The best AI meeting assistants for Zoom
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Ranked on published features, free-plan limits and beginner ease (checked 14 October 2026). We have not benchmarked these tools hands-on, and commissions don’t affect rankings.
Zoom is still where a lot of client calls, team stand-ups, tutoring sessions and interviews happen. An AI meeting assistant records the call, writes up the notes and pulls out the action items, so you can listen instead of typing. Here are the tools we’d suggest for Zoom users, and when Zoom’s built-in features may be enough.
Decide in 30 seconds
- Searchable notes across many Zoom calls → Fireflies
- Rewatch and clip Zoom recordings → tl;dv
- Read a live transcript → Otter
- Your Zoom plan already includes AI summaries → try Zoom’s built-in AI first
Our top picks
Fireflies.ai
Who it’s for: Freelancers, small businesses and teams with lots of recurring Zoom calls who want searchable notes and action items across every meeting.
Worth knowing: Free summaries and storage are limited. Obtain recording consent.
Visit Fireflies.ai ↗ (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission)
tl;dv
Who it’s for: Sales, product and customer teams who want to jump to key moments in the recording and share short clips.
Worth knowing: The free plan limits AI notes to 10 meetings and keeps data for up to 3 months. Sign-up uses a Google or Microsoft work account. Get consent before recording.
Visit tl;dv ↗ (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission)
Otter.ai
Who it’s for: Students, interviewers and anyone who wants to read along as people speak.
Worth knowing: Ask permission before recording. Check names, numbers and action items.
Side-by-side comparison
| Fireflies | tl;dv | Otter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it joins Zoom | Bot joins scheduled calls from your Google or Outlook calendar, or a pasted link | Bot joins from your calendar or a pasted link; desktop app for manual or bot-free recording | Assistant joins from your calendar |
| Main strength | Searchable notes, summaries and action items | Video replay, highlights and clips | Live transcript |
| Also works with | Google Meet, Microsoft Teams | Google Meet, Microsoft Teams | Google Meet, Microsoft Teams |
| Free option | Free plan with limited AI summaries and storage | Unlimited recordings; AI notes for 10 meetings | 300 transcription minutes a month |
Pricing
| Plan | Fireflies | tl;dv | Otter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | US$0 | €0 | US$0: 300 transcription min/month |
| Entry paid | Pro: US$18/seat/month, or US$10 billed annually | Pro: €29/seat/month, or €18 billed annually | Pro: US$16.99/month, or US$8.33/month billed annually |
| Next tier | Business: US$29/month, or US$19 billed annually | Business: €39/seat/month, or €29 billed annually | Business: US$30/month, or US$24/month billed annually |
Prices checked on 14 October 2026 from official pricing pages (fireflies.ai/pricing, tldv.io/app/pricing (tl;dv lists prices in euros, EUR, not USD) and otter.ai/pricing). Prices are shown as listed, in US dollars (USD) and euros (EUR). Australian prices, GST and app-store pricing can differ, and plans change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you pay.
How to get started
Decide what you need after a Zoom call: written notes, a replayable video or a live transcript.
Sign up for one tool’s free plan with the Google or Microsoft account that holds your calendar.
Set it to join only meetings you choose, then invite it to one low-stakes Zoom call and tell everyone it’s there.
Check the summary for names, numbers and action items, then decide whether the free plan is enough.
How we chose
We looked for tools that work with Zoom without technical setup, have a free plan good enough to judge, and suit beginners. We used each provider’s official feature and pricing pages and Zoom’s own help centre, plus our editorial judgement. We haven’t run a formal transcription accuracy benchmark, so try each tool on a real (non-sensitive) call before relying on it.
Why Fireflies is our top pick for Zoom
Fireflies (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission) connects to your Google or Outlook calendar and sends its notetaker to scheduled Zoom meetings that have a meeting link. After the call you get a transcript, a summary and a list of action items, and you can search across all your past meetings. That last part is what sets it apart for busy people: weeks later, you can find the call where a price or deadline was agreed. The free plan includes transcription with limited AI summaries and storage. Pro was US$10 per seat a month billed annually (US$18 monthly) when we checked. On day one, change the auto-join setting so it only joins the meetings you want, and decide whether recaps go to everyone on the invite or just you. Our how to use Fireflies tutorial walks through it.
tl;dv: best if you want the video
tl;dv (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission) records your Zoom call as video with a transcript and AI notes. Its strength is replay: jump to the moment a decision was made, highlight it and share a short clip with someone who wasn’t there. tl;dv’s help centre says you can auto-record calendar events, send its bot to a meeting by pasting the Zoom link, or use its desktop app to record Zoom manually, including without a bot. The free plan includes unlimited recordings with AI notes for 10 meetings. tl;dv lists prices in euros: Pro was €18 per seat a month billed annually (€29 monthly). See our beginner’s guide to tl;dv.
