10 Best AI Note-Taking Apps for Mac

AI note-taking tools have transformed how Mac users capture ideas, meetings, and lectures. Today’s apps do more than just transcribe—they summarize, organize, and even highlight action items automatically.

But with so many options, which one works best on macOS? After extensive testing, I’ve narrowed down the top AI note-takers for Mac, including browser-based tools, Chrome extensions, and native apps. Most offer free plans with basic features, while paid tiers unlock advanced transcription, multi-language support, and seamless meeting integrations.

1. Notta – Best for Fast, Accurate Transcriptions

Notta is a browser-based powerhouse that transcribes meetings, interviews, and even YouTube videos in real time with impressive accuracy. While it lacks a dedicated macOS app, it runs flawlessly in Chrome or Safari (except screen recording).

Why It Stands Out:

Real-time transcription with speaker identification—just paste a Zoom/Meet link, and Notta joins silently in the background.
Supports 100+ languages and instantly translates transcripts.
Syncs with Google Calendar and Zoom to prep for upcoming meetings.

Drawbacks: The free plan caps transcription minutes, and overlapping speech can cause minor errors.

Pricing: Free plan available; Pro starts at $8.17/month (40% discount).

2. Otter.ai – Best for AI-Powered Meeting Summaries

Otter.ai excels at turning meetings into searchable notes with AI-generated summaries and action items. It integrates with Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet, offering real-time updates and exportable transcripts (PDF/DOCX).

Pros:

Generous free plan (300 mins/month)

Speaker identification and collaboration features

Clean interface with easy sharing

Cons: Struggles with heavy accents or background noise.

Pricing: Free (300 mins/month); paid plans from $8.33/month (annual billing).

3. Fireflies.ai – Best for Teams & CRM Integration

Fireflies.ai automates meeting notes and syncs with tools like Slack, Notion, and HubSpot. It records, transcribes, and summarizes discussions, though it requires Google/Microsoft account access—a minor hassle.

Best For: Teams needing searchable archives and commentable transcripts.

Pricing: Free tier available; Pro starts at $10/month.

4. Noted – Best One-Time Purchase Mac App

A native macOS/iOS app, Noted combines audio recording with searchable, timestamped transcripts. Ideal for lectures or interviews, it lets you tag key moments mid-recording.