Can Fathom record in-person meetings?

On iPhone, yes. Fathom’s iPhone app records and transcribes in-person meetings and 1:1s, and it is included on every Fathom plan. There is no Android app or watch app listed, and its Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams capture stays on the desktop. Wave records the room from iPhone, Android, Apple Watch, Wear OS, or the Wave desktop app.

Can Fathom record phone calls?

No. Fathom records video meetings and, on iPhone, in-person conversations; it has no way to record a regular phone call. Wave includes a Phone Bridge that records incoming and outgoing calls on iPhone and Android, with both sides transcribed, on every plan (on Free, call minutes count toward the 30 minutes a month; Wave Pro is unlimited).

Is there a Fathom-style meeting recorder for Mac and Windows without a bot?

Yes. The Wave desktop app runs on both Mac and Windows and captures mic and system audio with no bot in the call. Fathom sends a note taker by default, and its bot-free mode is in beta on Mac only. Wave also adds a calendar meeting bot when you want one, the Phone Bridge, the mobile and web apps, and watch recording.

Can I use Fathom for lectures or in-person interviews?

If you have an iPhone, Fathom’s app can record them. On Android, or from a watch, it can’t. Wave records lectures, interviews, and walk-and-talks from iPhone, Android, Apple Watch, and Wear OS, keeps the audio, and produces a speaker-labeled transcript and summary.

← All comparisons

Josh Mohrer·Published February 15, 2026·Updated November 3, 2026

Wave vs Fathom

Wave and Fathom both record and transcribe meetings with AI, but they're built for different workflows. Here's an honest comparison.

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Wave AI vs Fathom (2026) — In-Person, Phone Calls & Mobile

Fathom has been gaining popularity as a free AI meeting recorder, especially among sales teams and anyone tired of paying for Otter or Fireflies. Wave takes a different approach: instead of centering on video calls, it records wherever a conversation happens. If you're comparing the two, here's what actually matters.

The fundamental difference: scope

Fathom is built around video calls. By default a Fathom note taker joins your Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams meetings and records them, video included. Its pricing page also offers bot-free capture, but that mode is in beta on Mac only, so Windows users still get a bot. Fathom now has an iPhone app that records in-person conversations; there is no Android app listed, and it does not record phone calls.

Wave records in more places. You can send a meeting bot to Zoom, Meet, or Teams. You can use the Wave desktop app on Mac or Windows to capture mic and system audio with no bot. You can record phone calls through the Phone Bridge, which records incoming and outgoing calls on iPhone and Android on every plan (on Free, calls count toward the 30 minutes a month; Wave Pro is unlimited). And you can record in person from the Wave mobile app on iPhone or Android, or from Apple Watch and Wear OS watches.

Where Fathom works best

Fathom is excellent for people whose work centers on virtual meetings. Its strengths:

A genuinely useful free plan. Fathom's free plan lists unlimited recordings, transcription and instant AI summaries, which is rare in this space.
Video recording. Fathom captures video, not just audio, so you can rewatch moments with screen shares visible and share clips.
CRM integrations. Fathom connects to HubSpot, Salesforce, and other tools, which makes it popular with sales teams who want call notes pushed to deal records.
A bot-free option on Mac. If you are on a Mac and comfortable with a beta, you can record without a note taker joining the call.

Where Wave works best

Wave is built for people whose important conversations don't always happen on Zoom. Its strengths:

Phone calls. The Phone Bridge records both sides of a regular phone call on iPhone and Android and shows your real number. Fathom does not record phone calls.
In person on any phone or watch. Record from iPhone, Android, Apple Watch, or Wear OS. Fathom's in-person recording is iPhone only.
Bot-free on Mac and Windows. The Wave desktop app captures mic and system audio on both, not as a beta.
Imports. Drop in audio or video files and get the same transcript, summary, and searchable archive.
Privacy controls. Wave is SOC 2 Type 1 compliant, and app recordings are never used to train AI models.

Feature comparison

Virtual meetings: Both capture Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams. Fathom uses a bot by default, with bot-free capture in beta on Mac. Wave offers a bot or bot-free desktop capture on Mac and Windows.
In-person meetings: Fathom records in person from its iPhone app. Wave records from iPhone, Android, Apple Watch, and Wear OS.
Phone calls: Fathom does not record phone calls. Wave records them through the Phone Bridge on every plan (Free minutes are shared; Pro is unlimited).
AI summaries: Both generate summaries with key points and action items, and both let you ask questions across past meetings.
Video recording: Fathom records video. Wave records video (MP4) when its bot joins a Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams call; the Wave desktop and mobile apps record audio only.
CRM integration: Fathom has native CRM integrations. Wave offers Zapier, a Developer API, and an MCP server for connecting other tools.
Pricing: Fathom's free plan is generous for individuals; Premium is $20 a month, or $16 a month billed yearly. Wave is free for 30 minutes a month; Pro is $80 a year on the web or $15 a month in the app stores, with unlimited recording.

The real decision: where do your conversations happen?

If your most important conversations happen on Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams, and you're at your computer when they do, Fathom is a strong tool for that workflow. The free plan, video recording, and CRM integrations make it particularly good for sales teams running virtual demos and discovery calls.

If your conversations happen in more places, such as phone calls, client offices, lecture halls, or walking meetings, Wave covers all of them under one account, on Android as well as iPhone.

Can you use both?

Yes. Some people use Fathom for scheduled Zoom calls (especially if they need CRM sync and video) and Wave for everything else: phone calls, in-person meetings, and quick voice memos.

If you want one tool that covers everything, Wave is the more versatile option. It records video only when its meeting bot joins the call and does not sync natively to a CRM, but it captures conversations scheduled or spontaneous, virtual or in person, on a computer or on the go.