The short answer
Fathom gives the most on its free plan, with unlimited recordings and transcripts. Granola captures audio from your device without a bot joining the call, which suits external meetings. Otter.ai has the longest-established mobile apps and a free tier of 300 minutes a month. Paid plans start between about $8 and $20 a month per user depending on billing.
| Decision | Otter.ai | Fathom | Granola |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it captures | Joins meetings and records; mobile apps | Records Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams calls | Captures device audio without a bot joining |
| Free plan | 300 transcription minutes a month | Unlimited recordings and transcripts | Basic plan, free |
| Cheapest paid plan | $8.33 per user a month, billed annually | $20 a month, or $16 billed annually | $14 per user a month |
| Best fit | Mobile and in-person transcription | Heavy video-call schedules on a budget | External calls where a bot would be awkward |
How each one captures meetings
Fathom records calls on Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams and writes summaries and action items. Granola is an AI notepad that works without a meeting bot joining the call. Otter.ai is a meeting agent with real-time transcription, live chat and summaries, with iOS and Android apps.
Whether a visible bot is acceptable depends on who you meet. Some clients and candidates object to a recorder joining; device-audio capture avoids that, but you still need consent where the law requires it.
Free plans
Fathom's free plan includes unlimited recordings and transcripts, with limits on its AI assistant and advanced summary templates. Otter.ai's free plan includes 300 transcription minutes a month, which do not roll over. Granola's Basic plan is free.
Paid plans
Otter.ai Pro is $8.33 per user a month on annual billing. Fathom Premium is $20 a month, or $16 on annual billing. Granola's Business plan is $14 per user a month. All three add team features and integrations on higher tiers.
Sources & method
Official documentation was checked on 2026-10-02. Selection advice is our assessment. Interfaces and requirements may change; check the linked source for the version you intend to use.
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