- Call recording and analysis tools side by side
- Ten conversation intelligence tools for sales teams
- Recording consent depends on the state
- Free recorder, coaching tool or revenue platform?
- Rolling out call recording in six steps
- What to listen for once calls are recorded
- My plain advice on conversation intelligence software
- Frequently asked questions
The best conversation intelligence software is the one your reps will let record their calls and your managers will review each week. Individual reps can often start on a free recorder with AI summaries, while sales teams need coaching, CRM sync and deal insight. This page lists ten in no particular order, then covers consent and choosing.
Sales managers can't sit in on every call, and reps rarely remember exactly what a prospect said about timing or competitors. Conversation intelligence tools record, transcribe and summarise calls, then pull out the moments worth coaching on.
Below are ten conversation intelligence and call recording tools, alphabetical and in no particular order, from free AI recorders to full revenue platforms. Each description comes from the tool's own website, re-checked today. Before you roll one out, read why an uninvited AI notetaker can damage trust.
Call recording and analysis tools side by side
In the free plan column, Yes means the site describes an ongoing free plan, though these are often limited to viewing, minutes or one module. Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means the vendor points you to sales.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avoma | AI meeting assistant | Sales teams recording, summarising and syncing calls | Trial only |
| Claap | Call recording and AI notes | Revenue teams starting with free recordings | Yes |
| Convin | Call auditing and conversation AI | Teams auditing calls with a free QA start | Yes |
| Fathom | AI call recorder | Reps wanting free recordings and summaries | Yes |
| Fireflies | AI meeting recorder | Reps wanting free transcripts of every call | Yes |
| Gong | Revenue AI platform | Larger sales teams wanting revenue intelligence | No |
| Grain | Call recorder with coaching | Sales managers coaching reps on recorded calls | Yes |
| Jiminny | Conversation intelligence platform | Sales teams wanting coaching with AI included | Trial only |
| Salesloft | Conversation intelligence platform | Teams already running outbound on Salesloft | No |
| Sybill | AI sales assistant | Reps wanting deal context from every call | Yes |
Ten conversation intelligence tools for sales teams
Avoma
Best for: Small sales teams who want recorded calls, AI summaries and notes saved automatically to CRM records, with free view-only seats.
Claap
Best for: Revenue teams, from reps to RevOps, wanting call recording, coaching, scoring and CRM auto-complete, beginning on a free Basic licence.
Convin
Best for: Support and sales teams that audit and score calls against their own templates, where the free tier covers only the manual QA tool.
Fathom
Best for: Individual reps and small teams who want unlimited recorded calls with instant summaries free, plus an upgrade path to CRM sync and coaching metrics.
Fireflies
Best for: Reps who'd like every call recorded and transcribed with AI summaries on a free forever plan, before adding storage and extras.
Gong
Best for: Larger sales organisations wanting a full revenue intelligence platform, set up through a custom proposal.
Grain
Best for: Managers who coach reps by listening back to calls, with free viewer seats so the wider team can watch recordings.
Jiminny
Best for: Teams wanting call recording, coaching and competitive intelligence, with AI included in one plan rather than metered credits.
Salesloft
Best for: Existing sales engagement users who want call summaries, coaching and follow-up emails inside the same system they run outbound from.
Sybill
Best for: Deal-focused reps who want unlimited call recordings and transcripts with AI follow-ups and deal context, starting free.
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Recording consent depends on the state
In the US, the FCC's consumer guide to recording telephone conversations says the FCC has no rules about individuals recording phone calls, but that some state laws prohibit the practice, and recording calls within a state over wireline phones may break state law.
That means there isn't one national answer to 'can I record this call?' It depends on the states your call touches, and international calls bring in other countries' rules too. Before you switch on automatic recording, announce it at the start of every call, make sure the tool's bot shows its name, and get your consent wording checked by a lawyer.
Free recorder, coaching tool or revenue platform?
- AI recorders: join calls, transcribe them and send summaries. They're often free for individuals.
- Coaching tools: add scorecards, clip libraries and manager review, so feedback happens every week.
- Revenue platforms: combine call data with pipeline and deal tracking for larger sales organisations.
Rolling out call recording in six steps
- Agree a consent script reps read at the start of every recorded call.
- Start with one team and one meeting type, such as discovery calls.
- Connect the CRM and check notes land on the right deal.
- Build a short scorecard with three or four behaviours to coach.
- Hold a weekly session where the team reviews one recorded call together.
- Ask prospects now and then how they feel about recording, and adjust if it's putting them off.
What to listen for once calls are recorded
- Talk time. Reps who talk for most of the call usually learn least about the buyer.
- Next steps. Every call should end with a date, not 'I'll follow up'.
- Competitor mentions. Track which names come up and how reps respond.
- Objections. Collect the exact words buyers use and coach answers to them.
My checklist for reviewing recordings turns this into a weekly routine.
Do you make conversation intelligence or call recording software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on conversation intelligence software
If you're a solo rep or a small team, start with a free recorder and use it on every call for a month. If nobody reads the summaries or reviews a single call, a bigger platform won't change that.
If you lead a larger team, choose on coaching and CRM sync, and ask each vendor to show how a manager finds the three calls worth reviewing each week. Sort out consent before anything else: a recording you weren't allowed to make is a problem no feature can fix.
Frequently asked questions
What is conversation intelligence software?
It records, transcribes and analyses sales calls, highlighting topics, questions and next steps, so managers can coach and reps can follow up accurately.
Is there free conversation intelligence software?
Yes, several tools here describe free plans, though they're often limited to recording, viewing or a single module.
Is it legal to record sales calls?
In the US, the FCC says some state laws restrict recording, so it depends where the call takes place. Get consent and check with a lawyer.
What's the difference between an AI notetaker and conversation intelligence?
A notetaker records and summarises. Conversation intelligence adds coaching, scorecards, trends across calls and deal insight.
Will prospects mind being recorded?
Some will. Ask at the start, explain why, and offer to switch it off.
Does it work with my CRM?
Most tools here sync notes or fields to popular CRMs, but check the field mapping in a trial or demo.
