tl;dv Review: How Does It Compare to other meeting note-takers?
I've worked with a bunch of AI meeting tools over the past year, and tl;dv is one I've used quite a bit. It's got some useful features, no doubt. But after spending more time with some other tools, a few things started to stand out — especially when it comes to simplicity, control, and how the notes actually fit into your workflow. Thought I'd share what I've learned so far.
(Disclaimer: I work for Notigo, and thus I know that I'm at least somewhat biased. However, having more than 2 years worth of experience with AI meeting note-takers, I think I'm nevertheless qualified to make an accurate judgement.)
1. No Real-Time Notes
One of my biggest frustrations with tl;dv is that it only gives you notes after the meeting is over. That might sound fine in theory, but in practice, it becomes a real limitation. If the AI mishears something or summarizes poorly, you won't know until the meeting's long finished—when it's too late to fix it. Personally, I've found this really breaks my flow. With Notigo, I can watch the notes being written in real-time and correct them on the spot. It makes a huge difference in how engaged and focused I feel during the meeting. It's like taking notes with a teammate instead of cleaning up after someone else.
2. Intrusive Bot That Joins Meetings
tl;dv uses a recording bot that joins your meetings by piggybacking on calendar invites. In theory, this automates note-taking, but in reality it's messy. I've had it join meetings I didn't even want it in. It also sometimes confuses guests, especially in more formal or client-facing calls—people wonder who or what this bot is. Honestly, I always felt a little uncomfortable with how unpredictable it could be. Notigo completely avoids this issue. It doesn't join meetings. You just open the browser and it listens quietly while you work. No bots, no interruptions, no awkward moments.
3. Post-Meeting Editing Challenges
Another issue I ran into was editing. tl;dv's summaries and transcripts aren't always clean. Sometimes the formatting's weird, sometimes speaker names are off, and sometimes it just misses the point. Fixing that after the meeting eats up more time than it should. And because you can't edit notes live, there's always this disconnect between what you said and what ends up in your records. Notigo's structure is clearer—and because it writes notes in real time, I can tweak things on the fly. That live interaction makes the notes feel more like mine, not something I have to fix.
4. Feature Overload & Lock-In
tl;dv does a lot: analytics, integrations, call tagging, video highlights… but at some point, it started to feel more like a CRM than a note-taker. I'd open it and just feel overwhelmed. It tries to be everything, but for me, it was too much. I just wanted simple, useful notes—fast. Notigo's the opposite. It's built to be light. You don't have to learn a whole platform to get value. You open it, run your meeting, and you're done. That clarity is underrated, especially if you want a tool that works with you—not one you have to babysit.
✅ tl;dv Pros
- Good transcription and CRM integrations
- Unlimited recordings and clean interface
- Useful for analytical insights if you need them
❌ tl;dv Cons
- Only post-meeting notes; no real-time editing
- Requires bot and calendar access
- Edits need extra work post-call
- Can be complex and feel locked into a platform
💡 Why Notigo Might Be a Better Fit
If you want a clean, easy, and respectful meeting assistant:
- No bots, no invites—just browser-based listening
- Live, editable notes that let you follow and correct
- Simple, value-driven experience without extra setup
- More generous free tier to explore its benefits
Final Take
tl;dv is solid if you record across varied platforms and want analytics afterward. But if your priority is ease, privacy, and staying present with real-time structured notes, Notigo is the calmer, more intuitive choice.
