MeetWave vs tl;dv
tl;dv is a meeting recorder that records video through its bot, or audio without a bot through its Mac and Windows desktop app, and keeps recordings in its cloud. MeetWave records Google Meet, Zoom and Teams web calls from a Chrome extension on any OS — including Linux and ChromeOS — with no desktop app, plus a Windows app for any meeting app's audio. Your meetings are never used to train AI models. MeetWave also generates 15+ types of AI summaries tailored to your role, with no video overhead.
In-Depth Comparison
tl;dv has carved out a strong position in the meeting recording space with its video-focused approach. Its bot joins Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams calls to capture both video and audio, and its desktop app for Mac and Windows records system audio with no meeting bot, on Google Meet, Teams, Zoom and other platforms (checked 25 Sep 2026). Everything gets stored in tl;dv's cloud, making it accessible from anywhere but raising privacy considerations for sensitive conversations.
MeetWave records audio only and never offers a bot: the Chrome extension records web calls on any OS, and the Windows desktop app captures system audio. The difference from tl;dv's bot-free mode is the install — tl;dv needs its desktop app, while MeetWave's extension needs only Chrome, including on Linux and ChromeOS.
The video vs audio distinction matters more than you might think. tl;dv's video recording is useful if you need to review visual presentations or screen shares. However, for most business meetings, the intelligence lives in the conversation — what was said, what was decided, what needs to happen next. MeetWave focuses entirely on extracting this intelligence through 15+ specialized AI summary types.
Audio sources overlap more than they used to. tl;dv's desktop app records system audio from Google Meet, Teams, Zoom and other platforms. MeetWave's Windows app likewise captures any audio playing on your system — video calls, webinars, Discord conversations, Slack huddles.
Privacy architecture represents the starkest contrast. tl;dv stores all recordings in their cloud infrastructure, which means your conversations live on third-party servers. Recordings are uploaded to your MeetWave account and transcribed on our servers; the audio, transcript and summary are stored encrypted in your account, so you can reopen them on any computer at app.meetwave.io.
The AI capabilities also diverge. tl;dv provides transcription and basic AI summaries. MeetWave offers 15+ role-specific summary types — sales call briefs, interview assessments, consulting notes, product feedback synthesis, and more. It also maintains meeting memory, analyzing up to 20 previous conversations on Pro+ (5 on Pro) to surface patterns and context that single-meeting tools miss.
Feature & Pricing Comparison
| Fact | MeetWave | tl;dv |
|---|---|---|
| How it records | No bot joins your calls: the Chrome extension records web calls on macOS, Windows, Linux and ChromeOS, and the Windows desktop app also captures system audio from any app. | Bot, or bot-free desktop app for Mac and Windows — records system audio, no meeting bot requiredchecked 25 Sep 2026 |
| Name in the participant list | No bot — nothing appears in the participant list. | tl;dv Notetakerchecked 24 Sep 2026 |
| Apps | Chrome extension (macOS, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS) + native Windows desktop app; no mobile app. | Web, Mac desktop app, Windows desktop appchecked 24 Sep 2026 |
| Free plan | 10h of recording analysis/month, 25 AI summaries/month | Unlimited recordings and transcription; AI notes on 10 meetingschecked 24 Sep 2026 |
| Cheapest paid plan | Pro $16.00/mo, or $11.00/mo billed annually (up to 5 prior meetings in memory; 20 on Pro+) | Pro €29/mo, or €18/mo billed annually; Business €39/mo, or €29/mo billed annuallychecked 24 Sep 2026 |
| Trains AI on your meetings? (its policy) | Your meetings are never used to train AI models. | Not stated on its pricing pagechecked 24 Sep 2026 |
Competitor facts are read from each vendor's own pages; dates show when. Found something out of date? Tell us.
Pricing Breakdown
tl;dv prices per seat, billed in euros, across a Free tier, Pro and Business. MeetWave has no per-seat pricing -- one flat Pro tier per individual account, with an uncapped Pro+ step above it. Figures for both are in the facts table above.
Why Choose MeetWave
Bot-free without a desktop app
tl;dv records without a bot through its Mac and Windows desktop app. MeetWave records web calls from a Chrome extension on any OS, including Linux and ChromeOS — nothing appears in the participant list.
Your data, in your account
tl;dv stores video recordings in their cloud. Stored encrypted in your MeetWave account.
Role-specific AI intelligence
MeetWave generates 15+ summary types customized for sales reps, recruiters, consultants, product managers, and more. Not one-size-fits-all notes.
No per-seat pricing, no bot
tl;dv's Business plan is priced per user, so the bill grows with your team. MeetWave Pro has no per-seat multiplier and no bot joining the call, at a comparable price to tl;dv Pro.
When tl;dv Might Be Better
tl;dv makes sense in several specific scenarios. If recording without a bot is all you need, tl;dv's own desktop app for Mac and Windows already does that (checked 25 Sep 2026). If you need video recording — to review screen shares, presentations, or visual demonstrations — tl;dv delivers what MeetWave cannot. Audio-only analysis misses visual context that some workflows require.
