Best AI Note Taker Apps of 2026
Note taking apps you install on your phone or computer, ranked on bot free capture, platforms, free plan limits, ratings and price, not on how their meeting bots behave.
By , research by the BestBots team ยท Updated Oct 19, 2026
Fact checked against each company's published pricing, documentation and verified user ratings. How we score
Granola is the best AI note taker app in October 2026: it records meetings on your own device with no bot, works on Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android and Apple Watch, has no daily transcription limit and rates 5.0 on the App Store from 14,567 ratings. Pick Otter for live transcripts on your phone, Fireflies for the most generous free plan.
Our top picks
How to choose
Our best AI note takers ranking compares meeting assistants mainly by how they handle Zoom, Meet and Teams. This list is for people who want an app: something on their phone or computer that captures any conversation, often without a bot joining.
Bot or no bot. A bot joins the call as a participant, which works only on supported platforms and is visible to everyone. An app that captures on your device, like Granola or Krisp, works on any platform, in Slack huddles and in person, and nothing appears in the meeting. Tell people anyway.
Phone, desktop or both. Granola, Otter, Krisp, Notta and Read AI run on both. If you mostly record lectures or in person meetings, the phone app quality matters most; Otter's live transcript is the standout.
Where the notes go. If your team works in Notion, Notion AI puts meeting notes next to your docs. If you live in a CRM, Read AI and Fireflies sync to Salesforce and HubSpot.
How much you record. Free limits range from 3 minute recordings (Notta) to unlimited transcription (Fireflies). Pick by your weekly hours.
Our picks, in detail
- Free plan limit
- No daily transcription limit; only the last 30 days of notes are visible in the app
- Paid from
- $14 per user per month, monthly billing only
- Platforms
- Bot free on Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, Slack huddles and in person; macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Apple Watch
- Languages
- 31 on desktop, 17 on mobile
Granola is an app first note taker: it captures audio on your device with no bot joining, works across Zoom, Meet, Teams, Slack huddles and in person, and turns the notes you type into full notes. It runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android and Apple Watch, has no daily transcription limit on any plan and rates 5.0 on the App Store from 14,567 ratings.
Pros
- No bot joins the call; capture runs on your device audio
- No daily transcription limit on any plan, per the help center
- Works across any meeting app plus in person, with desktop and mobile apps
- 31 transcription languages on desktop
Cons
- Free plan hides notes older than 30 days until you upgrade
- No annual discount on Business; annual billing is Enterprise only
- Salesforce sync and HIPAA are Enterprise only, from $35 per user
- No video recording listed on any plan
Skip it if you want a searchable archive free; free notes older than 30 days are hidden.
- Free plan limit
- 300 minutes per month, 30 minutes per conversation, last 25 conversations
- Paid from
- $16.99 per user per month, or $8.33 billed annually
- Platforms
- Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet; bot free capture on Mac and Windows desktop
- Languages
- English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese
Otter's mobile app shows a live transcript as people speak and records lectures and in person meetings, and its desktop apps capture calls without a bot. Free covers 300 minutes a month; Pro is $8.33 a month billed annually. It rates 4.8 on the App Store from 85,529 ratings.
Pros
- Pro at $8.33 per user on annual billing is the lowest annual paid tier among the big names
- Live transcript during the call plus bot free desktop capture
- Salesforce and HubSpot integrations start on Pro
- Business removes the minute cap for $19.99 per user annual
Cons
- Free plan caps each conversation at 30 minutes and keeps only the last 25
- Six transcription languages, far fewer than Fireflies or Notta
- Pro still caps you at 1,200 minutes and 90 minutes per conversation
- Class action over recording without consent survived a motion to dismiss in August 2026
Skip it if you need more than six transcription languages.
- Free plan limit
- Unlimited transcription with auto join, 400 minutes of storage per team, limited AI summaries
- Paid from
- $18 per seat per month, or $10 billed annually
- Platforms
- Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, desktop app, mobile app, Chrome extension
- Languages
- 100+ languages
Fireflies gives unlimited transcription free across its desktop app, mobile app and Chrome extension, in 100+ languages. Pro is $10 a seat billed annually, and the mobile app rates 4.8 on the App Store from 5,310 ratings.
Pros
- Pro at $10 per seat on annual billing is one of the lowest paid tiers in the category
- Transcription in 100+ languages on every plan
- Video recording, downloads and unlimited integrations from Pro
- SOC 2 Type II, GDPR and HIPAA listed; HIPAA is on Enterprise
Cons
- Free plan storage is 400 minutes for the whole team, so history fills fast
- AI features draw from a monthly AI credit balance (20 on Free and Pro)
- Unlimited free transcription only applies with calendar auto join on; invite only mode limits you to 3 transcriptions
- The bot joins the call by default
Skip it if you want nothing in the meeting; Fireflies' auto join works through a bot.
