The best free AI note-taking tools for students
We may earn a commission from some links. It never changes our picks. How we make money
We may earn a commission from some links. It never changes our picks. How we make money
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.
AI can turn lectures, readings and group meetings into notes you can actually revise from. The catch: recording rules, accuracy and academic integrity. These are the free tools we’d suggest, and how to use them well.
Our top picks
Gemini Notebook
Who it’s for: Students who want to ask questions, make study guides and quizzes from their own lecture slides, readings and notes.
Worth knowing: Source-grounded answers still need checking against the original document.
Notion AI
Who it’s for: Students who want one organised place for class notes, assignments and group projects. Notion’s Plus plan is free for students with a school email.
Worth knowing: AI access depends on the workspace plan; do not assume the free workspace includes full AI.
Otter.ai
Who it’s for: Students who want to read along as people speak, with 300 free transcription minutes a month and an education discount on Pro.
Worth knowing: Ask permission before recording. Check names, numbers and action items.
Fireflies.ai
Who it’s for: Students running group-project calls on Zoom, Google Meet or Teams who want searchable transcripts and summaries.
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: Students who want to replay and share moments from recorded online meetings.
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)
Side-by-side comparison
| Gemini Notebook | Notion | Otter | Fireflies | tl;dv | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main job | Q&A on your own sources | Organise notes | Live transcripts | Meeting notes and search | Meeting video and clips |
| Free option | Free with a Google account | Free; Plus free for students | 300 min/month | Free plan, limited AI summaries | Free plan, AI notes for 10 meetings |
| Works with lectures in the room | Upload slides and notes afterwards | Type your own notes | Can transcribe live (with permission) | Online meetings | Online meetings |
| Integrity risk | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Pricing
| Plan | Gemini Notebook | Notion | Otter | Fireflies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free with a Google account | Free (AI trial); Plus free for students with a school email | US$0: 300 min/month | US$0 |
| Entry paid | Higher limits with Google AI plans | Plus: US$10/member/month | Pro: US$16.99/month, or US$8.33/month billed annually (education discount for eligible emails) | Pro: US$18/seat/month, or US$10 billed annually |
| Full AI | Google AI Pro: check current pricing | Business: US$20/member/month | Business: US$30/month | Business: US$29/month, or US$19 billed annually |
Prices checked on 14 October 2026 from official pricing pages (notebook.google and one.google.com, notion.com/pricing, otter.ai/pricing and fireflies.ai/pricing. tl;dv lists prices in euros (see our tl;dv profile)). Prices are in US dollars (USD) as listed. 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
Check your course rules on recording lectures and using AI.
Upload one week of slides and readings to Gemini Notebook and ask it to make a study guide.
Keep your own notes in Notion or your usual app, and link the AI summary.
For group calls, ask everyone before turning on a note-taker.
How we chose
We picked tools with a free plan that’s genuinely useful for students, using each provider’s official product and pricing pages. We haven’t benchmarked them hands-on, so try them on a week of your own notes.
Readings and slides: Gemini Notebook
Gemini Notebook (previously NotebookLM) is free with a Google account. You upload your own sources, such as lecture slides, PDFs and notes, and it answers questions from them, pointing to the passage it used. It can also make summaries, study guides, quizzes and audio overviews. Because it works from your sources rather than the open web, it’s much less likely to wander off-topic, though you should still check anything important against the original.
Organising everything: Notion
Notion is a flexible workspace for class notes, assignment trackers and group projects. Its Plus plan is free for students and educators with a school email. Full AI features, including AI Meeting Notes, need the Business plan; the free and Plus plans include an AI trial. If you just need tidy notes, the free features are plenty.
Online classes and group calls: Otter, Fireflies and tl;dv
If your classes or tutorials are online, a meeting note-taker can transcribe them. Otter shows a live transcript you can read as people speak, with 300 free minutes a month and an education discount on Pro for eligible emails. Fireflies (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission) joins Zoom, Google Meet and Teams calls and makes searchable transcripts and summaries; its free plan has limited AI summaries and storage. tl;dv (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission) records the video so you can jump to key moments. For group projects, these can save someone from being the permanent note-taker.
Recording rules matter
Many universities have rules about recording lectures and tutorials, and recording laws vary between Australian states. Some lectures are already recorded by your institution, which may be the better source. Ask your lecturer before recording, tell group members before turning on a note-taker, and never share recordings publicly.
Don’t outsource the learning
Research on note-taking suggests that summarising in your own words helps you remember. Use AI summaries as a check on your own notes, not a replacement. A good routine: take brief notes in class, then ask Gemini Notebook what you missed and add it in your own words.
Academic integrity first
Every school and university sets its own rules on AI, and they change often. Before using any tool for assessed work, read your course or unit AI policy, note what must be declared, and ask your teacher or lecturer if you’re unsure. Use AI to understand and organise, not to produce work you submit as your own. Australian students can also look at guidance from their institution and from TEQSA, the higher-education regulator.
Privacy and accounts
Many AI tools need an account, and some features are only for people aged 18 and over. Check the age rules before signing up, and use your school account only for tools your school has approved. Don’t upload other students’ personal information, recordings of people who haven’t agreed, or material you don’t have permission to share.
Our verdict
Start with Gemini Notebook for readings and slides and Notion for organising notes, both free. Add Otter for live transcripts or Fireflies for recorded group calls, with everyone’s permission. See also the best AI tools for students and best free AI study tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free AI note-taker for students?
Gemini Notebook is the best free tool for notes on your readings and slides. For online classes, Otter’s free plan includes 300 transcription minutes a month.
Is Notion free for students?
Notion’s Plus plan is free for students and educators with a school email. Full AI features need the Business plan.
Can I record my lectures with AI?
Only if your institution and lecturer allow it. Many universities have recording rules, and laws vary between Australian states. Ask first.
Does Otter have a student discount?
Otter lists an education discount on Pro for eligible school emails. Check current pricing on Otter’s site.
Are AI summaries good enough to study from?
Use them as a check on your own notes. Summarising in your own words helps you remember, and AI can miss or misstate details.
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Prices in US dollars; Australian GST and currency conversion may apply. Confirm the final price at checkout.
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