Meetingnotes and Sembly AI are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. Meetingnotes: Free, open-source macOS app that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings locally using your own OpenAI API key. Sembly AI: AI meeting assistant that transcribes in 40+ languages, generates notes and action items, and automates workflows across Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, and Webex. 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 Meetingnotes when privacy-focused engineers recording and summarizing local meetings matters most, and Sembly AI when team ai notes with task automation matters most. Both record across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams; trial each on real meetings before committing.
Free, open-source macOS app that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings locally using your own OpenAI API key.
AI summaries that combine transcripts with manual notesCustomizable system prompts for personalized note-takingLocal storage of notes and transcripts for privacy
AI meeting assistant that transcribes in 40+ languages, generates notes and action items, and automates workflows across Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, and Webex.
40+ language transcriptionAutomated action itemsSemblian AI chat
Meetingnotes is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Sembly AI is from $10/mo (paid). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
Records both microphone and system audio for meeting capture
40+ language transcription
Standout feature
Real-time transcription using the OpenAI API
Automated action items
Team usage
AI summaries that combine transcripts with manual notes
Semblian AI chat
Integrations
Customizable system prompts for personalized note-taking
Workflow automations
Languages & capture
Local storage of notes and transcripts for privacy
40+ language transcription
Best-fit workflow
Search, copy, and delete management for stored notes
Automated action items
Best for
Meetingnotes
Choose Meetingnotes if you need privacy-focused engineers recording and summarizing local meetings — strengths include completely free and open-source with no subscription.
Sembly AI
Choose Sembly AI if you need team ai notes with task automation — strengths include transcription and ai notes in 40+ languages.
Pros & cons
Meetingnotes
+ Completely free and open-source with no subscription
+ Local-first storage keeps meeting data on the user's device
- macOS only, with no Windows or mobile version
Sembly AI
+ Transcription and AI notes in 40+ languages
+ Automated task and action-item detection
- No permanent free plan — only a time-limited Basic trial (since March 2026)
FAQ
Is Meetingnotes or Sembly AI better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. Meetingnotes is strong for privacy-focused engineers recording and summarizing local meetings, while Sembly AI is strong for team ai notes with task automation. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do Meetingnotes and Sembly AI compare on price?
Meetingnotes is a free tier with paid upgrades and Sembly AI is from $10/mo. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Can I use both Meetingnotes and Sembly AI?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.