Quick answer: For face-to-face 1:1 meetings, Acta was the strongest AI note-taking app in this test. It records quietly in the background with no bot joining, works in person and on Zoom, Google Meet or Teams, and produces useful summaries rather than reworded transcripts. Otter suits English-only remote teams, and Tablo is a good pick for multilingual 1:1s.

I have been testing AI meeting note-taker apps specifically for face-to-face 1:1s, not Zoom or other online calls. I am sharing the results in case anyone else is looking for something that holds up in real-world meetings.

Most reviews focus on video calls. In-person conversations are a different test: there is no call for a bot to join, the audio is less controlled, and the person across the table notices anything awkward.

What matters in an AI note taker for in-person meetings?

  • No bot: the app should record without an assistant visibly "joining" the conversation.
  • Transcription accuracy: including in languages other than English.
  • Useful output: summaries you can act on, not a reworded transcript.
  • Reliability: the recording has to survive until the notes are ready.

Which AI note-taking apps did best?

1. Acta

This one stood out the most. It records quietly in the background with no bot joining the meeting, whether you are on Zoom, Meet or Teams or sitting across the table from someone. It handles audio and video, and transcription accuracy is solid. The summaries actually feel useful instead of just reworded transcripts, and you can also upload recordings manually.

Beyond the summary, Acta provides role-based meeting outcomes through its AI agents, for example sales, recruiting or product views of the same conversation.

TL;DR: Best all-around option if you want something that works for both in-person and online meetings without the awkward "bot joined" moment.

2. Otter AI

Still the most recognizable name. It is great for remote team meetings and has lots of integrations, but it relies on a bot joining the call. Accuracy is good in English and noticeably weaker in other languages.

TL;DR: Solid if you are English-only and mostly remote; probably overkill for solo or in-person use. See the full Acta vs Otter comparison for more detail.

3. Minutes AI Meeting Note Taker

A nice, polished UI and decent AI chat features, but multilingual accuracy is not great.

TL;DR: Looks good and works fine for English-only notes.

4. Tablo AI Meeting Notes

Feels close to a native OS app: simple, clean and easy to use. Multilingual support is strong, and the follow-up features are helpful.

TL;DR: A good choice for multilingual 1:1s, though not the most feature-rich option.

5. Sona Insight

The best design of the bunch, but it kept failing after recordings finished.

TL;DR: A beautiful app, but the reliability just is not there yet.

Which app should you choose?

If most of your important conversations happen in person, pick a tool that records without a bot and works on the device you already carry. If you are fully remote and English-only, a bot-based tool can be enough. For a broader look at the market, see our roundup of the top 10 AI note taker tools in 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Can an AI note taker record in-person meetings?

Yes. Apps like Acta record in the background on your device, so they work for face-to-face conversations as well as online calls, and you can upload recordings afterwards too.

Do I need a bot to join my meetings to get AI notes?

No. Some tools, such as Otter, rely on a bot joining the call, but Acta can capture meetings without one.

Which AI note taker is best for multilingual meetings?

In this test, Tablo had strong multilingual support, while Otter and Minutes were noticeably weaker outside English.

Want to try bot-free notes in your next 1:1? Start a free 15-day Acta trial.