Last updated: 2026-10-31
Plaud is a line of credit-card-sized and wearable AI voice recorders that sync to an app transcribing in 112+ languages. Plaud Note Pro records up to 30 hours, and every device includes a Starter plan with 300 transcription minutes a month. Summaries use templates for meetings, calls and interviews, with shared team files on the Team plan.
About Plaud
Plaud is a family of AI voice recorders plus a subscription app that turns recordings into transcripts, summaries and action items. The hardware line covers Plaud Note and Plaud Note Pro, credit-card-sized recorders, and Plaud NotePin and NotePin S, wearable recorders that clip on or hang from a lanyard. Every recording syncs to the Plaud App, where Plaud Intelligence transcribes it in more than a hundred languages.
The pitch is a dedicated device instead of a bot in your video call. Note and Note Pro use dual-mode recording for phone calls and in-person meetings, and Note Pro adds an Endurance mode that trades features for longer recording. The NotePin pair is built for in-person talk only, with no phone-call recording. Transcripts are produced in the cloud, so the device needs a phone and internet nearby.
Software-only tools such as Otter, Fireflies, Granola and Fathom live in your calendar or on your laptop. Plaud suits people who meet in rooms, clinics, cars and client sites, where there is no video call to join. If most of your meetings happen on Zoom or Google Meet, a software-only tool needs no extra device. Not sure which fits? Smart Match can narrow it down.
Every device includes the free Starter plan with a monthly transcription allowance. Paid plans add minutes: Pro gives 1,200 minutes a month, Unlimited allows up to 24 hours a day, and Team adds shared files, seat management and device management. Plaud states ISO 27701, GDPR, SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA and EN 18031 compliance on its pricing page, and its AI data policy says content is not used to train models without explicit consent.
Pricing
Starter is free (300 transcription minutes a month) and comes with every device. Pro is $17.99 a month or $99.99 billed annually ($8.33 a month). Unlimited is $29.99 a month or $239.99 billed annually ($20 a month).
Team is $28 per user a month ($20 on annual billing) under a launch offer that ends November 30, 2026, then $35 ($25 annual). Add-on transcription packs: 600 minutes $12.99, 3,000 minutes $59.99, 6,000 minutes $99.99. Devices on the US store: Plaud Note $159, Plaud Note Pro $189, Plaud NotePin $159, Plaud NotePin S $179.
Read on plaud.ai on 2026-10-31.
| Tier | Monthly price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Free | |
| Pro | $17.99/mo | |
| Team | $28/mo | |
| Unlimited | $29.99/mo |
Key Features
- Dual-mode recording: Plaud Note and Note Pro record both phone calls and in-person meetings, with up to 30 hours of recording on Note Pro.
- Wearable recorders: NotePin and NotePin S clip to a collar or hang from a lanyard and record in-person conversations for up to 20 hours, with a 9.8 ft pickup range.
- Multilingual transcription: Plaud Intelligence transcribes recordings in 112+ languages on every plan, with speaker identification.
- Summary templates: More than 10,000 summary templates cover meetings, interviews, calls and consultations, and paid plans can add custom templates.
- Team workspace: The Team plan adds shared team files, seat and billing management, device management and workspace-level data residence.
- Connectors in preview: Google Calendar, Zapier and Plaud MCP are listed as preview integrations, with Notion, Slack, Linear and Salesforce on the plan comparison.
Pros
- Records phone calls and in-person meetings on one credit-card-sized device that weighs 1.06 oz.
- Every device includes 300 free transcription minutes a month, so a new owner can test the workflow before paying for a plan.
- Transcription in 112+ languages and 10,000+ summary templates are included on all individual plans.
Cons
- Call recording on Plaud Note needs the magnetic case attached to the phone, and the recording modes switch manually.
- Pro caps transcription at 1,200 minutes a month, so heavy recorders need the Unlimited plan or add-on minute packs.
- NotePin and NotePin S record in-person audio only and cannot record phone calls.
- Transcription runs in the cloud, so a paired phone and an internet connection are required to get a transcript.
Data Handling
- Training-data policy
- Plaud states it does not use audio, transcripts or summaries to train AI models unless the user gives explicit consent, and that its AI providers are contractually barred from training on the data.
- Compliance
- ISO 27001 · ISO 27701 · SOC 2 Type II · GDPR · HIPAA · EN 18031
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Plaud cost in 2026?
Devices on the US store are $159 for Plaud Note, $189 for Note Pro, $159 for NotePin and $179 for NotePin S. Plans: Starter is free, Pro is $17.99 a month ($99.99 billed annually), Unlimited is $29.99 a month ($239.99 annually), and Team is $28 per user a month until November 30, 2026, then $35. Extra minute packs run $12.99 for 600 minutes up to $99.99 for 6,000.
Can you use Plaud without a subscription?
Yes. Every device includes the Starter plan with 300 transcription minutes a month and no extra fee. The cap resets monthly, and transcription needs a paired phone and an internet connection. When you run out, the vendor sells paid plans and add-on minute packs.
What are good alternatives to Plaud?
Otter suits teams whose meetings are mostly on video calls. Fireflies fits people who want a notetaker that joins online meetings and feeds a CRM. Granola works if you sit at a Mac or PC all day and want no hardware. Choose Plaud when you meet in person or on the phone.
Is Plaud better than Otter for in-person meetings?
For in-room conversations, yes in most cases: Plaud is a dedicated recorder with a 9.8 ft pickup range, while Otter is built around software and online calls. Otter wins when nearly every meeting is on Zoom or Meet and you do not want to carry a device.
How do you set up a Plaud recorder?
Pair the device with the Plaud App on your phone, press the button to record, then let the recording sync. From the app you request a transcript and a summary, choosing a template for the meeting type. The Plaud Web and Desktop apps give the same workspace on a computer.
Top Alternatives
- Otter: Pick Plaud if you record in rooms and on phone calls; pick Otter if your meetings are mostly on video calls.
- Fireflies: Pick Plaud for a dedicated recorder; pick Fireflies if you want a notetaker that joins online meetings.
- Granola: Choose Plaud when you are away from your laptop; choose Granola when you work at a computer all day.
HokAI guides covering Plaud
- Best AI Meeting Assistants in 2026: Do You Even Need One?: Fathom, Fireflies, Otter, tl;dv, Timeless, Granola and Plaud compared on pricing re-read in October 2026, plus when Zoom or Teams already cover the job.