If you need video recording on Mac or Linux, tl;dv's browser-based approach covers that. MeetWave's system-level capture is Windows-only, though macOS, Linux and ChromeOS users record web calls with the MeetWave Chrome extension and read summaries at app.meetwave.io — so every platform is covered.
tl;dv's team collaboration features suit organizations that need shared meeting libraries with role-based access controls. If your team reviews each other's calls for coaching or compliance, tl;dv's cloud-first architecture supports this workflow better.
Finally, if you specifically need tl;dv's integrations — Notion, HubSpot, Salesforce, or Slack — and those integrations are critical to your workflow, that's a legitimate reason to choose tl;dv.
When MeetWave Is the Better Choice
MeetWave is the better choice when privacy matters. If you handle sensitive conversations — HR discussions, legal consultations, confidential business negotiations — no bot joins the call and you control access to your account. Stored encrypted in your MeetWave account.
If you don't need video, MeetWave's audio-focused approach is both simpler and more cost-effective. Most meeting intelligence comes from conversation, not screen content. Paying for video recording overhead when you won't use it wastes money.
Going bot-free without installing a desktop app is the other difference. tl;dv's bot-free mode lives in its Mac and Windows app; MeetWave's Chrome extension records web calls on any OS, including Linux and ChromeOS, and nothing appears in the participant list.
The AI depth advantage matters for professionals beyond basic transcription needs. Fifteen summary types customized by role means sales reps, recruiters, product managers, and consultants each get analysis designed for their workflows — not generic one-size-fits-all notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does tl;dv have a bot that joins meetings?
In bot mode, yes: tl;dv sends a participant called 'tl;dv Notetaker' to your Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams calls, and all participants can see it join. Its desktop app for Mac and Windows records system audio with no meeting bot (checked 25 Sep 2026). MeetWave has no bot mode at all.
Can tl;dv record any meeting platform?
Its bot covers Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams; its desktop app records system audio from those and, in tl;dv's words, "all your favorite platforms" (checked 25 Sep 2026). MeetWave's Windows app records any audio playing on your system, and its Chrome extension records web calls on any OS.
What's the pricing difference between tl;dv and MeetWave?
tl;dv and MeetWave Pro are priced comparably for a single user, with MeetWave Pro including 40 hours of analysis per month and an unlimited Pro+ step above it. For teams, tl;dv's Business tier is priced per seat, while MeetWave has no per-seat pricing at all — each account is billed individually.
Does MeetWave record video like tl;dv?
No. MeetWave focuses exclusively on audio analysis. If you specifically need video recording to review screen shares or visual presentations, tl;dv is better suited. For conversation intelligence, MeetWave provides deeper AI analysis.
Which is better for privacy, tl;dv or MeetWave?
It depends on what you mean by privacy. tl;dv stores all recordings in its cloud, and MeetWave uses the cloud too. Recordings are uploaded to your MeetWave account and transcribed on our servers; the audio, transcript and summary are stored encrypted in your account, so you can reopen them on any computer at app.meetwave.io.
Does tl;dv work on Windows?
Yes. tl;dv ships a desktop app for Windows and Mac that records without a bot. MeetWave works there too, and on macOS, Linux and ChromeOS — its Chrome extension records web calls on any OS, and on Windows a native desktop app additionally captures system audio directly.
Can I use MeetWave on Mac?
Yes — MeetWave works on a Mac. The MeetWave Chrome extension records web calls (Google Meet, Zoom in the browser, Teams web) on macOS, Linux and ChromeOS just as it does on Windows, and transcripts and summaries live at app.meetwave.io. What is Windows-only is the optional native desktop app, which additionally captures system audio from apps outside the browser.
Which has better AI summaries, tl;dv or MeetWave?
MeetWave offers 15+ role-specific summary types (sales briefs, interview assessments, consulting notes, etc.) plus meeting memory across 20 previous calls on Pro+ (5 on Pro). tl;dv provides basic transcription and generic AI summaries.
What happens to my data if I cancel tl;dv?
With tl;dv, your recordings are stored in their cloud. Cancellation policies vary — check their terms for data retention. With MeetWave, your data stays in your MeetWave account and remains accessible regardless of subscription status.
Does tl;dv offer a free tier?
Yes. tl;dv Free includes unlimited recordings and transcription, with AI notes limited to 10 meetings. MeetWave Free includes 10 hours of recording and 25 AI summaries per month, and every new user gets a 14-day free Pro trial with no card required.
The Verdict
tl;dv and MeetWave serve different priorities. tl;dv excels at video recording with cross-platform support and team collaboration features. It's the right choice for organizations that need visual meeting archives, and its desktop app covers bot-free audio on Mac and Windows.
MeetWave wins on privacy, AI depth, cost efficiency, and going bot-free. For professionals who want intelligent meeting analysis without video overhead or a bot in the call — on Windows via the desktop app, or on any OS with Chrome via the MeetWave extension — MeetWave delivers more value per dollar with no per-seat pricing. The meeting memory feature alone — analyzing patterns across 20 previous conversations on Pro+ (5 on Pro) — provides intelligence that tl;dv simply cannot match.