Plaud pricing explained: the device, the plan and the new credits
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A Plaud recorder has up to three costs: the device, an optional transcription plan, and, since 2026-10-23, Plaud Credits for its new agent features. The device comes with a free plan, so the real question is how many minutes you'll record each month. Here's how the pieces fit, using only Plaud's own pages.
Quick answer
- You record under 5 hours a month: the device alone may be enough. Plaud says every device includes the Starter plan with 300 transcription minutes a month.
- You record up to about 20 hours a month: Pro lists 1,200 minutes a month for $99.99 a year or $17.99 a month.
- You record more than that: Unlimited lists "up to 24 hours per day" of transcription for $239.99 a year or $29.99 a month.
- Credits are separate from minutes. Plaud says transcription and standard summaries don't use credits. Credits are only for Plaud Agent actions.
- Two-year totals run from $159 (Plaud Note or NotePin on the free plan) to $878.76 (Plaud Note plus Unlimited paid monthly). See the table below.
Device prices (as of 2026-10-24)
| Device | Listed price | Form (per Plaud) |
|---|---|---|
| Plaud Note | $159 | Thin card with a magnetic case; Plaud lists dual-mode recording of calls and in-person conversations |
| Plaud NotePin | $159 | Wearable; comes with a magnetic pin and clip |
| Plaud NotePin S | $179 | Wearable; comes with a lanyard, wristband, magnetic pin and clip |
| Plaud Note Pro | $189 | Thin card with a magnetic case; Plaud says it detects in-person conversations and phone calls |
Each device includes the free Starter plan (Plaud's product pages say 300 minutes a month). Plaud's product pages list a free 30-day return ("No reason needed. Free return shipping & full refund.") and a one-year warranty, "subject to local laws". Read the full policy before you buy.
Plans (as of 2026-10-24)
| Plan | Annual | Monthly | Transcription (per Plaud) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Included with the device | Included | 300 minutes a month |
| Pro | $99.99/yr (Plaud says $8.33/mo) | $17.99/mo | 1,200 minutes (20 hours) a month |
| Unlimited | $239.99/yr (Plaud says $20/mo) | $29.99/mo | "Up to 24 hours per day" |
| Team | $25/user/mo billed annually | $35/user/mo | Up to 24 hours a day per seat, plus admin controls |
Deals change often; check the vendor's site.
Plaud says Pro and Unlimited include the same features (its "Plaud Intelligence" set: transcription in 112+ languages, summary templates, Ask Plaud, AutoFlow) and differ only in transcription capacity.
Minutes: what counts and what happens when you run out
- Minutes reset every billing month and don't roll over, on every plan (per Plaud's FAQ).
- Running out pauses transcription only. Plaud says you can still record, play back and sync files; transcription resumes when your minutes reset or you add more.
- Extra minutes. Plaud's store lists one-time top-ups of 600 minutes ($12.99), 3,000 ($59.99) and 6,000 ($99.99), checked 2026-10-25; the app also offers a 120-minute pack.
- Plaud says Unlimited is meant for heavy recorders, and its FAQ suggests it once you record more than 20 hours a month. We didn't check that math.
Plaud Credits: new on 2026-10-23
Plaud announced credits on 2026-10-23 for Plaud Agent, its new feature that takes actions for you. Per Plaud's announcement:
- What uses credits: creating an Artifact, running a Routine, or sending finished work to a connected tool. Plaud says "the amount used varies depending on the complexity of the task."
- What doesn't: "Transcription and default summaries don't use Credits." If you run out, transcription and standard summaries keep working; Agent features pause until you top up.
- Free grant: every existing user gets a one-time grant at launch by updating the mobile app. Plaud says the credits are valid for three months, and the preview period runs through December 31.
- Unlimited plan: Plaud says transcription stays unlimited and credits are a separate addition for Agent features.
- Buying more: top-up packs are sold in the Plaud mobile app.
Not on the pages we read: how many credits the grant includes, what top-up packs cost, how many credits a typical task uses, or how Agent features will be priced after the preview ends. If you only want transcripts and summaries, Plaud says credits don't change anything for you.
Two-year cost math
Arithmetic on the listed prices above, one user, before tax and shipping, no top-ups or credits. Not a measured result. Bundles are Plaud's device-plus-annual-plan store bundles, with the second year of the plan added at its annual price.
| Setup | 2-year total |
|---|---|
| Plaud Note or NotePin, Starter only (300 min a month) | $159 |
| Plaud NotePin S, Starter only | $179 |
| Plaud Note Pro, Starter only | $189 |
| Plaud Note + Pro annual | $348.98 with Plaud's bundle, $358.98 bought separately |
| Plaud NotePin S + Pro annual | $378.98 (bundle or separate, same total) |
| Plaud Note Pro + Pro annual | $388.98 (bundle or separate, same total) |
| Plaud Note + Pro monthly | $590.76 |
| Plaud Note + Unlimited annual | $628.98 with Plaud's bundle, $638.98 bought separately |
| Plaud Note Pro + Unlimited annual | $668.98 (bundle or separate, same total) |
| Plaud Note + Unlimited monthly | $878.76 |
How we got them: Plaud Note + Pro bundle $248.99 plus a second year at $99.99; separately $159 plus 2 x $99.99. Pro monthly is 24 x $17.99 ($431.76). Unlimited bundle $388.99 plus $239.99; separately $159 plus 2 x $239.99. Unlimited monthly is 24 x $29.99 ($719.76). The NotePin S + Pro bundle lists at $278.99 and the Note Pro bundles at $288.99 (Pro) and $428.99 (Unlimited), which match buying separately.
