Bluedot excels in transcription accuracy and operates discreetly through a Chrome extension without requiring meeting bots. It offers broad platform support and can automatically sync meeting notes to various business tools like CRM systems and project management platforms. However, it has an extremely limited free tier with only 5 meetings total, requires Chrome for the best experience, and has relatively high pricing at advanced tiers.

Granola provides a streamlined note-taking experience where users can jot down brief notes during meetings, which are then enhanced with AI-generated summaries after the call. It offers a clean interface reminiscent of Apple Notes and works across all meeting platforms by capturing system audio locally. The tool is currently Mac-only, has no mobile app, and lacks advanced workflow automation features.

Bluedot is best suited for sales teams, user researchers, and professionals who need highly accurate transcripts and seamless integration with existing business workflows. Its bot-free approach makes it ideal for situations where discretion is important or where users aren't meeting hosts. The tool works well for teams already using Chrome and willing to pay for premium transcription accuracy.

Granola appeals to Mac users who prefer a minimalist approach to meeting notes and want to maintain some personal input in their note-taking process. It's particularly suitable for individual contributors or small teams who need structured meeting summaries without complex integrations. The tool works best for users who want to reduce manual note-taking effort while maintaining control over the final output.

Comparison table

What users say about Bluedot and Granola

Users consistently praise Bluedot for its ease of use and comprehensive meeting management capabilities, with reviewers highlighting how it makes tracking meetings, notes, and action items incredibly easy through accurate, well-structured AI-generated summaries. The tool's discreet functionality is particularly appreciated, as users note they can transcribe meetings they don't own discreetly with simple operation and immediate post-meeting transcription delivery. Reviewers also emphasize Bluedot's strength in integrations, noting that it offers better native options than competitors for workflow integration needs.

Granola receives strong user feedback for its streamlined, bot-free approach to meeting transcription and follow-up management, with verified users reporting that it makes transcriptions and follow-ups a breeze by producing clean, reliable meeting records. Users consistently praise its focused functionality, describing how Granola delivers exactly what they need: clean, reliable meeting transcripts and smart follow-up summaries without any fluff, making it a go-to tool for nearly every call. The platform's straightforward approach and lack of unnecessary features resonates with users who value its bot-free meeting tool capabilities and effectiveness in 2025.

Users often switch away from Bluedot due to its limited free tier offering. With only 5 meetings total provided at no cost, the tool essentially functions as a trial rather than a true freemium service. This restrictive approach forces users to commit to a paid plan quickly, which can be off-putting compared to competitors that offer more generous free tiers. Teams and individuals who want to evaluate the tool thoroughly before making a financial commitment may find this limitation particularly frustrating.

The platform's dependence on Chrome and lack of mature mobile support creates another barrier for users. Organizations that don't use Chrome as their primary browser or teams that need mobile recording capabilities may find Bluedot incompatible with their workflows. Since the best experience requires Chrome on desktop, users in mixed-technology environments or those who frequently attend meetings on mobile devices may be forced to seek alternatives that better support their preferred platforms and devices.

Bluedot's pricing structure at higher tiers can also drive users to look elsewhere, particularly small teams operating on tight budgets. The Pro plan at approximately $25 per user per month and Business plan at around $40 per user per month can be difficult to justify for organizations that primarily need basic note-taking functionality. When combined with the fact that some advanced features like custom templates and longer video recordings are locked behind these higher-tier plans, cost-conscious users may opt for more affordable alternatives that provide better value for their specific use cases.

Based on user feedback, there are three primary reasons why users switch away from Granola. Platform limitations represent the most significant barrier to adoption and retention. Granola currently only supports Mac desktop systems, with no Windows support available, which automatically excludes a large portion of potential users. Additionally, the absence of mobile applications means users cannot access their notes on smartphones or tablets, limiting flexibility for those who need to review meeting summaries on-the-go or work across multiple devices.

Limited integration capabilities create workflow friction that drives users to seek alternatives. Unlike competitors that offer extensive integration suites, Granola provides only basic calendar sync and Notion export functionality, with other integrations like HubSpot still in beta. This forces users to manually transfer information between their meeting notes and other business tools, creating inefficiencies that many professionals find unacceptable in their daily workflows.

Lack of advanced automation features makes Granola less attractive to users who need sophisticated meeting management capabilities. The tool focuses purely on note-taking and summaries without offering workflow automation, automated follow-up emails, or advanced CRM integrations that competing solutions provide. For sales teams, project managers, and other professionals who require seamless integration with their existing business processes, Granola's limited feature set becomes a significant drawback that pushes them toward more comprehensive alternatives.

Using Bluedot

Does Bluedot work for in-person meetings?

Yes, Bluedot works for in-person meetings. The bot-free recorder can capture any meeting on your device.

Does Bluedot require a meeting bot to join the meeting?

No, Bluedot does not require a meeting bot to join the meeting. It's provided via a Chrome extension with no meeting bot needed, which means no awkward bot presence in meetings and it works even when you're not the host.

What do users say about the quality of Bluedot transcriptions?

Users widely praise Bluedot for its transcription accuracy. Marketing and early users often note it as "the most accurate" AI notetaker they've tried.

How does Bluedot help users follow up on action items?

Bluedot's AI generates follow-up emails from notes and can log action items to participants through its automation engine.

Does Bluedot integrate with software like HubSpot, Salesforce, or Linear?

Yes, Bluedot integrates with software like HubSpot and Salesforce. It has a wide integration suite that includes Slack, Notion, Google Drive, HubSpot, and Salesforce, offering one-click sync to CRM systems and project tools.

Using Granola

Does Granola work for in-person meetings?

Granola has partial support for in-person meetings. It can capture in-room audio locally using its Mac app, but it doesn't have a mobile app yet, which may limit its usefulness for in-person meetings in some situations.

Does Granola require a meeting bot to join the meeting?

No, Granola doesn't require a meeting bot to join the meeting. It runs on your computer and listens to meetings without needing a bot in the call. It works discreetly with no meeting intrusion by capturing system audio.

What do users say about the quality of Granola transcriptions?

Users are positive about Granola's transcription quality, praising its ability to produce well-organized summaries. They particularly appreciate the "set and forget" note-taking experience and mention that it delivers quality notes afterward, with users able to concentrate on the conversation knowing Granola will handle the notes.

How does Granola help users follow up on action items?

Granola offers an AI assistant that can generate follow-up content, including the ability to draft email summaries of meetings. However, it's primarily focused on note-taking and summaries rather than advanced workflow automation for action items.

Does Granola integrate with software like HubSpot, Salesforce, or Linear?

Granola has limited integrations compared to other tools. It includes calendar sync and Notion export capabilities. HubSpot integration is available but currently in beta. There's no mention of Salesforce or Linear integrations.

Users looking for more comprehensive meeting automation solutions may want to explore alternatives to Bluedot that offer more extensive integration capabilities or alternatives to Granola that provide better cross-platform support and advanced automation features. For teams requiring sophisticated meeting automation capabilities, understanding whether you need an AI meeting agent and exploring which tool produces the best AI meeting notes can help guide your decision.

Another alternative: Circleback

Circleback provides best-in-class AI-powered meeting notes and automations. We support over 100 languages and automatic participant identification in both in-person and online meetings.

• Automatically-identified and assigned action items

• AI-enabled search across all meetings

• Automations with 100+ app integrations

• Industry-leading security with SOC 2 Type II, EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, and HIPAA compliance

• Ability to capture both online and in-person meetings with desktop and mobile apps