# Granola vs Shortwave

> Granola: AI notepad that turns your own meeting notes into polished summaries without a bot
> Shortwave: AI email client for Gmail that searches, organizes, drafts and schedules from plain-language prompts

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

## Verdict

Granola is listed under Audio & Speech AI and Shortwave under AI Assistants. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Granola offers an API.

### 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 Shortwave if

- You want a tool built for heavy Gmail users who want AI search, drafting and inbox triage inside the email client itself.
- AI search covers up to five years of email on Business and unlimited history on Premier and Max.
- Native apps on iOS, Android, Mac and Windows, with a 4.7 average rating on the App Store.

## Pricing

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

## Features

| Feature | Granola | Shortwave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 |
| AI Assistant | Not listed | Yes |
| AI Search | Not listed | Yes |
| Write in Your Voice | Not listed | Yes |
| AI Filters | Not listed | Yes |
| Bundles and Split Inboxes | Not listed | Yes |
| AI Scheduling | Not listed | Yes |
| Team Collaboration | Not listed | Yes |
| Tracking and Reminders | Not listed | Yes |
| App Connections and MCP | Not listed | Yes |
| Privacy Controls | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Granola | Shortwave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | No | No |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| 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

## Shortwave strengths

- AI search covers up to five years of email on Business and unlimited history on Premier and Max.
- Native apps on iOS, Android, Mac and Windows, with a 4.7 average rating on the App Store.
- Team features such as shared threads, comments and assignments sit inside the inbox.
- AI connects to outside tools including Notion, HubSpot, GitHub and MCP servers.
- Per-plan model tiers let users pay for stronger models only when needed.

## Shortwave limitations

- Paid plans are priced per seat from $30 (Business) to $120 (Max), higher than many email clients.
- Built around Gmail; support for other providers is limited or unclear.
- AI usage is capped by plan, with Business allowing roughly 150-300 Standard requests per day.
- The free tier is not clearly documented on the official pricing page.

## FAQ

**Is Granola better than Shortwave?**

It depends on your workflow. Granola is built for professionals in back-to-back meetings who want notes without a visible recording bot. Shortwave is built for heavy Gmail users who want AI search, drafting and inbox triage inside the email client itself.

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

Granola: AI notepad that turns your own meeting notes into polished summaries without a bot. Shortwave: AI email client for Gmail that searches, organizes, drafts and schedules from plain-language prompts.

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

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

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

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