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The best meeting recorders without a bot

The best meeting recorder without a bot for calls in a browser is Callbox: it records Meet, Zoom and Teams from your Chrome tab and saves the audio and transcript to your own Google Drive. For the Zoom or Teams desktop apps, Granola records with no bot. Tactiq and Bluedot are bot-free Chrome extensions too.

Updated . Callbox makes this guide and ranks itself first where it fits; every fact about another product links to its source, checked on .

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What is a meeting recorder without a bot?

A meeting recorder without a bot records a call from your own device, with a browser extension or a desktop app, instead of sending an AI notetaker into the meeting as a participant. Nobody new appears in the call, and the host has nothing to admit. You still need to tell the other people that you are recording.

At a glance

The best meeting recorders without a bot compared
RankProductBest forPaid plans from
1Callboxcalls in a browser, saved to your own Google DrivePro: $29 a month, or $290 a year
2Granolathe Zoom and Teams desktop apps, with notes from what you typeBusiness: $14 a user a month, billed monthly only[5][10][11][12]
3Tactiqa live transcript and summary, when text is enoughPro: $12 a month, or $96 a year billed yearly[24][19]
4Bluedota bot-free extension with built-in summaries in over 100 languagesBasic: $18 a user a month, or $14 a user a month billed yearly[30]
5Otter.aia bot when you want one, and a desktop app when you do notPro: $16.99 a user a month, or $8.33 a user a month billed yearly[44]
6Fireflies.aia bot by default, with two bot-free ways to recordPro: $18 a seat a month, or $10 a seat a month billed yearly ($120 a year)[50][52][56]
7Read AImeeting reports, with a bot or Google Meet native recordingPro: $19.75 a user a month, or $15 a user a month billed yearly[66][67]
8Fathomunlimited free recording with a bot, bot-free on a MacPremium: $20 a user a month, or $16 a month billed yearly[70]
9tl;dva bot for the meetings you skip, audio-only without itPro: $29 a seat a month, or $216 a seat a year, which is $18 a month[88][78][89][83][87]

How we ranked them

  1. Bot-free by design: a tool whose main way to record adds no participant ranks above one that sends a bot by default
  2. It keeps the recording: an audio or video file you can play and download, not only text
  3. Where your calls are kept, and whether they stay yours
  4. Which calls it records: browser tabs, desktop apps, meetings in the room
  5. What one person and a team pay, from each vendor's pricing page

The ranking

  1. 1. Callbox

    Best for calls in a browser, saved to your own Google Drive

    Callbox has no bot at all. Its Chrome extension records the call in your tab and your microphone, in Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams on the web or any other call in a tab, and saves the audio file and a Google Doc transcript to your own Google Drive. It does not record the Zoom or Teams desktop apps, and it writes no summaries itself: your own AI agent does, through its MCP server.

    Bot in the call
    None: it records from your own Chrome tab, so nobody new joins the call
    Calls it records
    Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams in Chrome, and any other call in a browser tab
    The recording itself
    An audio file you play and download; the video too, on paid plans
    Where recordings are kept
    Your own Google Drive: the audio and a Google Doc transcript, a folder per project
    Free plan
    Unlimited recordings, saved to Google Drive; 5 hours of transcription a month, subject to availability
    Paid plans from
    Pro: $29 a month, or $290 a year
    See Callbox pricing

  2. 2. Granola

    Best for the Zoom and Teams desktop apps, with notes from what you type

    Granola records from its Mac or Windows app, which captures your computer's sound, so no bot joins and the Zoom and Teams desktop apps work. It merges what you type with the transcript into enhanced notes. It keeps no recording to play or download, and it stores your notes on its servers in the US.[1][2][3]

