Bluedot positions itself as a highly accurate AI meeting recorder that operates through a Chrome extension without requiring a meeting bot. Its strength lies in transcription accuracy and discreet recording capabilities that work across all major platforms including Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. The tool is particularly well-suited for sales representatives, user researchers, and teams that prioritize accuracy and seamless workflow integration, though its integrations primarily serve to push summaries rather than create actionable workflows.

The main drawbacks of Bluedot include an extremely limited free tier (only 5 meetings total), relatively high pricing at upper tiers, and dependence on Chrome for the best experience. Advanced features like video recording and custom templates are locked behind higher-paid plans, making it expensive for smaller teams. While it offers integrations with popular tools like Salesforce and HubSpot, these connections are fairly basic and don't significantly enhance productivity beyond simple data logging.

Fireflies.ai takes a different approach by sending an AI bot named "Fred" to join meetings for recording and transcription across multiple platforms. It offers good transcription quality, quick turnaround on summaries and action items, and includes features like keyword search and an AskFred chatbot for querying meeting content. The tool works well for teams focused on knowledge sharing, sales call analysis, and general note-taking, with a more accessible free tier and mobile app availability.

However, Fireflies.ai has limitations including occasional transcription issues with heavy accents or technical jargon, and summaries that can be too high-level or lose important nuances. The interface can feel cluttered to some users, and advanced features like video recording are restricted to higher-tier plans. While it offers numerous integrations with CRM and project management tools, these connections tend to be surface-level and don't provide the depth needed to truly streamline post-meeting workflows and task management.

Comparison table

What users say about Bluedot and Fireflies.ai

Users praise Bluedot for its simplicity and intuitive design, with reviewers highlighting that the platform feels easy to use and doesn't require extra effort to onboard or navigate. However, the user experience appears to be mixed, as some users report significant technical issues. Critics describe the app itself as horrible with very unreliable and broken functionality, though they acknowledge getting some benefits like free charges despite the problems.

Fireflies.ai receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from users who appreciate its reliability and effectiveness for meeting transcription. Reviews consistently highlight that it is a reliable transcription tool with over 95% accuracy and that users find it indispensable for their workflow. Many users express strong satisfaction with the service, with one reviewer stating they use Fred Fireflies in every meeting and would literally be lost without him now, praising its perfect transcription capabilities and describing Fireflies.ai as a great tool that makes work easier through its meeting recording and note-taking features.

Limited Free Plan Drives Users Away

One of the primary reasons users abandon Bluedot is its extremely restrictive free tier. The free version only allows 5 meetings total in a user's lifetime, each capped at 1 hour, which essentially functions as just a trial period. This limitation becomes particularly problematic when users compare it to competitors that offer more generous free plans with ongoing monthly credits and permanent access to basic features. Once the 5-meeting limit is reached, users are forced to commit to a paid subscription starting at around $18 per month, which many find too steep for simple note-taking needs.

Platform and Device Compatibility Issues

Users frequently switch away from Bluedot due to its limited platform support and compatibility constraints. The service works best on Chrome desktop browsers, creating significant barriers for organizations that use other browsers or have strict IT policies. Additionally, Bluedot lacks mature mobile app support, which is a major drawback for users who need flexibility to record meetings on various devices. This becomes especially problematic for teams that require cross-platform consistency or remote workers who rely on mobile devices for meeting participation.

High-Tier Pricing Becomes Prohibitive

The cost structure at Bluedot's higher tiers often drives users to seek alternatives to Bluedot, particularly small teams and individual users. Advanced features like custom templates, longer video recordings, and comprehensive integrations are locked behind Pro and Business plans that can cost $25-40 per user per month. Many users find this pricing difficult to justify for what is essentially a note-taking tool, especially when they discover that basic functionality improvements require upgrading to these expensive tiers. The steep pricing progression from the limited free plan to full-featured paid plans creates a significant barrier that pushes cost-conscious users toward more affordable alternatives.

