AI notetakers are the way forward. As they grow in popularity, they continue to become more accurate and advanced, quickly becoming standard practice for both businesses and individuals.
As with any newly discovered tool, there’s a need to understand what they are, how they work, and which one is best for you.
Not just the tool itself, but specialised Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace support might be required to ensure that your meetings, recordings, and data integrations run smoothly and securely.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about AI notetakers in 2026, what they are, how they work, and the benefits of using one.
What does an AI notetaker do?
At its simplest, an AI notetaker is a digital assistant that sits in on your conversations so you don’t have to multitask between listening and writing.
However, these tools are already becoming much more advanced than that. AI notetakers are more than just “speech-to-text.”
They act as a bridge between a live conversation and a searchable knowledge database.
With an AI notetaker, the next time you join a meeting, you can leave prepared with full notes, next steps, and a transcript.
Read more: How to set up a Teams meeting
What are the benefits of using an AI notetaker?
An AI notetaker offers a range of benefits that make it a better option than manual note-taking.
Laser-focused engagement
The most obvious benefit is that you can focus on your meeting, as there’s no need to multitask between taking notes and engaging in the conversation.
With an AI notetaker, you’ve got the freedom to let AI do the work.
Improved accuracy
The beauty of an AI notetaker is that it’s always on. It doesn’t get distracted, it doesn’t get tired, and it doesn’t get bored, all common problems that plague human note-takers.
By using one, you’re guaranteed to get an accurate record of the meeting (both audio and video, depending on the notetaker), along with a full transcript and summary.
Saves time on admin
Without an AI notetaker, when a meeting is finished, you’re left with scribbled-down or rashly typed notes that you’ll need to go back through to make sense of.
You’ll spend time going through the notes to make sense of what was said, and then more time figuring out the key takeaways from the meeting. Time that could have been spent actually working on those tasks.
This is where an AI notetaker makes all the difference. You get that time back and can focus on the tasks that matter.
Top five AI notetakers
There are already a number of AI notetakers out there, each with completely different features, benefits, and pricing.
As with most AI, these tools are still in developmental stages, but they’re getting better as time goes on and the technology improves.
To determine which AI notetaker is best for you, you’ll need to understand what each one offers. We cover five of the best AI notetakers here (in no particular order):
- Otter.ai
Otter.ai is one of the best-known names in AI notetakers. Otter uses a visible “bot” that joins your meetings to transcribe in real time.
It’s a solid choice for English speakers and offers a free tier, while paid individual plans start at $8.33/month.
While it integrates easily with other business software, some users find the presence of a recording bot in the meeting list a bit intrusive.
- Krisp
Krisp stands out for those who prioritise privacy because it runs locally on your computer rather than sending a bot into the call.
Originally known for its noise-cancelling tech, it now acts as a silent meeting assistant for about $8/month.
It’s perfect for a clean meeting interface, though you do have to remember to keep the desktop application running for it to capture your notes.
- Bluedot
Bluedot offers a seamless, “invisible” experience by recording in the background without a bot, whether you are online or meeting in person.
It is highly versatile, supporting over 70 languages and offering video recording on its $20/month Pro plan, though a basic audio-only version starts at $14/month.
This is an excellent pick for international teams that need high accuracy across different languages.
- Fireflies.ai
Fireflies.ai is a powerhouse for teams that need to search through a massive history of past conversations.
It uses a bot to join calls and includes an AI assistant to help you recall specific details from months ago.
It offers a generous free version, with paid plans starting at $10/month that add more storage and deeper analytical tools.
- ClickUp AI
ClickUp AI isn’t a standalone tool but a built-in feature for teams already using the ClickUp project management platform.
It joins your meetings and automatically turns spoken points into actionable tasks on your project boards.
While very convenient for staying organised, it is the most expensive option, costing roughly $40/month when you combine the platform subscription with the AI add-on.
Which notetaker is best for you?
Depending on your needs, any of these AI notetakers can be a game-changer. In general, Krisp is usually your best bet.
As it bypasses the need for the meeting notes to actually sit inside the meetings as users, it simply intercepts the mic audio and the speaker output.
As the cheapest option, too, it’s a great choice.
Saying that, it’s worth trialling a couple of these tools to see which one works best for your needs.
If you’re using ClickUp for your project management, then ClickUp AI is a no-brainer. If you prefer the layout or transcription accuracy of Otter, then that’s the one for you
Each of these AI notetakers has its own strengths and weaknesses. Try them out, see which one works best for you.
