🎯 Quick Answer 2025 💡
Fathom AIoffers the best free tier with truly unlimited recording and transcription.Otter.aiis most restrictive with only 300 minutes monthly.Firefliesgives 800 minutes total storage but limited AI features.
Free tier comparison visualization for AI meeting tools in 2025
📊 Complete Free Tier Comparison Table
| Tool | Recording Limits | Storage | AI Features | Major Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Fathom AI BEST FREE TIER | ✅ Truly unlimited | ✅ Unlimited storage | 5 AI summaries/month Basic transcription | Premium AI features require upgrade |
| Otter.ai | ❌ 300 minutes/month 30 min per session | ❌ 25 recent conversations only | Basic transcription 5 custom vocabulary | 3 file imports lifetime No advanced integrations |
| Fireflies.ai | ⚠️ No monthly limits | ❌ 800 minutes total cap | 20 AI credits/month Basic summaries | Credits run out fast Limited AI features |
| tl;dv | ✅ Unlimited recordings | ⚠️ 3 months only | 10 AI summaries lifetime 10 min AI notes after | Severely limited AI notes 3 downloads only |
| Grain | ⚠️ 20 meetings total | ✅ Basic workspace | Basic AI notes Collaboration features | Fixed number of meetings No advanced features |
| Krisp | ✅ Unlimited recording | ⚠️ 7-day history | 60 min noise cancellation/day 2 AI notes/day | Daily limits on features Short history retention |
| Supernormal | ⚠️ 5 recordings/month | ⚠️ Basic storage | Basic features only Template access limited | Very limited monthly quota Premium templates locked |
🔍 Detailed Free Plan Analysis
🏆 Fathom AI - Best Overall Free Tier
✅ What's Included FREE:
- • Truly unlimited recording time
- • Unlimited transcription in 28 languages
- • Unlimited storage forever
- • 5 AI-generated summaries per month
- • Basic CRM integration (HubSpot/Salesforce)
- • Email summaries
- • Real-time transcription
❌ Premium Features:
- • Advanced AI summary templates
- • Automated action items
- • Multi-template summaries
- • Advanced collaboration features
- • Premium AI workflows ($19/month)
💡 Best For: Individual users, small teams, unlimited basic transcription needs
⚠️ Otter.ai - Most Restrictive Free Plan
✅ What's Included FREE:
- • 300 minutes per month (down from 600 in 2022)
- • 30-minute session limit
- • Basic transcription with 95% accuracy
- • 25 most recent conversations saved
- • 5 custom vocabulary terms
- • 3 audio/video file imports (lifetime)
❌ Major Limitations:
- • Minutes reset monthly (no rollover)
- • Older transcripts automatically deleted
- • No advanced integrations
- • Limited sharing capabilities
- • Runs out fast with regular use
💡 Best For: Light users with less than 1 meeting per week, testing accuracy
⚠️ Fireflies.ai - Storage-Limited Free Plan
✅ What's Included FREE:
- • 800 minutes total storage per seat
- • 20 AI credits per month
- • Transcription in 100+ languages
- • Basic meeting summaries
- • File uploads up to 100MB/150 min
- • Team collaboration features
- • 3 public channels sharing
❌ Major Limitations:
- • Storage cap doesn't reset (permanent limit)
- • AI credits run out quickly
- • Must delete old files to make room
- • Advanced AI features require upgrade
- • Limited video recording capabilities
💡 Best For: Short-term testing, teams with infrequent meetings
📋 Other Notable Free Plans
tl;dv
✅ Unlimited recordings and transcripts
❌ Only 10 AI summaries for lifetime
Good for basic transcription, poor for AI features
Krisp
✅ Unlimited transcription + 60 min noise cancellation daily
❌ Only 7-day history retention
Best for noise cancellation needs
Grain
✅ 20 total meetings with collaborative workspace
❌ Fixed quota, no refresh
Good for testing collaboration features
Supernormal
✅ Quality templates and easy integration
❌ Only 5 recordings per month
Great templates but very limited quota
🕵️ Hidden Limitations & Gotchas
⚠️ Common Restrictions
- 📅No Rollover Minutes:Unused time expires monthly (Otter.ai)
- 🗑️Old recordings disappear automatically
- 🤖AI Credit Limits:Advanced features require separate credits
- 📱Platform Restrictions:Some tools work only with specific platforms
💸 Upgrade Pressure Tactics
- ⏰Session Cut-offs:Recordings stop mid-meeting when limits hit
- 🔒Feature Teasing:Best features always behind paywall
- 📊Limited Analytics:No insights or trends on free plans
- 🔄Export Restrictions:Limited download or sharing options
💰 Free Tier Value Assessment
🥇 Excellent Value (Truly Useful)
Fathom AI
Unlimited recording + storage. Genuinely useful for 90% of individual users.
⭐ No catch, truly free forever
🥈 Limited Value (Tester Plans)
Fireflies.ai
800 min total good for testing, but hits ceiling quickly with regular use.
Krisp
Daily limits work for light users. Good noise cancellation value.
🥉 Poor Value (Freemium Traps)
Otter.ai
300 min/month runs out in 1-2 weeks with normal use.
tl;dv
10 AI summaries lifetime is essentially a demo.
Supernormal
5 recordings/month barely covers one work week.
🚀 Upgrade Path Recommendations
💼 For Business Teams
Heavy Usage (10+ hours/week)
Fathom Premium ($19/month) or Fireflies Pro ($10/month)
Skip free plans entirely - you'll hit limits immediately
ROI Calculation:One saved hour per week = $50+ value vs $10-20 tool cost
👤 For Individual Users
Light Usage (1-2 meetings/week)
Start with Fathom free, upgrade only if you need advanced AI
Free tier genuinely meets most solo needs
Testing Phase (1-3 months)
Try Fathom free + Fireflies free to compare
Avoid Otter.ai free - too restrictive for proper testing
🎯 Best Use Cases for Free Plans
✅ Perfect for Free Plans
- • Individual consultants/freelancers
- • Students recording lectures
- • Small team standups
- • Personal productivity tracking
- • Occasional client calls
- • Testing different tools
⚠️ Borderline Cases
- • Small startups (3-5 people)
- • Part-time remote workers
- • Sales teams with light call volume
- • Academic research interviews
- • Non-profit organizations
- • Seasonal businesses
❌ Not Suitable for Free
- • Daily sales calls
- • Customer success teams
- • Enterprise sales processes
- • Legal depositions
- • Medical consultations
- • Marketing/PR interviews
📈 2025 Free Tier Trends & Predictions
🔮 Expected Changes in 2025
- 📉Further Restrictions:Otter.ai may reduce limits again
- 🤖AI Feature Limits:More AI capabilities moving to paid tiers
- 🔄Integration Walls:CRM/productivity integrations becoming premium-only
- 💾Storage Pressure:More tools introducing storage caps
🏆 Winners & Losers
📈 Fathom's Strategy Working
Generous free tier driving rapid adoption
📉 Otter.ai Losing Ground
Restrictive limits pushing users to competitors
🎯 New Entrants
More tools likely to launch generous free tiers
🔗 Related Comparisons
🦦 Otter.ai Complete Review
In-depth analysis of Otter.ai's features, pricing, and limitations
❓ Is Otter.ai Actually Free?
Detailed breakdown of Otter.ai's free plan restrictions and gotchas
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