HoverNotes and joinly are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. HoverNotes: Chrome extension that watches lecture and course videos with you and generates AI notes saved as Markdown. joinly: Open-source, self-hostable connector that lets AI agents join Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams calls to transcribe, listen, and act in real time via MCP. They overlap on ai-meeting-assistants, so the right pick depends on team size, budget, and which meeting workflows you automate.
For ai-meeting-assistants workflows, shortlist HoverNotes when taking notes from coursera and udemy course videos matters most, and joinly when building custom ai meeting agents that answer questions and run tasks during live calls matters most. Both record across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams; trial each on real meetings before committing.
Chrome extension that watches lecture and course videos with you and generates AI notes saved as Markdown.
Chrome extension that generates AI notes while watching videosFreemium plan with paid tiers for more usageNotes saved locally as Markdown files for use in Obsidian and similar tools
Open-source, self-hostable connector that lets AI agents join Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams calls to transcribe, listen, and act in real time via MCP.
Cross-platform support for Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and browser-based callsDocker-based self-hosting with optional CUDA GPU imageMCP server that exposes meeting tools (join/leave, transcript, chat, audio control, snapshots) to AI agents
HoverNotes is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); joinly is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
Chrome extension that generates AI notes while watching videos
MCP server that exposes meeting tools (join/leave, transcript, chat, audio control, snapshots) to AI agents
Standout feature
Video frame analysis to capture on-screen code, equations, and diagrams
Real-time transcription with timestamps and speaker information, subscribable for live updates
Team usage
Notes saved locally as Markdown files for use in Obsidian and similar tools
Cross-platform support for Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and browser-based calls
Integrations
One-click timestamped screenshots that link back to the video moment
Modular speech-to-text and text-to-speech backends (Whisper, Deepgram, Kokoro, ElevenLabs)
Languages & capture
Support for YouTube, Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Bilibili, and lecture portals
Model-agnostic: works with OpenAI, Anthropic, and local LLMs via Ollama
Best-fit workflow
Freemium plan with paid tiers for more usage
Docker-based self-hosting with optional CUDA GPU image
Best for
HoverNotes
Choose HoverNotes if you need taking notes from coursera and udemy course videos — strengths include captures visual on-screen content, not just audio, for technical lectures.
joinly
Choose joinly if you need building custom ai meeting agents that answer questions and run tasks during live calls — strengths include fully open source (mit) and self-hostable for complete data control.
Pros & cons
HoverNotes
+ Captures visual on-screen content, not just audio, for technical lectures
+ Local Markdown output gives users full ownership and portability of notes
- Limited to video content viewed in a Chrome browser
joinly
+ Fully open source (MIT) and self-hostable for complete data control
+ Agents can actively participate by voice and chat, not just passively transcribe
- Developer-oriented framework that requires setup and engineering effort rather than a ready-made app
FAQ
Is HoverNotes or joinly better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. HoverNotes is strong for taking notes from coursera and udemy course videos, while joinly is strong for building custom ai meeting agents that answer questions and run tasks during live calls. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do HoverNotes and joinly compare on price?
HoverNotes is a free tier with paid upgrades and joinly is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Can I use both HoverNotes and joinly?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.