Bot-free AI note-takers
No bot required.
An ai notetaker without bot captures a meeting from your device or browser instead of adding a visible participant to the call. Granola, Jamie, Krisp, Bluedot and Fathom offer bot-free options; Otter can also record from its desktop app. tl;dv advertises no-bot capture. The details differ: check what gets recorded, where files go, and how participants are informed before choosing.
Quick picks
- For a quiet desktop notepad: Granola records computer audio without inviting a bot. Its own site lists Mac, Windows and mobile apps.
- For EU-hosted processing and no stored audio: Jamie says data stays in the EU and its security page says it does not store audio. It supports online and in-person meetings.
- For notes plus cleaner call audio: Krisp combines a bot-free note taker with noise cancellation. Its desktop app can capture online meetings and in-person discussions.
- For extension or desktop capture: Bluedot says it uses a Chrome extension or desktop app and does not require calendar access to join calls.
- For a free individual plan with capture choices: Fathom offers bot or bot-free recording and advertises unlimited recordings on its free plan.
- For searchable live notes and an optional meeting agent: Otter offers both a desktop recording option without bots and the familiar bot that can join calls.
- For team collaboration: tl;dv promotes meeting summaries, team workflows and a no-bot option; its public site links pricing through the app.
What we compared
“Bot-free” describes how a tool captures a call, not a blanket promise about privacy. A device recorder may still capture everyone’s voices, upload audio or text for processing, and retain meeting files. An AI note taker privacy review should check these separate points:
- Capture: Does the app use desktop audio, a browser extension, or a participant bot? Does the no-bot mode capture audio, video, or only notes and text?
- Notice and consent: How will other people know recording or note capture is happening? Follow your workplace rules and the laws that apply to the people on the call.
- Processing and retention: Where are audio, notes and derived data processed and stored? How long are they kept, and can you delete or export them?
- Controls: Can you pause capture, limit sharing, and opt out of model training? Settings and plan limits can change, so check the current policy and in-app controls.
- Fit and price: Does it suit your meeting platform, devices and workflow? Compare published pricing with the limits that matter to you.
The table is a starting point, not a privacy rating. Product descriptions and prices below come from each provider’s own product or pricing pages; read the linked terms for current details. If you are weighing AI note taker privacy concerns, our AI note-taker privacy guide has a fuller checklist and our privacy page explains Teriara’s approach.
| Tool | Bot-free capture described by provider | A good fit when you want | Published starting price checked September 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granola | Uses computer audio; no bot invited | A desktop-first notepad and polished notes | Basic $0; Business $14 per user/month |
| Jamie | Runs on your device; no bot joins | In-person and online notes, EU hosting | Free; Plus €21/month billed annually |
| Krisp | Bot-free notetaker via its app | Notes and noise cancellation together | Free trial; Core shown at $8/user/month annually, $16 monthly |
| Bluedot | Chrome extension or desktop app | Browser or desktop capture and structured notes | Free tier; Basic $14/user/month annually |
| Otter | Desktop recording without bots; bot also available | Live transcription and searchable team notes | Basic free; Pro shown at $8.49/user/month annually |
| Fathom | Bot-free modes plus bot capture | Free individual notes and action items | Free; Premium listed at $16/user/month annually |
| tl;dv | Site advertises “no bot required” | Team meeting library and workflow features | Free plan; see linked pricing page |
Granola
Granola is a desktop-first AI notepad for people who want meeting notes without adding another participant. Its homepage says it uses computer audio, works with meeting apps including Zoom, Google Meet and Teams, and offers Mac, Windows, iOS and Android apps. The notes can be shared when you choose.
Strengths: A simple notepad workflow, customizable templates, multilingual support and no bot invitation. Granola’s pricing page says the Basic plan includes meeting notes and limited history, and that users can opt out of model training.
Trade-offs: Computer audio capture depends on running the app on a supported device; it is not a bot that joins unattended calls. Verify the current platform support and capture indicator for your setup. If a compliance certification or a precise retention commitment is required, check the vendor’s current security materials rather than inferring it from the no-bot design.
Pricing: Basic is $0 per user/month; Business is $14 per user/month; Enterprise is $35 per user/month, as published on Granola pricing. Confirm billing terms and features before subscribing.
Jamie
Jamie positions itself as meeting intelligence for online and in-person conversations. Its homepage says no bot joins calls and describes its app as running on your device. The security page says data is hosted and processed in the EU, and that Jamie does not store audio.
Strengths: A clear device-based capture explanation, meeting notes and task detection, and published data residency information. The pricing page lists a free plan and supports multiple languages.
Trade-offs: Jamie’s free plan lists 10 AI notes per month and a 30-minute meeting limit. Higher usage requires a paid plan. The company’s pricing page shows prices in euros, so compare the billed currency and annual commitment that apply to you. These statements are the vendor’s own; review its security page for the full data lifecycle.
Pricing: Free is €0; Plus is €21/month billed annually; Pro is €39/month billed annually, per Jamie pricing. Business plan prices and limits may differ.
Krisp
Krisp’s AI Meeting Assistant combines meeting notes with audio cleanup. Its product page calls the note taker bot-free and describes automatic capture, transcription and summaries. It is aimed at people who also want background-noise removal or other voice features.
Strengths: Notes and action items sit alongside noise cancellation. Krisp describes support for online, hybrid and in-person meeting workflows through desktop and mobile apps, and its pricing page lists bot-free transcription and audio/video recording.
