# Fathom AI Notetaker vs But First

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Fathom AI Notetaker at none against But First's 3. Fathom AI Notetaker also leads on ratings volume (8 vs 1). But First's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. But First sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Fathom AI Notetaker asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Fathom AI Notetaker against 5.0 for But First. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fathom AI Notetaker has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Fathom AI Notetaker ships an update every 3 weeks, But First daily. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fathom AI Notetaker | But First |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fathom-ai-notetaker/id6751613402/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/but-first-read-then-scroll/id6792192327/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 25 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fathom Video](https://appshunter.io/developer/1836067773) | [Adam Silverness](https://appshunter.io/developer/6792192329) |

## What reviewers say

### Fathom AI Notetaker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fathom-ai-notetaker/id6751613402)

This AI assistant records and transcribes in-person conversations, automatically generating summaries and action items. It allows you to search your meeting history and get instant answers to questions about past discussions.

**Highlights:** Record in-person conversations, Automatic transcription with speaker identification, AI-generated summaries and action items, Searchable meeting library, Ask questions about past conversations, Syncs with desktop account

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### But First

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/but-first-read-then-scroll/id6792192327)

This app helps you prioritize productive activities before allowing access to distracting ones. Set daily goals and define which apps must be used first, with others unlocking only after your goal is met. It's designed for users who want to build better digital habits without completely blocking access to their favorite apps.

**Highlights:** Prioritize app access, Set daily usage goals, Unlock distracting apps after goal completion, Strict mode for enhanced focus, Widgets for progress tracking, Privacy-focused design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| But First Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| But First Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fathom AI Notetaker free?

Fathom AI Notetaker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is But First free?

But First is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Fathom AI Notetaker or But First?

Fathom AI Notetaker and But First are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 8 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Fathom AI Notetaker or But First have ads?

Neither Fathom AI Notetaker nor But First shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fathom AI Notetaker or But First?

Fathom AI Notetaker ships an update every 3 weeks, and But First daily. Most recently, Fathom AI Notetaker was updated on October 30, 2026 and But First on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*