Granola
: How to use it, features, and the business problems it solves

How to Use

1. Install the app

   Download the Mac app (a Windows beta is available) or the mobile app from the official site (granola.ai) and create an account. You can try it right away on the free plan.

2. Start a meeting

   Start an online meeting on Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or the like, or an in-person meeting. Granola does not use a bot that joins the meeting; instead, it captures the audio played and picked up on your device in the background.

3. Write your own notes

   During the meeting, freely jot down only the key points. Because Granola transcribes the entire conversation in the background, you do not need to write everything down.

4. Generate meeting notes automatically

   When the meeting ends, AI combines your notes with the transcript and automatically generates organized meeting notes, a summary, and action items.

5. Chat, share, and integrate

   You can ask the generated notes questions via AI chat, and search across multiple meetings. Share and integrate with Notion, Slack, HubSpot, and more to put them to use.

Features

• Bot-free recording and transcription

  Instead of using a bot that joins the meeting, it captures the device's audio directly and transcribes it. A distinctive point is that no "recording bot" appears to the other participants.

• Note-enhanced meeting-note generation

  Using the fragmentary notes the user takes as cues, AI fills in the related discussion and turns them into easy-to-read meeting notes.

• AI chat (across meetings)

  You can have AI answer questions about or summarize the content of a single meeting or across multiple meetings.

• Templates

  Standardize the structure of your meeting notes with templates tailored to purposes such as 1-on-1s, sales meetings, and interviews.

• Multilingual support

  It supports multiple languages, centered on English, and can be used to transcribe and summarize meetings in Japanese.

• External tool integrations (higher-tier plans)

  Integrate with Notion, Slack, HubSpot, Attio, Affinity, Zapier, and more to bring meeting notes into your workflow. It also supports API and MCP integration.

• Shared folders

  Organize notes into folders and share them with your team.

Pricing

Pricing is current as of June 2026. Because prices are in US dollars, amounts in Japanese yen vary with exchange rates. Check the official pricing page for the latest amounts and plan details.

※ The free Basic plan has limits on meeting history. Unlimited history, external integrations, and API use require Business or higher.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Because no bot joins the meeting, no recording bot appears to the other participants, so it can be used naturally
• Even for in-person meetings, it can capture device audio and turn it into meeting notes
• It makes use of your own notes to fill in the meeting notes, so the key points stay on track
• You can start on the free plan, and it has rich integrations with Notion, Slack, HubSpot, and more

Cons

• The interface (UI) is primarily in English, and a Japanese UI is not provided
• The main app is for Mac, and the Windows version is still in beta
• Unlimited history, external integrations, and the API require a paid plan

Reviews & Reputation

• Business users who handle frequent meetings highly praise it, noting that because no bot enters the meeting it can be used without making the other party uncomfortable, and that the feeling of having your own notes filled in is new.
• Some note that it can create meeting notes even for in-person meetings, and that AI chat across meetings is convenient.
• On the other hand, points raised as considerations for domestic use include that the UI is in English and that it is primarily for Mac, with Windows in beta.

FAQ

Q. Can I use Granola for free?

Yes. You can try AI meeting notes and AI chat on the free Basic plan. However, meeting history is limited, and unlimited history, external integrations, and the API require a paid plan of Business or higher.

Q. Does it support Japanese?

The interface (UI) is primarily in English, but transcription and summarization are multilingual and can be used for meetings in Japanese. A Japanese UI is not provided at this time.

Q. Does a bot join the meeting?

No. Granola does not use a bot that joins the meeting; it captures the device's audio in the background and transcribes it. A distinctive point is that no recording bot appears to the other party.

Q. Can it be used for in-person meetings?

Yes. It can create meeting notes not only for online meetings but also for in-person meetings where the device can pick up the audio.

How Granola differs from other AI meeting-note tools

For a more detailed comparison, please also see the pages of related services.