Best AI Note Taking Apps 2024 (Otter vs EVERYTHING!)

Meredith Marsh
3 Mar 202411:14

TLDRIn this video, the host compares six AI note-taking apps: Otter, Fathom, Fireflies, NADA, Nota, and Bubbles, in a unique challenge by using them simultaneously during a Zoom call. The goal is to determine the best app for transcribing, summarizing, and sharing notes from meetings and brainstorming sessions. Otter impresses with its summaries and action items, while Fireflies provides insightful call data. Fathom offers interactive features like highlights and bookmarks. Despite some limitations, such as Nota's brief free trial, the host finds Otter to be the most reliable, especially for productivity and note sharing.

Takeaways

  • πŸ€– The video compares six AI note-taking apps: Otter, Fathom, Fireflies, NADA or Nota, Rewatch, and Bubbles.
  • πŸ“ The author uses AI note-taking for group Zoom calls, one-on-one client meetings, and personal brainstorming sessions.
  • πŸ”— AI note-taking tools should be sharable for team and client use, reducing the need for manual note-taking during meetings.
  • πŸ“‘ Otter provides summaries, action items, outlines, and word-for-word transcripts.
  • πŸ“Š Fireflies offers additional data like talk time percentages and words per minute, along with summaries and action items.
  • πŸ’Ό Fathom is software that requires installation and offers a scrubbable video summary with highlights and bookmarks.
  • 🚫 Nota provides only a partial transcript in the free trial and requires a credit card for further access.
  • πŸ“‹ Rewatch offers a recap, to-do list style action items, and a transcript with a video.
  • πŸ” Bubbles provides a video timeline but did not detect any action items in the meeting.
  • 🏝️ If stranded, the author would choose Otter due to familiarity and continuous updates.
  • 🌐 The AI note-taking landscape is rapidly evolving, with new features and tools emerging frequently.

Q & A

  • What is the main purpose of AI note-taking apps according to the speaker?

    -The speaker uses AI note-taking apps for group Zoom calls with their membership, one-on-one Zoom calls with clients, and for personal brainstorming sessions. They also need these tools to be sharable to distribute notes with their team or clients.

  • How many AI note-taking apps did the speaker test in the video?

    -The speaker tested six AI note-taking apps: Otter, Fathom, Fireflies, NADA or Nota (the speaker is not sure about the pronunciation), Rewatch, and Bubbles.

  • What feature of Otter does the speaker particularly appreciate?

    -The speaker appreciates the way Otter provides summaries, action items, and outlines, as well as the word-for-word transcript.

  • What unique data does Fireflies provide about the call?

    -Fireflies provides data such as the percentage of time each participant spoke, their words per minute, and sentiments, which are additional AI filters that give insights into the call.

  • How does Fathom differ from the other AI note-taking apps?

    -Fathom is different because it's not just an AI bot joining the call; it's actual software on the computer. It allows users to scrub through the video and create highlights and bookmarks in the transcript.

  • What is the issue the speaker has with Nota?

    -The speaker has an issue with Nota because it only provides a partial transcript of the first three minutes and requires credit card information to access more features, making it difficult to fully test the app.

  • What does the speaker think about Rewatch's features?

    -The speaker finds Rewatch's recap and to-do list features useful, but notes that there is no chatbot to interact with, which is a limitation.

  • Why does the speaker consider Bubbles to be the least fun out of all the apps?

    -The speaker finds Bubbles to be the least fun because it did not detect any action items from the meeting and the chatbot did not interact back with them.

  • What is the speaker's overall preference among the AI note-taking apps?

    -The speaker has a preference for Otter, as they have been using it for a couple of years and appreciate its continually updated features.

  • What advice does the speaker give to viewers about AI note-taking apps?

    -The speaker advises viewers that AI note-taking tools are rapidly evolving and suggests leaving a comment to share their favorite apps or any that have significantly improved their productivity.

  • What does the speaker suggest viewers do if they find the video helpful?

    -The speaker suggests that if viewers find the video helpful, they should hit the like button and subscribe to the channel for more content on looking good, sounding good, and feeling good on camera to build a thriving online business.

Outlines

00:00

πŸ€– AI Note-taking Apps Showdown

The speaker discusses their interest in AI note-taking apps and conducts a test by having six different AI note-takers in a single Zoom call to determine the best one. They mention using these apps for group and one-on-one Zoom calls, as well as for personal brainstorming sessions. The speaker values the ability to share notes with teams or clients to reduce the need for manual note-taking during meetings. The apps tested include Otter, Fathom, Fireflies, NADA or Nota, Rewatch, and Bubbles. The speaker highlights the features they look for in an AI note-taking app, such as summaries, action items, outlines, and word-for-word transcripts. They also demonstrate the interaction with the Otter app's chatbot feature to query the meeting transcript.

05:01

πŸ“ Deep Dive into AI Note-taking Features

The speaker compares the features of different AI note-taking apps after testing them. They discuss the pros and cons of each app, such as the ability to provide summaries, action items, outlines, and detailed transcripts. They also mention the unique features of Fathom, like the Highlight and bookmark features, which could be useful for jotting down ideas during group calls. The speaker expresses frustration with Nota for requiring payment information for a full trial and with Bubbles for not detecting action items despite them being explicitly stated. They also note the lack of a chatbot in Rewatch and the limited functionality of Bubbles.

