StenoteA Fathom alternative with no bot, ever.
Fathom offers a bot or bot-free capture, and says bot-free is still a beta feature for Mac. Stenote never uses a bot, so there is only one way it works.
Stenote is a good Fathom alternative if you want no bot in any call, want the same behaviour on every device, and also record in person or on the phone. Fathom is the better choice if you want a generous free plan with unlimited recordings, or team features such as CRM sync, playlists and coaching metrics.
Your first hour is free. No card needed.
Stenote vs Fathom at a glance
| Stenote | Fathom | |
|---|---|---|
| How it records | From your own microphone and speakers. Always, on every device. | A choice of bot or bot-free capture. Its pricing page marks bot-free as a beta feature for Mac. |
| Visible to guests | No. Nothing appears in the participant list. | With the bot, yes. Premium adds a custom meeting bot. |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android and a web app. | Its pricing page mentions only the Mac beta for desktop bot-free capture. |
| Free plan | Your first hour is free, no card needed. | A free plan with unlimited recordings and transcripts, and instant AI summaries. |
| Price | $19.99 a month or $179 a year. One plan with everything. | Premium $16 a month billed yearly, or $20 billed monthly. Team and Business cost more. |
Source: Fathom pricing, checked 20 October 2026. Plans change, so check the vendor’s own page before you decide.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Stenote if you…
- want no bot in any call, with nothing to configure
- want the same behaviour on Mac, Windows and mobile
- record in person or on the phone as well as online
- want to upload recordings you did not make live
Pick Fathom if you…
- want a free plan with unlimited recordings
- run a sales or customer team that needs CRM sync and coaching
- share call highlights with playlists and comments
- are happy with a bot, or on a Mac and happy to try the beta
How Stenote works
Open a meeting
Join Zoom, Teams or Meet as usual. When the meeting app opens your microphone, Stenote asks whether to take notes. Nothing records until you say yes.
Talk
Stenote listens from your own Mac or PC. Nothing joins the call, and nobody has to admit a notetaker.
Get the notes
A summary, action items with owners, chapters, named speakers and a searchable transcript, with the audio kept alongside.
Frequently asked questions
Does Stenote join my meetings as a bot?
No. Stenote records from your own microphone and speakers on your Mac, PC or phone. Nothing appears in the participant list.
Is Fathom’s bot-free mode available on Windows?
Fathom’s pricing page describes bot-free capture as a beta feature for Mac and does not mention Windows. Check Fathom’s help centre for the current status.
How much does Stenote cost compared with Fathom?
Your first hour in Stenote is free. After that it is $19.99 a month or $179 a year for one plan with everything included. Fathom has a free plan with unlimited recordings, so for a basic free tool it costs less.
Do I still need to tell people I am recording?
Yes. Not having a bot in the call does not change consent rules, which vary by country and state. Tell people you are taking notes. This is not legal advice.
Be in the meeting.
Download Stenote and let it take the notes. No bot, no admitting anyone.
Last checked October 20, 2026. · Stenote vs Granola · Stenote vs Fireflies