tl;dv vs Fathom: which one fits you?
tl;dv and Fathom both record Zoom, Google Meet and Teams calls and answer questions about them. tl;dv adds a bot-free desktop recorder and scheduled reports across meetings; Fathom has a generous free plan.
tl;dv vs Fathom in short
Pick tl;dv if you want scheduled reports across many meetings, playbook monitoring or a bot-free desktop recorder. Pick Fathom if you want unlimited free recording and summaries in your CRM. Neither keeps a decision log or a cross-meeting action item tracker.
tl;dv vs Fathom, side by side
With Acta as a third option, for teams that need follow-up after the meeting.
| Feature | tl;dv | Fathom | Acta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chat across meetings | Ask tl;dv | Ask Fathom | OneChat |
| Ask about files together with meetings | |||
| Action items with owners | |||
| Action item tracker across meetings | |||
| Daily follow-up email of what's overdue | |||
| Decision log across meetings | |||
| Templates for different meetings | Playbooks (Business) | 14+ summary templates | 42 templates |
| Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams | |||
| Record without a bot | Desktop app | Desktop app & Chrome extension | |
| Free plan or trial | Limited AI notes | Unlimited recording, limited AI | 15-day free trial |
| Paid plans | From about $18/seat/month | From about $16/month | Pro, per user |
Based on public pages and reviews as of October 2026; see the sources below. A dash means we didn't find it listed. Prices and plans change, so check each vendor's pricing page.
Pick tl;dv if you want
- Scheduled multi-meeting reports
- Bot-free desktop recorder
- Playbook monitoring on Business
Best for: Teams that want recordings with scheduled multi-meeting reports.
Acta vs tl;dvPick Fathom if you want
- Unlimited free recording
- Ask Fathom across past calls
- Paid plans from about $16 a month
Best for: People who want free unlimited recording with short summaries.
Acta vs FathomNeed follow-up, not just notes? Try Acta.
Acta records Zoom, Google Meet and Teams with or without a bot, fills 42 templates from the conversation, tracks every action item to done with a daily follow-up email, keeps a decision log across meetings, and answers across your meetings and files with OneChat.
tl;dv vs Fathom: questions
Is tl;dv better than Fathom?
tl;dv is stronger on reports across meetings and bot-free recording; Fathom is stronger on free recording. Pick by which you need more.
How much do tl;dv and Fathom cost?
Reviews in 2026 list tl;dv from about $18 per seat per month and Fathom from about $16 a month, with figures varying between sources.
Can tl;dv record without a bot?
Yes, with its desktop app.
Is there an option that records with or without a bot?
Yes. Acta records Zoom, Google Meet and Teams with a notetaker from your calendar, or without a bot from the desktop app or Chrome extension, and tracks action items and decisions across meetings. It's free for 15 days.