Users frequently switch away from Fireflies.ai due to limitations in transcription accuracy, particularly when dealing with diverse speaking styles and technical content. The platform struggles with heavy accents, technical jargon, and speaker identification, which can significantly impact the quality of meeting records. Users have reported instances where speakers are misidentified or when slang and specialized terminology are missed entirely, making the transcripts less reliable for professional use.

Another common reason for switching is dissatisfaction with the AI-generated summaries, which users find too high-level and lacking in nuance. Many users express frustration that Fireflies tends to lose the original phrasing and tone of conversations in its summaries, making them less useful for capturing the true essence of discussions. This limitation becomes particularly problematic for teams that rely on precise documentation of meeting content for decision-making or follow-up actions.

The restrictive nature of Fireflies' free plan also drives users to seek alternatives to Fireflies.ai, as advanced features like video recording are locked behind higher-tier subscriptions. Combined with interface complaints about cluttered design and excessive email notifications, these limitations create friction in the user experience. Users often find that while the basic functionality works, the combination of accuracy issues, summary quality concerns, and feature restrictions makes other solutions more appealing for their meeting documentation needs.

Using Bluedot

Does Bluedot work for in-person meetings?

Yes, Bluedot works for in-person meetings. Its bot-free recorder can capture any meeting on your device without requiring a bot to join calls.

Does Bluedot require a meeting bot to join the meeting?

No, Bluedot does not require a meeting bot to join the meeting. It operates via a Chrome extension without needing a bot presence, which means no awkward bot in meetings and it works even when you're not the host through discreet background recording.

What do users say about the quality of Bluedot transcriptions?

Users widely praise Bluedot for its transcription accuracy, with marketing and early users often noting it as "the most accurate" AI notetaker they've tried.

How does Bluedot help users follow up on action items?

Bluedot's AI generates follow-up emails from notes and can log action items to participants. It also offers automatic integration capabilities that update meeting notes to popular apps, saving manual effort in following up on action items.

Does Bluedot integrate with software like Hubspot, Salesforce, or Linear?

Yes, Bluedot integrates with software like HubSpot and Salesforce. It offers one-click sync to CRM systems including Salesforce and HubSpot, as well as project tools like Notion and Slack, and Google Docs. It has a wide integration suite for seamless workflow integration.

Using Fireflies.ai

Does Fireflies.ai work for in-person meetings?

Yes, Fireflies.ai can work for in-person meetings through its mobile app, which can record in-person meetings and voice notes.

Does Fireflies.ai require a meeting bot to join the meeting?

Yes, Fireflies.ai sends a bot participant called "Fred" to join meetings for recording, transcribing, and summarizing discussions across platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Webex.

What do users say about the quality of Fireflies.ai transcriptions?

Users generally report good transcription quality, with many noting that it accurately captures meeting content even in other languages like Dutch. However, some users mention that transcription accuracy can decrease with heavy accents or technical jargon, and there are occasional issues with misidentified speakers or missed slang.

How does Fireflies.ai help users follow up on action items?

Fireflies.ai delivers AI-generated summaries and bullet-point action items within minutes after a call. It can auto-log notes to CRM systems for contacts and deals, and can create tasks in project management tools like Asana to help with follow-ups.

Does Fireflies.ai integrate with software like Hubspot, Salesforce, or Linear?

Yes, Fireflies.ai offers dozens of integrations including native integrations with HubSpot, Salesforce, and Slack, as well as additional integrations through Zapier.

Another alternative: Circleback

Circleback provides best-in-class AI-powered meeting notes and automations. We support over 100 languages and automatic participant identification in both in-person and online meetings.

• Automatically-identified and assigned action items

• AI-enabled search across all meetings

• Automations with 100+ app integrations

• Industry-leading security with SOC 2 Type II, EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, and HIPAA compliance

• Ability to capture both online and in-person meetings with desktop and mobile apps