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Fathom vs. Fireflies: Which Is Best? [2026]

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Based on Zapier Blog · Aug 18, 2026

AI meeting assistants Fathom and Fireflies now offer advanced features beyond basic transcription, including bot-free recording, integrations, and AI-driven insights. A detailed comparison highlights differences in usability, sharing options, and specialized tools for teams like sales.

Fathom vs. Fireflies: Which Is Best? [2026]
Zapier Blog — Zapier
Key points
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Watching someone take meeting minutes by hand feels like a portal into a bygone era, like rewinding a VHS tape or printing out MapQuest directions.
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I found a YouTube video called Mock Meeting for Minute Taking —recorded circa 2014—that was intended to train aspiring notetakers on the art of meeting minutes.

Both Fathom and Fireflies provide live transcripts and recording capabilities, with Fathom offering video recording on paid plans and Fireflies including audio and video recording even on its free tier. The apps also support bot-free recording, allowing for discreet meeting capture via desktop applications. Editing features enable users to correct speaker identification, adjust transcripts, and trim sections, though accuracy can still vary with industry-specific terms or acronyms.

Fathom and Fireflies generate summaries and action items automatically, with additional AI-powered tools like Fireflies' AskFred chatbot for contextual queries and Fathom's Ask Fathom assistant for team-wide insights. Both platforms allow users to save and share notable moments as clips, though Fireflies' Soundbites feature offers more advanced AI-driven clip generation. Sharing options differ: Fathom enables free sharing of meeting recaps with anyone, while Fireflies restricts public access to Business or Enterprise plan users.

Fathom emphasizes specialized features for sales teams, including Deal View, HubSpot CRM integrations, and AI Scorecards to evaluate call performance against sales methodologies. Fireflies, while more feature-rich, presents a broader but potentially overwhelming interface with multiple navigation options, AI Skills, and an AI credit system for advanced functionalities.

Onboarding for both apps is straightforward, with in-app guides and demo calls available. Fathom's dashboard is streamlined with core activities like My Calls and Team Calls, making navigation simpler. Fireflies, though polished, offers a more complex experience with features like Smart Search and AI Skills competing for attention, which may require additional time to master.

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