How to Use Fathom in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
AI meeting note-taker that records, transcribes, and summarizes video calls automatically.
Fathom is a free AI meeting assistant that joins your Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams calls to record, transcribe, and generate instant summaries. After each meeting it delivers an AI-written summary with action items directly to you, so you can focus on the conversation instead of taking notes. Fathom is popular with sales reps, recruiters, and remote teams for its generous free tier and clean, readable summaries.
What You'll Need
- A Fathom account (free to create)
- A modern web browser or the Fathom app
- Payment method for paid features
Getting Started
Create Your Account
Visit https://fathom.video and sign up for a freemium account. You'll need an email address to register. A free tier is available — you can upgrade later for more features.
Start Your First Conversation
Once logged in, you'll see the main chat interface. Type a question or task in the input box and press Enter. Fathom supports meeting recording, transcription, AI summaries, action items, Zoom integration — start with a simple text prompt to get familiar.
Pro Tips
- Be specific: The more context you provide, the better the response. Instead of "write an email," try "write a professional follow-up email to a client who hasn't responded in two weeks."
- Iterate: If you don't get what you need, ask for clarification or refinement: "Make it shorter" or "Use a more formal tone."
- Use examples: Show Fathom what format you want by including an example in your prompt.
- Save useful conversations: Most platforms let you name and revisit conversations — organize by project or topic.
Common Use Cases
Productivity
AI tools for task management, scheduling, summarization, and workflow optimization.
Browse Productivity chatbots →General Assistant
All-purpose AI assistants for everyday questions, tasks, and conversations.
Browse General Assistant chatbots →Troubleshooting
- Responses seem generic or unhelpful
- Add more context to your prompt. Specify the audience, tone, length, and format you need. Try starting over with a clearer description of your goal.
- The tool isn't responding or is slow
- AI chatbots can experience high traffic. Refresh the page and try again. Check the service's status page if issues persist.
- Output is too long or too short
- Explicitly specify the length: "in 100 words," "as a brief summary," or "in detail with examples."
Get Weekly Chatbot Tips
Not sure which AI tool is right for you? Our newsletter covers reviews, tutorials, and comparisons weekly.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Fathom free to use?
- Fathom has a free tier. Paid plans start from 15.
- Do I need an account to use Fathom?
- Yes, you need to create an account to use Fathom.
- What can I use Fathom for?
- AI meeting note-taker that records, transcribes, and summarizes video calls automatically.
Related Guides
Know a tool we're missing? Submit it free →