When is tl;dv still the best choice?
tl;dv remains a strong option if you’re looking for a free tool that works with both Google Meet and Zoom. The free version offers unlimited recordings and transcriptions, which is rare in this market. For small teams and startups just starting to record meetings, this is an important advantage.
The tool also scores well if you regularly switch between different video platforms. Where many alternatives focus on one platform, tl;dv supports multiple systems without requiring extra accounts. The search function across all recordings works quickly, and you can easily share specific moments from conversations with colleagues via timestamped clips.
When is a tl;dv alternative better?
Privacy concerns play a major role in choosing an alternative. With tl;dv, a bot appears in your meeting that’s visible to all participants. For customer conversations, this can be awkward, especially in sectors where confidentiality is important. Tools like Fathom work without a visible bot, making these conversations more natural.
The transcription quality in Dutch regularly leaves much to be desired with tl;dv. If you primarily have Dutch-language meetings, you’ll encounter many errors that need to be corrected manually. Alternatives with better multilingual support save you time here. The CRM integrations are also more limited with tl;dv than with specialized tools. If you work intensively with HubSpot or Salesforce and want to automatically sync conversation data, tools like Fireflies offer more in-depth connections with automatic field mapping and workflow triggers.
Conclusion
Choose tl;dv if you need a free tool for basic meeting recordings across multiple platforms. Consider Fireflies if CRM integrations and workflow automation are priorities. Go for Fathom when privacy-sensitive customer conversations are central and you don’t want a visible bot. For teams working primarily in Dutch, it’s worth testing alternatives for transcription quality before making a choice. Check out the specific alternatives below to see which tool best fits your situation.
