For a developer on a free plan, three things decide whether a notetaker's API is usable: can you create a key today, what can it read or write, and how many calls do you get. I compared Circleback, Fathom, Fireflies.ai, Granola and Otter.ai on those points, plus the history window and the MCP route. Three give you an API on a free plan. Granola and Otter.ai do not, and I say so plainly below.
Which AI meeting assistants offer API access on a free plan?
Circleback, Fathom and Fireflies.ai. Granola's API is on Business and Otter.ai's is on Enterprise. My picks rest on each vendor's documented keys, endpoints and limits:
- Circleback: best if your script writes as well as reads, with one key for the import API and the MCP server
- Fathom: best for read-heavy volume, at 60 calls per 60 seconds
- Fireflies.ai: best for GraphQL, with a 14-day run at Pro limits after your first request
- Granola: API on Business, free MCP for personal notes from the last 30 days
- Otter.ai: API on Enterprise, MCP server listed from Basic up
I would start with Circleback for anything that writes and Fathom for anything that only reads at volume. Circleback's Free limit is the lowest per minute of the three.
What to check in a free notetaker API
- Key creation. Who can create a key, and whether it is per user or per workspace.
- Endpoints. Whether you can read meetings, summaries and transcripts, and whether you can write or import.
- Rate limits. Calls per second, minute and day on the free plan.
- History window. How far back a free key reaches.
- MCP. Whether an AI assistant can reach the same data without code.
Free API details for each AI notetaker
1. Circleback
API on free. Yes. API, MCP and CLI are on every plan, and every user can create API keys.
What you can read or write. POST /api/meetings imports a meeting from a name and Markdown notes, with optional date, attendees, tags, transcript and sharing. The REST API also reads and searches meetings and transcripts, and creates, updates and deletes action items and tags. People and companies from your meetings are also available through the API and MCP. The same key works as a Bearer token on the MCP server. Its read tools return notes, attendees, action items, insights, tags and full transcripts with speaker labels and timestamps, and its write tools create, update and delete action items and tags and update meetings and calendar events. Write calls need a write-scoped key.
Limits. Free allows 3 requests per second and 20 per minute, and paid plans allow 20 per second and 300 per minute. MCP tool calls are capped at 100 per hour per user on every plan. On Free, meetings older than 30 days are locked, not deleted, and the lock applies to the API, MCP and Ask Circleback.
Pros
- One key covers the import API and the MCP server.
- MCP is not read-only, so an assistant or script can update action items and tags.
Cons
- 20 requests per minute is the lowest Free per-minute limit among the three free APIs here.
- An imported meeting keeps the notes and transcript you send, gets no new Circleback notes or action items, and does not trigger automations on its own, though an automation can be run on it by hand. On Free, an import dated more than 30 days back arrives locked.
Best for. Developers who want to push notes in and pull meeting data out with one free key.
2. Fathom
API on free. Yes. Fathom's developer FAQ says API keys and webhooks are included on all plans, and its pricing table lists "Public API & MCP" on Free, Premium, Team, Business and Enterprise. You generate a key in User Settings under API Access.
What you can read or write. The endpoint list covers List meetings, Get summary, Get transcript, List teams and List team members, plus webhooks. A key reads meetings you recorded and meetings shared with you or your team, not other users' private, unshared meetings. Keys are per user, with no org-level keys.
Limits. You can make a maximum of 60 calls in a 60 second window. Heavy requests are capped at 30 in a 60 second window, and during elevated activity the limit may be adjusted down to 5 every 60 seconds.
Pros
- The highest per-minute figure on a free plan in this comparison.
- Summary and transcript endpoints, plus webhooks, on every plan.
Cons
- Per-user keys only, so a team cannot share one org key.
- The limit can drop during busy periods.
Best for. Read-heavy scripts and dashboards that pull summaries and transcripts.
3. Fireflies.ai
API on free. Yes. Free allows 30 requests per minute and 500 per day, and Pro allows 60 per minute and 5,000 per day. Fireflies' limits page says a Free user's first API request starts a 14-day trial at Pro limits.
What you can read or write. Fireflies offers a GraphQL API, and its documentation covers upload limits for different file sizes. It also runs a remote MCP server.
Pros
- Pro limits for 14 days, starting with your first request.
