AI Meeting Notes & Transcription Tools Comparison 2026: Notta, Zoom AI, Plaud Note and 7 More (Pricing & Free Plans)

When choosing an AI meeting minutes or transcription tool, many people are unsure about pricing structures, the availability of free plans, the scope of Japanese support, and the supported meeting environments. Additionally, there are several functional aspects to verify, such as the differences between bot-based and non-bot approaches, and how data is handled.

In this article, we compare 10 major tools, including Notta, Zoom AI (formerly Zoom AI Companion), and Plaud Note, based on AIpedia data (as of November 2026). We outline each tool's pricing, free plan availability, Japanese support status, and platforms. We also organize the strengths and things to note for each tool. Furthermore, we explain recommendations by goal and how to choose without making mistakes.

This article covers everything from basic knowledge you should know before implementation to specific comparisons. However, please check the official website for the latest pricing and features. Make your final selection decision based on your company's business processes and security policies.

What Are AI Meeting Notes and Transcription Tools? What They Do and What to Know Before Choosing

AI meeting notes and transcription tools convert audio from meetings or calls into text, with AI automatically organizing summaries and action items. This reduces manual note-taking and helps you quickly grasp key decisions and tasks.

• Automatic recording of web meetings: A bot joins meetings on platforms like Zoom or Google Meet to perform real-time transcription and summarization.
• Recording without a bot: Use a Chrome extension or desktop app to convert audio to text without displaying a bot on the other party's screen.
• Recording in-person conversations: Record calls or face-to-face conversations using a smartphone or dedicated hardware, then generate transcription and summaries later.
• Querying meeting content: Ask the AI questions about the generated minutes to quickly search for and verify specific decisions or remarks.
• Automatic task extraction: Identify action items and assignees from the conversation, and automate integration with email sending or task management tools.

When choosing a tool, it is important to first check the scope of free usage. For example, Notta offers up to 120 minutes/month for free but limits each session to 3 minutes, Tactiq allows up to 10 sessions/month, and Otter.ai provides up to 300 minutes/month. Limits vary significantly by tool.

The depth of Japanese support is also a key comparison point. Notta and Plaud Note support Japanese interface display and pricing in yen, while Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai have pricing in US dollars, and Japanese interface support may not be confirmed.

Furthermore, the optimal plan depends on whether you are an individual or a business user. Zoom AI is available at no extra cost with a paid Zoom Workplace plan, whereas Granola and Sembly AI use per-user billing. Please check the official website of each tool for the latest pricing and feature details.

Comparison Table of Top 10 Tools (Pricing, Japanese Support, Platforms)

Tool	AIpedia rating	Main plans	Japanese support	Platforms
Notta	4.3	Free (120 minutes/month, up to 3 minutes per session) / Premium ¥1,185/month (annual billing, annual cost ¥14,220) / Business ¥2,508/account/month (annual billing, annual cost ¥30,096)	Supported	Web, iOS, Android, Windows, and others
Zoom AI (formerly Zoom AI Companion)	4.2	Basic Free (summaries and in-meeting questions limited to 3 host meetings per month) / Pro ¥26,844/year (equivalent to ¥2,237/month), ¥2,684/month (monthly billing)	Supported	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and others
Plaud Note	4.2	Hardware Plaud Note ¥27,500, Plaud Note Pro ¥30,800, Plaud NotePin ¥27,500, Plaud NotePin S ¥28,600 (tax included)	Supported	Hardware (AI voice recorder), iOS, Android, Web, and others
Tactiq	4	Free (10 transcriptions/month, 5 AI credits/month) / Pro ¥1,249/user/month (annual billing) / Team ¥2,541/user/month (annual billing, 1–20 users)	Supported	Chrome extension, Web, Google Meet, Zoom, and others
Otter.ai	4.1	Basic Free (300 minutes/month, up to 30 minutes per conversation) / Pro $8.33/user/month (annual billing), $16.99/user/month (monthly billing)	Partial support	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and others
Fireflies.ai	4.3	Free (AI summaries limited by usage, 400 minutes storage per team) / Pro $10/seat/month (annual billing), $18/seat/month (monthly billing) / Business $19/seat/month (annual billing), $29/seat/month (monthly billing)	Partial support	Web, desktop app, iOS, Android, and others
Read AI	4.2	Free (5 meetings/month, up to 1 hour per meeting) / Pro $15/user/month (annual billing), $19.75 (monthly billing) / Enterprise $22.50/user/month (annual billing), $29.75 (monthly billing)	Partial support	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and others
Granola	4.3	Basic Free (30-day meeting history) / Business $14/user/month / Enterprise $35/user/month (USD. No distinction between monthly and annual billing noted)	Partial support	macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and others
MeetGeek	4.1	Basic Free (3 hours/month) / Pro $9.99/user/month (annual billing), $15.99 (monthly billing) / Business $17/user/month (annual billing), $27 (monthly billing)	Partial support	Web, desktop app, iOS, Android, and others
Sembly AI	4.3	Free (1 hour of meeting recording per month) / Basic $10/month (annual billing, 1 user), $17/month (monthly billing) / Pro $20/user/month (annual billing), $29 (monthly billing)	Partial support	Web, iOS, Android, Zoom, and others

