Best AI note taker for Zoom interviews in 2026
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As of October 2026, the AI note takers that work best for Zoom interviews fall into three groups. Zoom's own meeting summary and My Notes are included on paid Zoom Workplace plans. BrightHire, which Zoom acquired in December 2025, runs inside Zoom with no per-call bot. Third-party tools either join as a bot (Metaview, Otter's Notetaker, Fathom, Fireflies) or capture audio on your own computer with nothing in the meeting (Granola, the Otter and Fireflies desktop apps, Interview Signal). Which group fits depends mostly on whether you host the Zoom and whether a visible bot is acceptable to your candidates.
We make Interview Signal, one of the tools below; everything about the other products comes from their own sites, linked and dated. If you only need a recording, see how to record a Zoom interview without a bot; for Zoom's own AI in depth, see Zoom AI Companion for interviews.
How does an AI note taker get into a Zoom interview?
- Zoom's own features. Meeting summary runs from the meeting's speech-to-text data. It needs a licensed user on Zoom Workplace Pro or higher, only the host or co-host can start it, and participants see the AI indicator change color (Zoom support).
- A bot that joins as a participant. Zoom's SDK feature review requirements say an app used by a participant can request recording permission from the host, must stop if permission is revoked, triggers Zoom's native recording indicator and must notify all participants. The candidate sees an extra name and the indicator.
- Capture on your own device. A desktop app records your microphone and your computer's audio. Nothing joins the meeting, so there is no participant and no Zoom indicator from that app; the notice is yours to give.
Which AI note takers work for Zoom interviews?
As published by each vendor, checked as of October 2026. "Not listed" means we did not find it on the vendor's site.
| Tool | How it captures the Zoom call | Bot or no bot | Phone screens | ATS links | Published price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoom meeting summary | Built into the meeting | No bot; AI indicator shown | Zoom Phone has its own call summary | None | Included with Zoom Workplace Pro or higher | Hosts who want a quick recap at no extra cost |
| Zoom My Notes | Your own notes plus transcript, on your device | No bot; transcription icon shown in Zoom | Phone calls supported | None | Pro, Business, Enterprise or standalone My Notes | Interviewers who do not host |
| BrightHire | Interview Assistant opens inside Zoom | No per-call bot on Zoom | Click to call from the ATS | Greenhouse, Workday, iCIMS, Lever, Bullhorn and more | Not published | In-house teams that interview on Zoom |
| Metaview | Notetaker joins the meeting | Bot | Call the Metaview switchboard | Long list including Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, Bullhorn | Free 25 calls/mo; Pro $60/user/mo | Recruiters who want recruiting notes and accept a bot |
| Otter.ai | Notetaker joins, or desktop app records | Either | Zoom Phone and RingCentral integrations | Greenhouse via its Recruiting Agent | Free 300 min/mo; Pro $16.99/mo; Business $30/mo or $19.99 yearly | Low-cost transcripts |
| Fathom | Bot joins, or bot-free on Mac (beta) | Either (Mac) | Not listed | None named | Free; Premium $20/mo or $16 yearly | Unlimited free Zoom transcripts |
| Tactiq | Browser extension using Zoom's captions; Mac app for Zoom desktop | No bot | Not listed | None named | Free 10 transcripts/mo; Pro $8/user/mo yearly | Zoom in Chrome, light volume |
| Granola | Device audio on your computer | No bot | Mobile app for phone calls | None named | Free Basic; Business $14/user/mo | Private notes with nothing in the meeting |
| Interview Signal | Desktop app captures audio on your computer | No bot | Yes, through the computer's audio | None (copy or paste) | Free 20 min; hours from $9; Solo $49/mo; Team $59/seat/mo | Scorecards and submittals from Zoom and phone screens |
Further sources, as of October 2026: BrightHire integrations; Metaview pricing; Otter desktop app and integrations; Fathom bot-free capture; Tactiq pricing; Granola pricing.
Each option, and who it suits
Zoom meeting summary and My Notes
Meeting summary is included for licensed users on Zoom Workplace Pro and above, and summaries can be emailed to participants if the host chooses (Zoom). My Notes is different: your own notes plus a transcript, private unless you share them, and it can also transcribe third-party and in-person meetings using your device's audio. It needs a Pro, Business, Enterprise or standalone My Notes account, and in a Zoom meeting the host can see a My Notes icon next to your name (Zoom My Notes). Best for: teams already paying for Zoom. Watch for: set summary sharing to the host only, or the candidate may receive your interview recap.
