Top Free Meeting Transcription Tools in 2025
Finding a truly free meeting transcription tool can be challenging. Many tools advertise as "free" but actually limit you to short trials or cap basic features behind paywalls. We've researched and tested the best options to help you find tools with genuine, permanent free tiers.
1. Fathom - Best Overall Free Option
100% FreeFathom is the standout free option that offers AI meeting summaries to anyone at no cost. It works with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
What's Included Free:
- Unlimited transcription minutes
- AI-generated meeting summaries
- Timestamp highlights and key moments
- Export to Notion, Google Docs
- Team sharing capabilities
- Advanced analytics in paid tier
- CRM integrations require upgrade
2. Otter.ai - Best for Accuracy
300 min/monthOtter.ai is renowned for its high accuracy (up to 95%) and powerful AI features. Users report saving over 4 hours weekly by automating transcription.
What's Included Free:
- 300 transcription minutes/month
- Real-time transcription
- AI meeting summaries
- Speaker identification
- Mobile app access
- 30-minute max per recording
- Only 3 audio imports lifetime
- No Zapier integration
- Limited storage
3. MeetGeek - Most Generous Free Tier
5 hrs/monthMeetGeek offers one of the most generous free plans with 5 hours for online meetings and 3 hours for uploaded recordings monthly.
What's Included Free:
- 5 hours/month online meetings
- 3 hours/month uploads
- 50+ language support
- AI meeting notes
- Speaker detection
- 3-month transcript storage
- 1-month audio storage
- Limited integrations
4. Tactiq - Best for Privacy
10 meetingsTactiq is a bot-free transcription tool that starts automatically at meetings. It supports 30+ languages and provides real-time transcripts.
What's Included Free:
- 10 meeting transcriptions
- Real-time view of transcripts
- 30+ language support
- No bot joins meetings
- Browser extension
- Only 10 meetings free
- Limited AI features
- Basic export options
5. Jamie AI - Unlimited Transcription
10 credits/moJamie transcribes directly from your computer's audio without joining as a bot. Available for MacOS and Windows with 100+ language support.
What's Included Free:
- 10 monthly credits
- No meeting bot required
- 100+ languages
- Works on any platform
- Local processing option
- 30-minute meeting limit
- No semantic analytics
- Desktop app required
6. Hyprnote - Best for Privacy Conscious
UnlimitedHyprnote is a local-first transcription tool that processes everything on your device using Whisper AI. No data leaves your computer.
What's Included Free:
- Unlimited transcription
- No monthly caps
- 100% local processing
- AI meeting summaries
- Open source
- Requires local compute
- No cloud sync
- Limited integrations
Free Plan Feature Comparison
| Tool | Free Limit | Languages | AI Summaries | Meeting Bot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fathom | Unlimited | 7+ | Yes | Yes |
| Otter.ai | 300 min/mo | 3 | Yes | Yes |
| MeetGeek | 5 hrs/mo | 50+ | Yes | Yes |
| Tactiq | 10 meetings | 30+ | Limited | No (Privacy) |
| Jamie AI | 10 credits/mo | 100+ | Yes | No (Privacy) |
| Hyprnote | Unlimited | 99 | Yes | No (Local) |
What to Watch Out For
Common Free Plan Limitations
Most "free" transcription tools aren't truly free. Here's what to watch for:
- Trial-Only Access: Many tools like Sonix (30 min) and Trint (7 days) only offer trials, not permanent free tiers.
- Monthly Caps: Minutes don't roll over. Unused time is lost at month end.
- Per-Meeting Limits: Most free plans cap individual recordings at 30-45 minutes.
- Storage Limits: Transcripts may be deleted after 1-3 months on free plans.
- Feature Locks: Advanced features like CRM integration, custom vocabulary, and team collaboration require paid plans.
Our Recommendations
Best for Individuals
Fathom - Unlimited free transcription with AI summaries. Perfect for freelancers, students, and professionals who need meeting notes without limits.
Best for Teams
MeetGeek - Generous 5 hours/month with great collaboration features and 50+ language support for international teams.
Best for Accuracy
Otter.ai - Industry-leading 95% accuracy with powerful search and AI features. Great for those who prioritize precision over volume.
Best for Privacy
Hyprnote - 100% local processing with unlimited free usage. Ideal for sensitive meetings where data can't leave your device.
When to Consider Paid Plans
Free plans work great for occasional users, but you may want to upgrade if you:
- Have more than 5-10 hours of meetings per month
- Need meetings longer than 30-45 minutes
- Require CRM or project management integrations
- Want team collaboration and shared workspaces
- Need long-term transcript storage
- Require compliance features (HIPAA, SOC 2)
Most paid plans range from $7-30/user/month and offer significantly more features and capacity.