- Free plan limit
- Not published
- Paid from
- Business, $20 per seat per month billed annually ($24 monthly)
- Platforms
- Not published
- Languages
- Not published
Notion AI Meeting Notes transcribes meetings straight into your workspace, next to your docs and projects, with your existing permissions and no training on customer data by default. Full Notion AI is on Business at $20 per seat billed annually, and the Notion app rates 4.8 on the App Store from about 90,000 ratings.
Pros
- Works inside your workspace with existing permissions, so answers draw on your own docs and databases
- No training on customer data by default, SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001, zero data retention on Enterprise
- Custom Agents run recurring tasks on schedules or triggers across Notion and connected apps
- Notion app rates 4.8 on the App Store from about 90,000 ratings
Cons
- Full AI only on Business at $20 to $24 per seat, double the Plus price
- Credits for Custom Agents and premium models add a second bill
- Trustpilot score of 2.2 from 439 reviews, with billing and support complaints
- No voice chat or image generation
Skip it if you do not use Notion; you would pay for a workspace to get a note taker.
- Free plan limit
- No free plan; 7 day free trial
- Paid from
- $16 per user per month, or $8 billed annually
- Platforms
- Bot free on Zoom, Google Meet, Teams and other voice apps; Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
- Languages
- 17+ languages
Krisp captures any voice app through a virtual microphone and speaker, so no bot joins, and it adds noise cancellation, which no other app here offers. Core is $8 a user billed annually, with apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, and 4.7 on G2 from 1,612 reviews.
Pros
- Bot free capture through a virtual microphone and speaker
- Noise cancellation included, which no other pick here offers
- Core at $8 per user annual is among the lowest paid tiers
- 4.7 on G2 from 1,612 reviews
Cons
- No free plan, only a 7 day trial
- Salesforce needs Advanced at $30 per user monthly
- 10 GB storage cap on Core
- 17+ languages, fewer than Fireflies or Notta
Skip it if you want a free plan; Krisp has a 7 day trial only.
- Free plan limit
- 120 minutes per month, up to 3 minutes per conversation, 10 AI summaries
- Paid from
- $13.99 per month, or $8.17 billed annually
- Platforms
- Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex; web, mobile, Chrome extension
- Languages
- 58 languages
Notta transcribes 58 languages, records on web, mobile and a Chrome extension, and transcribes uploaded audio and video files up to 5 hours on paid plans, from $8.17 a month billed annually. It lists SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and HIPAA.
Pros
- 58 transcription languages, the widest named list among these picks after Fireflies' 100+
- Pro at $8.17 per month on annual billing
- Up to 5 hours per recording on paid plans
- SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR and HIPAA listed
Cons
- Free plan sessions are capped at 3 minutes, per the pricing page
- Pro still caps minutes (1,800) and AI summaries (100) per month
- CRM and video recording wait for Business
- No G2 rating could be verified this month
Skip it if on the free plan; recordings stop at 3 minutes.
- Free plan limit
- 5 meeting transcripts per month
- Paid from
- $19.75 per user per month, or $15 billed annually
- Platforms
- Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome
- Languages
- 20+ languages
Read AI covers meetings, email and messages in one assistant, with apps on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android and Chrome. Pro is $15 a user billed annually and includes Salesforce and HubSpot sync.
Pros
- Covers meetings plus email and messages in one assistant
- SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR and HIPAA listed
- Salesforce and HubSpot on the first paid tier
- Desktop, mobile and browser apps for in person capture
Cons
- Free plan is capped at 5 meeting transcripts a month and 1 hour per meeting
- Audio and video playback needs Enterprise at $29.75 monthly
- HIPAA needs Enterprise+ with a 5 license minimum
- No refunds, per its pricing FAQ; cancel before renewal
Skip it if you want a generous free plan; it allows 5 meeting transcripts a month.
What it costs
| App | Free plan | Paid from, annual | Paid from, monthly | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granola | No daily limit, 30 days visible | Monthly billing only | $14 per user | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Apple Watch |
| Otter | 300 minutes a month | $8.33 | $16.99 | iOS, Android, web, Mac and Windows desktop |
| Fireflies | Unlimited transcription, 400 minutes team storage | $10 per seat | $18 per seat | Desktop, mobile, Chrome extension |
| Notion AI | Limited AI trial | $20 per seat (Business) | $24 per seat | Web, desktop, mobile |
| Krisp | 7 day trial | $8 per user | $16 per user | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Notta | 120 minutes, 3 minutes per recording | $8.17 | $13.99 | Web, mobile, Chrome extension |
| Read AI | 5 transcripts a month | $15 per user | $19.75 per user | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome |
Prices from each vendor's pricing page in October 2026. See all note takers in the AI Price Index.
