Fathom excels as a dedicated meeting notetaker with highly accurate transcriptions and quick AI summaries that appear within seconds of meeting end. Its generous free plan and intuitive interface make it accessible to most users, while the "Ask Fathom" feature allows for intelligent querying of meeting content. However, advanced features like meeting templates require paid plans, and it only works with live online meetings through major platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams.

Fathom is best suited for sales teams who need instant call recaps and CRM updates, as well as general business users who want to focus on conversations rather than note-taking. The tool's strength lies in its simplicity and reliability for routine meeting documentation. While it offers some CRM integrations and basic automation for pushing summaries to deals, its workflow capabilities remain somewhat limited for users seeking deeper productivity enhancements.

Krisp distinguishes itself by combining real-time noise cancellation with meeting transcription, making it valuable for users in noisy environments or call centers. The tool works across virtually all communication apps and can handle both online and offline conversations, with support for 90+ languages. However, the free plan restricts noise cancellation to 60 minutes daily, and some users experience audio distortion or high CPU usage during intensive noise filtering.

Krisp targets remote workers in challenging audio environments and call center professionals who need both clear communication and meeting documentation. Its dual functionality makes it particularly useful for users who struggle with background noise while also wanting automated meeting notes. Although it includes calendar integration and basic CRM connectivity, the platform's automation capabilities and third-party integrations remain relatively basic for users seeking comprehensive meeting workflow solutions.

Comparison table

What users say about Fathom and Krisp

Fathom receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from users, with reviewers praising its speed, accuracy, and overall value proposition. Users find Fathom quick and accurate and note that it adds tons of value, with many appreciating its ease of use and seamless integration with popular applications. The transcription quality is particularly well-regarded, with users reporting that Fathom's transcriptions are pretty accurate (between 85% and 90%), and they appreciate the ability to manually edit transcriptions when needed.

Krisp users generally appreciate the software's noise cancellation capabilities, with many highlighting its effectiveness in blocking out background sounds during calls and meetings. Digital nomads and remote workers particularly praise its performance, noting that Krisp is great and can effectively filter out even loud sounds like clapping right next to the microphone. However, customer service appears to be a significant pain point, with some users experiencing frustrating delays and reporting that the support is absolutely dire, with subscription issues taking over a week to resolve.

Users switch away from Fathom primarily due to limitations in platform flexibility and recording capabilities. The tool only works with scheduled online meetings on specific platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams, and cannot import external audio files or handle in-person conversations. This restriction makes it unsuitable for users who need to transcribe recorded calls, phone conversations, or face-to-face meetings that weren't captured through these supported video conferencing platforms.

The lack of mobile app support drives users to seek alternatives to Fathom that offer more accessibility across devices. Since Fathom requires a desktop application and doesn't provide mobile apps for iOS or Android, users who frequently need to access meeting notes or manage their transcription workflow on mobile devices find this limitation significantly constraining. This becomes particularly problematic for users who travel frequently or prefer mobile-first workflows.

Feature limitations behind paywalls also contribute to user churn, especially when advanced capabilities like meeting templates and structured note sections are restricted to paid Team editions. While Fathom offers a generous free plan, users who require more sophisticated organizational features or advanced customization options may find the pricing structure less competitive compared to alternatives that offer similar features at lower tiers or provide more comprehensive free plans.

Users switch away from Krisp for several technical and usability reasons that impact their daily workflow. One significant issue is audio quality problems, where Krisp can occasionally distort the speaker's voice or clip words, particularly when trying to cancel very loud background noises. This audio distortion directly affects transcription accuracy, defeating the purpose of having clear meeting notes. Additionally, users report high CPU usage when Krisp is active, which can slow down their computers and interfere with other applications they need to run simultaneously.

The restrictive limitations of Krisp's free plan drive many users to seek alternatives. The free version only provides 60 minutes per day of noise cancellation, which proves insufficient for heavy users who participate in multiple or lengthy meetings throughout the day. This daily limit forces users to either upgrade to paid plans or look for more generous alternatives, especially when they discover that competitors like Fathom offer more comprehensive free tiers with unlimited meeting recordings.

Cost considerations and feature bundling also contribute to user churn from Krisp. Some users find the pricing for the full Pro version too high, particularly when they only need one of Krisp's main features rather than the combined noise cancellation and meeting notes package. The lack of mobile app support further limits Krisp's usefulness for users who need flexibility to join meetings from their phones or tablets. Customer support issues, including reports of slow response times, compound these frustrations and push users toward alternatives that offer better service and more balanced feature sets.

Using Fathom

Does Fathom work for in-person meetings?

No, Fathom does not work for in-person meetings. It only works for scheduled online meetings on platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams, and cannot import external audio files.

What do users say about the quality of Fathom transcriptions?

Users praise Fathom's transcriptions as quick and accurate. The AI-generated summaries appear just seconds after meetings, and users consistently highlight the quality of the transcription feature.

How does Fathom help users follow up on action items?

Fathom automatically generates action items as part of its AI summaries after meetings. It also provides draft follow-up emails and has an automation engine that can push action items to CRM deals. Users can query meeting content about action items using the "Ask Fathom" AI Q&A feature.

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

Yes, Fathom integrates with CRM systems like HubSpot and Salesforce to sync call notes. It also integrates with Slack and Notion via Zapier. However, the context does not specifically mention Linear integration.

Using Krisp

Does Krisp work for in-person meetings?

Yes, Krisp can capture any conversation whether it's online or offline by using noise-canceling audio on your device.

Does Krisp require a meeting bot to join the meeting?

No, Krisp does not require a meeting bot. It records and transcribes meetings locally via the Krisp app and works with any voice application.

What do users say about the quality of Krisp transcriptions?

Users have given positive feedback about Krisp's transcription quality. One user noted that the summaries with key points and action items were "extremely accurate" and required minimal edits. However, some users report that audio quirks can occasionally affect transcription accuracy, particularly when Krisp tries to cancel very loud noises, which might distort the speaker's voice or clip words.

How does Krisp help users follow up on action items?

Krisp automatically generates meeting notes and summaries that include action items, and it allows task delegation within the app. This helps users capture what was discussed and what needs to be done after meetings.

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

Yes, Krisp has calendar integration for one-click recording and native HubSpot CRM integration to push summaries directly to the platform.

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