Fine print worth knowing
- Plans are made for a Plaud device. Plaud says "you'll need to have a Plaud device bound with your account" to fully use a membership.
- Annual codes. Buying an annual plan on Plaud's store gets you an activation code. Plaud says unused codes are valid for 12 months, and once an Unlimited code is used, "refunds are not available." Monthly plans in the app can be cancelled anytime.
- Cancelling. Plaud says your service runs to the end of the billing period, your recordings and transcripts aren't deleted, and the account goes back to Starter. App Store refunds go through Apple.
- Discounts. Plaud's store sometimes shows discounts and bundle deals. Deals change often; check the vendor's site.
- Compared with other recorders: see Plaud Note vs Pocket and Plaud alternatives.
Privacy and consent
Recording laws: tell people first. Federal law and most states let you record a conversation you're part of. About 11 states, including California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Washington, generally require everyone's consent, and a few states mix the rules. Oregon, for example, requires that everyone in an in-person conversation be told it's being recorded, while phone calls need one person's consent (RCFP guide, ORS 165.540). If people are in different states, the stricter law may apply. Rules outside the US differ too, and many employers, schools and clinics have their own policies. A meeting bot showing up in the participant list is a notice, not consent. The same goes for a "this call may be recorded" greeting: it may not tell people that an AI service is transcribing or summarizing the call, so name the AI note taker when you ask. This is general information, not legal advice. If you're unsure, ask a lawyer where you live.
A simple way to ask. Start recording first, so your announcement is captured on the recording (Washington law requires that). Then say:
"Quick heads-up: I'd like to record this and use an AI note taker to transcribe it, so I don't miss anything. The recording and notes are stored with [tool name]. Is everyone OK with that?"
Wait for a clear yes from each person. If anyone says no, stop and delete what you captured. For meetings with outside guests, also put a line in the invite: "This meeting may be recorded and transcribed by an AI note taker. Let me know beforehand if you'd prefer it isn't."
- Tell people. A pocket recorder is quiet and easy to miss, so people won't know unless you say so. In all-party consent states, and for in-person talks in places like Oregon, recording without telling everyone can be a crime.
- Where the audio goes (vendor claims): Plaud's plan page lists ISO 27001/27701, GDPR, SOC 2 and HIPAA claims. Check Plaud's privacy page before you record anything sensitive.
- Health or legal work: A device isn't automatically covered by a BAA.
What we did and didn't do
We read Plaud's store, plan, help and announcement pages on 2026-10-24, including the store's public product data for prices. We didn't buy a Plaud device or plan or use Plaud Credits, so nothing here is about transcript accuracy, battery life or how many credits real tasks use.
Sources (checked 2026-10-24)
- Plaud Credits announcement (2026-10-23): https://www.plaud.ai/blogs/news/introducing-plaud-credits
- Plaud AI Membership FAQ (updated 2026-10-11): https://support.plaud.ai/hc/en-us/articles/57724862694937-Plaud-AI-Membership-FAQ
- Plaud AI Annual Pro Plan page: https://www.plaud.ai/products/plaud-ai-annual-membership
- Plaud AI Annual Unlimited Plan page: https://www.plaud.ai/products/plaud-ai-unlimited-plan
- Plaud Note + AI Annual Pro Plan bundle: https://www.plaud.ai/products/plaud-note-plaud-ai-pro-plan
- Plaud store product data (device, plan, bundle and top-up prices; top-ups checked 2026-10-25): https://www.plaud.ai/products.json
- Plaud Note (returns, warranty): https://www.plaud.ai/products/plaud-note
- Plaud NotePin: https://www.plaud.ai/products/plaud-notepin
- Plaud NotePin S: https://www.plaud.ai/products/plaud-notepin-s
- Plaud Note Pro: https://www.plaud.ai/products/plaud-note-pro
- RCFP recording guide: https://www.rcfp.org/introduction-to-reporters-recording-guide/
- Oregon ORS 165.540: https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_165.540
Changes
- 2026-10-24: page first written. Device, plan, bundle and credit details checked on Plaud's pages in Sources.
- 2026-10-24: discount line made general (deals change often) and the discount links removed; returns and warranty now cite Plaud's product page; Plaud's Unlimited rule of thumb restated as a neutral fact; deal line added under the Plans table.
- 2026-10-25: Plaud's one-time top-up prices added from Plaud's store data. Credit grant sizes left off (a preview promo).
- 2026-10-26: standard consent block now adds that a "this call may be recorded" greeting may not tell people an AI service is transcribing or summarizing the call.