Looking for a Fireflies.ai alternative without the bot and credit limits?
Mumble AI records from your Mac with no bot, no AI credit caps, and full on-device processing. Plus dictation and voice notes built in.
If you want a meeting recorder without a bot, with no AI credit limits, and true on-device processing that works offline, Mumble AI is a strong Fireflies.ai alternative. Fireflies supports more languages (100+ vs 43), but Mumble also includes system-wide dictation and voice notes that Fireflies does not offer.
Fireflies.ai is a popular AI meeting assistant that records, transcribes, and summarizes your meetings. It supports 100+ languages and integrates with major platforms. But it has friction points: it commonly uses a bot to join your calls, some advanced AI features are gated behind a credit system even on paid plans, and there is no true on-device processing.
Mumble AI works differently. No bot ever joins your call. Audio is captured directly from your Mac. You can process everything on-device with local mode, or use cloud for maximum accuracy. There are no AI credit limits. And beyond meetings, Mumble includes system-wide dictation and auto-organized voice notes in the same app.
Mumble AI vs Fireflies.ai: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mumble AI | Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Bot joins call | No, records from Mac audio | Bot-based by default; desktop app available |
| On-device processing | Yes, full local mode, offline capable | Desktop app captures locally, processes in cloud |
| Languages | 43 languages | 100+ languages |
| AI credit limits | No limits | Some advanced AI features use credits, even on paid plans |
| System-wide dictation | Yes, works in any text field | No system-wide dictation feature |
| Voice notes | Built-in with auto-organized Smart Notes | No dedicated voice notes workflow |
| Meeting platforms | Any app that plays audio (Zoom, Meet, Teams, Slack, etc.) | Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and more |
| Free plan | Free during beta, local mode free forever | 800 mins of storage, limited AI credits |
| Privacy | Recordings stored locally on your device, full offline mode | Cloud processing, SOC 2 and HIPAA certified |
| Platforms | Mac (macOS 14+, Apple Silicon) + iOS | Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
Why people switch from Fireflies.ai to Mumble
No bot, no friction
Fireflies commonly uses a bot to join your meetings. Even with their desktop app, audio still goes to the cloud for processing. Mumble records from your Mac's system audio with zero visible presence.
No AI credit system
Some advanced Fireflies AI features use a credit system, even on paid plans. Mumble has no credit limits. Use AI summaries, action items, and search as much as you want.
True offline processing
Fireflies' desktop app captures audio locally but still sends it to the cloud. Mumble's local mode processes everything on your Mac. Nothing is ever transmitted. Works fully offline.
More than meetings
Fireflies focuses on meeting transcription and CRM integration. Mumble also gives you system-wide dictation (hold Fn in any text field) and voice notes that auto-organize into Smart Notes.
Simpler pricing, no hidden costs
Fireflies' pricing looks straightforward until you hit AI credit limits, storage caps, and integration restrictions on lower tiers. Mumble is free during beta with no limits. After beta, local mode stays free forever.
Your recordings stay on your device
Fireflies stores your meeting recordings on their servers. Mumble keeps recordings locally on your Mac where you can replay them anytime. They are never uploaded to the cloud.
Is Mumble right for you?
Mumble records from your Mac's system audio. No bot joins your call, no one knows you're transcribing.
Mumble's local mode processes everything on-device. Audio never leaves your Mac, and it works fully offline.
Mumble includes system-wide dictation and voice notes alongside meeting notes, replacing multiple apps with one.
Fireflies supports more platforms, more languages, and integrates with CRM tools that Mumble doesn't. If those are priorities, Fireflies may be the better fit.
Where Fireflies.ai might be a better fit
Fireflies works across Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. If your team uses mixed platforms or needs browser-based access, Fireflies has broader availability than Mumble's current Mac and iOS support.
Fireflies also supports 100+ languages, compared to Mumble's 43. If you regularly transcribe meetings in less common languages, Fireflies covers more ground.
If you rely on CRM integrations like Salesforce or HubSpot to automatically log meeting notes, Fireflies has built-in connectors that Mumble does not offer. Fireflies also includes team collaboration features like shared meeting libraries and conversation intelligence, which are useful for sales and customer success teams.
Fireflies.ai vs Mumble: FAQ
Is Mumble AI a free Fireflies.ai alternative?
Yes. Mumble AI is completely free during the beta with no limits. After beta, local mode (on-device processing) stays free forever. Fireflies' free plan has 800 mins of storage with limited AI credits.
Does Fireflies have a desktop app like Mumble?
Fireflies offers a desktop app that captures audio locally, but processing still happens in the cloud. Mumble's local mode processes everything on-device. Nothing leaves your Mac.
What are Fireflies AI credits?
Fireflies uses a credit system for some advanced AI features. Free plans get 20 AI credits per month, and paid plans include 20 to 50 depending on tier. Mumble has no credit system.
Does Mumble support as many languages as Fireflies?
Fireflies supports 100+ languages, which is more than Mumble's 43 languages. If you need transcription in less common languages, Fireflies may be a better fit for that specific need.
Does a bot join my meeting with Mumble?
No. Mumble records audio directly from your Mac. No bot joins your call, and other participants never know you are transcribing.
Does Mumble work on Windows?
Currently Mumble is available on Mac (macOS 14+ with Apple Silicon) and iOS. Fireflies supports Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, so it has broader platform availability.
Ready to try a better alternative?
Mumble AI is free during beta. No credit card required.
Download Mumble for Mac