Fluent vs Omi: same pendant, different software.
Omi is an open-source pendant. Fluent is closed-source software that runs on top of it. They don't compete. They're stacked on each other.
If you bought an Omi, you can have both. Most early adopters do.
What you're actually choosing between
Omi (the pendant + native app)
- Open-source hardware. Hackable. Light.
- Open-source app.
- Community of developers building plugins.
- The full stack if you want to tinker.
Fluent (software for your Omi)
- Polished iOS app. Native feel.
- Meeting notes written like a chief of staff wrote them.
- Person profiles. Calendar agent. Coach. Daily insights.
- MCP server for plugging into Claude or ChatGPT.
- The stack if you'd rather use the pendant than build on it.
Some Omi owners are building plugins. Some Omi owners are using the pendant and want meeting notes and follow-through. Fluent is for the second group.
Omi and the alternatives
| Omi | Plaud NotePin | Bee | Limitless | Friend | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price and availability | $129 on sale ($179 list); in stock | $159; in stock | $49.99; sold out, US only | Not sold since December 5, 2025 | $249 |
| Subscription | Optional; free tier includes 300 cloud minutes a month | Optional; free 300 minutes a month, Pro $17.99/mo or $8.33/mo yearly | None | Existing owners get Unlimited free | Optional $10/mo for memory beyond 30 days |
| Built for | All-day capture: transcripts, summaries, tasks | Meetings and recordings you start | All-day capture | All-day capture (existing owners) | A companion to talk with, not notes |
| Open source | Yes: hardware, firmware and app | No | No | No | No |
| Trains AI on your data | Not without your explicit permission | Not by default; opt-in only | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Independent (Based Hardware) | Independent | Amazon (acquisition announced July 2025) | Meta (since December 2025) | Independent |
| Works with Fluent | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Checked October 8, 2026 · Sources: Omi pricing, Omi privacy, Plaud NotePin, Plaud AI plans, Plaud trust, Bee, Limitless, Friend at $249 (The Gadgeteer), Layer3 Limitless vs Bee vs Omi
Re-checked October 14, 2026: Plaud bills Pro at $8.33/mo and Unlimited at $20.00/mo yearly.
Pick by your reason for looking
You want a more finished device
Plaud NotePin ($159) is the polished bundle: hardware, app and subscription from one company, built for meetings you choose to record rather than all-day capture.
Battery or setup is the problem
Reviewers and Omi's own support forum point to faster battery drain with live sync and some setup friction. Plaud's recorder runs for about 20 hours.
The app is the problem, not the pendant
Keep the Omi. Fluent pairs with it and turns what it hears into meeting notes, the commitments people made, profiles of the people you talk to, and coaching.
You don't want a pendant at all
For meetings, your phone may be enough: Fluent records a meeting straight from your iPhone, so there is no device to buy.
Questions
What is the best alternative to Omi?
If you want a different device, Plaud NotePin ($159) is the most finished alternative in stock. If you like the Omi hardware but not its app, keep it and use Fluent with it.
Can I still buy a Limitless or Bee pendant?
Limitless stopped selling to new customers on December 5, 2025, after Meta acquired it. Bee, owned by Amazon since July 2025, shows as sold out on its site (checked October 2026).
How much does Omi cost?
Omi's site lists it at $129 on sale, $179 list, with an optional subscription; the free tier includes 300 cloud minutes a month (checked October 2026).
Keep reading
AI pendants and alternatives
Everything we've written about AI pendants.
How does it connect?
The Fluent × Omi integration — pairing, sync, and what runs where.
Limitless vs Omi
Which pendant to buy in 2026, and why Fluent works with both.
Fluent vs Bee
Amazon's pendant compared with the independent app.
Bee AI alternatives
Omi, Plaud NotePin, Limitless and Fluent, compared.
What does Fluent cost?
Free, Pro, and Premium plans — start free, no credit card.
AI meeting notes in 2026
How to choose a meeting notes app: bot, phone or pendant.
AI note taker for in-person meetings
Lunches, site visits and 1:1s, recorded on your iPhone or a pendant, with no bot to invite.