Cluely vs Fireflies.ai: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Cluely and Fireflies.ai comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Fireflies.ai is our overall pick for transcription workflows. Pick Cluely if you need AI assistants.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Cluely
Live AI meeting assistant for real-time notes and insights, completely undetectable.
Best for you if:
- • You need AI assistants features specifically
- • Provides real-time AI assistance, notes, and next steps during live meetings.
- • Completely undetectable to other meeting participants and screen shares.
Fireflies.ai
AI meeting transcription and search
Best for you if:
- • You need transcription features specifically
- • Fireflies.ai is an AI meeting assistant that records, transcribes, and summarizes calls
- • It integrates with Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet to capture action items automatically
| At a Glance |  Cluely |  Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | AI Assistants | Transcription |
Rating | - | 4.7/5 |
Choose Cluely or Fireflies.ai?
Choose Cluely if
Live AI meeting assistant for real-time notes and insights, completely undetectable.
- Provides immediate AI insights and answers during live discussions.
- Maintains privacy and discretion by being completely undetectable.
- Eliminates the need for manual note-taking during meetings.
- Your work is AI assistants-shaped, not transcription-shaped
Choose Fireflies.ai if
AI meeting transcription and search
- Automatic meeting transcription
- Works with Zoom, Meet, Teams
- Searchable meeting archive
- Your work is transcription-shaped, not AI assistants-shaped
| Feature | Cluely | Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.7/5 735 reviews |
| Categories | AI AssistantsProductivity | TranscriptionProductivity |
In-Depth Analysis
Cluely
Live AI meeting assistant for real-time notes and insights, completely undetectable.
Strengths
- +Provides immediate AI insights and answers during live discussions.
- +Maintains privacy and discretion by being completely undetectable.
- +Eliminates the need for manual note-taking during meetings.
- +Supports a wide range of popular meeting platforms and languages.
- +Offers high transcription speed and accuracy.
Weaknesses
- -Requires a desktop application download.
- -Specific details on advanced AI capabilities beyond notes and answers are not explicitly detailed.
- -The free tier's limitations are not specified.
Key features
Fireflies.ai
AI meeting transcription and search
Strengths
- +Automatic meeting transcription
- +Works with Zoom, Meet, Teams
- +Searchable meeting archive
- +Action items extraction
- +Good accuracy for clear audio
Weaknesses
- -Accuracy drops with accents/noise
- -Privacy concerns recording meetings
- -Paid plans required for teams
- -Storage limits on lower tiers
- -Some lag in transcription
Key features
Pricing: Cluely vs Fireflies.ai
| Plan | Cluely | Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Starter | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $19.99 / month Pro | $10 month per user Pro |
| Tier 3 | $149.99 / month Pro + Undetectability | $19 month per user Business |
| Tier 4 | N/A | Custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Cluely pricing and Fireflies.ai pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Cluely
Want the highest-rated option?
Fireflies.ai is rated 4.7/5. Cluely has no ratings yet.
Go with: Fireflies.ai
Value user reviews?
Cluely: no ratings yet. Fireflies.ai: 735 reviews (4.7/5).
Go with: Fireflies.ai
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Cluely is a AI assistants tool. Fireflies.ai is in transcription. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Fireflies.ai is rated 4.7/5; Cluely has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Fireflies.ai
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Cluely
- Better fit for AI assistants
The Bottom Line
Fireflies.ai is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cluely or Fireflies.ai better?
Fireflies.ai is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Cluely and Fireflies.ai used for?
Cluely: Live AI meeting assistant for real-time notes and insights, completely undetectable.. Fireflies.ai: AI meeting transcription and search.
What does Cluely cost vs Fireflies.ai?
Cluely is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Fireflies.ai is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.