# Granola vs Gemini Notebook

> Granola: AI notepad that turns your own meeting notes into polished summaries without a bot
> Gemini Notebook: Google's Gemini Notebook, formerly NotebookLM, answers questions and builds summaries from your own sources

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

## Verdict

Granola is listed under Audio & Speech AI and Gemini Notebook under AI Assistants. Gemini Notebook scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.7 vs 8.1 out of 10), led by value for money. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Granola is available on Windows and macOS and offers an API. Only Gemini Notebook is available on Web.

### 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.

### 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

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

## Features

| Feature | Granola | Gemini Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bot-free capture | Yes | Not listed |
| Notepad with AI enhancement | Yes | Not listed |
| Chat across meetings | Yes | Not listed |
| Pre-meeting briefs | Yes | Not listed |
| Follow-ups and action items | Yes | Not listed |
| Templates and recipes | Yes | Not listed |
| MCP connector | Yes | Not listed |
| Mobile and watch apps | Yes | Not listed |
| Multi-language support | Yes | Not listed |
| Shared folders and sharing controls | 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 | Granola | Gemini Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | No | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| macOS | Yes | No |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | No |
| Browser Extension | No | No |

## 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

## 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 Granola better than Gemini Notebook?**

It depends on your workflow. Granola is built for professionals in back-to-back meetings who want notes without a visible recording bot. Gemini Notebook is built for summarizing and questioning your own documents.

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

Granola: AI notepad that turns your own meeting notes into polished summaries without a bot. Gemini Notebook: Google's Gemini Notebook, formerly NotebookLM, answers questions and builds summaries from your own sources.

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

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

**Which is cheaper, Granola 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.