Trade-offs: Krisp is a broader audio product, so consider whether you need its extra features and review what permissions its app needs. Pricing is shown in both monthly and annual billing views; the lower amount reflects an annual commitment. The vendor’s website says calendar connection is used by default at signup, so check its current setup choices if you prefer not to connect one.
Pricing: Krisp lists a seven-day free trial. Its Core plan is shown at $8 per user/month with annual billing or $16 monthly; see Krisp pricing for current plan limits and terms.
Bluedot
Bluedot describes itself as a privacy-first note taker. It says it captures calls through a Chrome extension or desktop app rather than inviting a bot, and says it does not ask for calendar access. It turns meetings into notes and summaries and offers integrations on higher plans.
Strengths: Flexible browser or desktop capture, support for online and in-person workflows, and a public security page describing encryption, deletion controls and its approach to AI provider retention. The pricing page separates audio-only and video plans.
Trade-offs: The capture method still means the local app or extension needs access to the meeting audio or video. An extension may not suit every browser or device, so check support first. Bluedot’s free tier is limited to five meetings for the lifetime of the account according to its pricing page; paid limits and features vary by plan.
Pricing: Free is $0; Basic starts at $14 per user/month annually or $18 monthly; Pro starts at $20 annually or $25 monthly, according to Bluedot pricing. Business is listed separately.
Otter
Otter is useful as a contrast because it supports more than one capture style. Its homepage describes a desktop app that records from Mac or Windows without bots, while also promoting an AI Meeting Agent that can join meetings. You can choose the workflow that matches the call.
Strengths: Live transcription, speaker identification, summaries, action items and shared meeting channels. The choice of desktop capture or bot participation makes it flexible for different settings. The pricing page lists a free Basic plan.
Trade-offs: If avoiding a visible participant is your main requirement, check that you are using the desktop recording mode rather than scheduling the meeting agent. Otter’s plans have transcription and meeting limits, and the available features differ by plan. Review how participant notice, data retention and privacy controls apply to your chosen mode.
Pricing: Basic is free. Otter Pro is shown at $8.49 per user/month with annual billing or $16.99 monthly; Business is shown at $24 per user/month with a current promotion, and Enterprise is custom. See Otter pricing for the current price and limits.
Fathom
Fathom offers bot-based and bot-free capture. Its overview page describes bot-free transcript-only capture and bot-free audio capture, alongside a full audio-and-video option. It focuses on summaries and action items, with plans for individuals and teams.
Strengths: The provider spells out different capture modes, so you can choose whether you need audio or a transcript and summary. Fathom’s pricing page lists unlimited recordings on its free individual plan, as well as paid collaboration and CRM features for teams.
Trade-offs: Bot-free capture is not one single mode: check which level of recording is available on your device and plan. If a conversation is sensitive, confirm what data each mode sends for processing and what controls apply. Fathom’s overview notes it is now part of Superhuman; check current product and account terms as the service evolves.
Pricing: The individual Free plan is $0. Premium is listed at $16 per user/month with annual billing or $20 monthly. Team plans are priced per user and have a two-user minimum; see Fathom pricing for current terms.
tl;dv
tl;dv presents itself as a meeting notetaker for team collaboration. Its homepage advertises that no bot is required and highlights AI-generated summaries, action items, meeting insights and workflow integrations. The product is aimed especially at teams that want shared meeting context.
Strengths: Team-oriented organization and summaries, plus a free plan the homepage describes as free forever. tl;dv also promotes integrations and workflows for sales teams.
Trade-offs: The homepage’s no-bot message does not by itself explain the capture mechanism or every device limitation. Confirm which bot-free capture modes are currently supported for your meeting platform, and review the plan limits and data handling details before relying on it. The main site links to pricing inside the app, so prices are not reproduced here.
Pricing: A free plan is advertised. For paid prices and limits, use tl;dv’s pricing page, which is linked from the provider’s website.
Where Teriara fits today
Teriara is for what you do after a conversation: follow-ups drafted for you to review, edit and send, plus reply drafts and briefings. Teriara Talk is live in early access for calls and messaging in the browser, with an Android app in beta. Its host can pause recording, recordings are encrypted at rest, and AI runs on hardware Teriara controls with no third-party AI by default. See Teriara Talk and privacy at Teriara for details.
Teriara is not currently a bot-free meeting note taker for Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams. It is not a desktop capture app or browser extension. Catching promises, setting reminders from conversations and updating a CRM automatically are coming in early access. If you want help with follow-through after calls, see follow-up drafts and the privacy guide linked above.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AI note taker without a bot?
It captures meeting sound or notes through an app on your device or in your browser instead of adding a bot participant to the call. “Bot-free” does not tell you by itself whether audio is uploaded, kept, or used to generate notes, so check the vendor’s data practices too.
Is a bot-free AI note taker automatically private?
No. The tool may still record everyone’s voices and send data to its service for processing. Review consent, storage location, retention, sharing, model-training settings and deletion controls before using it.
Which tools in this comparison also offer a bot?
Otter and Fathom describe both bot-based and bot-free capture options. Choose the mode deliberately and check the recording indicator and participant notice for the meeting you are joining.
How do I compare AI note taker privacy settings?
Check the privacy policy and settings for capture controls, pause options, retention, deletion, exports, sharing and model training. Our AI note-taker privacy guide gives you a checklist; product behavior can vary by plan and device.
Does Teriara offer bot-free notes for Zoom or Meet?
No. Teriara Talk is a browser calling and messaging product in early access, and it does not currently provide desktop capture for Zoom, Google Meet or Teams. Read Teriara Talk for what is available today.
For follow-through tools that are in early access, visit Teriara and see what is available for you.
Last checked: September 28, 2026.