Where they differ
Both give you transcripts, summaries and action items. The differences are in how the capture happens, where the data sits, and what you can do with the record afterwards.
Fathom's own site is the right place to confirm its current plans, integrations and data policies — those move, and we would rather point you there than describe them second-hand.
| Nod | Fathom | |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | Your Mac's system audio. Nothing joins the call. | Check their current capture modes and platform support. |
| Stored audio | Never. Held in memory about five seconds, then discarded. | See their retention policy. |
| Where data lives | EU (AWS eu-west-1), AES-256 at rest, per-user isolation. | Verify their region and terms. |
| Ask across sessions | One question over everything captured, answers cite the sessions. | Check what their search covers. |
| Platform | macOS only. | Broader, which matters if your team is not all on Macs. |
| Price | Paid, 14-day trial, no card. | Has a well-known free tier. Compare it directly. |
Where Fathom is the better answer
If you need a recorder that a mixed Mac and Windows team can all run, or your workflow lives inside a CRM that Fathom already integrates with, that is a real advantage and Nod does not currently match it. Nod is macOS only, and its shipped connectors are read-only ChatGPT and Claude rather than a CRM.
If a free tier is the deciding factor, compare that directly too. Nod is a paid product with a 14-day trial and no card.
Where Nod is the better answer
When nothing may appear in the participant list. Nod listens through your Mac, so no bot shows up on anyone else's screen. Bot-free capture is no longer rare — several recorders now offer some version of it — so check whether the one you are comparing does it on your platform and by default, rather than taking it as a given either way. And it is not the same as consent: you should still tell people.
When the value is in the months, not the meeting. Nod's record is one memory you can put a question to, and every answer names the sessions it came from.
When the data location matters. Transcripts and summaries are encrypted at rest in the EU, no audio is kept anywhere, and no model is trained on your material.
Frequently asked questions
Does Nod join the call like a bot?
No. It captures your Mac's system audio, so there is no participant, no join announcement, and no link to give the host. No bot doesn't mean no consent, though: recording law varies by country and by state, and some of it asks everyone on the call to agree, so tell people you're taking notes. See recording consent laws.
Does Nod work on Windows?
No. Nod is macOS only, because capture uses native macOS APIs. If your whole team needs coverage today, that is a genuine reason to pick something else.
What happens to the audio?
It is held in memory long enough to transcribe, roughly five seconds, then discarded. No file is written, at Nod or at the transcription service. Details on the security page.