AI Tools 
Granola review
AI notepad for back-to-back meetings that captures computer audio without a bot and enhances your own notes.
⚡ Quick verdict
Granola is the best choice if you dislike meeting bots: it listens through your computer audio, keeps notes private by default and turns your quick jottings into polished summaries. The free Basic plan is genuinely usable, though limited to 30 days of history; Business at $14 per user per month unlocks unlimited history, integrations and model choice. Teams that need call recording and analytics may prefer Fireflies or Gong.
Key takeaways
- No bot joins your call; Granola uses your computer audio and works with Zoom, Meet, Teams and other apps.
- Basic is free with AI notes and chat but only 30 days of note history in the app.
- Business is $14/user/month with unlimited history, manual model selection and integrations like Zapier, Notion, Slack and Attio.
- Enterprise starts at $35/user/month with SSO, admin controls and policy management.
- Mobile apps for iOS, Android and Apple Watch are free to use.
At a glance
| Best for | Founders, investors, managers and anyone in back-to-back meetings who wants great notes without a meeting bot |
|---|---|
| Pricing from (USD) | $14/user/mo (Business) |
| Free plan | Yes — Basic, with 30 days of note history |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Apple Watch |
| Company | Granola |
| Category | Meetings & Transcription |
| Last checked | October 16, 2026 |
On this page
What Granola is
Granola is “the AI notepad for back-to-back meetings.” Instead of sending a bot into your call, it captures your computer’s audio and transcribes in the background while you jot down quick notes. After the meeting, Granola combines your notes with the transcript to produce clean, structured notes, focusing on what you thought mattered.
Granola also helps before and after meetings: it syncs with your calendar and preps a Brief before external meetings (who’s attending, what you discussed last time, what matters now), and lets you chat with AI within a single meeting or across all of them.
Key features
Bot-free capture
Works with Zoom, Google Meet, Teams and every other meeting app using computer audio.
Enhanced notes
Your rough notes plus the transcript become polished summaries and action items.
Meeting briefs
Automatic prep for external meetings based on past conversations.
AI chat
Ask questions within and across meetings; paid plans let you choose models.
Sharing and templates
Shared folders, templates and recipes on all plans, with notes private by default.
Mobile
iPhone, Android and Apple Watch apps for walking meetings and coffee chats.
Pricing breakdown
From granola.ai/pricing and Granola’s help center, checked October 16, 2026.
| Plan | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $0 | AI notes and chat, 30 days of history, Slack integration |
| Business | $14/user/mo | Unlimited history, model selection, all integrations |
| Enterprise | From $35/user/mo | SSO, admin controls, policy management, annual billing option |
Billing is per workspace: every member shares the same plan and you pay one seat per active member.
Best use cases
- Investors and founders: take quick notes in pitch meetings and get structured summaries.
- Sales reps: walk into calls with an automatic brief.
- Managers: keep a searchable record of 1:1s.
- On the go: capture coffee chats with the mobile app.
How to get started
- Download Granola for macOS or Windows from granola.ai.
- Connect your calendar.
- Join a meeting and let Granola transcribe; type quick notes as usual.
- After the call, click to enhance your notes.
- Share notes or push them to Slack.
Tips and tricks
- Jot keywords, not sentences; Granola expands them using the transcript.
- Use templates for recurring meeting types like 1:1s or discovery calls.
- Ask cross-meeting questions like “What did customers say about pricing this month?”
- Tell participants you’re using AI notes.
Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- No meeting bot, so calls feel natural
- Combines your notes with the transcript
- Private by default
- No daily transcription limit, even on free
- Works with any meeting app
👎 Cons
- Free plan keeps only 30 days of history
- Doesn't record video
- Integrations limited to Slack on free
- You still need consent from participants
Who should (and shouldn't) use Granola
✅ A good fit if you…
- Have many external meetings back-to-back
- Prefer taking your own notes with AI help
- Want notes without a visible bot
⛔ Look elsewhere if you…
- Need video recordings and clips (consider Fathom or tl;dv)
- Want sales analytics and coaching (consider Gong)
- Need full team call libraries (consider Fireflies.ai)
Granola alternatives
- Fathom — AI notetaker that records, transcribes and summarizes meetings, with a free forever plan and CRM sync for teams. (from $16/mo (Premium, billed annually); $20 monthly)
- Fireflies.ai — AI notetaker that transcribes, summarizes, searches and analyzes meetings, with free dictation via Fireflies Talk. (from $10/user/mo (Pro, annual); $18 monthly)
- Otter.ai — AI meeting agent that transcribes, summarizes and answers questions about your meetings. (from $8.33/user/mo billed annually (Pro))
- Read AI — AI meeting notes, enterprise search and an AI assistant, Ada, across meetings, email and messages. (from $15/user/mo billed annually (Pro))
- tl;dv — AI note taker that records meetings, writes notes, updates your CRM and reports insights across calls. (from See pricing page (shown to us as C$27/seat/mo billed annually for Pro))
FAQ
Is Granola free?
Yes. Basic is free with AI meeting notes, chat and no daily transcription limit, but only the last 30 days of notes are available in the app.
How much does Granola cost?
Business costs $14 per user per month, and Enterprise starts at $35 per user per month. Billing is per workspace, with one seat per active member.
Does Granola join my meetings as a bot?
No. Granola uses your computer's audio, so no bot joins, and it works with Zoom, Google Meet, Teams and other meeting apps.
Which devices does Granola support?
Granola is available for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android, plus Apple Watch. The mobile apps are free to use.
What integrations does Granola offer?
Business and Enterprise include integrations such as Zapier, Notion, Slack and Attio. The free plan includes Slack only.
Sources
This is an editorial review based on research of official Granola pages and documentation, not hands-on benchmark testing. Prices are in USD and were checked on October 16, 2026; vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official pricing page before buying.