Guides / Automatic Call Recording
How do I record a Zoom call on Mac without a bot?
To record a Zoom call on a Mac without a bot, use an app that captures audio on your own computer instead of joining the meeting as a participant. It records your microphone plus the call audio coming from Zoom, so no extra attendee appears and nothing is uploaded. Zoom's built-in recording is the other route, but it depends on the host and tells everyone in the call that it is on. Wherever consent is required, get it before you record.
Why a bot-free recording is different
Most meeting recorders work by sending a bot into the call. The bot shows up in the participant list, often triggers a "recorder has joined" message, and streams the audio to someone else's servers to be processed.
A local recorder does the opposite. It runs on your Mac and listens to two things: your microphone and the audio the call plays back to you. Nothing joins the meeting, so nothing changes for the other people on the call.
- No bot in the participant list, so no awkward "who is that?" moment.
- No recording notice sent to other participants by the recorder.
- Nothing uploaded, because the audio is captured and kept on your own machine.
- Works the same on any call you can hear, whether you are the host or a guest.
How to record a Zoom call on Mac with Donna
Donna is a Mac menu-bar assistant that records calls locally with no meeting bot. Automatic Call Recording is part of the Pro plan. The Free plan covers calendar features and the on-device chat, but not recording.
- Download Donna from the download page. She needs macOS 13 (Ventura) or later and runs on Apple silicon and Intel.
- Connect your Google Calendar or an iCal link if you want Donna to open your Zoom calls on time. This is optional for recording.
- Subscribe to Pro. It is $8 per month or $80 per year, and you can cancel anytime. See pricing for details.
- Join your Zoom call the way you normally do.
- Donna detects the call and starts recording the moment your mic goes live. There is no record button to remember.
Because recording follows the mic, it also catches ad-hoc calls that were never on your calendar, like a quick Zoom someone sent you in chat.
What you get after the call
A recording on its own is just a file. Donna turns it into something you can use, and all of it happens on your Mac.
- A transcript. Whisper runs on-device, live as you talk and polished after the call. Click any line to hear that exact moment.
- Speaker labels. Donna tells voices apart and matches them to people on the invite. Name a voice once and she recognizes it in future meetings.
- A summary. A local model writes what the meeting was about, key points, decisions and action items with owners.
- A follow-up draft. One click turns the summary into an email addressed to everyone on the invite. You read it and you hit send. Drafting needs macOS 26.
- Answers on demand. Ask a recording "what did we decide on pricing?" and Donna answers from that meeting's transcript.
Live in-call captions also need macOS 26. On earlier versions, the full transcript is ready right after the call.
Consent, privacy and when this is the right approach
No bot and no notice does not mean no rules. Many places and many workplaces require you to tell people before you record. Donna reminds you to get consent where it is required, and the call is still your responsibility. A quick "I'll be recording this for my notes, is that okay?" at the start of the call covers it.
Keeping control of the audio
Recording, transcription, speaker matching and summaries all run on your Mac, and audio and transcripts never leave it. You can set old audio to be deleted automatically on a schedule you pick.
Webinars and screen recording
For webinars where you only listen, Donna offers an optional listen-only recording. You can also turn on screen recording, which captures the meeting window in 720p alongside the audio, so slides and demos play back in sync with the transcript. It is stored on your Mac too.
When it is not the right fit
If you are on Windows, Donna is not available yet. If you need a recording that lives in the cloud and is shared with teammates, a local recorder is the wrong tool, since everything stays on your Mac.
Try Donna. Records, transcribes and summarizes your meetings on your Mac, with nothing sent to a server.
Frequently asked questions
Will other people on the Zoom call see that I am recording?
Donna does not add a bot to the participant list and does not send a "recorder has joined" notice. Whether you tell people is up to you, and you should where consent is required.
Do I need a paid plan to record Zoom calls?
Yes. Automatic Call Recording is on the Pro plan, which is $8 per month or $80 per year. The Free plan includes auto-open, the next-up list and the on-device chat.
Can I record a Zoom call that is not on my calendar?
Yes. Donna starts recording when your mic goes live, so ad-hoc calls are captured even if no calendar event exists.
What happens to my recordings if I stop subscribing?
Everything already recorded, audio and transcripts, stays on your Mac and stays viewable. Donna just stops recording new calls until you subscribe again.
Does Donna record apps other than Zoom?
Yes. She also records Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack huddles, FaceTime, Discord and Webex, all locally on your Mac.