Ratings are based on a 5-point scale by the AIpedia editorial team. Pricing and plans may change. Please check the official website of each tool for the latest information before signing up.

Features, Pricing, and Best For: 10 Tools

1. Notta

Notta is an AI transcription and meeting minutes tool provided by Notta Inc., a Japanese company. It supports web conferences such as Zoom and Google Meet, as well as recordings made on smartphones or PCs. It can transcribe 58 languages, including Japanese, and offers AI-powered summarization.

• Strengths: Data is stored within Japan, and pricing is in JPY with Japanese support available.
• Strengths: Compatible with four meeting tools: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Webex.
• Strengths: Flexible recording options, including smartphone apps and dedicated recorders.
• Things to note: The free plan limits each transcription session to 3 minutes, making it suitable for short meetings.
• Things to note: On the pricing page, "No AI training" is listed as an Enterprise feature. It is explained that Japanese transcriptions are not used for AI training by default only in the Enterprise plan.

Pricing: Free: Free (120 minutes/month, up to 3 minutes per session) / Premium: ¥1,185/month (annual billing, ¥14,220/year) / Business: ¥2,508/account/month (annual billing, ¥30,096/year) / Enterprise (contact sales). All prices include tax. Monthly billing also available)

Best for: Companies that prioritize domestic data storage, or those who want to automate meeting minutes across multiple web conferencing tools.

View detailed features, pricing, and FAQ for Notta

2. Zoom AI (formerly Zoom AI Companion)

Zoom AI (formerly Zoom AI Companion) is an AI feature built into Zoom. With paid Zoom Workplace plans, you can create post-meeting summaries and handle in-meeting questions at no additional cost. Additionally, using the My Notes feature allows you to record meetings outside of Zoom or face-to-face conversations.

• Strengths: When using a paid plan, core AI features such as meeting summaries and in-meeting questions are available at no extra charge.
• Strengths: The My Notes feature allows transcription of Microsoft Teams or Google Meet meetings, as well as face-to-face conversations, without requiring bot participation.
• Strengths: Zoom’s terms of service stipulate that customer content, such as audio and chat, will not be used to train AI models.
• Things to note: On the free Basic plan, summary and question features are limited to 3 hosted meetings per month.
• Things to note: The paid add-on product ZoomMate is currently supported in English only and is described as being available to customers hosted on US infrastructure.

Pricing: Basic: Free (summaries and questions limited to 3 hosted meetings per month). Pro: ¥26,844/year (equivalent to ¥2,237/month) or ¥2,684/month. Business: ¥34,744/year (approximately ¥2,895/month equivalent) or ¥3,474/month. The standalone My Notes plan is ¥15,800/year or ¥1,580/month. All prices are per user and exclude tax.

Best for: Users already on a paid Zoom Workplace plan who want to generate meeting summaries and records while keeping additional costs low. It is also suitable for companies that want to manage meetings on platforms other than Zoom using the same tool.

