Best AI tools/Productivity/AI meeting notetaker
AI meeting notetakerReview

Granola review

Bot free AI notepad that captures meeting audio from your device.

We may earn a commission when you sign up through links on this page. It never changes our picks. How we pick

OUR VERDICT

Granola is an AI notepad that writes meeting notes from your own device's audio, so no bot ever joins the call. It is a great choice when a visible notetaker would bother clients, and the free plan is enough to try it, but you will need Business at $14 a user a month to keep notes longer than 30 days.

What Granola is

Granola is an AI meeting notetaker that works like a notepad. Instead of sending a bot into your call, it uses your computer's audio and transcribes in the background Granola ↗. You can jot your own rough notes during the meeting, and Granola uses the conversation to turn them into clearer, fuller notes afterward Granola ↗.

It works with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and other meeting apps, and it syncs with your calendar to spot upcoming meetings Granola ↗. There are desktop, iOS, Android and Apple Watch apps, and Granola says the phone apps work for in person meetings such as conferences or coffee catch ups Granola pricing ↗ Granola ↗.

Hands on testing is in progress, and we will update this review with our results.

What it does well

No bot is the headline. A notetaker bot appearing in a client call can feel intrusive. Granola avoids that on every plan because it captures audio from your own device Granola pricing ↗ Granola ↗. You still need to tell people you are recording, since consent laws vary by state RCFP recording guide ↗.

The notes build on your own. Rather than replacing your notes, Granola enhances what you typed, so the output reflects what you thought mattered Granola ↗. Its AI chat can answer questions across your meetings, with suggested prompts like listing actions or writing a follow up email Granola ↗.

Business adds useful extras. Pre meeting briefs, follow up emails and a workspace dictionary come with the paid plan, along with integrations for Notion, HubSpot, Attio, Affinity and Zapier and API access Granola pricing ↗. Granola's MCP connector also lets other AI apps read your meeting notes Granola pricing ↗ Granola ↗.

Security is solid for a small tool. Every plan is covered by SOC 2 Type II, and Enterprise adds HIPAA compliant workspaces, SSO and SCIM Granola pricing ↗. Its customer logos include Intercom, Figma, Ramp, Asana and Linear Granola ↗.

Where it falls short

The free plan forgets. Basic keeps only 30 days of meeting history, and you must upgrade to view and work with older notes Granola pricing ↗ Granola ↗. That makes it a trial more than a long term free tool.

Integrations are mostly paid. Free users get Slack only. HubSpot, Notion and Zapier need Business, and Salesforce needs Enterprise Granola pricing ↗.

There are no video clips to share. Granola is built around notes and chat, while Fathom also offers clips and playlists of your calls Fathom pricing ↗. If you need to share call highlights, look elsewhere.

Pricing is per user per month with no annual discount listed, and Enterprise is still marked as a pilot Granola pricing ↗. Granola's site also does not say which languages it supports Granola ↗.

Pricing and plans

Basic costs $0. It includes AI meeting notes, AI chat with automatic model selection, Slack, SOC 2 Type II and the desktop, phone and Apple Watch apps. Meeting history is limited to 30 days Granola pricing ↗.

Business costs $14 per user a month. It adds unlimited history, model selection and advanced AI models, pre meeting briefs, follow up emails, a workspace dictionary, API access, centralized billing and integrations with Attio, Notion, HubSpot, Affinity and Zapier Granola pricing ↗.

Enterprise costs $35 per user a month. It adds Salesforce, HIPAA compliant workspaces, SSO and SCIM, an audit API, admin controls over integrations and retention, and dedicated support Granola pricing ↗.

No trial length is listed. Granola says you can try it for a few meetings at no cost on the free plan Granola pricing ↗. It directs 1.5% of each subscription to carbon removal Granola pricing ↗.

Who should (and shouldn't) use it

  • Good fit: consultants, founders and sales people who meet clients and do not want a bot in the call.
  • Good fit: people who like taking their own notes and want AI to fill in the gaps.
  • Good fit: teams that want meeting notes in Notion, HubSpot or Attio.
  • Skip it if: you want a free notetaker that keeps everything forever. Fathom's free plan has unlimited recordings.
  • Skip it if: you want call clips and playlists to share with your team.

Alternatives worth a look

  • Fathom: our top pick, with unlimited free recordings and a choice of bot or bot free capture on Mac Fathom pricing ↗.
  • Fireflies: the cheapest paid plan in our guide at $10 per seat a month billed yearly, with more than 100 languages Fireflies pricing ↗.
  • Otter: strong for in person meetings, with web, desktop and phone apps and a Chrome extension Otter pricing ↗.

Where it appears

Also greatThe Best AI Meeting Notetaker

What’s good

  • No meeting bot
  • Clean notes with templates
  • Apps on desktop, phone and watch

What to know

  • 30 day history on free plan
  • Integrations mostly paid

Key features

  • Bot free device audio capture
  • AI meeting notes and templates
  • Pre meeting briefs (Business)
  • Follow up emails (Business)
  • HIPAA workspaces (Enterprise)

Works with

  • Slack
  • Notion
  • Zapier
  • HubSpot
  • Attio
  • Affinity
  • Salesforce (Enterprise)

Questions people ask

Is Granola free?

Yes. The Basic plan is free with unlimited meeting notes, but it keeps only 30 days of history Granola pricing ↗ Granola ↗.

How much does Granola cost?

Business is $14 per user a month and Enterprise is $35 per user a month. Annual pricing is not listed Granola pricing ↗.

Does Granola join meetings as a bot?

No. Granola uses your computer's audio and transcribes in the background, so no bot joins the call Granola ↗.

Is Granola HIPAA compliant?

HIPAA compliant workspaces are available only on the Enterprise plan. All plans are covered by SOC 2 Type II Granola pricing ↗.

SOURCES

Where this comes from

Checked Oct 9, 2026. Vendor pages describe their own products; independent sources add outside views. Hands on testing is in progress.

01
Granola pricingGranola pricing
02
Granola home pageGranola
03
Fathom pricingFathom pricing
04
Fireflies.ai pricingFireflies pricing
05
Otter.ai pricingOtter pricing
06
Introduction to the Reporter's Recording GuideRCFP recording guide
FOLLOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Breakthroughs, with the followup.

A weekly brief on new discoveries, meaningful checks and what you can actually use.