Fathom records and summarizes your calls via a bot that joins Zoom, Meet and Teams, storing recordings in its cloud.
Backchannel keeps recording, transcription and speaker identification on your Mac, adds no bot to the call, and writes notes to a location you own with an AI model you choose.
| Feature | Backchannel | Fathom |
|---|---|---|
| No bot joins the call | ✓ On-device audio | — Bot |
| Audio stays on your device | ✓ | — Cloud |
| On-device transcription | ✓ | — |
| Notes saved to a location you own | ✓ | — |
| Bring your own AI model / key | ✓ | — |
| Captures the shared screen | ✓ | — |
| Platform | macOS | Web |
| Status | In development | Generally available |
Details about Fathom are summarized from public information and can change — check Fathom for the latest. Backchannel is in active development.
Choose Fathom for a free, polished cloud recorder. Choose Backchannel if you need the recording and transcription to stay on your Mac with no bot in the call.
Yes — an on-device, no-bot alternative.
No. Recordings stay on your Mac; notes go to a location you choose.
In development — register for availability.
Backchannel is in active development. Leave your details and we'll tell you the moment you can try it — no spam, just the launch.