tl;dv (named after “too long; didn’t view”) is an AI meeting assistant that joins your calls, records them, and turns them into searchable transcripts, clips, and summaries. Most rivals meter their free plans in minutes. tl;dv meters the AI layer instead — capture is unlimited, thinking is rationed. Whether that’s a good deal depends entirely on which half you actually need.
What does tl;dv do?
Invite tl;dv to a Zoom, Meet, or Teams call and it records video, identifies speakers, and produces a transcript in 40+ languages. You can timestamp moments during the call, cut the best parts into shareable clips, and search across your meeting library later. Paid tiers aim squarely at sales teams — playbook monitoring, objection handling, CRM syncing, and coaching analytics — but the free plan is a complete recorder in its own right.
What’s actually free on tl;dv?
From tl;dv’s own plan comparison, the free plan includes unlimited video recordings and transcripts, unlimited AI moment summaries, and basic integrations with Slack, email, and calendars. The AI-heavy features carry small lifetime allowances, not monthly ones:
| Feature | Free plan | Paid plans |
|---|---|---|
| Recordings & transcripts | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| AI meeting notes | 10 total (lifetime) | Unlimited |
| Ask tl;dv AI queries | 10 total (lifetime) | Unlimited |
| AI multi-meeting reports | 10 total (lifetime) | Unlimited |
| File uploads | 5 total | Unlimited |
| Recording retention | Up to 3 months | Custom / longer |
| Price | $0 | Pro $18/user/mo, Business $29–35/user/mo (annual billing) |
Two details matter. First, “10” means ten ever, not ten a month — once they’re spent, full AI notes stop until you upgrade (after the first ten meetings, free notes cover only the opening minutes). Second, the 3-month retention means free is a working window, not an archive: download or move anything you need to keep.
Pros and cons of the free plan
Pros
- Unlimited recordings and transcripts — the most generous capture offer in its category
- Works across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams
- 40+ transcription languages with automatic speaker recognition
- Clips and timestamped highlights make sharing a moment effortless
- No credit card required to start
Cons
- AI notes, Ask queries, and multi-meeting reports are capped at 10 each — for the account’s lifetime
- Free recordings are retained only up to 3 months
- Downloads and simultaneous-meeting recording are restricted on free
- The recording bot is visible to other participants (a bot-free desktop option drops video)
Who is tl;dv best for?
Anyone who sits in a lot of calls and mainly needs a reliable record: consultants, freelancers, researchers doing interviews, students recording lectures, and small teams that review calls together. If your real need is polished AI summaries of every meeting forever, you’ll burn the 10-note allowance in a fortnight and should compare paid plans (or Fathom-style tools) instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is tl;dv really unlimited for free?
For recordings and transcripts, yes — no minute caps. The limits sit on AI notes and queries (10 each, lifetime), file uploads (5), and how long recordings are kept (up to 3 months).
Which meeting platforms does tl;dv work with?
Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.
Do other people know they’re being recorded?
Yes — tl;dv typically joins as a visible meeting participant. Always get consent where your laws or company policy require it.
What happens after 3 months on the free plan?
Free-plan recordings are retained for up to 3 months and then removed/archived. Export anything important before then.
Verdict
tl;dv’s free plan is the best free meeting recorder we’ve found on paper, precisely because it gives away the expensive part (capture) and rations the fashionable part (AI summaries). If you can live with 10 smart summaries and a rolling 3-month library, you may never need to pay for meeting transcription at all.
Free-tier details checked October 12, 2026 against tl;dv’s official plan comparison and help-centre limits. This is a research-based review; we do not claim hands-on testing.