Fathom's free tier is genuinely generous, and reviews are strong — this is more a volume play than a pain play. Its trade-offs are a visible bot participant in its original mode and a default opt-out on using your data to improve its models.
| Fathom | TinyScribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Bot joins your call | Joins your call | None — never joins your call |
| Processing | Cloud processing, bot-based (bot-free option since April 2026) | Transcription on-device, summaries via Apple Private Cloud Compute |
| Account required | required | None |
| Training on your data | opt-out | None |
| Price | free (generous free tier free) | $49.99 one-time (Free for 30 meetings) |
| Cost over 3 years | free | $49.99 |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows | macOS 27+, Apple silicon |
Prices checked August 2026.
Transcription happens on your Mac using Apple's SpeechAnalyzer — fully on-device, fully offline. Summaries are the one thing that leaves your Mac: they go through Apple's Private Cloud Compute, where Apple states nothing is stored and nothing is used for training.
There is no bot. TinyScribe only captures what happens on your own Mac — no meeting invite, no third party joining your call to listen in.
TinyScribe is a one-time purchase, not a subscription: $49.99 once, free for the first 30 meetings, no recurring bill.
When Fathom is the better choice: you want a free, capable notetaker for Zoom, Meet, or Teams and don't mind cloud processing or a bot joining as a visible participant. TinyScribe never joins as a participant and processes transcription entirely on your Mac.
See how TinyScribe stacks up against other Fathom alternatives: Best Fathom alternatives for Mac