folo vs Fathom
Last updated: July 2026
Fathom is a popular meeting recorder: by default a bot joins your call and records to the cloud, giving you highlights, summaries and CRM sync — often on a generous free tier. Fathom 3.0 added a bot-free capture mode too, though it still uploads to Fathom’s cloud. It is a strong pick for teams that want shareable recordings and tidy CRM handoffs. folo records locally and offers local backends alongside explicit, globally selected cloud options.
Where Fathom is the better fit
- A capable free tier that makes it easy for a whole team to start.
- Cloud recordings you can share with a link, plus clips and highlights.
- CRM sync that drops call notes straight into your sales pipeline.
- Works from the cloud, so recordings are reachable from anywhere.
Where folo is the better fit
- Recording is local, and local transcription backends process on your Mac — even Fathom’s bot-free mode still goes to its cloud.
- No bot joins the meeting — folo captures system audio and your mic locally.
- On-device speaker recognition that remembers people across meetings.
- Captures any meeting app and in-person conversations, not just supported platforms.
- Finished meetings become tracked time in Døgn, ready to invoice in tjent.
At a glance
| Feature | folo | Fathom |
|---|---|---|
| Bot in the call | None — local capture | Bot by default; bot-free mode too |
| Where recordings live | On your Mac | In the cloud |
| Shareable cloud links | Local-first, not the focus | Yes |
| CRM sync | Not a focus | Yes |
| Works in-person / any app | Yes — audio-based | Zoom, Meet, Teams |
| Time-to-invoice loop | Feeds Døgn → tjent | Not a focus |
The short version
Pick Fathom if you want free, shareable cloud recordings and CRM sync for a sales or customer-facing team.
Pick folo if you’d rather record locally, select local transcription and summary backends, and turn meetings into billable time.
Questions, answered
Can I share a folo recording with a link like Fathom?
Not as a core feature — folo keeps recordings local. If link-sharing cloud recordings is central to your workflow, Fathom handles that well.
Does folo sync to my CRM?
No. folo focuses on private capture and turning meetings into tracked time via Døgn, rather than CRM sync.
Why choose folo over a free tool?
Because your audio stays on your Mac, no bot appears in the call, and the time flows into Døgn and tjent — a one-time purchase, not a cloud account.
Keep comparing
See all folo comparisons, or read folo vs Otter.ai and folo vs Granola.