10:05

πŸš€ Final Thoughts on AI Note-taking

The speaker concludes the video by emphasizing the rapid evolution of AI note-taking tools and encourages viewers to share their experiences and favorite apps in the comments. They express a preference for Otter due to its comprehensive features and their familiarity with the app. The speaker also suggests that by the time the video is viewed, the apps might have improved or new options might be available. They invite viewers to like and subscribe for more content on improving online presence and building a thriving online business.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘AI note taking apps

AI note taking apps are software applications that utilize artificial intelligence to transcribe and summarize audio or video content, such as meetings or lectures, into written notes. In the video, the host tests several AI note taking apps to determine which one is the best for their needs. These apps are crucial for productivity, as they allow users to focus on the content of meetings without the distraction of note-taking.

πŸ’‘Otter

Otter is one of the AI note taking apps mentioned in the video. It is known for its ability to provide summaries, action items, and word-for-word transcripts of meetings. The host expresses a preference for Otter, highlighting its user-friendly interface and the comprehensiveness of its transcriptions. Otter's chatbot feature allows users to ask questions about the meeting's content, which is demonstrated in the script.

πŸ’‘Fathom

Fathom is described as an AI note taking app that operates as software on the computer rather than a bot joining a call. It provides a summary, key takeaways, and topics, with the ability to scrub through the video as you scroll. The host finds the Highlight and bookmark features particularly useful for jotting down important moments and locating specific parts of the transcript.

πŸ’‘Fireflies

Fireflies is another AI note taking app that offers an overview, action items, and an outline similar to Otter. What sets Fireflies apart is the additional data it provides about the call, such as the percentage of time each participant spoke and their words per minute. This extra layer of analytics can be insightful for users looking to analyze their communication patterns.

πŸ’‘Action items

Action items refer to tasks or actions that need to be completed following a meeting or discussion. In the context of AI note taking apps, these are automatically extracted from the conversation and presented to the user. The video script mentions that the host discussed specific action items during a call, which the AI apps were able to identify and list.

πŸ’‘Transcripts

A transcript is a written version of the spoken content from a meeting or call. AI note taking apps provide word-for-word transcripts, which are essential for comprehensive note-taking. The video script compares the transcript quality and features of different apps, such as Otter's detailed transcriptions and Fireflies' inclusion of additional data.

πŸ’‘Chatbot

A chatbot is an AI program designed to simulate conversation with users. In the video, the host interacts with chatbots from different note taking apps to ask questions about the meeting's content. The chatbot's ability to understand and respond to queries is a key feature that the host evaluates in determining the app's effectiveness.

πŸ’‘Templates

Templates in AI note taking apps refer to pre-set structures or formats that dictate how the app processes and presents the meeting's content. The host mentions the idea of having a template library in Nota, which would allow users to customize the AI functions applied to the transcript. This feature could enhance the app's utility by tailoring it to specific user needs.

πŸ’‘Productivity

Productivity is a central theme in the video, as the host is seeking an AI note taking app that maximizes efficiency during meetings. By automating the note-taking process, these apps free up time and mental energy for users, allowing them to be more productive. The host's quest for the best app is driven by the desire to find a tool that will boost their own and their audience's productivity.

πŸ’‘Free trial

A free trial is a period during which users can access an app's features without payment, allowing them to test its functionality before committing to a subscription. The video script notes that some AI note taking apps offer free trials, which is a point of comparison for the host. Free trials are an important consideration for users evaluating different apps.

πŸ’‘Subscription

A subscription is a payment model where users pay a recurring fee to access an app's features. The host mentions that they are already a paying customer of Otter, indicating a subscription model. Subscriptions are a common way to monetize AI note taking apps, and the host's willingness to pay for Otter suggests satisfaction with its service.

Highlights

AI note-taking apps have become popular for their ability to transcribe and summarize meetings.

The author tested six AI note-taking apps in a single Zoom call to determine the best one.

Otter, Fathom, Fireflies, NADA, Nota, Rewatch, and Bubbles were the apps tested.

The author uses AI note-taking for group Zoom calls, one-on-one client meetings, and personal brainstorming sessions.

AI note-taking tools should be sharable for team and client use.

Otter provides summaries, action items, outlines, and word-for-word transcripts.

Fireflies offers additional data such as talk time and words per minute.

Fathom is software that requires installation and offers a scrubbable video summary.

Nota provides a transcript but requires payment for full access.

Rewatch offers a recap, to-do list, and video transcript.

Bubbles provides a video timeline but did not detect any action items.

The author prefers Otter due to familiarity and continuous feature updates.

Fathom's Highlight and bookmark features are noted as potentially useful.

Nota's template library idea is appreciated but requires payment to fully test.

Rewatch lacks a chatbot feature, which is a downside.

Bubbles' performance was underwhelming with no chatbot interaction.

The author encourages viewers to share their favorite AI note-taking apps in the comments.

The video aims to help viewers improve productivity with AI note-taking tools.