Kimiko vs Fathom: Bot-Free, Local AI Meeting Notes (2026)

The short answer

Fathom is a cloud notetaker with a generous free plan. Its Notetaker joins Zoom, Google Meet and Teams calls as a bot, and its new Mac app can record audio without one. Recordings and AI run in Fathom’s cloud, with video, CRM sync and team libraries. Kimiko records from your computer on Mac and Windows and keeps transcription, AI and your library there.

Choose Kimiko if

You want bot-free recording on Windows as well as Mac.
You want meetings transcribed and summarized on your own computer.
You need meetings processed offline once your models are downloaded.
You share notes as PDF, Word or Markdown files.
You also want voice dictation in your other apps.

Choose Fathom if

You want a free plan with unlimited recordings.
You want video recordings of your calls to share.
Your sales team syncs calls to HubSpot, Salesforce or Close.
You record in-person conversations on an iPhone.

Side by side

Kimiko and Fathom compared, checked 17 October 2026. Numbers link to the sources at the end of the page.
Feature	Kimiko	Fathom
Recording
Records without a bot in the call	YesThe desktop app records your microphone and computer audio, so nobody new joins the call.18	Mac only, in betaThe Notetaker joins calls as a bot by default. The Mac app can record audio without one; Windows is coming.6
Zoom, Teams and Google Meet	Yes, and other call appsIt listens to your computer’s audio, so it works alongside Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet and other call apps.19	YesWorks with Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, and Slack Huddles through bot-free capture.4
Apps	Mac and WindowsApple silicon Macs with macOS 14.4 or later, and 64-bit PCs with Windows 11. No web or mobile app.20	Mac, Windows, web, iPhoneDesktop apps for Mac and Windows, an iPhone app and a Chrome extension. No Android app.8
Privacy and processing
Transcribes on your computer	Yes, by defaultLocal speech models run on your Mac or PC. Cloud transcription with Deepgram or ElevenLabs is optional.21	NoRecordings are uploaded and processed in Fathom’s cloud.10
Summaries and chat on your computer	Yes, by defaultBuilt-in local AI writes summaries, suggests tasks and answers questions. Cloud AI is optional.22	NoAI runs in the cloud, with Anthropic, OpenAI and Google as sub-processors.10
Works without internet	Yes, after setupDownloaded models work offline. Downloads, activation and subscription checks still need a connection.23	NoThe iPhone app needs a connection to record, and processing happens in the cloud.9
Where your meetings are kept	On your computerAn encrypted database on your computer. Your Kimiko account doesn’t upload or sync your meetings.24	Fathom’s cloud, USAll data is stored in the United States, encrypted in transit and at rest.10
Meeting audio	Not saved by defaultKimiko transcribes, then discards the audio, unless you choose to keep it for 7 or 30 days.25	Kept until you delete itRecordings stay until you delete them. The Mac’s Transcript Only mode saves none.11
AI training on your content	NoYour meetings don’t reach Kimiko’s servers. A cloud provider you choose applies its own terms.24	Yes, unless you opt outFathom uses de-identified data to improve its own models unless you opt out. Its AI providers can’t train on it.10
Choose your AI models	YesPick local models, connect Ollama or LM Studio, or use OpenAI, Anthropic or OpenRouter with your own account.26	NoFathom’s plans list no choice of AI model or own key.1
Notes and AI
Write your own notes during the call	YesWrite in a full notes editor beside the live transcript. Your notes help shape the summary.18	Yes, on MacThe Mac app has a private scratch pad beside a live summary.6
Ask questions across meetings	YesAsk about one meeting, a project or your whole library, then follow the source links back.27	YesAsk Fathom about one call or across your meetings; team plans can search team calls.13
Action items	YesKimiko suggests next steps. You keep or dismiss each one, and it stays linked to its meeting.28	YesAI action items on Premium and up. The free plan includes them for 5 calls a month.12
Speaker labels	YesLive labels for up to eight remote voices; your microphone is “You”. Remembering voices is experimental.29	YesTranscripts keep speaker names, including in bot-free recordings.3
Voice dictation in other apps	IncludedTurn it on and dictate into most apps’ text fields with your shortcut, using local or cloud speech.30	Not documentedFathom’s pages don’t describe dictation into other apps.5
Export formats	PDF, Word and MarkdownExport the summary, your notes or the transcript.31	Copy text, MP4, APICopy transcripts and summaries, download video as MP4, or use the API.15
Connect AI assistants (MCP)	Yes, localDesktop AI apps can read your notes, meetings and tasks through local MCP, off until you turn it on.32	Yes, hostedOfficial Claude and ChatGPT connectors and an MCP server.14
Teams and plans
Integrations	Calendars and MCPOptional Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook connections. No CRM, Slack or Notion sync.33	CRMs, Slack, NotionHubSpot, Salesforce and Close sync, plus Slack, Zapier, Asana and Notion.2
Shared workspaces and admin	NoBuilt for individuals. One license works on up to 3 of your computers; ask us about team licensing.34	Team plan and upShared call library, folders and comments on Team; SSO and SCIM on Enterprise.1
Security certifications	None yetKimiko doesn’t host your meetings: they stay in the encrypted database on your computer.24	SOC 2 Type IISOC 2 Type II, HIPAA and GDPR.10
Free option	Free trialTry the full app free. No credit card needed.35	Free planUnlimited recordings and transcripts; advanced AI summaries for 5 calls a month.12
Paid plans from	$12 a month, or $107.88 a yearThe full app, tax included.36	US$16 per user a monthPremium, billed annually ($20 billed monthly).1

