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Fathom vs Granola – Which meeting automation tool is right for you?

June 17, 2025

Fathom vs Granola – Which meeting automation tool is right for you?

Discover comprehensive reviews of Fathom and Granola AI meeting tools. Compare features, integrations, and user experiences to find the best solution.

Users report that Fathom is quick and accurate, adding significant value to their workflow through seamless integration with existing applications. The platform operates quietly in the background during meetings and delivers clear summaries and action points immediately after calls. Transcription accuracy is noted to be between 85% and 90%, with users appreciating the ability to manually edit transcriptions when needed.

Granola brands have been evaluated by Bon Appétit editors through comprehensive taste testing of popular options from manufacturers including Purely Elizabeth, Early Bird, and Sakara. The evaluation covered various specialty categories including grain-free and nut-free options. Specific products that received attention include Kroma Super Granola, Michele's Granola Cinnamon Raisin, and Jamie's Farm Chai Streusel Granola.

For more information, readers can explore these resources: 1 2 3 4.

Fathom offers a robust AI meeting notetaker with real-time transcription across 25+ languages and multiple summary formats. Its generous free plan and quick, accurate transcriptions make it popular among sales teams and professionals who want to focus on conversations rather than note-taking. However, advanced features require paid subscriptions, and it lacks mobile app support and external audio file processing capabilities.

While Fathom integrates with major CRMs and offers some automation for pushing summaries to deals, its integration ecosystem remains limited beyond basic CRM sync and Zapier connections. The tool excels at capturing and summarizing meetings but falls short of providing comprehensive workflow automation that would truly help users act on meeting outcomes. It's best suited for sales professionals and team leads who need reliable meeting documentation with basic CRM integration.

Granola takes a different approach as an AI notepad that works locally on Mac computers without requiring meeting bots. It captures system audio from any meeting platform and enhances user-written notes with AI-generated structure and summaries. The tool offers customizable templates and maintains user privacy by processing everything locally, appealing to users who prefer discretion and personalized note-taking.

Granola's integration capabilities are notably limited, with only basic calendar sync and Notion export currently available. The platform lacks the automation engine and workflow features that would help users translate meeting insights into actionable tasks. It's best suited for Mac users who value privacy, simplicity, and personalized note enhancement over comprehensive business system integration.

Feature

Fathom

Granola

Free Plan

✅ Generous

❌ Trial only

Mobile App

❌ None

❌ None

Platform Support

✅ Multi-platform

❌ Mac only

Local Recording

❌ Platform dependent

✅ Full offline

CRM Integration

✅ Basic sync

❌ Limited beta

Language Support

✅ 25+ languages

✅ 16 languages

In-Person Meetings

❌ Online only

✅ Audio capture

Automation Engine

✅ Basic workflow

❌ None

Privacy/Discretion

❌ Visible bot

✅ No bot

Why users switch away from Fathom or Granola

Users switch away from Fathom due to advanced feature limitations behind paywalls. Meeting templates with structured note sections are only available in the Team edition, requiring users to upgrade from the free plan to access more organized note-taking capabilities. After the free plan's 5 AI summaries per month are exhausted, users only receive basic transcripts without the AI-generated summaries that distinguish Fathom from basic recording tools.

Platform and device restrictions drive user departures from Fathom. The service lacks a mobile app, limiting access to desktop-only usage. Additionally, Fathom cannot process external audio files and works exclusively with live meetings on supported platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams), preventing users from transcribing pre-recorded content or meetings from other platforms.

Interface elements cause user friction during actual meeting participation. Some users find the on-screen widgets, including live transcripts and pop-up notifications, distracting during calls. While these elements can be hidden, the additional configuration step and potential for visual interference during important meetings leads some users to seek alternatives with less intrusive interfaces.

Users switch away from Granola due to limited platform compatibility. The tool currently only supports Mac, leaving Windows users unable to access it despite ongoing requests for Windows support. Additionally, there is no mobile app available, forcing users to rely solely on desktop or web access for their notes.

The lack of a permanent free tier drives user churn after the initial trial period. Unlike competitors, Granola offers only 25 free meetings before requiring a paid subscription at $18/month for individuals, with no ongoing free option to retain cost-conscious users.

Limited integration capabilities restrict Granola's usefulness in existing workflows. The tool offers only basic calendar sync and Notion export, with HubSpot integration still in beta. This contrasts with users' expectations for broader CRM and productivity tool connections, and the absence of advanced automation features limits its appeal for users seeking comprehensive workflow solutions.

FAQs

Would Fathom work for in-person meetings? What about Granola?

Fathom would not work for in-person meetings as it only works for scheduled online meetings on platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams. Granola could partially work for in-person meetings since its Mac app can capture in-room audio locally, though it doesn't have a mobile app yet.

Does either of these tools require a meeting bot to join the meeting?

Fathom appears to use a bot-based approach for recording meetings on supported platforms. Granola does not require a meeting bot - it runs on your computer and listens to meetings by capturing system audio without needing a bot in the call.

What do users say about the quality of transcriptions?

