If I see one more 30-minute meeting invite for something that could have been an email, I might just flip my desk. We've all been there, right? Staring into the webcam, a semi-permanent grimace plastered on our face, while the clock ticks away. It's the dreaded 'meeting hangover,' and in the remote/hybrid world, it's a full-blown epidemic. I've been in the SEO and traffic-gen game for years, and the one thing that kills productivity faster than a server crash is a day packed with back-to-back, soul-crushing meetings.
So, when I kept hearing whispers about a tool called Bubbles, I was skeptical. Another AI-powered productivity tool promising to give me back my time? Sure, Jan. But the name stuck with me, and the concept—an AI meeting notetaker mixed with a screen recorder—was intriguing enough for me to give it a spin. I've been using it for a few weeks now, and I’m ready to spill the tea.
What Even Is Bubbles? More Than Just a Notetaker
Calling Bubbles just a notetaker is like calling a Swiss Army knife just a knife. It's so much more. At its heart, it’s a two-headed beast designed to fight the war on wasted time. On one hand, you have its AI Notetaker. You invite it to your Google Meet, Zoom, or Teams call, and it sits there silently, like a diligent little intern, transcribing everything. After the meeting, it pings you with a summary, a full transcript, and a surprisingly smart list of action items.
On the other hand, you have its screen recording and async video side. This is where, for me, things get really interesting. Instead of booking a meeting to give feedback on a new landing page, you can just record your screen, talk through your points, and send a link. It’s like Loom, but with a deep-seated mission to make your calendar cleaner. It's not just a tool; it's a push toward a different way of working.
Visit Bubbles
Putting the AI Meeting Scribe to the Test
Okay, so the first thing I did was throw it into the deep end: a client strategy call. I connected my calendar, and the Bubbles Notetaker just... showed up. No fuss. During the call, I honestly forgot it was there. About five minutes after we hung up, a notification popped up. I clicked it and there it was: a neat summary, a searchable transcript, and a bulleted list of action items, complete with who was assigned what. Magic.
Is it perfect? No. The AI is smart, but it's not a psychic. One time it assigned an action item to “Brenda” when the person's name was “Brennan.” A minor slip, easily corrected. The real value isn't that its 100% flawless, its that it gets you 90% of the way there. It saves you from having to scrub through a recording or rely on your own shoddy notes. I no longer have that post-meeting panic of “Wait, what was I supposed to do again?” The summary is right there, linked in my calendar event. That’s just… smart.
The Real Game-Changer: Async Video Communication
Here’s my hot take: the AI notetaker is the feature that gets you in the door, but the async video is the reason you stay. As an agency owner, the amount of time I spend in “quick syncs” is absurd. With Bubbles, I’ve started a new rule: if it can be a video, it’s not a meeting.
Need to give feedback on a blog draft? I record a 3-minute Bubble, highlighting text and explaining my changes. Team member has a question about a campaign? They send me a Bubble showing the problem. My team can then comment directly on the video at specific timestamps, creating a conversation thread right on the recording. It's collaborative, it’s efficient, and best of all, it happens on everyone’s own time. No more schedule-tetris. This feature alone has probably saved me 5-6 hours a week.
The Nitty-Gritty: Bubbles Pricing and Plans
Alright, let's talk money. Because a great tool is only great if it makes financial sense. Bubbles has a pretty straightforward pricing structure, and I appreciate that they have a genuinely useful free tier.
| Plan | Price | Who It's For |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The curious individual or anyone wanting a solid test drive. You get 5 AI-recorded meetings a week and unlimited screen recordings, which is super generous. |
| Pro Personal | $18/mo (billed yearly) | Solo founders, freelancers, or small teams of two. You get unlimited everything and more customization. |
| Pro Teams | $12/mo/member (billed yearly) | The main course. For teams of 3+. All the pro features, plus team-based discounts. This is the one my agency uses. |
My advice? Start with the free plan. Seriously. Use it for a week or two. If you find yourself hitting the 5-meeting limit or wishing you had full transcripts, you'll know it's time to upgrade. The jump to Pro Teams for a small team is a no-brainer when you calculate the cost against the hours saved.
The Good, The Bad, and The AI
What I Absolutely Love
The biggest pro is the sheer mental space it frees up. I can now be present in meetings, participating in the conversation instead of frantically trying to type notes. The integration with my calendar is seamless, and the async video has genuinely changed our team's communication culture for the better. It reduces the need for follow-ups and clarifies things so much faster than a long email chain ever could. It's a genuine time-saver.
The Not-So-Good Stuff
Look, no tool is perfect. The free plan's limitations are noticeable; your recordings get locked after two weeks, which can be a pain if you need to refer back to something. And as I mentioned, the AI isn't infallible. You still need a human to give the summaries and action items a quick once-over for accuracy. If you're expecting a perfect, hands-off solution, you might be a little disappointed. You have to see it as an assistant, not a replacement for your own brain.
How Does It Stack Up Against The Others?
Inevitably, people will ask how Bubbles compares to competitors like Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai. I've used them all. Otter is a transcription powerhouse, no doubt. But for me, it feels like a one-trick pony. Bubbles feels more like a complete workflow solution. The killer difference is the tight integration of the AI notetaker with the async screen recorder. It’s not just about documenting what was said; it’s about preventing the next unnecessary meeting from ever happening. That's a philosophy I can get behind.
So, Should You Pop This Bubble?
After a few weeks, I’m sold. Bubbles has earned a permanent spot in my toolkit. It’s not just another piece of software; it’s an ally in the battle against a bloated calendar. It successfully bridges the gap between real-time collaboration and focused, asynchronous work.
If you're a team lead, an agency owner, or just a professional who is sick and tired of being sick and tired of meetings, give it a shot. Start with the free Chrome extension, introduce the async video replies to your team, and see what happens. You might just find yourself with a lot more time to do, you know, your actual job. And that’s a win in my book.
Your Bubbles Questions, Answered
How exactly does Bubbles join my meetings?
It’s surprisingly simple. Once you connect your Google or Outlook calendar, Bubbles automatically detects your scheduled meetings with video links (Zoom, Meet, etc.). Its AI Notetaker then joins the call as a participant, just like any other person. On paid plans, you can customize its name and choose which meetings it attends.
Is the AI-generated summary actually accurate?
For the most part, yes! I'd give it a solid B+ to A-. It’s excellent at capturing the main topics and pulling out clear action items. However, it can sometimes get names slightly wrong or miss very subtle context. It's best to treat it as a fantastic first draft that you give a quick 1-minute review before sharing.
Can I use Bubbles for free forever?
Yes, the Free plan is available indefinitely. It's great for personal use or for trying the service out. The main limitations are the cap of 5 AI-recorded meetings per week and the fact that recordings get locked after 14 days, which encourages upgrading for heavy users or teams.
Does Bubbles work with Microsoft Teams?
Yes, it does. Bubbles integrates with the big three: Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. The AI Notetaker can join meetings on any of these platforms.
What’s the main difference between the Pro Personal and Pro Teams plans?
Functionally, they are identical. The only difference is the pricing and intended user. Pro Personal is for individuals or duos at $18/mo. The Pro Teams plan is for teams of three or more and offers a discounted rate of $12 per member per month. If you start on Pro Personal and your team grows to three, you'll automatically be moved to the better team pricing.
Is my meeting data safe with Bubbles?
According to their privacy policy and the information on the Chrome Web Store, they take privacy seriously. They state that data is not sold to third parties or used for unrelated purposes. As with any cloud service, it's always a good idea to review the latest privacy policy, but they appear to be following standard industry practices for data security.