3. Plaud Note

Plaud Note is a product that combines a card-shaped AI voice recorder, which attaches to the back of your smartphone with magnets, and the "Plaud Intelligence" service for transcription and summarization. It records in-person meetings and calls, supporting transcription in 112 languages, including Japanese. In Japan, it is operated by PLAUD Co., Ltd., offering yen-based pricing and a Japanese support channel.

• Strengths: Purchasing the device allows you to use a free plan with up to 300 minutes per month at no additional cost.
• Strengths: Data centers are located in the US, Europe, Japan, and Singapore. It is explicitly stated that data will not be used for AI training without explicit consent.
• Things to note: Purchasing the device is required to use the service. Also, the Pro plan allows up to 1,200 minutes per month, and unused minutes do not roll over to the next month.
• Things to note: Recording online meetings is done via Plaud Desktop (beta), which is only available to owners of Plaud devices.
• Things to note: The official FAQ states that users in Japan use LLMs hosted in the US.

Pricing: Device Plaud Note ¥27,500, Plaud Note Pro ¥30,800, Plaud NotePin ¥27,500, Plaud NotePin S ¥28,600 (tax included) / Starter Free (300 minutes/month, available with device purchase) / Pro ¥1,400/month (annual billing, annual fee ¥16,800), ¥3,000/month (monthly billing) / Unlimited ¥3,333.33/month (annual billing, annual fee ¥40,000), ¥5,000/month (monthly billing) / Team ¥4,216.67/user/month (annual billing), ¥6,270/user/month (monthly billing)

Best for: Individuals who primarily want to record in-person meetings and calls, or those who value the convenience of integrated hardware and software. Since it is operated by a Japanese corporation, it is an easy option to consider for business professionals who prioritize yen-based contracts and Japanese support.

View detailed features, pricing, and FAQ for Plaud Note

4. Tactiq

Tactiq is a tool that transcribes web meetings on Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams in real time using a Chrome extension, without using a bot. It can create AI summaries and action items from transcription results.

• Strengths: Transcription is possible without adding a bot to the meeting, and the display appears only on your screen.
• Strengths: Supports Japanese transcription on Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.
• Things to note: Only one language can be used per transcription session. If the language changes during the meeting, it does not switch automatically.
• Things to note: There is a limit on AI credits: 5 per month for the Free plan and 10 per month for the Pro plan.

Pricing: Free (10 transcriptions/month, 5 AI credits/month) / Pro ¥1,249/user/month (annual billing) / Team ¥2,541/user/month (annual billing, 1–20 users) / Business ¥4,800/user/month (annual billing, 20–200 users) / Enterprise (contact sales; 200+ users). Prices shown in yen when accessed from Japan

Best for: Individuals who want real-time Japanese transcription and AI-generated summaries in web meetings where they prefer to avoid bot participation.

5. Otter.ai

Otter.ai is an AI meeting notes service provided by Otter.ai, Inc. in the United States. It transcribes meetings on Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, as well as in-person conversations, and generates summaries and action items. It has supported real-time Japanese transcription since November 2025.

• Strengths: The Basic plan allows up to 300 minutes of free transcription per month. It also supports both AI meeting participants and desktop recording without a bot.
• Strengths: With annual billing, Pro starts at $8.33/user/month. The Business plan offers unlimited transcription for meetings and in-app recordings.
• Things to note: Pricing is in US dollars, with no yen display. Additionally, the limit per conversation is 30 minutes for Basic and 90 minutes for Pro.
• Things to note: The official privacy page states that anonymized user data is used to train its own models. The scope of Japanese summary support is not explicitly stated on the official site.

Pricing: Basic Free (300 minutes/month, up to 30 minutes per conversation) / Pro $8.33/user/month (annual billing), $16.99/user/month (monthly billing) / Business $19.99/user/month (annual billing), $30/user/month (monthly billing) / Enterprise (contact sales). Prices in USD

Best for: Those who want to try it first with the free tier or those who want to integrate with meeting tools like Zoom. It is also suitable for those who want to record from their desktop without using a bot. However, please check the official website for details on the scope of Japanese interface display and summary features.