Otter: best for a live transcript
Otter shows the transcript as people talk, which helps if you want to follow fast discussions, lectures or interviews in real time. Its free plan includes 300 transcription minutes a month, and Pro was US$8.33 a month billed annually. It’s simple to use but has fewer integrations than Fireflies. Compare them in Otter vs Fireflies.
What about Zoom’s own AI features?
Zoom has built-in AI features, including a meeting summary with next steps, in-meeting questions to catch up on what you missed, and smart recording with chapters and highlights for cloud recordings. Zoom’s help centre says account owners and admins can turn these on or off, and individual users can switch some on in their own settings. Availability depends on your Zoom plan and admin settings, so check Zoom’s guide to its AI features (opens in new tab). If you already have access, try it first: it needs no extra app or bot. A separate tool makes more sense if you also use Google Meet or Teams, want one searchable library of every meeting, or want video clips.
Getting the bot into your Zoom call
Most problems are simple. If the host uses a waiting room, the notetaker has to be admitted like any other guest. If you aren’t the host, ask before adding a bot to someone else’s meeting; some hosts remove unknown participants. Some organisations block third-party bots in Zoom, so if it never joins, check with your IT admin. And if you record a call with an external client, mention the note-taker at the start and offer to switch it off.
Consent, privacy and accuracy
Whatever tool you choose, tell everyone when a note-taker is recording and get their consent. Recording and surveillance laws vary between Australian states and territories, and many workplaces, schools and clients have their own policies. Check where recordings and transcripts are stored, who can see them, how long they are kept, and whether the provider uses your data to train AI models. Every AI note-taker can mishear names, numbers, accents and acronyms, so have the meeting owner check the summary before it is shared or acted on. Don’t record confidential health, legal or HR conversations unless your organisation has approved the tool for that use.
Free or paid?
If you have a handful of Zoom calls a week, start free. Fireflies’ free plan is good for transcripts, tl;dv’s for video recordings, and Otter’s for up to 300 minutes of live transcription a month. Upgrade when you keep hitting a specific limit, such as AI summaries, storage or minutes. Pay monthly first if you’re unsure, and remember tl;dv bills in euros, so your Australian card statement will vary with the exchange rate.
Our verdict
For most Zoom users, Fireflies is the best place to start. Choose tl;dv for video replay and clips, or Otter for a live transcript. Try Zoom’s built-in AI first if your plan already includes it. See also the best AI note-takers for Google Meet, the best for Microsoft Teams and our best AI meeting note-takers.
Who these tools are not for
- Calls where you aren’t the host and haven’t asked permission to add a bot
- Organisations that block third-party meeting bots (check with IT)
- Confidential calls your organisation hasn’t approved for recording
Limitations to know before you sign up
- If the host uses a waiting room, the notetaker must be admitted or it won’t record.
- tl;dv’s free plan gives AI notes for 10 meetings; Otter’s gives 300 minutes a month.
- Zoom’s AI features depend on your plan and admin settings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI note-taker for Zoom?
For most people, Fireflies: it joins scheduled Zoom calls from your calendar and gives searchable notes and action items. tl;dv is better for video clips and Otter for live transcripts.
Does Zoom have a built-in AI note-taker?
Zoom has AI features such as meeting summaries, in-meeting questions and smart recording. Availability depends on your plan and admin settings, so check Zoom’s help centre.
Is there a free AI note-taker for Zoom?
Yes. Fireflies, tl;dv and Otter all have free plans with limits. Otter’s includes 300 transcription minutes a month; tl;dv’s includes AI notes for 10 meetings.
Why didn’t the note-taker join my Zoom meeting?
Common reasons are a waiting room, the host removing it, the meeting not being on your connected calendar, or your organisation blocking bots.
Can I record Zoom without a bot?
tl;dv’s help centre says its desktop app can record without a bot. Other tools mostly use a bot that joins as a participant.
Do I need consent to record a Zoom call?
Tell everyone and get consent. Recording laws vary between Australian states and territories, and organisations often have their own rules.
Do Zoom participants see the note-taker?
Usually yes: bots join as a named participant, and you should tell people anyway to get consent.
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Prices are shown as marked: US dollars (US$) and euros (€). Australian GST and currency conversion may apply. Confirm the final price at checkout.