Best AI note taker without bot: 5 bot-free options and their limits

Best AI note taker without bot: the bot-free options

Krisp and Granola are the two note takers here that capture a meeting with no bot by default, from your computer's own audio. Otter.ai, Fireflies.ai and Fathom also describe a bot-free route, next to a bot they send into the meeting. Prices are per user, as read on October 29, 2026.

Otter.ai's and Fathom's monthly figures come from each vendor's own page data. Granola prints no billing basis.

What clients see when no bot joins

With Krisp's default capture no extra participant appears in the call, because Krisp works at the audio level on your device. If you send the optional Krisp Bot, other participants see it as a separate participant and the host must let it in.

Bot-free does not mean unannounced. Krisp's Notify others you're using Krisp setting sits under Settings, Privacy & Consent, and Krisp warns that some platforms may block chat messages or audio prompts, so tell people another way as well.

Desktop app, Chrome extension or Mac beta

• Krisp: the desktop app runs on Windows and Mac, and Krisp says it is not supported on Linux or Chrome OS yet.
• Otter.ai: a desktop app for Mac or Windows.
• Fireflies.ai: a Chrome extension.
• Fathom: bot-free capture is a beta feature for Mac.
• Granola: device-audio capture on every plan.

Krisp vs Granola compares the two that are bot-free by default.

Notice settings in bot-free tools

Granola's notice setting is per user on Basic and Business and admin-enforceable on Enterprise, and Granola recommends always asking permission before transcribing others. Otter.ai lists a recording disclaimer email on Enterprise only.

This is vendor help-page detail, not legal advice. The plain habit that works with every tool here is to tell each participant before the call is recorded or transcribed. AI note taker for client meetings goes further on clients and outside guests.

Which bot-free tool fits which team

• Krisp for Windows and Mac teams that also want noise cancellation, which is built into every plan.
• Granola for a free Basic plan with bot-free capture.
• Otter.ai for a desktop app that records without a bot, plus a notetaker that joins when you want one.
• Fireflies.ai for a team that works in Chrome.
• Fathom for Mac users who want a free plan.

Krisp's pricing page offers a 7-day free trial of its bot-free capture, with no credit card required. The best AI note taker for teams page covers teams that need a bot as well.