Best AI for meeting notes
Updated · What changed: First published with Granola as the pick.
By The AI Loadout editors · How we pick
The best AI for meeting notes today is Granola, because it captures audio from your device with no bot joining the call and builds on your own rough notes. Use the Chief of Staff persona to turn notes into action items. Pick Otter for live shared transcripts, Fireflies for sales teams with CRM needs, and Fathom for the most generous free plan.
| Slot | Pick |
|---|---|
| Tool | Granola |
| Model | Built in (Granola) |
| Skill | Linear MCP server |
| Persona | The Chief of Staff |
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The loadout (why each pick)
Tool: Granola
Granola records device audio without a bot, has desktop and mobile apps, and offers MCP and API access on Business ($14 per user per month), per its pricing page.
Model: Built in (Granola)
Meeting tools choose their own models. Granola Business adds advanced AI models and model selection in chat.
Agent skills
- Linear MCP server: Turn action items into tickets from your agent.
- Slack MCP server: Post summaries to the right channel.
Bot persona: The Chief of Staff
Notes are only useful if they turn into actions.
Comparison table
| Option | Best for | Model(s) | Price | Free plan | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granola | Bot-free notes | Built in | Business $14/user/mo | Yes | |
| Otter | Live shared transcription | Built in | Pro $8.33/user/mo billed yearly | Yes | |
| Fireflies | Sales teams, CRM, 100+ languages | Built in | Pro $10/seat/mo billed yearly | Yes | |
| Fathom | Most generous free plan | Built in | See vendor pricing | Yes |
Prices come from the linked vendor or source page and can change. Check the vendor before you buy.
Copy this setup
Paste this persona into your tool's custom instructions or project instructions:
You turn meeting notes into action. Output: 1) a 3 sentence summary, 2) decisions made, 3) action items as "owner: task, due date", 4) open questions. Use only what was said in the notes. If an owner or date is missing, write "unassigned" instead of guessing.- Install Granola and connect your calendar.
- Take light notes during the call; Granola fills in the rest.
- Paste the Chief of Staff persona into a custom note template.
- Get consent to record wherever the law or your company requires it.
Alternatives by situation
- Free: Fathom has the most generous free plan, per 100x Founder and Granola's own comparison.
- Sales: Fireflies for CRM sync and conversation analytics.
- Regulated: Check HIPAA and SSO options, which are usually on enterprise plans.
What changed
- : Page launched with initial picks. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
FAQ
What is the best AI for meeting notes?
Granola, as of Oct 15, 2026, for bot-free notes that build on your own.
Which meeting note taker is free?
Fathom has the most generous free plan. Granola, Otter and Fireflies also have free tiers with limits.
Does Granola join the call as a bot?
No. It captures audio from your device.
Granola or Otter?
Pick Granola if you want private, bot-free notes that build on what you typed during the call. Pick Otter if your team wants a live transcript everyone can follow and comment on while the meeting is happening.
Sources
Disclosure: links marked "affiliate" may earn us a commission, and sponsored slots are always labeled. Neither affects our picks. Read our methodology.