    Bot in the call
    None: the desktop app captures audio from your computer, so no bot joins the call[1]
    Calls it records
    Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and other meeting apps through its Mac or Windows app; gaps on some Windows setups[1][4]
    The recording itself
    None kept: no recording to play or download; the phone apps cache audio only until it is transcribed[1][5][6]
    Where recordings are kept
    Granola's AWS servers in the US, no EU or UK residency; to Drive only as text, via Zapier on paid plans[3][7][8][9]
    Free plan
    Basic: no daily transcription limit; the app shows the last 30 days of notes; chat with the Auto model only; no API[5][10]
    Paid plans from
    Business: $14 a user a month, billed monthly only[5][10][11][12]
    Callbox vs Granola

  3. 3. Tactiq

    Best for a live transcript and summary, when text is enough

    Tactiq's Chrome extension adds no bot: it builds the transcript from the call's captions in Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams. It does not record or store the audio, and on Zoom and Teams the call's captions must be on. Its Mac app also transcribes the Zoom and Teams desktop apps from system audio.[13][14][15][16][17]

    Bot in the call
    None: no bot joins; Tactiq can notify attendees in chat, and its plan list keeps notice controls for paid plans[14][18][19]
    Calls it records
    Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams in Chrome or Edge; Slack huddles in the Mac app[13][14][17]
    The recording itself
    None: Tactiq "does not record or store the audio from your meetings"[14]
    Where recordings are kept
    Text in Tactiq's cloud, on Google Cloud; optional Google Doc copies in one Drive folder, no audio[20][21]
    Free plan
    10 meeting credits and 5 AI credits a month; archiving frees credits; with none left, new transcripts are preview only[22][23]
    Paid plans from
    Pro: $12 a month, or $96 a year billed yearly[24][19]
    Callbox vs Tactiq

  4. 4. Bluedot

    Best for a bot-free extension with built-in summaries in over 100 languages

    Bluedot's Chrome extension records from your computer, with nothing in the participant list, and its Mac and Windows apps record the Zoom and Teams desktop apps. It writes summaries and action items and transcribes over 100 languages. Its bot is optional, its free plan stops at 5 meetings for the life of the account, and each user who records pays.[25][26][27][28][29][30]

    Bot in the call
    Optional: a calendar bot joins Zoom and Meet as "[Your name]'s AI NoteTaker"; the extension records without one[29][31][32][25]
    Calls it records
    Meet, Teams, Webex and more in Chrome, Edge, Brave or Arc tabs; Zoom by sharing your screen and system audio[25][33]
    The recording itself
    Video and audio on Pro and up, audio only on Basic; downloads as .webm, or MP4 after a small edit[30][34][35]
    Where recordings are kept
    Bluedot's cloud on AWS, in the EU by default; Google Drive only imports, with no export to it[36][37][38]
    Free plan
    5 meetings for the life of the account, then view and share only; Chrome extension, desktop and mobile apps, Slack, Notion, Zapier and Make[30][39]
    Paid plans from
    Basic: $18 a user a month, or $14 a user a month billed yearly[30]
    Callbox vs Bluedot

  5. 5. Otter.ai

    Best for a bot when you want one, and a desktop app when you do not

    Otter's main recorder is Otter Notetaker, a bot that joins Zoom, Google Meet and Teams as a participant. Its Mac and Windows desktop app records without the bot, the Zoom and Teams desktop apps, Slack huddles and phone dialers included. It transcribes six languages, and its free plan stops each transcript at 30 minutes.[40][41][42][43]

    Bot in the call
    Yes: Otter Notetaker joins Zoom, Meet and Teams as a participant. The desktop app records without it[40][41]
    Calls it records
    Zoom, Google Meet and Teams with the bot; the desktop app adds Slack huddles, Webex, dialers, WhatsApp, FaceTime[40][41]
    The recording itself
    The audio, exported as mp3 on every plan; video replay for Zoom and Meet only on Enterprise[44][45]
    Where recordings are kept
    Otter's storage on AWS in the US; Google Drive export by hand, one conversation at a time, or automatic on Enterprise[46][47]
    Free plan
    Basic, with up to 300 minutes a month, 30 minutes per transcript, 3 imports in total and your 25 most recent conversations[43]
    Paid plans from
    Pro: $16.99 a user a month, or $8.33 a user a month billed yearly[44]
    Callbox vs Otter.ai