View detailed features, pricing, and FAQ for Otter.ai

6. Fireflies.ai

Fireflies.ai is an AI note-taker that joins meetings on Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and more. It transcribes recorded content and automatically creates summaries and action items. It supports over 100 languages, including Japanese, allowing you to set the language for each meeting.

• Strengths: Using the Chrome extension allows recording without adding a bot, and the mobile app can record in-person meetings.
• Strengths: Even with the Free plan, enabling calendar integration removes limits on transcription via shared bots or extensions.
• Things to note: Free plan storage is limited to 400 minutes per team, and AI summaries have usage limits.
• Things to note: Pricing is only in US dollars, with no yen display. Additionally, many languages other than English are described as being in beta.

Pricing: Free is free (400 minutes storage/team) / Pro $10/seat/month (annual billing), $18/seat/month (monthly billing) / Business $19/seat/month (annual billing), $29/seat/month (monthly billing) / Enterprise $39/seat/month (annual billing only) (US dollars)

Best for: Suitable for teams with many multilingual meetings or individual users who prefer to avoid bot participation. It is also easy to consider for companies that want to avoid using customer data for training, as the policy of not using data for training by default is explicitly stated.

View detailed features, pricing, and FAQ for Fireflies.ai

7. Read AI

Read AI is a tool that joins Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet meetings as an assistant to create "meeting reports" including summaries and action items. It also features speaker-by-speaker transcription and live note-taking during meetings. Furthermore, it uniquely allows cross-searching of not just meetings but also emails and messages.

• Strengths: You can receive summaries, topics, action items, and key questions all in a single report.
• Strengths: The official website has a Japanese version, and Japanese is included among the supported languages for meeting reports.
• Things to note: Audio and video playback features are available only on Enterprise plans and above.
• Things to note: Advanced security settings such as HIPAA compliance and SAML/SCIM are available only on Enterprise+ plans with 5 or more licenses.

Pricing: Free (5 meetings/month, up to 1 hour per meeting) / Pro $15/user/month (annual billing) · $19.75 (monthly billing) / Enterprise $22.50/user/month (annual billing) · $29.75 (monthly billing) / Enterprise+ $29.75/user/month (annual billing) · $39.75 (monthly billing) · 5 or more licenses (USD)

Best for: Individuals who want to efficiently record multilingual meetings, including Japanese, on major meeting platforms. Also suitable for business professionals who want to centrally manage and search meeting data along with emails and messages.

8. Granola

Granola is an AI note-taking app that transcribes PC audio without adding a bot to the meeting. By combining this with user-written notes, the AI organizes the meeting minutes. It can be used without relying on specific meeting tools like Zoom or Google Meet.

• Strengths: Since no bot appears to the other party in the meeting, you can proceed naturally.
• Strengths: If you set the summary language to “Auto,” notes are automatically created in Japanese for Japanese meetings.
• Strengths: The design does not save meeting audio; it only saves transcription results and notes.
• Things to note: App menus and settings screens are displayed only in English, so you need to get used to the operations.
• Things to note: The free plan limits meeting history to 30 days.

Pricing: Three plans: Basic (free, 30-day meeting history), Business ($14/user/month, unlimited history, integration features), and Enterprise ($35/user/month, SSO, HIPAA compliance, etc.). Prices are displayed in US dollars.

Best for: Those who do not want a bot to join their meetings, or those who want to combine their own notes with AI transcription. However, it is easier to use if you have no hesitation with an English UI.

9. MeetGeek

MeetGeek is an AI meeting tool that records Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams meetings via an AI agent (bot) or bot-free recording, and performs transcription, summarization, and analysis. It supports recording from Chrome extensions, desktop apps, and mobile apps.

• Strengths: You can choose between bot-based and non-bot-based recording starting from the free plan.
• Strengths: Supports Japanese transcription, AI summarization, and AI chat.
• Strengths: You can choose to store data in the US or the EU (all plans).
• Things to note: The free Basic plan is limited to 3 hours per month, and transcriptions are stored for 3 months.
• Things to note: Prices are in US dollars; there is no display in Japanese yen.

