Which bot-free notetaker should you pick?
Start with what your computer lets you install. That decides most of it.
You can't install anything
Pick MeetingSidekick. It is a web page, so it works on a locked-down work laptop, a Chromebook or Linux with no admin rights.
You can install an app
Granola suits people who type their own notes. Circleback suits people who want automations. tl;dv suits teams that want calls recorded automatically.
The meeting is in a room
MeetingSidekick in a phone or laptop browser, or the Granola or Circleback apps. Caption-based tools do not work in a room.
You want nothing recorded
Tactiq reads the call's captions through a Chrome extension and says it stores no audio.
Bot-free notetakers compared
All six capture an online meeting without a bot on the attendee list. The columns are where they differ.
| Notetaker | What you install for bot-free | Works where installs are blocked | In-person meetings | Where bot-free capture runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MeetingSidekick | Nothing (browser tab) | Yes | Yes | Any device with a browser |
| Granola | App download | No | Yes | Desktop & mobile app |
| Fathom | Mac desktop app (beta) | No | iOS app coming soon | Mac only |
| tl;dv | Desktop app (Mac, Windows) | No | No mobile app yet | Mac, Windows |
| Circleback | Desktop app (macOS, Windows) | No | Yes, mobile app | macOS, Windows, phone app |
| Tactiq | Chrome extension | No | No | Chrome |
Fathom, tl;dv and Circleback rows reflect each product's own site and help articles as read on 2 September 2026. The Granola row reflects its primary capture method as of June 2026. The Tactiq row reflects tactiq.io as read on 10 November 2026. Features change, so check each product's current docs. All names are trademarks of their owners. MeetingSidekick is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Where each one wins, and where it falls short
1. MeetingSidekick
Best when you can't install anything
What you install: A web app: open a browser tab and press Start. No desktop app, no extension, no calendar connection.
Where it wins: A locked-down work laptop, a Chromebook, Linux, or a phone or iPad on the table for a meeting in the room. It keeps the audio recording.
Where it falls short: Audio only, no video. You press Start yourself, so nothing auto-records from your calendar. No automations or CRM integrations. Desktop call capture needs Chrome, Chromium or Edge.
Price: Free: 2 hours one time. Pro $15/month, Max $50/month, or a one-time 5-hour pack for $9.
2. Granola
Best if you can install an app and like to type your own notes
What you install: An app you download to your computer or phone.
Where it wins: People who jot notes during the meeting and want the AI to fill in around them, in a polished native app.
Where it falls short: It has to be installed, so it is out on a machine where IT blocks installs, and on platforms its app does not support.
3. Fathom
Best on a Mac if you already like Fathom
What you install: Its bot-free mode runs through a desktop app that Fathom's own site described as Mac-only and in beta. Otherwise Fathom records with a bot.
Where it wins: Mac users who want search across every meeting (Ask Fathom) and support for Slack Huddles.
Where it falls short: Bot-free capture is not available on Windows, Linux or a Chromebook. Its iOS app for in-person meetings was listed as coming soon.
4. tl;dv
Best when you want video and automatic recording
What you install: A desktop app for Mac or Windows for bot-free capture. Otherwise tl;dv records with a bot.
Where it wins: Teams that want scheduled calls recorded automatically. With its bot it records video of the call.
Where it falls short: Bot-free mode is audio only and needs the desktop app. tl;dv said it had no mobile app yet, so it does not cover a meeting in the room.
5. Circleback
Best for automations
What you install: A desktop app on macOS or Windows for bot-free capture, and a phone app (iOS, Android) for meetings in the room.
Where it wins: People who want notes pushed into other tools: it offers automations and MCP hookups for ChatGPT, Claude and Cursor, and optional video of the meeting window.
Where it falls short: Bot-free capture needs the installed app, so no Chromebook or Linux.
6. Tactiq
Best if a Chrome extension is allowed and you want nothing recorded
What you install: A Chrome extension. It reads the meeting's live captions instead of recording audio.
Where it wins: Online calls in the browser when you only need the transcript and summary. Tactiq says no audio is stored.
Where it falls short: You still have to install an extension, which many managed work laptops block. There are no captions to read in a conference room, and there is no recording to replay.
What about Otter, Fireflies and Read AI?
They are capable notetakers, but their main way of capturing an online meeting is an assistant that joins the call as a participant. If a bot on the attendee list is fine for you, they are worth a look. See how each compares: Otter, Fireflies, Read AI, or the full comparison.
Bot-free notetakers, answered
What is a bot-free AI notetaker?
A bot-free notetaker records or transcribes a meeting without adding a participant to the call. Instead of a "notetaker" joining Zoom, Teams or Google Meet, it captures audio on your own device through a desktop app, a browser extension, or a browser tab.
Which bot-free notetaker needs nothing installed?
MeetingSidekick is the one on this list that runs in a plain browser tab with no desktop app and no extension. Granola, Fathom, tl;dv and Circleback need an installed app for bot-free capture, and Tactiq needs a Chrome extension.
Which bot-free notetaker works on a locked-down work laptop?
If IT blocks installs and extensions, a web app is the only kind that still works. MeetingSidekick runs in a browser tab and needs no admin rights. Always check your company's rules on recording meetings first.
Which bot-free notetakers work for in-person meetings?
MeetingSidekick works in any phone or laptop browser. Granola and Circleback cover in-person meetings through their apps. Caption-based tools such as Tactiq do not, because a room has no captions to read.
Are Otter, Fireflies and Read AI bot-free?
Not by default. Their main way of capturing an online meeting is an assistant that joins the call as a participant, so they are not on this list. Each has other capture options, such as a phone app, that change over time.
Do I need to tell people I am recording without a bot?
Yes. With no bot on the attendee list, nobody is notified automatically, so telling people is on you. Recording laws vary by place and some require everyone's consent. Ask before you record.
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