The short answer
Our recommended free note-taking and transcription AI tools for 2026 are Apple Notes, Evernote, Fathom, Fireflies.ai, Krisp, Microsoft OneNote, NotebookLM, Notion, Obsidian, OpenAI Whisper, Otter.ai, Read AI and tl;dv (listed alphabetically, not ranked). Each has a free plan or free version; always get consent before recording others.
At a glance
| # | Name | Made by | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple Notes | Apple | iPhone and Mac users |
| 2 | Evernote | Bending Spoons | Capturing everything |
| 3 | Fathom | Fathom | Unlimited free recordings |
| 4 | Fireflies.ai | Fireflies | Team meeting notes |
| 5 | Krisp | Krisp | Noise cancellation and notes |
| 6 | Microsoft OneNote | Microsoft | Microsoft users |
| 7 | NotebookLM | Learning from your sources | |
| 8 | Notion | Notion | All-in-one notes |
| 9 | Obsidian | Obsidian | Private local notes |
| 10 | OpenAI Whisper | OpenAI (open source) | Free local transcription |
| 11 | Otter.ai | Otter.ai | Meeting transcription |
| 12 | Read AI | Read AI | Meeting summaries and analytics |
| 13 | tl;dv | tl;dv | Zoom, Meet and Teams |
Listed alphabetically, not ranked.
The 13 picks in detail
1Apple Notes
AppleBuilt-in audio recording and transcription on supported devices.
- Made by
- Apple
- Best for
- iPhone and Mac users
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
2Evernote
Bending SpoonsNote capture with a limited free plan.
- Made by
- Bending Spoons
- Best for
- Capturing everything
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
3Fathom
FathomFree AI notetaker for Zoom, Meet and Teams.
- Made by
- Fathom
- Best for
- Unlimited free recordings
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
4Fireflies.ai
FirefliesJoins calls to transcribe and summarise; free plan.
- Made by
- Fireflies
- Best for
- Team meeting notes
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
5Krisp
KrispNoise cancellation plus AI meeting notes, free tier.
- Made by
- Krisp
- Best for
- Noise cancellation and notes
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
6Microsoft OneNote
MicrosoftFree notebooks with dictation and transcription.
- Made by
- Microsoft
- Best for
- Microsoft users
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
7NotebookLM
GoogleTurns your documents into summaries, Q&A and audio overviews.
- Made by
- Best for
- Learning from your sources
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
8Notion
NotionNotes and docs with limited free AI.
- Made by
- Notion
- Best for
- All-in-one notes
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
9Obsidian
ObsidianFree local Markdown notes with community AI plugins.
- Made by
- Obsidian
- Best for
- Private local notes
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
10OpenAI Whisper
OpenAI (open source)Open-source speech recognition you can run on your own computer.
- Made by
- OpenAI (open source)
- Best for
- Free local transcription
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
11Otter.ai
Otter.aiLive transcription and summaries; free monthly minutes.
- Made by
- Otter.ai
- Best for
- Meeting transcription
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
12Read AI
Read AISummaries and meeting insights with a free tier.
- Made by
- Read AI
- Best for
- Meeting summaries and analytics
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
13tl;dv
tl;dvRecords meetings with AI notes; free plan.
- Made by
- tl;dv
- Best for
- Zoom, Meet and Teams
- Category
- Free note-taking and transcription AI tools
Free plans, prices and features change often. Check each provider’s website for current terms before you sign up.
How to choose
- Test two or three tools on a real task before you commit.
- Read the free plan limits: usage caps, features, file sizes and commercial use.
- Check privacy: whether your data is used for training and where it is stored.
- Make sure you can export your work if you switch tools.
- For business use, check admin controls, security and compliance on paid plans.
Red flags
- Free plans that require a card and auto-renew.
- Vague privacy policies on how your data is used.
- No way to export your data.
- Claims of perfect accuracy.
- Unknown developers with no company details.
How we chose
These are iCreativez Technologies’ own recommendations, based on research and experience of the market. We looked at a usable free plan or free tier, quality of results, privacy and reputation of the developer. The list is listed alphabetically, not ranked. Details such as services, prices, plans and locations change, so confirm them directly before you decide. No one paid to appear.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best free note-taking and transcription AI tools?
Our recommended free note-taking and transcription AI tools for 2026 are Apple Notes, Evernote, Fathom, Fireflies.ai, Krisp, Microsoft OneNote, NotebookLM, Notion, Obsidian, OpenAI Whisper, Otter.ai, Read AI and tl;dv (listed alphabetically, not ranked). Each has a free plan or free version; always get consent before recording others.
Are these AI tools really free?
Each has a free plan or free tier at the time of writing, but limits apply, such as monthly usage caps, fewer features or watermarks. Free plans change often, so check the current terms on each tool’s website.
Is it safe to put business data into free AI tools?
Be careful. Some free plans may use your inputs to improve their models. Avoid entering confidential, personal or client data unless the provider’s terms and settings allow you to opt out, or use a business plan with data protection commitments.
How did you choose this list?
These are iCreativez Technologies’ own recommendations, based on research and experience of the market. The list is listed alphabetically, not ranked, and nobody paid to appear. iCreativez publishes this page and is not part of the list.