Fireflies.ai vs Fathom (2026): CRM-Ready Notes or Free Unlimited Recording?

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Fireflies.ai vs Fathom compares two AI meeting notetakers. Fireflies.ai transcribes calls without minute caps and pushes notes into CRMs. By contrast, Fathom records, transcribes and stores calls without limits on its free plan and summarizes them within seconds.

Our reviews, for example, score Fireflies.ai 3.4 and Fathom 3.5. So the choice depends on the job and how much you care about data terms.

Fireflies.ai vs Fathom: The Short Answer

Choose Fathom, first, on our scores: it scores 3.5 against 3.4 and fits a generous free plan.

Choose Fireflies.ai, however, if you want CRM-ready notes with no training on meetings; its entry paid plan is Pro $10 a seat yearly.

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Head to Head

CriterionFireflies.aiFathom
Best forCRM-ready notes with no training on meetingsA generous free plan
Works inZoom, Meet, TeamsZoom, Meet, Teams
Free planUnlimited transcriptionUnlimited recording
Entry paid planPro $10 a seat yearlyPremium $16 a month yearly
BillingSeats, storage, shared creditsPer seat; two-seat team minimum
Training on your dataNo training on meetingsDisputed
Our score3.43.5
From our reviews of each tool, based on each company’s pages, trackers and policy analyses, July to October 2026.
Fireflies.ai and Fathom side by side on best use, free plan, price, billing, training and our scores

What Each Does

To begin with, Fireflies.ai transcribes calls without minute caps and pushes notes into CRMs. As a result, it suits people who want CRM-ready notes with no training on meetings.

In contrast, Fathom records, transcribes and stores calls without limits on its free plan and summarizes them within seconds. It suits people who want a generous free plan.

Prices and Billing

Fireflies.ai starts with unlimited transcription, with 400 minutes of storage per team, and its entry paid plan is Pro $10 a seat yearly. Fathom, meanwhile, starts with unlimited recording, transcription and storage, with advanced AI on five calls a month, with Premium $16 a month yearly as its entry paid plan.

Billing also works differently. Fireflies.ai uses seats, storage caps and a small shared pool of AI credits.

Fathom, however, uses per-seat plans, with Team and Business requiring two seats. Our list of the best AI for meeting notes compares more options.

How Fireflies.ai and Fathom bill: plans, usage and what drives cost
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Ranked by independent evidence

Data and Training

On training, for Fireflies.ai, it says it never trains on meeting content. For Fathom, by contrast, its help center says it does not train on recordings, though one review reports use of de-identified data.

Therefore, keep confidential client, legal or medical calls out unless your contract covers them. Our guide to which AI tools train on your data compares more tools.

Consent and Lawsuits

A 2025 Illinois class action alleges that Fireflies’ speaker recognition collected voiceprints without written consent. Superhuman, formerly Grammarly, bought Fathom in September 2026, so its roadmap may change.

Whatever you use, tell participants when a notetaker records, check local consent laws, and control automatic joining.

Our guide to fact-checking AI output also covers the checklist, and our list of the best AI for productivity ranks more tools.

Winners by Category

In short, Fireflies.ai wins for CRM-ready notes with no training on meetings. The other tool, by contrast, wins for a generous free plan.

Overall, in Fireflies.ai vs Fathom our scores favor Fathom, 3.5 against 3.4.

Which One to Choose

Therefore, take Fireflies.ai if you want CRM-ready notes with no training on meetings. Otherwise, the other tool may fit better.

Our page on Otter.ai alternatives, in addition, covers other options.

Whichever you pick, our guides to the best AI for summarization and the best AI tools for privacy also help.

Other pairings are covered in our Otter vs Fireflies and Otter vs Fathom comparisons.

Who should choose Fireflies.ai and who should choose Fathom

How We Research

This Fireflies.ai vs Fathom comparison reuses the sources behind our reviews of each tool, read between July and October 4, 2026, including Fireflies’ privacy page and legal coverage.

However, we run no tests of our own. Our about page explains the criteria, and our list of the best AI for business covers more tools.

Fireflies.ai vs Fathom FAQ

Is Fireflies.ai or Fathom better?

Our scores favor Fathom, 3.5 against 3.4.

Which is cheaper?

Entry paid plans are Pro $10 a seat yearly and Premium $16 a month yearly, in that order.

Which trains on my data?

For Fireflies.ai, it says it never trains on meeting content. For Fathom, its help center says it does not train on recordings, though one review reports use of de-identified data.

Do they join calls automatically?

Both can join from your calendar; you can change that in settings and should announce recording.

Can I use both?

Yes, but two bots in one call is clumsy; pick one per meeting.

The Verdict

Overall, Fireflies.ai vs Fathom favors Fathom on our scores. The other, however, still wins for its own kind of job.

So pick by the job, check the output, and also keep sensitive material out of lower plans.

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