The short version
Granola is an AI meeting notetaker with a party trick: no bot ever joins your calls. It runs on your computer, captures your device’s audio, transcribes it, and turns your rough in-meeting scribbles into clean, structured notes. The free Basic plan covers unlimited meetings — genuinely useful — but you can only open notes from the last 30 days. Everything older gets locked until you pay $14/user/month.
What Granola actually does
Unlike Otter, Fireflies, or tl;dv, Granola doesn’t send a visible bot into your Zoom or Meet call — it records what your own device hears. That means no awkward “Granola is recording” announcements and no bot cluttering the participant list. It works with any call app and even in-person meetings picked up by your laptop or phone mic (macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android apps).
The workflow is distinctive: you type rough notes during the call, and Granola’s AI fuses them with the transcript into polished summaries and action items.
What’s actually free vs paywalled
Free (Basic plan): unlimited meetings with AI-generated notes, AI chat across your notes, Slack integration, and multi-language support. The one big limit: only notes from the last 30 days are accessible; older notes are locked. You can export a CSV of titles and summaries before they age out, but it won’t include full transcripts.
Paid: Business at $14/user/month unlocks full note history, Notion export, CRM connectors (HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Attio), and shared team folders. Enterprise (from $35/user/month) adds admin controls, org-wide settings, and a personal API.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- No meeting bot — invisible on calls, works with any meeting app and in-person conversations
- Unlimited meetings on the free plan, with AI notes and AI chat included
- Notes built on top of your own typing feel more accurate than bot-only summaries
- Clean, fast interface that founders and VCs genuinely love
Cons:
- The 30-day history wall is harsh — lose access to older notes unless you pay
- No audio or video playback, because recordings are deleted after transcription
- Granola trains its AI on your meeting data by default unless you opt out (org-wide opt-out needs Enterprise)
- A proposed class action filed in July 2026 alleges consent and AI-training violations (allegations only — no court has ruled); and The Verge found in April 2026 that Granola notes were viewable by anyone with the link by default, so check your sharing settings
Who it’s best for
Granola’s free tier is best for people in back-to-back meetings who jot rough notes and want AI to polish them: founders, VCs, recruiters, salespeople, and consultants. It’s especially good for Mac users who hate visible meeting bots. If you’re in a regulated industry or need a permanent, searchable archive, the free plan’s history wall and playback gap will push you toward a paid tool.
FAQ
Is Granola really free?
Yes — the Basic plan is free with unlimited meetings and AI notes. The limit is time: only the last 30 days of notes stay accessible.
Does Granola record my meetings?
It captures device audio to transcribe it, then deletes the audio. You get transcripts and AI notes, but no recording to play back.
Do I need to tell people I’m using Granola?
You should. Because there’s no bot announcing itself, disclosure is entirely on you — and in states or countries with two-party consent laws, recording without telling attendees can create legal exposure. Say it out loud at the start of the call.
How does Granola compare to Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai?
Granola’s edge is being bot-free and unlimited on free; its weakness is the 30-day history wall and no playback. Otter and Fireflies keep recordings and longer histories on free plans, but they join calls as visible bots and cap monthly minutes.
Does Granola work on Windows?
Yes — Granola now has Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android apps, plus an Apple Watch companion.