tl;dv vs Fathom (2026)
A head-to-head on price, free access, and staying power. Both live and price-verified as of Jul 21, 2026.
The verdict, first
What each one is
tl;dv
What sets it apart timestamped clips and highlight reels from calls, with CRM sync
tl;dv records and transcribes Zoom, Meet, and Teams calls, then makes them useful after the fact with timestamps, clips, and highlight reels you can share, plus CRM connections. It offers a free tier and leans toward sales and research teams that revisit recordings. It fits teams that want to cut and share meeting moments rather than only read a summary.
Sources tl;dv pricing
Fathom
What sets it apart unusually generous free plan with unlimited recordings and summaries
Fathom records and summarizes meetings and lets you query a call through a chat interface it calls Ask Fathom. Its distinguishing move is a genuinely generous free plan with unlimited recording, transcription, and summaries, where most rivals cap the free tier. It suits individuals and small teams that want solid notes without paying, with paid tiers adding team collaboration and coaching.
Sources Fathom pricing
Side by side
| Metric | tl;dv | Fathom |
|---|---|---|
| From $/mo | $22 | $20 |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Founded | 2020 | 2020 |
| Best for | solo & SMB | solo & SMB |
| Status | Live | Live |
ALL FIGURES = LOWEST PAID MONTHLY PLAN · STATUS & PRICE VERIFIED JUL 21, 2026
Where they differ
Price
Fathom is the cheaper entry at $20/mo, versus $22/mo for tl;dv. Both prices are the lowest paid monthly plan, verified Jul 21, 2026.
Free access
Both tl;dv and Fathom offer a permanent free tier - you can trial either at no cost. A permanent free tier lowers the risk of committing before you have validated the fit.
Track record
tl;dv has been operating since 2020; Fathom since 2020. For a tool you build a business process on, a longer survival record matters.
Questions of record
tl;dv or Fathom - which is better in 2026?
Is tl;dv cheaper than Fathom?
Does tl;dv or Fathom have a free tier?
Are tl;dv and Fathom still maintained?
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