Worked example. Someone who records 10 hours of meetings a month on a laptop and phone could stay free on Fireflies or Granola. Otter's free 300 minutes covers 5 hours, so they would need Pro at $99.96 a year. Krisp at $96 a year adds noise cancellation on calls.
Which app for which job
| Job | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Notes for every meeting, no bot | Granola | Device capture on any platform, no daily limit |
| Lectures and in person talks | Otter | Live transcript on the phone as people speak |
| Record a lot for free | Fireflies | Unlimited transcription on the free plan |
| Notes that live with your docs | Notion AI | Meeting notes inside your Notion workspace |
| Noisy home office calls | Krisp | Noise cancellation plus bot free notes |
| Interviews in other languages | Notta | 58 languages and 5 hour file uploads |
| Meetings, email and Slack in one recap | Read AI | Covers meetings, email and messages |
| Sales calls synced to a CRM | Fireflies or Read AI | Salesforce and HubSpot on paid plans |
Desktop app or phone app first? If most of your meetings are on a laptop, install a desktop app that captures system audio (Granola, Krisp, Otter's desktop app) so you never depend on a bot being admitted. If most of your conversations happen away from a desk, the phone app matters more, and Otter's live transcript and Granola's mobile apps are the strongest.
Bot free app vs meeting bot
| Bot free app (Granola, Krisp) | Meeting bot (Fireflies, Otter bot, Read AI bot) | |
|---|---|---|
| Visible in the meeting | No | Yes, as a participant |
| Works on any platform | Yes, including huddles and phone softphones | Only supported platforms |
| In person meetings | Yes, through the phone or laptop mic | No |
| Joins when you are absent | No | Yes, can attend for you |
| Video recording | Usually audio only | Often video too |
| Speaker labels | From audio detection | From platform data, usually more accurate |
Red flags
- Recording without telling people. A bot free app is invisible, which makes consent your job. Some states require everyone's agreement.
- Auto join surprises. Bot based apps can join every calendar meeting by default. Turn off auto join for external meetings you have not announced.
- Hidden history limits. Granola hides free notes after 30 days and tl;dv keeps free data 3 months; export what you need.
- Training on your audio. Check each vendor's policy. Notion and Zoom state they do not train on customer content; not every vendor says so on its pricing page.
How we picked
We started from apps that rank for AI note taker app searches and lead App Store and Google Play charts, and kept tools with an installable phone or desktop app and a published price. We compared bot free capture, platforms, free plan limits, prices on monthly and annual billing, languages, integrations, security listings and ratings on the App Store, Google Play and G2, from pages we opened and cite. We do not test apps ourselves. Ranked order favors apps that work without a bot and across devices. Method: how we score. Also see best free AI note takers and best AI note takers for in person meetings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI note taker app?
Granola for most people. It captures meetings on your own device with no bot, works on desktop, iPhone, Android and Apple Watch, has no daily transcription limit and rates 5.0 on the App Store from 14,567 ratings. Pick Otter if you want a live transcript on your phone.
What is the best free AI note taker app?
Fireflies for volume, with unlimited transcription in 100+ languages on its free plan. Granola is free with no daily limit but hides notes older than 30 days. Otter's free plan covers 300 minutes a month. See our full free note taker ranking.
Which AI note taker app does not use a bot?
Granola and Krisp never join as a bot; they capture audio on your device. Otter's desktop apps can also record without a bot. Bot free apps work on any meeting platform and in person.
What is the best AI note taker app for iPhone?
Granola (5.0 from 14,567 ratings) for meeting notes and Otter (4.8 from 85,529) for live transcripts of lectures and in person conversations. Both record without needing a video call.
What is the best AI note taker app for Android?
Granola rates 4.9 and Otter 4.8 on Google Play. Otter has the larger base, 46,300 reviews and 5 million+ downloads, against Granola's 3,520 reviews.
Are AI note taker apps private?
It varies. Notion states no training on customer data by default, Notta and Fireflies list SOC 2 Type II, and Krisp and Granola capture audio on your device instead of sending a bot. Read each vendor's privacy policy before recording clients or patients, and tell people you are recording.
Can an AI note taker app record phone calls?
Phone platforms restrict call recording by apps, so most note taker apps record calls only through speakerphone or a desktop softphone. For regular phone calls, a device like the Plaud Note that attaches to your phone is more reliable.
Which AI note taker app works offline?
None of these transcribe fully offline on the free plans we compared; they record locally and process in the cloud. If you need offline capture, a recorder like the Plaud Note or Comulytic Note Pro stores 64 GB on device and transcribes after it syncs to the app.