Published on May 2, 2025 5 min read

Fathom vs. Fireflies: Which AI Note Taker is Best?

Artificial intelligence note-takers are revolutionizing how we work, making meetings more efficient with tools like Fathom and Fireflies. These tools record, transcribe, and compile important discussions, helping teams stay focused and save time. No more manual note-taking—just speak, and the program handles the rest. Today, many people rely on AI note-takers for both calls and everyday meetings.

Among the top choices are Fathom and Fireflies. Both are intelligent, fast, and easy to use, yet each has its unique strengths and limitations. Choosing the right one depends on your specific needs. This guide highlights the key differences to help you make an informed decision. Discover what each tool offers, how they work, and which one best suits your workflow.

What Is Fathom?

Fathom is an AI-powered conference assistant designed to record, transcribe, and summarize virtual meetings on platforms like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom. It captures conversations in real-time and automatically generates summaries, highlighting decisions, key points, and action items. Fathom's user-friendly interface is one of its greatest assets, making it accessible to anyone.

With just one click, users can mark significant moments during meetings, allowing easy review of crucial points without replaying the entire session. After meetings, Fathom sends reports and video highlights to your email or workspace. It's an invaluable tool for professionals looking to stay organized and manage attendance across multiple meetings, saving time on note-taking and keeping teams aligned.

What Is Fireflies?

Fireflies is an AI meeting assistant that records, transcribes, and summarizes online meetings across platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, and more. It automatically captures the entire conversation and converts it into searchable transcripts, making it easy to revisit important topics. A standout feature is smart AI tagging, which helps identify tasks, action items, and key decisions.

Fireflies also allows users to highlight or mark events during a call without typing, supporting voice commands. It integrates with various technologies, including HubSpot, Salesforce, and Slack, helping teams maintain data in one location. Users can easily share transcripts and summaries with clients or colleagues. Fireflies offers a free version with basic features and several subscription plans with advanced capabilities, providing flexibility and control over meeting data for larger teams.

Comparing Features

Let's explore the key features where Fathom and Fireflies excel:

• Meeting Transcription: Both Fathom and Fireflies excel in capturing meetings. Fathom focuses on making transcripts readable and understandable, providing clear summaries of key points. In contrast, Fireflies offers detailed transcripts with additional nuances, allowing users to search for specific terms or phrases. Fireflies is ideal for teams needing complete control over meeting records.
• Summary Tools: Fathom shines with its ability to automatically generate concise summaries that include key points and action items. These summaries are quick to review and easy to understand. While Fireflies also provides summaries, they can be more comprehensive and harder to skim quickly. Fathom is better suited for those needing straightforward recaps.
• Real-Time Highlights: Fathom allows users to click and mark important events during a meeting, saving time later. This feature is user-friendly and efficient. Fireflies also offers live highlights, but the process is less seamless. Fathom's one-click highlight feature is more convenient.
• Integrations: Fireflies offers robust integrations with various apps, working well with CRM systems, project management applications, and team messaging apps like Slack. Fathom primarily integrates with video conferencing platforms like Google Meet and Zoom. Fireflies offers more flexibility if you use multiple work applications.
• Search and Tags: Fireflies allows users to search transcripts by keywords and auto-tags tasks, decisions, and queries, aiding in reviewing meeting specifics. While Fathom has fewer search tools, it provides quick access to highlighted areas of the meeting.
• Sharing and Exporting: Both systems make it easy to share summaries and transcripts. Fireflies offers various export formats, including PDF and DOC, along with integration options, making it suitable for teams seeking flexible sharing options. Fathom focuses on easy-to-read, basic summaries for quick sharing, ideal for those who prefer simple formatting.

Pricing Comparison

Fathom is an excellent choice for those seeking a free plan with unlimited recordings and summaries. It also offers premium plans for teams needing additional management tools and control. Fireflies provides a free tier with limited transcription minutes, with subscription plans offering more transcription time, integrations, and detailed analytics.

Fireflies is more cost-flexible for teams of varying sizes, but Fathom's free plan offers more core features than Fireflies'. If budget constraints are a concern and you need basic tools, Fathom provides better value. Fireflies is more suited for businesses requiring extensive integration.

Which AI Note Taker Is Best?

The best AI note-taker depends on your needs. Fathom is perfect for users who prefer straightforward, concise descriptions and easy-to-use features, making it ideal for small teams or individuals focusing on key achievements. For users needing comprehensive transcripts, robust search capabilities, and multiple app integrations, Fireflies is more suitable.

Fireflies fits companies relying on data sharing across systems. While both tools are accurate and useful, Fathom excels in simplicity, and Fireflies in advanced features. Choose Fathom if you value speed and clarity, or Fireflies if you need more control and customization.

Conclusion:

Fathom and Fireflies are powerful AI note-takers, each catering to different needs and work styles. Fathom is ideal for those seeking straightforward, concise summaries without additional effort. It's quick, clear, and user-friendly. Fireflies is perfect for users who want detailed transcripts, smart tagging, and extensive app connections, providing more control over meeting content. Your choice will depend on what matters most—simplicity or advanced features. Fathom is excellent for quick highlights and seamless distribution, while Fireflies excels at providing complete transcripts and tools for team collaboration. Choose the tool that will enhance your productivity and fit your daily workflow.