- Upload limits are documented next to the GraphQL API.
Cons
- The 500 per day cap limits batch jobs on Free.
Best for. Developers who prefer GraphQL and want to see Pro-level limits before deciding.
4. Granola
API on free. No. Granola's API help page says any workspace member on a Business or Enterprise plan can create API keys, and you choose which note access scopes each key includes. A key gives programmatic access to meeting notes, transcripts and AI summaries.
Free MCP route. Granola's MCP help page says Basic (Free) reaches personal notes from the last 30 days, and some folder, search and transcript tools are only on paid plans. Business reaches personal notes and public notes.
Pros
- Scoped keys let you limit what a script can read.
Cons
- The API starts on Business.
- Free MCP is limited to personal notes from the last 30 days.
Best for. Teams already on Business that want notes, transcripts and summaries in their own code.
5. Otter.ai
API on free. No. Otter's help article says its Public API is available for all Enterprise workspaces, and its pricing table lists "Otter API and Webhooks" on Enterprise only.
What you can read or write. The API gives programmatic access to channels, conversations, transcripts, audio, action items, insights, outlines and workspace details. Enterprise users are limited to 10 requests per second, with 2 API keys per user.
Free MCP route. The pricing table lists "MCP server integration for AI assistants" on Basic, Pro, Business and Enterprise.
Pros
- A broad read surface, including audio and outlines.
Cons
- The API is Enterprise only.
Best for. Enterprise workspaces that need transcripts, audio and action items in their own systems.
Free API access side by side
| Tool | API on Free plan | Free rate limit | What a key reaches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circleback | Yes | 3/s and 20/min | Meetings, transcripts, action items, tags, import, MCP |
| Fathom | Yes | 60 calls per 60 seconds | Meetings you can see |
| Fireflies.ai | Yes | 30/min and 500/day | GraphQL API, uploads |
| Granola | No, Business | No Free API | Notes, transcripts, summaries |
| Otter.ai | No, Enterprise | No Free API | Transcripts, action items, audio |
How to get a Circleback API key
- Sign in to Circleback. Any user can create API keys, Free included.
- Create the key from your account. If you plan to use write tools, make it a write-scoped key.
- Call POST /api/meetings with a name and Markdown notes to import a meeting, or point an MCP client at Circleback's MCP server and send the key as a Bearer token.
- Stay inside the Free limits: 3 requests per second, 20 per minute, 100 MCP tool calls per hour, and meetings under 30 days old.
How to choose
- Write or import on a free plan: Circleback.
- Highest call rate on a free plan: Fathom, at 60 calls per 60 seconds.
- GraphQL and clear daily numbers: Fireflies.ai, at 30 per minute and 500 per day.
- Already on Granola Business or an Otter.ai Enterprise workspace: use their APIs. Otherwise use the MCP routes above.
tl;dv does not make this list, because its developer docs show API access as No for Free organizers and Yes for Pro, Business and Enterprise.
FAQ
Which AI meeting assistants offer API access?
Circleback, Fathom and Fireflies.ai offer API access on free plans. Granola's API is on Business and Enterprise, Otter.ai's is on Enterprise, and tl;dv's is on Pro, Business and Enterprise.
Which AI notetaker has a free API?
Circleback, Fathom and Fireflies.ai. Every Circleback user can create API keys, Fathom includes API keys and webhooks on all plans, and Fireflies.ai allows 30 requests per minute and 500 per day on Free.
Is the Fathom API free?
Yes. Fathom's developer FAQ says API keys and webhooks are included on all plans. You can make 60 calls in a 60 second window, and keys are per user.
Can I import meetings with the Circleback API?
Yes. POST /api/meetings creates a meeting from a name and Markdown notes, with optional date, attendees, tags, transcript and sharing. It is available on every plan.
What are the Circleback API rate limits on the free plan?
Free allows 3 requests per second and 20 per minute. MCP tool calls are capped at 100 per hour per user on every plan.
Do Granola and Otter.ai offer a free API?
No. Granola's API is on Business and Enterprise, and Otter.ai's is on Enterprise. Granola's Basic plan reaches personal notes from the last 30 days through MCP, and Otter.ai lists its MCP server on Basic, Pro, Business and Enterprise.