Best AI for Transcription and Meeting Notes 2026
AI transcription tools have reached near-human accuracy while adding smart features like action item extraction and speaker identification. Whether you need meeting notes, podcast transcripts, or interview records, these tools deliver.
Our Top 5 Picks
| Rank | Tool | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Otter.ai | Free-$17/mo | Best all-around AI meeting assistant |
| #2 | Fireflies.ai | Free-$19/mo | Best for team collaboration on meeting notes |
| #3 | tl;dv | Free-$20/mo | Best free meeting recorder with AI summaries |
| #4 | Rev | $0.25/min | Best accuracy for professional transcription |
| #5 | Grain | Free-$19/mo | Best for creating shareable meeting highlights |
Detailed Reviews
#1 Otter.ai BEST OVERALL
Free-$17/mo
Best all-around AI meeting assistant
Pros
- Real-time transcription with high accuracy
- Automatic meeting summaries and action items
- Integrates with Zoom, Teams, Google Meet
Cons
- Free plan limited to 300 min/month
- Occasional speaker misidentification
#2 Fireflies.ai RUNNER UP
Free-$19/mo
Best for team collaboration on meeting notes
Pros
- AI-powered meeting search across all calls
- CRM integration (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Sentiment analysis and topic tracking
Cons
- Free plan is basic
- Recording notifications can be awkward
#3 tl;dv
Free-$20/mo
Best free meeting recorder with AI summaries
Pros
- Generous free tier
- Timestamps linked to video moments
- AI highlights and summaries
Cons
- Newer platform, fewer integrations
- Accuracy varies by accent
#4 Rev
$0.25/min
Best accuracy for professional transcription
Pros
- Near-perfect accuracy
- Supports 38 languages
- Quick turnaround
Cons
- Pay-per-minute pricing
- No real-time transcription
#5 Grain
Free-$19/mo
Best for creating shareable meeting highlights
Pros
- AI-generated highlight reels
- Easy sharing with stakeholders
- Integrates with Slack and Notion
Cons
- Limited to meeting recordings
- Smaller user community
Our Verdict
Otter.ai is the best overall choice for meeting transcription. Fireflies.ai excels for sales teams. Rev is unmatched when accuracy is non-negotiable.
How We Tested
We evaluated each tool based on output quality, ease of use, pricing, integrations, and real-world performance. Our recommendations prioritize tools that deliver the best results for your investment.
Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we genuinely believe in.
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