Fathom vs. Read.ai for meeting automation

What do users say?

Fathom receives generally positive user feedback with ratings ranging from 4.0 to 5.0 stars across review platforms. Users appreciate its speed and accuracy in meeting transcription and note-taking, finding it easy to integrate with their existing applications. The hypertext links to video segments are highlighted as a particularly valuable feature that enhances the user experience.

Read.ai faces significant user satisfaction challenges with a low 1.7-star rating on Trustpilot based on 60 reviews. Users report frustration with the platform's forced account creation process when accessing meeting notes shared by partner companies. Security concerns are frequently mentioned, with users complaining that the service continues to join calls without proper approval even after account deletion.

For more detailed information about these platforms, readers can explore the following resources: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Why users choose Fathom or Read.ai

Users switch away from Fathom due to feature limitations that restrict functionality compared to competitors. Advanced capabilities like meeting templates with structured note sections are only available in paid Team edition plans, making the free tier less comprehensive for users who need organized note formats. The platform cannot transcribe external audio files or uploaded recordings, limiting its use to live meetings on supported platforms only.

Platform compatibility issues drive users to seek alternatives that offer broader device support and recording options. Fathom lacks a mobile app, requiring users to rely solely on desktop applications for Mac and Windows. This limitation prevents users from capturing in-person meetings or accessing the service on iOS and Android devices, unlike competitors that provide mobile recording capabilities.

The on-screen interface elements can create usability concerns during active meetings. Some users find the live transcript widgets, bars, and pop-ups distracting while participating in calls, though these elements can typically be hidden. The platform's focus on scheduled online meetings through Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams also restricts users who need more flexible recording options or support for other meeting platforms. Users switch away from Read.ai due to the restrictive free tier, which limits users to only 5 meeting transcripts per month with basic summaries and analytics. This limitation is considered too restrictive compared to competitors like Fathom, which offers unlimited meeting recordings and full AI summaries for 5 meetings per month on their free plan.

The complex and cluttered user interface creates a higher learning curve that deters users. With multiple features including notes, analytics, and search functionality, some users find the interface "confusing" and report that it is not as time-saving as expected. The abundance of features makes the platform less intuitive compared to simpler alternatives.

Privacy concerns and technical inconsistencies drive users to seek alternatives. Reddit users have warned about boundary issues when Read.ai joins others' meetings without explicit consent. Additionally, the "live coach" metrics can be inconsistent when participants join late or experience microphone issues, affecting the reliability of meeting analytics.

Comparing Fathom and Read.ai

Fathom excels with its generous free plan and intuitive interface, offering accurate transcriptions and quick AI summaries that appear seconds after meetings end. Its strength lies in simplicity and sales-focused features like CRM integration and draft follow-up emails. However, advanced features are locked behind paid tiers, and it lacks mobile app support and external audio file processing capabilities.

Read.ai provides a more comprehensive feature set with engagement analytics, sentiment analysis, and real-time meeting insights that go beyond basic transcription. It offers better cross-platform flexibility with mobile support and can handle in-person meetings through its iOS app. The downside is a more complex interface that can overwhelm users, a restrictive free tier, and higher pricing for full functionality.

Fathom is ideal for sales teams and individual users who prioritize simplicity and want a straightforward meeting recording solution with strong CRM integration. Its generous free plan and intuitive design make it accessible for smaller teams or users who primarily conduct online meetings and don't need advanced analytics.

Read.ai suits larger organizations and teams that need comprehensive meeting analysis, engagement metrics, and advanced collaboration features. It's better for companies with hybrid work environments requiring both in-person and virtual meeting capture, though the higher cost and complexity may deter smaller teams or individual users seeking basic transcription services.

FAQs

Would Fathom work for in-person meetings? What about Read.ai?

Fathom would not work for in-person meetings as it cannot import external audio and only works for scheduled online meetings on platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams. Read.ai would work for in-person meetings through its iOS app, which can capture in-person/offline meetings with one tap.

Does either of these tools require a meeting bot to join the meeting?

Read.ai does not require meeting bots - it records virtual meetings via cloud or extension. The information about whether Fathom requires a meeting bot is not specified in the provided context.

What do users say about the quality of transcriptions?

For Fathom, users praise the transcriptions as quick and accurate. For Read.ai, users consider the summaries "smart" and appreciate that they capture questions asked and topics discussed effectively.

Do these tools help a user follow up with action items from the meeting? How so?

Both tools help with action item follow-up. Fathom automatically produces action items in its AI summaries, provides an overview and action items after meetings, can draft follow-up emails, and auto-generates summaries and action items that can be pushed to CRM deals. Read.ai generates reports with action items after meetings and has an AI "Copilot" that provides summaries and auto-syncs notes to CRM systems.

Do these tools integrate with software like Hubspot, Salesforce, or Linear?

Yes, both tools offer integrations with these types of software. Fathom integrates with CRM systems like HubSpot and Salesforce to sync call notes, plus Slack and Notion via Zapier. Read.ai has robust integrations including HubSpot, Salesforce, Confluence, Jira, Notion, and Slack.

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