Pricing: Basic Free (3 hours/month) / Pro $9.99/user/month (annual billing) · $15.99 (monthly billing) / Business $17/user/month (annual billing) · $27 (monthly billing) / Enterprise (contact sales). Prices in USD

Best for: Those who prioritize bot-free recording and Japanese support, and seek an environment where they can choose the data storage location.

10. Sembly AI

Sembly AI is a tool that automatically records meetings from your calendar, such as Zoom and Google Meet. It not only transcribes audio and creates meeting minutes but also generates proposals tailored to each customer's brand.

• Strengths: Supports four meeting tools: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Webex.
• Strengths: Supports over 45 languages, including Japanese transcription.
• Strengths: On the Basic plan and above, meeting recording time is unlimited.
• Things to note: The Free plan allows up to 1 hour per month, with history limited to 2 months.
• Things to note: Pricing is in US dollars only; there is no display in Japanese yen.

Pricing: Free is free (meeting recording 1 hour/month) / Basic $10/month (annual billing, 1 user) and $17/month (monthly billing) / Pro $20/user/month (annual billing) and $29 (monthly billing) / MAX $30/user/month (annual billing) and $39 (monthly billing), for 3 or more users / Enterprise (contact sales; 10+ users). Prices in USD

Best for: Individuals who use multiple meeting tools and want to use them without recording time limits. It is also suitable for teams that want to automate the creation of customer-facing materials. However, there is no official statement regarding Japanese language interface support.

Recommendations by Goal

Goal	Recommended	Reason
Try it for free first	Notta, Otter.ai	Notta offers up to 120 minutes/month and Otter.ai offers up to 300 minutes/month of free transcription.
Japanese interface, support and yen pricing	Notta, Plaud Note	Both tools are operated by Japanese subsidiaries, offering Japanese interfaces, support, and yen-based pricing.
Record in-person meetings or calls	Plaud Note, Sembly AI	Plaud Note records in-person conversations using dedicated hardware, while Sembly AI supports in-person recording via its mobile app.
Keep bots out of your meetings	Tactiq, Granola	Tactiq is a Chrome extension, and Granola transcribes from PC audio without using a bot.
Use it with Zoom at no extra cost	Zoom AI (formerly Zoom AI Companion)	Paid Zoom Workplace plans include meeting summaries and Q&A features at no extra cost.
Share and manage it as a team	Notta, Fireflies.ai	Notta’s Business plan offers unlimited transcription time. Fireflies.ai’s Free plan has no limit on bot-based meeting recordings if you enable automatic joining of calendar meetings.
Search meeting reports and emails together	Read AI	It compiles summaries, action items, and key questions into a single meeting report and allows cross-searching across meetings, emails, and messages.
Choose where your data is stored	MeetGeek	All plans allow you to choose between the US or EU for data storage. It supports both bot-based and non-bot recording (Japan is not an option).

These picks are based on the pricing and features listed on each tool’s official website.

When considering implementation, please check each company’s official website for the latest pricing structures and detailed feature limitations.

How to Choose Without Regrets

Japanese transcription accuracy and interface display

The scope of Japanese support varies by tool. Notta and Plaud Note offer Japanese interfaces, Japanese support, and pricing in JPY.

Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai support Japanese transcription, but their interfaces and pricing are in English and USD. If you frequently operate in Japanese, it is best to choose tools with robust Japanese UIs, such as Notta or Zoom AI (formerly Zoom AI Companion).

Bot participation vs. bot-free recording

The impact on other participants differs between methods that add an AI bot to the meeting and methods that only capture audio from your PC or smartphone.

Tactiq and Granola do not use a bot and display transcription only on your screen, so no bot appears on other participants' screens. When you transcribe a meeting, we recommend telling participants and getting their consent. In contrast, Notta and Sembly AI use a method where a bot joins the meeting to record, which is visible to other participants.

Free plan limitations and paid conversion

The free tier limits, such as monthly minutes, number of sessions, and per-session caps, vary significantly by tool. You must verify these against your company's meeting frequency before adoption.