BrightHire
BrightHire says its Interview Assistant "opens natively inside Zoom with no per-call bot required" (BrightHire), and Zoom says the acquisition closed in December 2025 (Zoom). It fills ATS scorecard fields and lists Greenhouse, Workday, iCIMS, Lever and Bullhorn among its integrations. Best for: in-house teams that standardize on Zoom. Watch for: prices are not published, and on Meet and Teams it joins as a participant. Our Interview Signal vs BrightHire page compares the two.
Metaview
Metaview's notetaker joins Zoom as a participant; its FAQ notes that it can be left out if the host does not admit it from the waiting room (Metaview FAQ). Pro is $60 per user per month, with a free plan of 25 calls. Best for: recruiters who host their own Zoom interviews and want recruiting-specific notes in their ATS. Watch for: waiting rooms on client-hosted calls.
Otter, Fathom and Tactiq
Otter's Notetaker joins Zoom, Teams and Meet, and its desktop app records Zoom without a bot (Otter). Fathom offers bot capture on all plans and bot-free capture in beta on Mac only (Fathom). Tactiq's extension works only when you join Zoom in Chrome or Edge, needs Zoom's automated captions enabled by the host, and has a Mac app for the Zoom desktop client (Tactiq help). Best for: transcripts on a small budget. Watch for: none produces a scorecard tied to your criteria.
Granola
Granola does not join the meeting; it uses your computer's audio and works with Zoom and other meeting apps (Granola). Best for: hiring managers who want quiet, good notes. Watch for: the free plan shows 30 days of history, and no ATS is named.
Interview Signal
Ours captures Zoom audio on your Windows or Mac computer, labeling your microphone as the interviewer and the meeting audio as the candidate, so it works the same whether you host, co-host or join a client's meeting. During the call it shows a live transcript, a question guide from the job description and suggested follow-ups; after it, a scorecard with quotes checked against the transcript and a submittal. Best for: recruiters whose Zoom screens turn into scorecards or submittals. Watch for: it does not record video, has no ATS integration, and has few public reviews yet.
What changes when someone else hosts the Zoom?
- Meeting summary: only the host or co-host can start it; you can only request it, and it lands in their account.
- Bots: the host must admit them from the waiting room and, under Zoom's SDK rules, grant recording permission.
- BrightHire: check with the vendor how it behaves when the meeting is on another company's Zoom account.
- Device capture (My Notes, Granola, desktop apps, Interview Signal): works the same, because nothing enters the meeting. Consent is still required.
Agency recruiters on client-hosted interviews and hiring managers joining a recruiter's meeting should start from the last group.
Before your next Zoom interview
- Choose desktop app or browser and test that one; Tactiq and some audio setups behave differently in each.
- Set Zoom's speaker to headphones so the candidate's voice does not leak into your microphone.
- If you host, decide whether summaries go to the host only.
- Say the consent line before anything starts; the consent script has wording.
- Check your recording retention; see Zoom retention settings for interviews.
How do you choose?
- You host, and want something included: Zoom meeting summary.
- You do not host: My Notes, Granola, a desktop app, or Interview Signal.
- An in-house team standardized on Zoom with an ATS to fill: BrightHire.
- Recruiting notes and a bot is fine: Metaview.
- Zero budget: Fathom Free, Otter Basic for short calls, or Tactiq in Chrome. See free AI note takers for interviews.
Questions people ask
What is the best AI note taker for Zoom interviews?
It depends on your setup. Zoom's own meeting summary is included on paid Zoom Workplace plans but only the host or co-host can start it. BrightHire runs inside Zoom without a per-call bot for teams that want structured interview notes. Granola, Otter's desktop app and Interview Signal capture audio on your computer without joining the meeting, which works even when someone else hosts.
Does a note-taker bot on Zoom show the candidate a recording indicator?
It should. Zoom's Meeting SDK review requirements say an app that records must trigger Zoom's native recording indicator, provide proper notifications to participants, and request permission from the host when used by a participant. The candidate sees both the extra participant and the indicator.
Can I use an AI note taker when a client or hiring manager hosts the Zoom interview?
Yes, with limits. Zoom's meeting summary can only be started by the host or co-host, and a bot needs to be admitted and given recording permission by the host. Zoom's My Notes and desktop apps that capture audio on your own computer do not depend on who hosts, though you still need the candidate's consent.
Is BrightHire part of Zoom now?
Yes. Zoom announced the acquisition on November 13, 2025 and says the transaction closed in December 2025. BrightHire says its Interview Assistant opens natively inside Zoom with no per-call bot required.