Best Fathom alternatives, checked in 2026
Fathom's bet is generosity: unlimited meeting recordings and transcriptions, free forever, with AI summaries included. Otter charges by the minute, Granola sells bot-free capture, and Krisp won't even start without a trial. The question is whether Fathom's paid extras — CRM sync, team workspaces, coaching analytics — matter to you, or whether the free tier is the whole story. For many solo users, it is.
- Otter.ai: The incumbent notetaker: 300 free transcription minutes a month, with 30-minute caps per meeting | Granola | The bot-free Mac notetaker: unlimited meetings on free Basic, with 30 days of history | Krisp | Noise cancellation first, notes second — and no free plan at all, only a 7-day trial | Notion AI | Meeting notes inside Notion; the full AI is paid and the free plan only trials it | Descript | For people who edit the recording afterwards: 1 free transcription hour a month | Motion | The calendar-first planner with AI notes built in — paid only, from $19 per seat
Comparison table
| Tool | Free plan | Card needed | Pricing model | Checked | Reader rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otter.ai | 300 transcription minutes/month plus 300 import minutes (shared pool); 30-minute cap per conversation; 3 lifetime file imports | Not needed | Freemium | 2026-10-31 | – |
1. Otter.ai
The incumbent notetaker: 300 free transcription minutes a month, with 30-minute caps per meeting | Granola | The bot-free Mac notetaker: unlimited meetings on free Basic, with 30 days of history | Krisp | Noise cancellation first, notes second — and no free plan at all, only a 7-day trial | Notion AI | Meeting notes inside Notion; the full AI is paid and the free plan only trials it | Descript | For people who edit the recording afterwards: 1 free transcription hour a month | Motion | The calendar-first planner with AI notes built in — paid only, from $19 per seat
Changed since last check: starting price moved from Paid to $0 (Oct 30, 2026).
- 300 free transcription minutes a month
- No credit card required
- API and webhooks available
- Meetings are capped at 30 minutes each on the free plan
- Only 3 lifetime file imports on the free plan
- Import minutes share the same 300-minute pool
Fathom vs Otter.ai
See the full Fathom vs Otter.ai duel →In-depth notes on Otter.ai
Otter meters your month (300 minutes, 30-minute meetings on free); Fathom doesn't meter recording at all. Otter counters with a bigger brand, strong speaker ID and more workspace features on paid tiers. If your calls run long and often, Fathom's free tier is the rational default.
When to stay with Fathom
Switching is not always the right call. Fathom is still the better pick if:
- You live on calls and hate minute meters — Fathom records and transcribes everything for free, summaries arrive instantly, and clips are one link away. Most individuals never need the paid tiers.
How to switch from Fathom
- You need bot-free capture todayGranola records from your Mac without a meeting bot and keeps your own notes at the centre. | Your notes live in Notion | Notion AI keeps summaries beside the rest of your project work instead of in a separate app. | You edit recordings into content | Descript turns the transcript into an editable audio/video project — Fathom stops at notes and clips.
How we check
Free-plan limits, card requirements and the catch come from the Free Reality Check on each tool. An editor checks the maker's pricing page by hand and records when. If a tool has no check date, we say so and show no numbers.
- Official pricing pages, with the date we checked each one
- Vendor documentation and changelogs
- SaaSListy editor testing notes on each tool page
- Reader reviews on SaaSListy
Some links are affiliate links. They never change a rating, a ranking or a verdict.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fathom free?
Yes — unlimited recordings, transcriptions and instant AI summaries, free forever for individuals. Paid tiers add advanced summaries, action items, team workspaces and CRM sync. | Fathom or Otter.ai? | Fathom's free plan is unlimited; Otter's free plan caps you at 300 minutes a month with 30-minute meetings. Otter is the bigger platform; Fathom is the better free deal. | Does Fathom work without a bot? | A bot-free capture mode exists in beta on Mac; otherwise Fathom joins calls as a visible participant, like most notetakers.
What is the best Fathom alternative?
Otter.ai is listed first on this page. The incumbent notetaker: 300 free transcription minutes a month, with 30-minute caps per meeting | Granola | The bot-free Mac notetaker: unlimited meetings on free Basic, with 30 days of history | Krisp | Noise cancellation first, notes second — and no free plan at all, only a 7-day trial | Notion AI | Meeting notes inside Notion; the full AI is paid and the free plan only trials it | Descript | For people who edit the recording afterwards: 1 free transcription hour a month | Motion | The calendar-first planner with AI notes built in — paid only, from $19 per seat
Which Fathom alternatives are free without a credit card?
Our editors verified that Otter.ai do not ask for a card on the free plan. The free plan box under each tool lists the limits.
How do you check free plans and prices?
Editors check the maker's official pricing page by hand and record the check date. Tools that are not verified yet are labelled that way instead of showing guesses.
How does SaaSListy make money?
Some links are affiliate links. They never change a rating, a ranking or a verdict.