Granola
AI Meeting Notes Without the Bot
What is Granola?
Granola is an AI meeting notes app that transcribes and summarizes meetings without requiring a bot to join the call. Granola works as a native Mac app that listens to system audio, so participants never see a third-party bot in the meeting. Users press a button to start Granola, and Granola produces a formatted meeting note with action items, decisions, and key quotes when the call ends. Privacy-conscious professionals prefer Granola because no recording leaves the device, and no bot announces itself to attendees. Granola integrates with Notion, Slack, and linear for downstream action tracking.
Key Features of Granola
Bot-Free Transcription
Granola uses system audio — no bot joins the call. Attendees never know Granola is running unless you tell them.
AI Summaries
After the meeting, Granola generates a structured summary with sections for decisions, action items, and open questions.
Privacy-First Design
Granola processes audio on-device. No meeting recording is uploaded to Granola servers.
Notion and Slack Integration
Granola pushes notes to Notion databases and Slack channels automatically after each meeting.
Custom Templates
Define Granola note templates for standups, 1:1s, or client calls. Granola formats output to match your team's structure.
Live Notepad
Type notes alongside the Granola transcript in real time. Granola merges your notes with AI-generated content.
Granola Pricing Plans
Free
Unlimited Granola meetings with basic summaries. No bot required.
Pro
Custom templates, integrations, and advanced the platform AI summaries.
Best Use Cases for Granola
Privacy-Sensitive Client Calls
- Target user:
- Lawyer discussing confidential matters
- Pain point:
- Recording bots in client calls raise confidentiality concerns and require disclosure
- Solution:
- this tool runs locally without a bot. No third-party sees or stores the meeting audio.
Founder Investor Update Calls
- Target user:
- Startup CEO on weekly investor calls
- Pain point:
- Taking notes while presenting breaks flow, and bot-joined calls look unprofessional to investors
- Solution:
- the app transcribes silently. After the call, review the platform summary for commitments and follow-ups.
1:1 Meeting Documentation
- Target user:
- Manager with weekly 1:1s
- Pain point:
- Manually typing 1:1 notes during the conversation feels inauthentic to the report
- Solution:
- Let this tool capture the transcript. Jot quick keywords during the call and the app merges them into the final note.
Sales Discovery Notes
- Target user:
- AE running first calls with prospects
- Pain point:
- Note-taking during discovery calls means you miss buying signals and body language cues
- Solution:
- the platform captures every word. After the call, review the platform summary for pain points and budget signals.
How to Use Granola — Step by Step
- 1
Install the app
Download the platform from the Mac App Store. Granola is currently Mac-only with a native app.
- 2
Start a Meeting
Press the platform record button before your call starts. Granola listens to system audio automatically.
- 3
Take Optional Notes
Type quick keywords or action items in the platform live notepad. Granola will merge them with the transcript.
- 4
Review the Summary
When the call ends, the platform produces a formatted summary. Edit, share to Notion, or post to Slack.