# Circleback vs Granola

> Circleback: AI meeting notes, action items and automations that work with or without a bot
> Granola: AI notepad that turns your own meeting notes into polished summaries without a bot

- Circleback profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/circleback
- Granola profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/granola
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/circleback-vs-granola
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Circleback is listed under AI Assistants and Granola under Audio & Speech AI. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Circleback is available on Web and CLI.

### Choose Circleback if

- You want a tool built for Teams that want automatic meeting notes and CRM or task-tracker updates via bot-free recording.
- Bot-free desktop recording avoids a visible notetaker in client calls.
- Free plan includes API, MCP and CLI access and mobile apps.

### Choose Granola if

- You want a tool built for professionals in back-to-back meetings who want notes without a visible recording bot.
- No bot joins calls, which keeps meetings less intrusive.
- Notes are private by default with granular sharing controls.

## Pricing

| | Circleback | Granola |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Circleback | Granola |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AI Meeting Notes | Yes | Not listed |
| Action Items | Yes | Not listed |
| Bot-Free Recording | Yes | Not listed |
| Automations | Yes | Not listed |
| Ask Circleback | Yes | Not listed |
| Custom AI Insights | Yes | Not listed |
| Transcription | Yes | Not listed |
| Calendar Auto-Join | Yes | Not listed |
| Developer Access | Yes | Not listed |
| Bot-free capture | Not listed | Yes |
| Notepad with AI enhancement | Not listed | Yes |
| Chat across meetings | Not listed | Yes |
| Pre-meeting briefs | Not listed | Yes |
| Follow-ups and action items | Not listed | Yes |
| Templates and recipes | Not listed | Yes |
| MCP connector | Not listed | Yes |
| Mobile and watch apps | Not listed | Yes |
| Multi-language support | Not listed | Yes |
| Shared folders and sharing controls | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Circleback | Granola |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | No |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| CLI | Yes | No |

## Circleback strengths

- Bot-free desktop recording avoids a visible notetaker in client calls.
- Free plan includes API, MCP and CLI access and mobile apps.
- Broad integration list covering Slack, Notion, Linear, HubSpot, Salesforce and Zapier.
- Unlimited free viewers on Business, so non-participants do not need a seat.
- Releases page shows frequent updates, with entries in October 2026.

## Circleback limitations

- Free plan keeps only 30 days of meeting and recording history and 2 teams.
- Most integrations, including Notion, HubSpot and Salesforce, require Pro at $18 per user per month.
- SSO, SCIM and HIPAA compliance are limited to the Enterprise plan.
- The desktop app covers macOS and Windows only; no Linux app was found.

## Granola strengths

- No bot joins calls, which keeps meetings less intrusive
- Notes are private by default with granular sharing controls
- Broad integration set including HubSpot, Attio, Notion, Salesforce and Zapier
- MCP connector and REST API make notes usable in AI assistants and custom workflows
- Documented SOC 2 Type 2 compliance and an Enterprise tier with SSO, SCIM and HIPAA workspaces
- Desktop, mobile and Apple Watch apps cover in-person meetings

## Granola limitations

- Free plan limits viewing to 30 days of meeting history and excludes pre-meeting briefs, follow-up emails and API access
- API and most integrations require the $14 Business plan or higher
- Reviewers report AI summaries can compress nuance or overstate decisions, so notes need review
- Relies on device audio, so some meeting-room hardware setups may not work well
- Granola trains its own models on anonymized user data unless users opt out in Settings

## FAQ

**Is Circleback better than Granola?**

It depends on your workflow. Circleback is built for Teams that want automatic meeting notes and CRM or task-tracker updates via bot-free recording. Granola is built for professionals in back-to-back meetings who want notes without a visible recording bot.

**What are the key feature differences between Circleback and Granola?**

Circleback: AI meeting notes, action items and automations that work with or without a bot. Granola: AI notepad that turns your own meeting notes into polished summaries without a bot.

**Does Circleback or Granola have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Circleback is freemium and Granola is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Circleback or Granola?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.