Comparison
Ghosty Notes vs Fathom
Fathom already gives away a free MCP server, so that isn't the wedge here - both tools tie on that. Fathom can also record without a bot now, though only on Mac. The real difference is where your audio goes. Fathom uploads every meeting to its cloud and uses de-identified data to improve its models by default. Ghosty Notes transcribes on your Mac with the built-in models and never uploads the audio.
| Ghosty Notes | Fathom | |
|---|---|---|
| Records without a bot in the call | Yes | No - bot joins as a visible participant |
| Where transcription happens | On your device | In the cloud |
| Your audio leaves your machine | Never | Yes |
| MCP server for AI apps | Free, every tier | Free, every tier |
| Free tier limit | Unlimited, no summary cap | Unlimited recording, 5 AI summaries/mo |
| Data practice | Nothing to opt out of - audio never transmitted | Uses de-identified data to improve its models by default (opt-out available) |
| Notes stored as | Markdown on your disk | Fathom's cloud |
| Runs fully offline | Yes (free mode) | No |
| Money-back guarantee | Not offered | 90 days on paid plans |
| Entry price | Free, Pro $5.00/mo ($54/yr) | Team $15/user/mo (billed annually), $19/mo monthly |
Figures from Fathom's own pricing and security pages, cross-checked against third-party aggregators 2026-08-27. Cheapest paid tier shown is Team, which undercuts Fathom's own Premium tier ($16/user/mo annual). Fathom is SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, and GDPR certified, and its sub-processors (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google) are contractually barred from training on your data even though Fathom itself may use de-identified data to improve its own models by default, with an opt-out available.
When Fathom is the better pick
- You want notes ready in 30 seconds after the call ends.
- You want coaching or talk-ratio analytics built in.
- You want CRM sync and a 90-day money-back guarantee on paid plans.
- You're fine with cloud processing and Fathom's default use of de-identified data to improve its own models.
When Ghosty Notes is the better pick
- You don't want a bot joining your calls as a visible participant.
- You want audio that never transmits at all, not just de-identified before use.
- You want unlimited AI summaries on the free tier, not capped at 5/mo.
- You want your notes as plain markdown files you own, not records in Fathom's cloud.
See how Ghosty stacks up against every competitor, or read the Granola, Otter, and Fireflies comparisons.
Keep the free MCP server. Lose the bot and the cloud.
Try the local-first alternative. Free, on your Mac, no account.
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