- Your own notes work on every plan; a skeleton template makes them faster.
- Live captions are free; a saved cloud transcript needs a paid plan and cloud recording.
- Zoom's AI meeting summary (AI Companion) is included on paid Zoom Workplace plans, not the free Basic plan.
- Turn transcript and summary settings on before the meeting; you can't add them afterwards.
Your four options
| Option | Plan | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Your own notes | Any | Exactly what you chose to write down |
| Live captions / transcript panel | Free and paid | On-screen text during the call |
| Cloud recording transcript | Paid (Pro and above) | A timestamped transcript file after the meeting |
| AI meeting summary | Paid Zoom Workplace plans | A recap with key points and next steps |
As of 2026, the saved cloud transcript needs a paid plan, cloud recording and the "Create audio transcript" setting enabled before you record, and the AI Companion summary is for paid plans only (Scribbl). The free Basic plan keeps local recording to your computer and a 40-minute cap on group meetings (MeetGeek).
Taking your own notes in Zoom
- Open your notes next to the Zoom window, close to the camera, so you're not visibly looking away.
- Paste in a skeleton from our meeting notes templates before the call.
- Write only at trigger moments: decisions, numbers, commitments, objections. See notes during calls.
Turning on a Zoom transcript
- In the Zoom web portal, open Settings → Recording & Transcript.
- Make sure Cloud recording is on, then under advanced cloud recording settings tick Create audio transcript.
- In the meeting, choose Record to the cloud. The transcript appears with the recording after processing.
More detail in how to get a Zoom transcript.
Zoom's AI meeting summary
On paid plans, the host can enable Meeting Summary with AI Companion in settings and start it during the call. Universities that publish Zoom guidance remind users that transcripts and summaries depend on audio quality and will contain errors that need review (Georgetown University).
Tell people
Zoom shows a recording indicator, but a quick spoken "I'm recording this for notes, is that OK?" sets the right tone and covers stricter consent laws. See recording consent.
After the meeting
Whatever produced the notes, check three things before sending: numbers, names and action owners. AI summaries are usually right about the gist and most often wrong about exactly these details.
Questions people ask
Does Zoom have a built-in note taker?
Can I get a Zoom transcript on the free plan?
Can I add a transcript after a Zoom meeting ends?
Do Zoom AI summaries make mistakes?
Sources
- Zoom transcription in 2026 (Scribbl)
- Meeting record features for Zoom — Georgetown University
- Zoom pricing 2026: Basic plan and recording (MeetGeek)
Checked 11 November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Write to [email protected].
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