Notta allows up to 120 minutes per month but limits each session to 3 minutes. Otter.ai allows up to 300 minutes per month with a 30-minute limit per session. Plaud Note offers up to 300 minutes per month for free with the purchase of the hardware, but this incurs a device cost (starting from ¥27,500 tax included). Compare tools assuming you will test within the free tier and upgrade to a paid plan if you find the limits insufficient.

Supported meeting tools and platforms

Check whether the tool supports your primary meeting platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, etc.). Also, if you plan to use it on smartphones or tablets in addition to PCs, the availability of iOS and Android apps is important.

Notta supports four tools: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Webex. Zoom AI (formerly Zoom AI Companion) is specialized for Zoom, but its My Notes feature can also record Teams, Google Meet, and in-person conversations. If your usage environment is distributed, tools with broad support ranges like Notta or Fireflies.ai are viable options.

Data usage policies and security

Whether transcription data is used for AI training is a critical point regarding the protection of corporate secrets. Please review each tool's privacy policy.

Notta explicitly states "no AI training" in its Enterprise plan. Granola uses anonymized data for training, so you must opt out if this is not desired. Sembly AI and MeetGeek also specify opt-out features or non-use of data for training. If you are concerned about data handling, carefully read the explanations on the official website and consult with experts as needed.

FAQ

Q. What are the limitations of the free features?

Notta's free plan allows up to 120 minutes per month, with a limit of 3 minutes per transcription. Zoom AI Basic limits summary and question features to three host meetings per month. Tactiq's Free plan allows up to 10 items per month, while Otter.ai Basic can be used for up to 300 minutes per month.

Q. Are there tools that support Japanese transcription or summarization?

All 10 tools—Notta, Zoom AI, Plaud Note, Tactiq, Otter.ai, Fireflies.ai, Read AI, Granola, MeetGeek, and Sembly AI—support Japanese. However, Granola's app interface is in English only, and Japanese interface display for Otter.ai, Fireflies.ai, and Sembly AI cannot be officially confirmed.

Q. Can I transcribe without adding a bot to the meeting?

Tactiq enables real-time transcription without a bot via its Chrome extension. Granola also transcribes directly from PC audio, so no bot appears on the other party's screen. Plaud Note and Zoom AI My Notes can also record in-person conversations or meetings without using a bot.

Q. Can I pay in Japanese yen?

Notta, Zoom AI, Plaud Note, and Tactiq allow payment in yen or display prices in yen when accessed from Japan. On the other hand, Otter.ai, Fireflies.ai, Read AI, Granola, MeetGeek, and Sembly AI use a US dollar pricing structure. Please check the official website for the latest pricing and features.

Q. Is there any concern about my data being used for AI training?

Zoom AI, Plaud Note (unless explicit consent is given), Fireflies.ai (default settings), Read AI (off by default), MeetGeek, and Sembly AI (opt-out) explicitly state that they do not use data for AI training or allow users to exclude it from training. Notta lists "no AI training" as an enterprise feature. Otter.ai explains that it uses anonymized user data to train its own models. Granola uses anonymized data for training, so you must opt out in the settings if you do not want your data used.

Summary

This article compared 10 AI meeting minutes and transcription tools, including Notta and Zoom AI. Tools operated by Japanese companies feature yen-based pricing and Japanese support. In contrast, tools from overseas often use USD-based pricing, which is an important consideration.

Additionally, choosing between bot-joined and non-bot-joined modes, as well as the usage limits of free plans, are key factors to consider. Policies also vary by tool regarding data storage locations and whether data is used for AI training. We recommend checking the official website for the latest information before implementation and verifying that it meets your company's security requirements.

• If you prioritize Japanese support and yen-based pricing: Notta (operated by a Japanese company with comprehensive yen-based pricing and Japanese support)
• If you want to avoid bot participation: Tactiq (transcribes without a bot via Chrome extension)
• If you prioritize recording in-person meetings: Plaud Note (records and transcribes face-to-face conversations using dedicated hardware)

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