2 methods
covered in this guide
Free
AI tools work on any Google account
Business Std+
required for built-in transcript
Google Drive
where transcripts are saved
Google Meet has a built-in transcript feature, but it requires Google Workspace Business Standard or higher ($12/user/month). If you are on a free Google account or a lower Workspace tier, the transcript option will not appear.
For anyone not on Business Standard or above, AI meeting tools like Fathom, Fireflies.ai, and tl;dv provide free transcripts that work on any Google Meet account. They are faster than the built-in feature and include structured summaries.
Built-in transcript: requires Workspace Business Standard ($12/user/month). Available in the Meet interface during and after the call. Saved to Google Drive automatically. AI tool transcript: free, works on any plan, faster delivery, includes action items.
Method 1: Enable the Built-In Transcript (Workspace Business Standard+)
Before you can use it: your Google Workspace admin must enable transcripts. Go to admin.google.com > Apps > Google Workspace > Google Meet > Meet video settings. Find "Transcripts" and ensure it is enabled for your organization.
During the meeting: click the Activities icon (pencil symbol) in the bottom-right of the Meet screen. Select "Transcripts". Click "Start transcript". A notification appears to all participants that the transcript has started.
Access the Transcript in Google Drive After the Meeting
The transcript saves automatically to the meeting organizer's Google Drive in a folder called "Meet Recordings" (if recording was enabled) or directly in "My Drive". The file is a Google Docs document.
The transcript document includes: a header with meeting date, attendees, and duration; the full text transcript organized by speaker (if speaker labels are enabled in your Workspace settings); and timestamps for each section.
Method 2: Use a Free AI Note Taker (Works on Any Google Account)
Fathom, Fireflies.ai, and tl;dv all join Google Meet as a bot participant and deliver a formatted transcript after the call. All three have free plans. Fathom and tl;dv offer unlimited free recordings.
To set up: go to the tool's website, create a free account, and connect your Google Calendar. The bot auto-joins all future Google Meet calls. No Workspace upgrade required.
Fireflies.ai: free plan includes 800 minutes of stored recordings. Works on Google Meet with auto-join via calendar. Delivers transcript and summary to email after the call.
Find and Share Your Transcript
Built-in Workspace transcript: open the Google Docs file in Drive. Use File > Share to send it to participants, or copy the text and paste into another tool.
AI tool transcripts: each tool has a share button that generates a link. Fireflies.ai and tl;dv also integrate with Slack, Notion, and HubSpot for automatic delivery after each call.
If you are on Google Workspace Business Standard or higher, the built-in transcript is a solid option - it requires no additional tools and saves directly to Drive. For everyone else, Fathom or tl;dv are free and produce better-formatted output faster.
Set up tl;dv or Fathom once, connect your calendar, and you will get transcripts automatically for every Google Meet going forward - no manual setup per meeting required.
For Google Meet specifically, the tl;dv setup guide covers the Chrome extension install in detail. The Fathom setup guide covers the calendar auto-join and Zoom app methods.
Tools Used in This Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a Google Meet transcript for free?
Yes. Use a free AI meeting tool like Fathom or tl;dv - both work on any Google Meet account and are free. The built-in Google Meet transcript requires Google Workspace Business Standard ($12/user/month). The AI tools are free and produce better output: structured summaries and action items alongside the raw transcript.
Where are Google Meet transcripts saved?
Built-in transcripts save to the meeting organizer's Google Drive as a Google Docs file. They appear in a folder called "Meet Recordings" or directly in the root of Drive. AI tool transcripts are saved within each tool's dashboard and can be exported or shared via link.
Does Google Meet transcript show who said what?
Yes, if speaker labels are enabled in your Google Workspace settings. Go to Meet settings and enable "Speaker labels". The transcript will then attribute text to each participant by name. AI meeting tools also provide speaker diarization (labeling by speaker) by default.
How do I get a transcript from a past Google Meet recording?
If you have a recording saved to Drive, you can upload the video file to Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai to get a transcript. Otter.ai free plan allows 300 minutes/month of uploads. If you do not have a recording, you cannot retroactively get a transcript for a past meeting.
Is the Google Meet built-in transcript accurate?
In our testing, Google Meet's built-in transcript achieves 85-90% accuracy on clear English audio, comparable to most AI meeting tools. Accuracy drops on accents, technical vocabulary, and multiple simultaneous speakers. For multilingual meetings, AI tools that support more languages (Fireflies.ai: 100+ languages, tl;dv: 30+) are more accurate than the built-in transcript.