  6. 6. Fireflies.ai

    Best for a bot by default, with two bot-free ways to record

    Fireflies.ai records with a visible bot by default. Its Chrome extension records Google Meet without a bot, and its Windows and Mac app records Zoom, Teams, Meet and other calls in a system-audio mode, also without one. Paid plans have no cap on meeting transcription and are billed per seat.[48][49][50]

    Bot in the call
    Yes, by default: Fireflies.ai Notetaker joins as a visible participant; no bot on its Meet extension or desktop app[48][49]
    Calls it records
    Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams through the bot; Webex and GoToMeeting are listed as integrations[51]
    The recording itself
    Audio, and video when the bot joins (720p on Pro and Business, 1080p on Enterprise); downloads on Pro and up[50][48]
    Where recordings are kept
    Fireflies' cloud: 400 minutes in total on Free, 8,000 a seat on Pro; copies can sync to Google Drive[52][53]
    Free plan
    New accounts: 3 meeting transcriptions, unlimited with Auto Join on; 400 minutes stored in total; 2 hours a meeting; no downloads[54][55][50]
    Paid plans from
    Pro: $18 a seat a month, or $10 a seat a month billed yearly ($120 a year)[50][52][56]
    Callbox vs Fireflies.ai

  7. 7. Read AI

    Best for meeting reports, with a bot or Google Meet native recording

    Read AI's main recorder is a bot that joins Zoom, Teams and Google Meet. Without it, Google Meet native recording works on Meet only, after someone in the meeting approves a consent dialog, and the Mac and Windows app records any app but, in Read AI's words, "Read AI does not know who is speaking."[57][58][59][60]

    Bot in the call
    Yes: "read.ai meeting notes" joins Zoom, Teams and Meet as a participant; on Meet, Read AI can record without it[57][61][58]
    Calls it records
    Zoom, Teams and Google Meet with the bot; any app on your computer, Webex included, with its desktop app[57][59]
    The recording itself
    Playback and MP4 downloads on Enterprise and Enterprise+ only; Free recordings deleted after 180 days[62][63]
    Where recordings are kept
    Read AI's cloud, on AWS in Northern Virginia; a text-only Google Doc per meeting can go to your Drive[64][65]
    Free plan
    5 meeting transcripts a month, counting reports others share with you; meetings up to 1 hour; no uploads or playback; recordings deleted after 180 days[66][67][62]
    Paid plans from
    Pro: $19.75 a user a month, or $15 a user a month billed yearly[66][67]
    Callbox vs Read AI

  8. 8. Fathom

    Best for unlimited free recording with a bot, bot-free on a Mac

    Fathom's notetaker joins your calls by default. Fathom 3.0, its bot-free recorder, is rolling out in the Mac app on macOS 14.2 or later, and on Windows it is a limited Microsoft Teams alpha. Its free plan has unlimited recordings and transcription for one user.[68][69][70]

    Bot in the call
    Yes: "NAME's Fathom Notetaker" joins; bot-free in the Mac 3.0 app, in rollout, and a limited Teams alpha on Windows[68][69]
    Calls it records
    Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, plus Slack huddles on Mac; no webinars or phone calls[71][72][73]
    The recording itself
    Video with the bot on every plan, downloaded as MP4; an MP3 audio download is "available soon"[70][74]
    Where recordings are kept
    Fathom's own cloud, with all data stored in the United States; no native Google Drive integration[75][76]
    Free plan
    Unlimited recordings, transcription and storage for 1 user; advanced summaries for 5 calls a month; no action items or team features[70][77]
    Paid plans from
    Premium: $20 a user a month, or $16 a month billed yearly[70]
    Callbox vs Fathom

