# Circleback vs Gemini Notebook

> Circleback: AI meeting notes, action items and automations that work with or without a bot
> Gemini Notebook: Google's Gemini Notebook, formerly NotebookLM, answers questions and builds summaries from your own sources

- Circleback profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/circleback
- Gemini Notebook profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/notebooklm
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/circleback-vs-notebooklm
- Last reviewed: November 2026

## Verdict

Circleback and Gemini Notebook are both AI Assistants tools. Gemini Notebook scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.7 vs 8.2 out of 10), led by value for money. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Circleback is available on Windows, macOS and CLI and offers an API.

### 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 Gemini Notebook if

- You want a tool built for summarizing and questioning your own documents.
- Answers cite the uploaded sources, so claims can be checked against the original text.
- Free Standard tier with 100 notebooks and 50 sources per notebook.

## Pricing

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

## Features

| Feature | Circleback | Gemini Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 |
| Source-grounded chat | Not listed | Yes |
| Audio Overviews | Not listed | Yes |
| Video Overviews | Not listed | Yes |
| Study tools | Not listed | Yes |
| Reports, slide decks and infographics | Not listed | Yes |
| Multiple source types | Not listed | Yes |
| Cloud computer | Not listed | Yes |
| Gemini app sync | Not listed | Yes |
| Sharing and public notebooks | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Circleback | Gemini Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| macOS | Yes | No |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | No |
| 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.

## Gemini Notebook strengths

- Answers cite the uploaded sources, so claims can be checked against the original text
- Free Standard tier with 100 notebooks and 50 sources per notebook
- Wide range of outputs, including Audio Overviews, Video Overviews, mind maps, flashcards, quizzes and slide decks
- Accepts PDFs, websites, YouTube videos, audio files, Google Docs and Google Slides
- Available on web, iOS and Android, and synced with the Gemini app

## Gemini Notebook limitations

- Works from the sources you add and is not built for live web news search
- Higher limits require a Google AI subscription; Ultra starts at $99.99 per month
- The cloud computer for code execution started with Ultra and Workspace AI Ultra Access customers, with Pro rollout still described as upcoming
- No public API for the consumer product, and the renamed brand can make older guides and app listings confusing

## FAQ

**Is Circleback better than Gemini Notebook?**

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. Gemini Notebook is built for summarizing and questioning your own documents.

**What are the key feature differences between Circleback and Gemini Notebook?**

Circleback: AI meeting notes, action items and automations that work with or without a bot. Gemini Notebook: Google's Gemini Notebook, formerly NotebookLM, answers questions and builds summaries from your own sources.

**Does Circleback or Gemini Notebook have a free plan?**

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

**Which is cheaper, Circleback or Gemini Notebook?**

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