Google Meet transcription, done right.
Previous-version reference. This page documents the previous product. The features described below are not available in the current release.
Google Meet has a built in caption stream, but it vanishes when the call ends. Notabium records the call - from your browser or with the Notabium Notetaker - and gives you a permanent, searchable, speaker labelled transcript.
What Google Meet gives you out of the box
Live captions appear during the call. On a Google Workspace plan you can switch on "Meeting transcripts" to save a Doc to Drive - but only as host, only on paid Workspace, and only in your org's account, where an admin controls it.
For most users that means no real Meet transcription: the captions are ephemeral, the Doc is gated behind a paid plan, and nothing is yours to carry between accounts.
What Notabium does
Two ways to capture a Meet call. Record straight from your browser with the Notabium extension - one click, both sides of the conversation - or, when you cannot attend, send the Notabium Notetaker to join for you.
Storage location, retention settings, access controls and the current provider configuration are being verified. The previous operator’s security and privacy statements do not establish guarantees for the new environment.
How to record a Meet call
- Check availability and add the browser extension.
- Grant microphone and tab capture permissions when prompted.
- Open a Google Meet call in your browser.
- Click Record in the Notabium extension (or accept the overlay if it pops up). Let everyone know the call is being recorded.
- Continue the meeting normally. The transcript appears live in the app.
- End the call. Notabium auto stops. Your meeting is in the library, ready to summarise.
The browser extension makes it smoother
Notabium ships a Chrome and Edge extension. When you open a meet.google.com URL, it offers to record so the overlay fires the moment the call starts. The extension also adds a small "record with Notabium" button into the Meet web UI, so you can start recording without leaving the browser.
Comparison with Google's built in tools
| Google Meet (free) | Workspace (paid) | Notabium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live captions | yes | yes | yes |
| Saved transcript | no | Drive doc | in your library |
| Works for participants (not host) | captions only | no | yes |
| Searchable across many meetings | no | no | yes |
| AI summary | no | via Duet AI (extra) | included on Pro |
| Yours across accounts | no | no | yes, scoped to you |
| Cost | free | $6+/user/mo | Currently unavailable |
New recordings, uploads, transcription, AI tools, meeting bots and subscriptions are temporarily unavailable.
Check availabilityFAQ
Does Notabium work with Google Meet on free Gmail accounts?
Yes. Notabium does not depend on the Google Workspace plan. You record the call yourself from the browser, which is independent of your Meet license.
Will my Meet captions and Notabium captions conflict?
No. Notabium runs alongside Meet. Use Meet's captions for live reading and Notabium for the permanent record.
Does the browser extension see my meetings?
Storage location, retention settings, access controls and the current provider configuration are being verified. The previous operator’s security and privacy statements do not establish guarantees for the new environment.
Related: Zoom transcription · Teams transcription · vs Granola