Updated: Dec 3, 2025
Comparison: Head-to-head analysis
5 min read
Comparison

Fireflies.ai vs Read.ai

Complete comparison guide to help you choose the right communication tool for your needs.

4.6
1,838 reviews
Free tier available
VS
3.8
142 reviews
Free tier available
01

The Winner

Our Pick

Fireflies.ai

Wins for overall value, user satisfaction, and Multi-platform meeting intelligence.

4.6 Rating
Yes Free Tier
Free Starting Price
300K+ Users
02

Quick Comparison

Criteria Fireflies.ai Read.ai
Starting Price Free tier Free tier
User Rating 4.6 Best 3.8
Review Count 1,838 Best 142
Free Trial No No
Annual Discount N/A N/A
Best For Multi-platform meeting intelligence Real-time meeting analytics and insights
03

Feature Breakdown

Feature Comparison

Capability Fireflies.ai Read.ai
AI Scheduling Automated calendar and task scheduling
Calendar Integration Syncs with major calendars
Meeting Management Meeting scheduling and coordination
Team Collaboration Multi-user and team features
Task Management Task tracking and prioritization
AI Assistant/Chat AI-powered conversational features
Analytics & Insights Data and productivity insights

Fireflies.ai

Strengths
  • Cross-Platform Flexibility
  • Perplexity Integration Is a Killer Feature
  • Generous Free Tier
  • Best-in-Class Language Support
Limitations
  • Speaker Diarization Struggles in Fast Meetings
  • Dashboard Overwhelm for New Users
  • AI Summaries Need Manual Review
Full Fireflies.ai Review →

Read.ai

Strengths
  • Search Copilot
  • Bot-Free Recording
  • Advanced AI Models
  • Sentiment Analysis
Limitations
  • Higher Pricing
  • Interface Complexity
  • Limited Free Tier
Full Read.ai Review →
04

Fireflies.ai Overview

If you're drowning in meeting notes and follow-ups, Fireflies.ai is a game-changer. The Pro tier ($18/month) pays for itself if you attend 5+ meetings weekly. Business tier ($29/month) adds unlimited storage and video recording for growing teams. The free tier (800 minutes storage) is genuinely useful for occasional users, not a demo trap.

Best For:

  • Multi-platform meeting intelligence
  • Organizations requiring extensive CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.)
  • Multilingual teams (100+ language support)
  • Financial services needing compliance documentation
  • Teams using mobile app for in-person meeting transcription
  • Budget-conscious teams ($10/mo annual Pro plan)
  • Deep conversation analysis beyond basic transcription
Read Full Fireflies.ai Review
05

Read.ai Overview

Read.ai offers AI-powered meeting transcription with unique Search Copilot for cross-platform search. Pricing starts free (5 transcripts/month) up to $39.75/month for enterprise compliance. Strong for teams wanting unified search across all communications, but pricier than Otter.ai or Fireflies.

Best For:

  • Real-time meeting analytics and insights
  • Teams needing sentiment analysis during meetings
  • Organizations requiring HIPAA compliance (Enterprise+ tier)
  • Multi-language meeting support (20+ languages)
  • Teams using Zoom and Google Meet
Read Full Read.ai Review
06

Our Verdict

4.6/5
Winner Rating

Fireflies.ai is our top pick for most users, thanks to its higher user ratings. However, Read.ai remains a solid choice if you need Real-time meeting analytics and insights.

Try Fireflies.ai Free
07

Fireflies.ai vs Read.ai FAQ

Both Fireflies.ai and Read.ai are excellent tools. Fireflies.ai is better for Multi-platform meeting intelligence, while Read.ai excels at Real-time meeting analytics and insights. Your choice depends on your specific needs and budget.
Fireflies.ai pricing: Free tier available. Read.ai pricing: Free tier available. Pricing varies, but compare features at each tier to find the best value for your needs.
Yes, many teams use multiple tools for different purposes. Fireflies.ai might handle Multi-platform meeting intelligence, while Read.ai covers Real-time meeting analytics and insights. Check integration options for both tools.
Both offer robust support. Fireflies.ai provides Priority support, while Read.ai offers comprehensive support. Enterprise plans typically include dedicated support for both.
Consider switching if Read.ai better fits your current needs. Key factors: Real-time meeting analytics and insights, pricing alignment, and team workflow compatibility. We recommend trialing Read.ai before making a full switch.