Where they differ

A bot in the call, or your computer’s audio

Fathom’s Notetaker joins your Zoom, Google Meet or Teams call as a participant. Its Mac app now offers bot-free Transcript Only and Audio Only modes, in beta; video still uses the Notetaker, and Windows support is on the way.

Kimiko records your microphone and your computer’s audio on both Mac and Windows, with any call app. Nothing new appears in the participant list, so let people know you’re taking notes.

Where meetings are processed and kept

Fathom uploads recordings to its cloud, stores data in the United States and keeps recordings until you delete them. It uses de-identified data to improve its own models unless you opt out.

Kimiko runs local speech and AI models and keeps your library in an encrypted database on your computer. It doesn’t save meeting audio unless you choose to keep it.

Video and sales workflows, or your own notes

Fathom records video, builds shared call libraries and playlists, and syncs notes to HubSpot, Salesforce or Close; Business adds deal views and AI scorecards.

Kimiko doesn’t record video. It gives you a full notes editor beside the transcript, projects, tasks you keep or dismiss, questions across your library, and PDF, Word or Markdown exports.

Pricing

Kimiko

$12 a month, or $107.88 a year

The full app on up to 3 of your computers, tax included. Free to try, no credit card needed.

See Kimiko’s plans

Fathom

Free: FreeUnlimited recordings; advanced AI on 5 calls a month.
Premium: $16 per user a monthBilled annually, or $20 monthly.
Team: $15 per user a monthBilled annually, or $19 monthly. At least 2 users.
Business: $25 per user a monthBilled annually, or $34 monthly. At least 2 users.
Enterprise: CustomSSO, SCIM and retention policies.

As listed by Fathom Video Inc. on 17 October 2026, in US dollars.1

Questions

Does Fathom work without a bot?

On a Mac, yes: Fathom’s Mac app offers bot-free Transcript Only and Audio Only modes, in beta. Video recording still uses the Notetaker, and Windows support is coming. Kimiko records without a bot on both Mac and Windows.

Is Fathom free?

Fathom has a free plan with unlimited recordings and transcripts; advanced AI summaries cover your first 5 calls each month. Kimiko’s trial of the full app is free, with no credit card needed.

Does Fathom use my calls to train AI?

Fathom says it uses de-identified customer data to improve its own models unless you opt out in your settings, and that its AI providers can’t train on your data. Your Kimiko meetings stay on your computer.

Does Fathom work offline?

No. Fathom processes recordings in its cloud. Kimiko’s local models transcribe and summarize without internet once they’re downloaded.

Can Kimiko record video like Fathom?

No. Kimiko records audio from your microphone and computer, and doesn’t save the audio unless you choose to. For video recordings of calls, Fathom is the better fit.

Try Kimiko with your next meeting

Record a short call you have permission to record, then read the summary and the tasks Kimiko suggests. Free to try. No credit card needed.

Download for Mac

Apple silicon · macOS 14.4 or later

Download for Windows

64-bit Windows 11 PCs

Running locally? 16 GB of RAM is a practical starting point. See the system requirements

Sources

We read Fathom’s pages on 17 October 2026. Plans and features change, so check them before you decide. Kimiko is an independent product and is not affiliated with Fathom Video Inc. Product names belong to their owners. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.