Turn meeting recordings into notes for free

Plan details checked October 22, 2026.

A transcript turns a recording into text. An AI assistant can then turn that text into a short summary and a to-do list. You can do both for free.

First: ask before you record

Ask everyone in the meeting before you record, and tell them what you’ll do with the recording. Rules about recording conversations differ between countries and states, and some workplaces don’t allow it at all. When in doubt, don’t record.

Free ways to get a transcript

• On your own computer: Buzz is a free, open-source app that transcribes audio and video files offline, using OpenAI’s open Whisper models. Buzz Classic runs on Windows, Linux and Intel Macs. Transcribing takes a lot of computer power, so it can be slower than the recording itself. Buzz can also send audio to an online service, so choose a local model if you want everything to stay on your computer.
• Online, free plan: Otter’s free Basic plan includes 300 transcription minutes a month, up to 30 minutes per conversation, and 3 file imports in total over the life of the account (otter.ai/pricing). Your recording is processed on Otter’s servers.

More options, and how they compare, are on our free alternatives to Otter.ai page.

From transcript to notes

Remove private details from the transcript, paste it into an AI assistant and ask:

Summarize this meeting in [five] bullet points, then list each action item with who agreed to do it.
Only use what's in the transcript; write "unclear" if something isn't stated.
Transcript: [paste transcript, private details removed]

Then read the summary against the transcript. AI summaries can miss things or add details nobody said. See Check an AI answer before you trust it.

Keep it private

Meeting recordings often include names, numbers and opinions. Follow Keep your personal info out of AI chats, and delete recordings and transcripts you no longer need.

The short version

Get everyone’s OK, use a free transcriber (on your computer if it’s sensitive), ask for a summary that sticks to the transcript, and check it before you share it.