HIPAA compliance, supports SSO and SCIM, and stores data in the United States. Outside AI vendors cannot train on your meeting data, though Fathom does use it, with identifying details removed, to improve its own models unless you opt out.

Is Fathom Notetaker HIPAA compliant?

Yes, the Fathom notetaker is HIPAA compliant. Fathom states it meets HIPAA requirements, which matters for healthcare teams handling protected health information. HIPAA has no formal certification, so compliance rests on documented controls and a Business Associate Agreement. Confirm the current BAA terms directly with Fathom before storing any patient data in the tool.

How do you remove Fathom Notetaker from Zoom?

To remove the Fathom notetaker from Zoom, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the Zoom App Marketplace
2. Go to Manage, then your added apps
3. Find Fathom, and remove it.

This revokes Fathom's access to your Zoom account. To stop it joining future calls, also disconnect your calendar in Fathom and uninstall the Fathom app. Removing it from Zoom does not delete recordings already saved in Fathom.

Does Fathom Notetaker work with Microsoft Teams and Google Meet?

Yes, the Fathom notetaker works with Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, along with Zoom. These three are the only video platforms Fathom supports. It does not work with Webex, GoToMeeting, or other tools, and it cannot transcribe uploaded audio or video files.

What's the best free alternative to Fathom?

The best free alternative to Fathom is Fireflies. Its free plan goes beyond meeting notes with AskFred, 100+ language support, a mobile app, and a Chrome extension, where most free tiers stop at recording and transcription. tl;dv and Granola also offer generous free plans worth a look. For automation and breadth on a free tier, Fireflies leads.

Fathom vs. Fireflies: which is better?

Between Fathom vs. Fireflies, Fireflies is the better choice for most teams. Fathom is a strong, simple notetaker for individuals who meet on Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams. Fireflies adds more meeting platforms, 100+ languages, 100+ integrations, and an automation layer through AI Skills and AskFred that reaches into email, Slack, and CRM. Choose Fathom for simplicity, Fireflies for breadth and follow through.

Conclusion

Fathom is a fine AI notetaker for teams that meet only on Zoom and do not need support for more than one platform, multilingual transcription, or automation beyond the meeting itself. For everyone else, and especially teams that work across several meeting platforms, Fireflies is the better choice.

Fireflies is the #1 AI Assistant for meetings, email, Slack, CRM, and work, and it starts free, so you can test it on your next call before committing.