  9. 9. tl;dv

    Best for a bot for the meetings you skip, audio-only without it

    tl;dv sends a bot named after you by default, and its Chrome extension invites the same bot. Its Mac and Windows app records without a bot but keeps your computer's audio only, with no video, screen sharing or chat. Free recordings are kept for 3 months.[78][79][80][81][82][83]

    Bot in the call
    Yes by default: a bot named after you, such as "Grace's AI Notetaker", joins as a visible participant[78][79]
    Calls it records
    Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams with the bot; Slack huddles and Discord in the desktop app[78][81]
    The recording itself
    Video with the bot, audio only without it; downloads need Pro, Free recordings only in the 4 weeks before deletion[82][84][83]
    Where recordings are kept
    tl;dv's cloud in Europe; Free recordings kept 3 months, paid ones until you delete the account[85][86]
    Free plan
    40 recordings a week; full AI notes on your first 10 meetings only; kept 3 months, downloadable in the last 4 weeks[83][85][87]
    Paid plans from
    Pro: $29 a seat a month, or $216 a seat a year, which is $18 a month[88][78][89][83][87]
    Callbox vs tl;dv

Why do people want a meeting recorder without a bot?

Because a bot is a new participant: everyone in the call sees it, and the host often has to let it in. If the host does not admit tl;dv's bot, nothing is recorded, and Google Meet may list Otter Notetaker under "With potential risks" until the host or another authorized participant approves it.[78][90]

A bot can also come when you did not send it. Read AI joins every event on your calendar by default, and if another invitee uses Read AI, its bot can still come after you turn it off for yourself.[91][92]

A recorder without a bot avoids all of that, but it may not tell anyone in the call that it is recording. Callbox sends the other people nothing. Fireflies.ai's desktop mode plays a spoken notice by default, and Granola, Tactiq and Bluedot can post an optional notice in the chat. Laws on recording calls differ by place, so tell people before you start.[49][93][18][25][94]

What does a recorder without a bot miss?

The meetings you skip. A recorder on your own device records only the calls you attend. For the others you need a bot, and Otter, Fireflies.ai, Fathom, tl;dv, Read AI and Bluedot can each send one.[40][48][68][78][57][29]

Speaker names can be thinner too. Read AI's desktop app does not know who is speaking, and Granola names speakers in Google Meet and the Zoom and Teams desktop apps and labels the rest "Me" and "Them". Callbox tells you apart from the other side on every recording, and reads each speaker's name from the call's tiles in Meet and Teams.[59][95]

Questions

What is the best meeting recorder without a bot?

For calls in a browser, Callbox: it records Meet, Zoom and Teams from your Chrome tab with no bot and saves the audio and transcript to your own Google Drive. For the Zoom or Teams desktop apps, Granola records with no bot, but it keeps no audio.

Which meeting recorders without a bot record the Zoom and Teams desktop apps?

Granola, Bluedot and Tactiq's Mac app do, and so do the desktop apps of Otter, Fireflies.ai, tl;dv and Read AI. Callbox does not: it records calls in a Chrome tab.

Which meeting recorders without a bot work on Windows?

Callbox runs in Chrome on Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS. Granola and Bluedot have Windows apps, and so do Otter and Fireflies.ai. Tactiq's desktop app is for Mac only, and Fathom's bot-free recording on Windows is a limited Microsoft Teams alpha.

Which bot-free meeting recorders keep the audio?

Callbox saves the audio file to your own Google Drive on every plan. Bluedot keeps audio on its Basic plan and video from Pro. Granola and Tactiq keep no audio: Granola keeps notes, and Tactiq a transcript built from the call's captions.

Do I need consent to record a call without a bot?

Yes. Callbox, and other bot-free recorders with their notices off, tell the other people in the call nothing, so you tell them yourself, as the law where you and they are may require.

Record your next call to your Drive

Callbox records Meet, Zoom and Teams calls from your own Chrome tab, with no bot in the call, and saves each one to your Google Drive. Start on Free in a minute.

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Sources

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