# A free Fireflies.ai alternative for Mac: notes | Tora

> Tora records meetings on your Mac with models that run there, free. Compare it with Fireflies.ai, and see when Fireflies.ai is the better pick.

URL: https://usetora.com/alternatives/fireflies/
Updated: 2026-10-20

[Compare Tora](https://usetora.com/alternatives/)

## A free Fireflies.ai alternative for Mac

Fireflies.ai transcribes and summarizes team conversations, with a notetaker bot or a desktop app that records with no bot. Tora also does notes on your Mac, and adds writing fixes and call replies for $0.

[Download for Mac](https://updates.usetora.com/Tora.dmg) [See pricing](https://usetora.com/pricing/)

Free. Apple silicon, macOS 26 or later.

## Tora vs Fireflies.ai at a glance

| | Tora | Fireflies.ai |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0 for all four agents. Tora Cloud is an optional paid plan. | $18 a month per seat, billed monthly (Pro). |
| Free plan | Free with no account, no trial, and no card. | A free plan with unlimited transcription, limited AI summaries, 400 minutes of storage per team, and 20 AI credits. |
| Where it runs | Models run on your Mac. Tora Cloud, if you turn it on, uses Tora's servers and AI providers. | Not stated on its site |
| Platforms | Mac only: Apple silicon, macOS 26 or later. | Mac and Windows desktop apps, iOS and Android apps, a Chrome extension, and a notetaker that joins Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams. It also takes file uploads and has an API. |
| Bot in calls | No bot. Tora records your Mac's audio and your mic. | A bot you invite or let auto-join your calendar meetings, or bot-free recording in the Mac and Windows desktop app and the Chrome extension. |
| Jobs it covers | All four: dictation, writing fixes, meeting notes, and replies during calls. | Meeting transcripts, summaries, search, live answers during meetings, dictation (Fireflies Talk), and talk-time analytics. |

## Where Tora is different

- **Models on your Mac**: In the free plan, Tora's speech and writing models run on your Mac. Notes are stored on your Mac, with search across every meeting.
- **Free, with no account**: All four Tora agents are $0 on your Mac. There is no trial, no card, and no sign-in.
- **Writer, and a reply hidden from screen sharing**: Tora also fixes text you select in any app, and Live suggestions puts a reply in your notch. The card is hidden when you share your screen.

## When Fireflies.ai is the better pick

- **Your team needs notes in other tools**: Fireflies.ai lists 100+ integrations, including CRM and project tools. Tora Cloud sends notes to Notion, Slack, Linear, or Gmail.
- **You use Windows, iOS, or Android**: Tora is Mac only. Fireflies.ai has a Windows desktop app and mobile apps.
- **You want a bot to record for you**: Fireflies.ai can auto-join your calendar meetings. Tora records on your Mac, so it needs your Mac and your call to be there.

## Questions about Tora and Fireflies.ai

### Is there a free Fireflies.ai alternative for Mac?

Yes. Tora is free on a Mac. It records your Mac's audio and your mic with no bot, and the models run on the Mac.

### Can Tora join a call for me when I am away?

No. Tora records on your Mac, so it needs your Mac and your call to be there.

### Can I search old meetings in Tora?

Yes. Search any word across all your meetings. A result opens the meeting at that moment.

### Does Tora send notes to my tools?

Tora Cloud can send notes to Notion, Slack, Linear, or Gmail. The free plan keeps notes on your Mac.

Facts about Fireflies.ai were read on its own website. Prices vary by region, and plans change. Fireflies.ai does more than this page lists. A fact is left out when its site does not state it.

Sources: [fireflies.ai/pricing](https://fireflies.ai/pricing) (read October 17, 2026); [fireflies.ai/desktop](https://fireflies.ai/desktop) (read October 17, 2026).

Fireflies.ai is a trademark of its owner. Tora is not affiliated with it.

[All comparisons](https://usetora.com/alternatives/)

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[Download for Mac](https://updates.usetora.com/Tora.dmg) [See pricing](https://usetora.com/pricing/)

Free · macOS 26 or later · Apple silicon