The reality of "free" meeting AI tools: genuine plans vs hidden restrictions
Quick Answer 💡
Only3 tools offer truly free plans forever: tl;dv (unlimited meetings), Otter.ai (600 min/month), and MeetGeek (5 hours/month). Most others are just 14-30 day trials with automatic billing. Always check for time limits, feature restrictions, and hidden costs before committing.
🌟 Genuinely Free Forever Plans
tl;dv
Unlimited ✅
Time Limit:None ✅
Full AI summaries, clips, search
Watermark on recordings
Otter.ai
600/month (resets monthly)
Time Limit:None ✅
Real-time transcription, basic summaries
Limited to 3 exports/month
MeetGeek
5 hours/month
Time Limit:None ✅
AI summaries, keyword detection
Limited integrations on free plan
⚠️ "Free" Trials with Hidden Time Limits
Common Misleading Tactics 🚨
- • "Free plan" that's actually a 14-day trial
- • Requiring credit card for "free" signup
- • Auto-billing after trial without clear warning
- • Severely restricted features labeled as "free"
- • One-time free credits that expire
| Tool | "Free" Claim | Reality | Auto-Bill? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fireflies | Free plan available | 800 min/month limit ⚠️ | No |
| Avoma | 14-day free trial | Trial only, then $50/month ❌ | Yes ⚠️ |
| Gong | Free trial | Demo only, ~$1,200+/year ❌ | Yes ⚠️ |
| Sembly | Free trial | Trial period then $29/month ❌ | Yes ⚠️ |
| Read.ai | Free trial | Limited trial, then $15/month ❌ | Yes ⚠️ |
🔒 Freemium with Heavy Restrictions
Fellow
5 meeting recaps only
After limit:Must upgrade to Pro ($7+)
Use case:Testing only, not practical
Granola
Basic note-taking only
AI features:Requires paid plan ($14-18)
Use case:Manual notes only
Supernormal
3 AI recaps/month
After limit:Must upgrade to Pro ($10)
Use case:Very light testing only
Notta
120 minutes/month
Basic transcription only
AI summaries:Requires Pro ($8.17/month)
💸 Hidden Costs to Watch For
Common Hidden Fees:
- • Credit card required for "free" signup
- • Auto-upgrade after usage limits
- • Export/download charges
- • Integration fees for CRM/tools
- • Premium support costs
Red Flag Phrases:
- • "No credit card required*"
- • "Free forever**" (check fine print)
- • "Start your free trial"
- • "Upgrade anytime"
- • "Premium features available"
📊 Free Plan Feature Matrix
| Tool | Minutes/Month | AI Summary | Export | Time Limit | Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tl;dv | Unlimited ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (w/ watermark) | None ✅ | No ✅ |
| Otter.ai | 600 📊 | Basic ⚠️ | 3/month ⚠️ | None ✅ | No ✅ |
| MeetGeek | 300 📊 | ✅ | Limited ⚠️ | None ✅ | No ✅ |
| Fireflies | 800 📊 | ✅ | ✅ | None ✅ | No ✅ |
| Notta | 120 ⚠️ | ❌ | Basic ⚠️ | None ✅ | No ✅ |
| Gong | Trial Only ❌ | Trial ❌ | Trial ❌ | 14 days ❌ | Required ❌ |
✅ = Available, ❌ = Not available, ⚠️ = Limited, 📊 = Restricted quantity
🛡️ How to Avoid Unexpected Charges
Before Signing Up:
- ✅ Read all terms and conditions
- ✅ Check if credit card is required
- ✅ Look for auto-billing clauses
- ✅ Understand usage limits clearly
- ✅ Test with disposable email first
During Trial:
- ✅ Set calendar reminder 2 days before expiry
- ✅ Monitor usage against limits
- ✅ Export important data early
- ✅ Test all features you need
- ✅ Cancel before auto-renewal if not satisfied
🎯 Our Honest Recommendations
Heavy Users (20+ hours/month)
Recommended: tl;dv
Only option with truly unlimited usage. Watermark is small price for unlimited AI summaries.
Alternative: Accept paid plan (~$10-15/month is fair for heavy usage)
Moderate Users (5-10 hours/month)
Recommended: Otter.ai
600 minutes covers most moderate usage patterns. Well-established with good accuracy.
Backup: Fireflies (800 min/month limit)
Light Users (<5 hours/month)
Recommended: MeetGeek
5 hours monthly is perfect for occasional meetings. Good AI features included.
Alternative: Any option works at this usage level
🔗 Related Analysis
Free Meeting AI Tools Comparison
Complete analysis of all free meeting tools with feature breakdowns
Are There Any Free AI Meeting Tools?
FAQ answering common questions about free AI meeting tools
Monthly Minute Limits Comparison
Detailed breakdown of usage limits across different tools
Maximizing Free Transcription Accounts
Tips for getting the most from free meeting AI accounts
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