Read AI vs Fireflies in 2026: Meeting Analytics or Cheap, Cross-Platform Notes?
Our pick: Fireflies.ai. The verdict below says who should buy the other.
Pricing figures updated 6 September 2026: USD prices are converted at the current rate (1 USD ≈ 1.40 AUD, verified 5 September 2026) and shown ex-GST, replacing the retired 1.55 + GST basis. A GST-registered Australian business that supplies its ABN is not charged GST on an imported digital service; other buyers should allow ~10% on top (Methodology).
Winner: Fireflies for most — cheaper, and it does the core job (transcripts, summaries, search) as well as anyone. Pick Read AI only if engagement and sentiment analytics are genuinely worth the extra cost and privacy weight.
Last reviewed: 26 June 2026 by Adam.
Quick comparison
| Read AI | Fireflies | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (AUD) | US$15/user/mo (~A$21) | US$10/seat/mo (~A$14.00) |
| Free tier | 5 meetings/month | ✅ genuinely usable |
| Platforms | Zoom, Meet, Teams | Zoom, Meet, Teams |
| Standout | Engagement & sentiment analytics | Cheap, reliable transcription |
| Privacy note | Scores people — extra care | Standard recording consent |
| Data residency | US only | US only |
| Score (out of 25) | 15/25 ⭐⭐⭐ | 18/25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
What both tools do
Both join Zoom, Meet and Teams calls and produce transcripts, summaries and action items. Read AI layers on engagement and sentiment analytics and search across meetings, emails and messages. Fireflies focuses on doing the core notetaking cheaply and well, with a strong searchable transcript and a usable free tier.
Pricing in Australia
Fireflies is cheaper: US$10/seat/month annual (~A$14.00) against Read AI Pro at US$15/user/month (~A$21). Both bill in USD with no AUD line or documented ABN tax invoice, and both have free tiers.
Where Read AI wins
- Engagement and sentiment analytics for sales and management feedback.
- Cross-source search across meetings, emails and messages.
Where Fireflies wins
- Cheaper and a strong free tier.
- Does the core job as well — transcripts, summaries, search.
- Lighter privacy footprint — it doesn't score people.
- Higher score (18 vs 15) for value and focus.
The verdict
For most Australian teams, Fireflies is the better buy (18 vs 15): it nails the core notetaking job, costs a third less, and doesn't carry the extra Privacy Act weight of scoring participants. Read AI is the pick only if you specifically want engagement analytics and cross-source search and you've set a consent policy — for a sales leader who lives on calls, those analytics can justify the premium. Otherwise, the cheaper, focused tool wins. Both are US-hosted with no Australian residency.
Frequently asked questions
Is Read AI or Fireflies better for Australians?
Fireflies for most — it's cheaper (US$10/seat) and does the core transcription job as well as anyone (18/25). Read AI adds engagement analytics (15/25) but costs more and scores people, which raises extra Privacy Act considerations.
Which is cheaper?
Fireflies, at US$10/seat/month annual (~A$14.00) versus Read AI Pro at US$15/user/month (~A$21). Both bill in US dollars with free tiers.
Do either store data in Australia?
No. Both are US-hosted with no Australian data residency. Read AI also stores engagement and sentiment inferences about participants, not just transcripts, which warrants a consent policy.
Sources
- See our full Read AI review and Fireflies review for primary citations and Wayback snapshots.
The AI Directory Australia is an independent editorial publication. Read our Methodology.
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