Fathom is an AI meeting notetaker that records, transcribes and summarizes Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams calls. It is best known for having one of the most generous free plans in its category: unlimited recordings and transcription, with no minute cap and no storage cap.
This review covers what Fathom does, who it suits, what each plan includes and where the free plan stops. The short version: Fathom is the easiest notetaker to start with for free, but advanced AI summaries are limited to 5 calls a month on the free plan, so heavy users will end up on Premium or a team plan.
Cappy’s verdict
| Cappy’s verdict | Fathom |
|---|---|
| Cappy Score | 4.4/5 |
| Best for | Individuals, sales reps and small teams who want free, unlimited recordings |
| Price | Free plan; Team from $15/user/month and Premium $16/month (annual) |
| Standout feature | Unlimited free recordings, transcripts and storage |
| Biggest catch | Advanced AI summaries on only 5 calls a month on Free |
Fathom is our top pick for anyone who wants to try an AI notetaker at no cost. Start free, and upgrade only when you need advanced summaries on every call.
What is Fathom?
Fathom is an AI notetaker that joins your video calls, records them and writes a transcript and summary afterwards. It works with Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, and you can use it from the web, the Mac and Windows desktop apps or the Chrome extension.
After each call, Fathom produces a summary, highlights and a searchable transcript. Paid plans add AI action items, follow-up email drafts and Ask Fathom, which answers questions about your calls.
Fathom’s team plans add a shared call library, comments and team-wide search, and the Business plan syncs notes into CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce.
Who is Fathom best for?
- Individuals who want a free notetaker with no minute limits.
- Sales reps who want call recordings and, on Business, notes pushed into their CRM.
- Small teams that want a shared library of calls at a lower per-user price than Premium.
- Anyone new to AI notetakers who wants to try one without entering a card.
Fathom is a weaker fit for people who need advanced AI summaries on every call without paying, and for teams that don’t want a visible bot in their meetings.
Key features of Fathom
Unlimited recording and transcription
Every plan, including Free, records and transcribes unlimited calls and keeps them stored. Fathom transcribes in around 38 languages, according to third-party reviews.
AI summaries
Fathom writes a summary after every call. On the free plan, advanced AI summaries are limited to your first 5 calls each month, according to Fathom’s pricing page and third-party reviews; after that you get basic summaries. Premium and team plans remove the cap and add more than 15 summary templates.
AI action items, follow-ups and Ask Fathom
Paid plans pull out action items, draft follow-up emails and let you ask questions about a call or across calls with Ask Fathom.
Clips, playlists and search
You can clip key moments, group them into playlists and search across your calls. This is useful for sharing a customer’s exact words with your team.
Team library and CRM sync
Team adds a shared call library, comments and mentions, and keyword alerts. Business adds deeper CRM sync with HubSpot and Salesforce. Below Business, CRM sync is limited to 3 users per company domain, according to third-party pricing breakdowns.
How Fathom works day to day
Setup takes a few minutes. You sign up free, connect your Google or Microsoft calendar and choose which meetings Fathom should join.
During a call, Fathom joins as a participant and records. When the meeting ends, the summary and transcript appear in your library, where you can clip key moments, add them to playlists and share them.
The workflow pays off over time: because the free plan stores every call, you build a searchable archive of everything you’ve discussed. On Business, notes can flow straight into HubSpot or Salesforce.
Fathom pricing
Fathom has five plans: Free at $0, Premium at $16 a month, Team at $15 and Business at $25 per user per month billed annually, plus Enterprise with custom pricing. Paying monthly costs $20 for Premium, $19 for Team and $34 for Business.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per month) | Seats | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 1 | Unlimited recordings, transcripts and storage; advanced summaries on 5 calls a month |
| Premium | $20 | $16 ($192/year) | 1 | Unlimited AI summaries, action items, follow-up emails, templates, Ask Fathom |
| Team | $19/user | $15/user | 2+ | Premium features plus shared library, comments and team search |
| Business | $34/user | $25/user | 2+ | Team features plus CRM sync and admin controls |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom | Security, compliance and custom terms |
What does the Fathom free plan include?
The free plan records, transcribes and stores unlimited calls. It includes summaries, clips and search. The catch is that advanced AI summaries cover only 5 calls a month, and AI action items and follow-up emails need a paid plan.
Why is Team cheaper than Premium?
Team costs $15 per user per month on annual billing, while Premium costs $16. Team needs at least 2 seats, so its minimum is $30 a month, while Premium is for one person. If two people want Fathom, Team is the better deal.
How much does annual billing save?
Annual billing saves 20% on Premium ($20 to $16), about 21% on Team ($19 to $15) and about 26% on Business ($34 to $25). Fathom also offers a 90-day money-back guarantee on paid plans, according to its pricing page.
Which Fathom plan should you choose?
