Head to head

Fathom vs Grain

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Fathom

$15/user/mo Free tier Free trial

General AI note taker with unlimited recordings, transcripts and instant summaries on the free plan. Team is $15/user/mo billed annually with a two user minimum; Business adds CRM field sync.

Where Fathom fits

  • Solo recruiters who want an uncapped free note taker
  • Agency desks that live in a CRM for client work
  • Teams that share call highlights through playlists
  • Buyers who want a long money back window

Grain

$15/seat/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

General AI note taker that works with or without a bot and charges only for people who record. Free plan, plus a 14 day free trial of the paid Starter, Business and Enterprise plans.

Where Grain fits

  • Teams where a few people record and many people read
  • Recruiters sharing screening calls with hiring managers
  • Teams on Webex or Slack huddles as well as Zoom, Meet and Teams
  • Buyers who want monthly billing without an annual contract

At a glance

DetailFathomGrain
Starting price$15/user/mo$15/seat/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
Free trialYes14 day free trial
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underAI note takersAI note takers

Where they pull apart

Fathom

Stands out: Fathom's free plan has no cap on recordings, transcripts or instant summaries, and paid plans come with a 90 day money back guarantee.

Watch out: There is no ATS writeback, only CRM sync. Team and Business need at least two users, and Team works out cheaper than the individual Premium plan.

Not the right fit for

  • Teams that need interview notes in an ATS
  • Solo buyers who want Team pricing without a second seat

Grain

Stands out: Grain splits paid seats from free viewer seats, so hiring managers and the rest of the team can read and comment on shared calls without a licence.

Watch out: There is no ATS writeback. Custom AI prompts start on Starter, and AI coaching and custom follow up emails need Business.

Not the right fit for

  • Teams that need interview notes filed in an ATS
  • Buyers who want coaching features on the entry paid plan

Pros and cons

Fathom

  • Unlimited recordings and summaries free
  • 90 day money back guarantee
  • Bot free capture on Mac (beta)
  • No ATS writeback
  • Two user minimum on Team and Business
  • Account wide Ask Fathom is still in beta

Grain

  • Free viewer seats for the whole team
  • Bot free AI notes on every plan
  • No required annual contract
  • No ATS writeback
  • Coaching only on Business and above
  • Custom prompts not on the free plan

What each one costs

Fathom

$15/user/mo

Free covers unlimited recordings, transcription and instant AI summaries. Premium, for individuals, is $16/user/mo billed annually ($20 monthly). Team is $15/user/mo billed annually ($19 monthly) with a two user minimum. Business is $25/user/mo billed annually ($34 monthly) and adds CRM field sync and AI scorecards. Enterprise is quoted. Paid plans have a free trial and a 90 day money back guarantee. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 22 Sep 2026

Grain

$15/seat/mo

Grain has a free plan and three paid plans. Starter is $15 per seat a month billed annually or $19 monthly, and Business is $29 per seat a month billed annually or $39 monthly; Enterprise is priced through sales. There is no required annual contract. You pay only for seats that record, upload or import meetings; free viewer seats can read and comment on shared meetings. Paid plans have a 14 day free trial and a 30 day money back guarantee. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 23 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Fathom cheaper than Grain?
Fathom starts lower, at $15/user/mo against $15/seat/mo for Grain. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Fathom or Grain for free?
Fathom and Grain carry a free tier on our listing. Fathom offers a free trial. Grain offers a 14 day free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 22 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?