- 5 or fewer important calls a month → Free
- One person who wants full AI on every call → Premium
- Two or more people sharing calls → Team
- Sales teams that need CRM sync → Business
Fathom Free vs Premium
The most common question about Fathom is whether you need to pay at all. Here’s what changes when you move from Free to Premium.
| Feature | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Recordings and transcripts | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Storage | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Advanced AI summaries | 5 calls a month | Every call |
| AI action items | Paid plans only | Included |
| Follow-up email drafts | Paid plans only | Included |
| Summary templates | Basic | 15+ templates |
| Price | $0 | $16/month annual, $20 monthly |
If most of your calls only need a recording and transcript, Free is enough. If you want polished notes and action items after every call, Premium pays for itself quickly.
What Fathom costs for different users
| Situation | Best plan | Cost per year (annual billing) |
|---|---|---|
| One person with a few key calls a month | Free | $0 |
| One person who wants full AI on every call | Premium | $192 |
| Two people sharing calls | Team (2 seats) | $360 |
| A sales team of 5 that needs CRM sync | Business | $1,500 |
| A team of 10 sharing a call library | Team | $1,800 |
Is Fathom safe and private?
Fathom records and stores your calls, so treat it like any other software that handles client information. Let participants know a call is being recorded, since some places legally require everyone’s consent, and check your company’s policy before connecting a work calendar.
You choose which meetings Fathom joins, and Enterprise adds security, compliance and custom terms for larger organizations.
Common Fathom problems and how to fix them
- Fathom didn’t join the call. Check that your calendar is connected and that the meeting has a Zoom, Meet or Teams link.
- Your summaries look shorter than before. You’ve probably used your 5 advanced summaries for the month. Save them for your most important calls, or upgrade.
- CRM sync isn’t working for everyone. Full CRM sync is on Business, and lower plans have limited CRM access.
Fathom pros and cons
What we like
- Unlimited recordings, transcripts and storage for free
- No minute cap on any plan
- Clips and playlists make it easy to share key moments
- Team plan is cheaper per person than Premium
- 90-day money-back guarantee on paid plans
What could be better
- Advanced AI summaries only on 5 calls a month on Free
- Action items and follow-up emails need a paid plan
- Team and Business need at least 2 seats
- CRM sync is limited below Business
- A visible bot joins your calls
Fathom alternatives
The best Fathom alternatives are Fireflies.ai, Otter.ai, Granola and tl;dv. Each one beats Fathom on a specific need, from a cheaper paid plan to bot-free notes.
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Paid plans from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fireflies.ai | Searchable notes and CRM sync | Yes, 400 min storage | $10/user/month (annual) |
| Otter.ai | Live transcription during meetings | Yes, 300 min/month | $8.33/user/month (annual) |
| Granola | Bot-free notes on your own computer | Yes, last 30 days of notes | $14/user/month |
| tl;dv | Recording and clipping meetings | Yes, unlimited recordings | $18/seat/month (annual) |
Quick pick:
- Want unlimited free recordings → Fathom
- Want the cheapest paid plan → Otter.ai
- Want deeper team search and CRM sync → Fireflies.ai
- Don’t want a bot in your calls → Granola
- Want shareable clips for sales → tl;dv
For a head-to-head look, read our Fathom vs Fireflies comparison, or see all five tools in our guide to the best AI meeting assistants.
Is Fathom worth it?
Yes. Fathom’s free plan is the best starting point in AI notetakers, because it never cuts you off on recordings or storage. Most people can use it for weeks before deciding to pay.
Upgrade to Premium if you want advanced summaries and action items on every call. If two or more people need it, go straight to Team, which costs less per person. Skip Fathom if you need notes without a bot joining the call.
As with any AI notetaker, skim the summary before sending it to a client or logging it in a CRM.
How to get the most out of Fathom
- Save your 5 advanced summaries for your most important calls each month.
- Clip key customer quotes and share them in playlists.
- Pick a summary template that matches your call type, such as sales, interview or stand-up.
- Tell guests the call is being recorded. It builds trust, and some places legally require everyone’s consent.
- Compare Team with two Premium seats if two people need Fathom.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fathom really free?
Yes. Fathom’s free plan records, transcribes and stores unlimited calls with no time limit. Advanced AI summaries are limited to 5 calls a month.
How much does Fathom cost?
Premium costs $16 a month billed annually, or $20 monthly. Team costs $15 per user per month annually ($19 monthly) and Business $25 ($34 monthly). Team and Business need at least 2 seats.
Does Fathom work with Zoom, Google Meet and Teams?
Yes. Fathom works with Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams on every plan, including Free.
Does Fathom integrate with HubSpot and Salesforce?
Yes. CRM sync is fullest on the Business plan. Lower plans have limited CRM access.
Is Fathom better than Otter?
For free users, usually yes, because Fathom has no minute cap. Otter is cheaper on paid plans and offers a live transcript during the call.
Is Fathom safe to use?
Fathom is widely used by individuals and sales teams. You control which meetings it joins, and Enterprise adds security and compliance features. Always tell participants when you’re recording.
What’s the difference between Fathom Free and Premium?
Both record, transcribe and store unlimited calls. Premium adds advanced AI summaries on every call, AI action items, follow-up email drafts and more summary templates, for $16 a month on annual billing.