Users praise Fathom's transcriptions as quick and accurate. For Granola, users report that it produces quality notes and well-organized summaries, though specific feedback about transcription accuracy wasn't mentioned in the reviews.

Do these tools help a user follow up with action items from the meeting? How so?

Yes, both tools help with follow-up actions. Fathom automatically generates action items, provides draft follow-up emails, and can push action items to CRM deals. Granola helps by producing enhanced meeting notes with structured sections including next steps, and its AI assistant can generate follow-up content like email summaries of meetings.

Do these tools integrate with software like Hubspot, Salesforce, or Linear?

Fathom has robust integrations, connecting with CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce to sync call notes, plus Slack and Notion integration. Granola has more limited integrations - it offers calendar sync and Notion export, with HubSpot integration currently in beta.

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

Table of Contents
Get the most out of every meeting

Best-in-class AI-powered meeting notes, action items, and automations.

Try it free for 7 days. Subscribe if you love it.

/

/

Fathom vs Granola – Which meeting automation tool is right for you?

June 17, 2025

Fathom vs Granola – Which meeting automation tool is right for you?

Discover comprehensive reviews of Fathom and Granola AI meeting tools. Compare features, integrations, and user experiences to find the best solution.

Users report that Fathom is quick and accurate, adding significant value to their workflow through seamless integration with existing applications. The platform operates quietly in the background during meetings and delivers clear summaries and action points immediately after calls. Transcription accuracy is noted to be between 85% and 90%, with users appreciating the ability to manually edit transcriptions when needed.

Granola brands have been evaluated by Bon Appétit editors through comprehensive taste testing of popular options from manufacturers including Purely Elizabeth, Early Bird, and Sakara. The evaluation covered various specialty categories including grain-free and nut-free options. Specific products that received attention include Kroma Super Granola, Michele's Granola Cinnamon Raisin, and Jamie's Farm Chai Streusel Granola.

For more information, readers can explore these resources: 1 2 3 4.

Fathom offers a robust AI meeting notetaker with real-time transcription across 25+ languages and multiple summary formats. Its generous free plan and quick, accurate transcriptions make it popular among sales teams and professionals who want to focus on conversations rather than note-taking. However, advanced features require paid subscriptions, and it lacks mobile app support and external audio file processing capabilities.

While Fathom integrates with major CRMs and offers some automation for pushing summaries to deals, its integration ecosystem remains limited beyond basic CRM sync and Zapier connections. The tool excels at capturing and summarizing meetings but falls short of providing comprehensive workflow automation that would truly help users act on meeting outcomes. It's best suited for sales professionals and team leads who need reliable meeting documentation with basic CRM integration.

Granola takes a different approach as an AI notepad that works locally on Mac computers without requiring meeting bots. It captures system audio from any meeting platform and enhances user-written notes with AI-generated structure and summaries. The tool offers customizable templates and maintains user privacy by processing everything locally, appealing to users who prefer discretion and personalized note-taking.

Granola's integration capabilities are notably limited, with only basic calendar sync and Notion export currently available. The platform lacks the automation engine and workflow features that would help users translate meeting insights into actionable tasks. It's best suited for Mac users who value privacy, simplicity, and personalized note enhancement over comprehensive business system integration.

Feature

Fathom

Granola

Free Plan

✅ Generous

❌ Trial only

Mobile App

❌ None

❌ None

Platform Support

✅ Multi-platform

❌ Mac only

Local Recording

❌ Platform dependent

✅ Full offline

CRM Integration

✅ Basic sync

❌ Limited beta

Language Support

✅ 25+ languages

✅ 16 languages

In-Person Meetings

❌ Online only

✅ Audio capture

Automation Engine

✅ Basic workflow

❌ None

Privacy/Discretion

❌ Visible bot

✅ No bot

Why users switch away from Fathom or Granola

Users switch away from Fathom due to advanced feature limitations behind paywalls. Meeting templates with structured note sections are only available in the Team edition, requiring users to upgrade from the free plan to access more organized note-taking capabilities. After the free plan's 5 AI summaries per month are exhausted, users only receive basic transcripts without the AI-generated summaries that distinguish Fathom from basic recording tools.

Platform and device restrictions drive user departures from Fathom. The service lacks a mobile app, limiting access to desktop-only usage. Additionally, Fathom cannot process external audio files and works exclusively with live meetings on supported platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams), preventing users from transcribing pre-recorded content or meetings from other platforms.

Interface elements cause user friction during actual meeting participation. Some users find the on-screen widgets, including live transcripts and pop-up notifications, distracting during calls. While these elements can be hidden, the additional configuration step and potential for visual interference during important meetings leads some users to seek alternatives with less intrusive interfaces.

Users switch away from Granola due to limited platform compatibility. The tool currently only supports Mac, leaving Windows users unable to access it despite ongoing requests for Windows support. Additionally, there is no mobile app available, forcing users to rely solely on desktop or web access for their notes.

The lack of a permanent free tier drives user churn after the initial trial period. Unlike competitors, Granola offers only 25 free meetings before requiring a paid subscription at $18/month for individuals, with no ongoing free option to retain cost-conscious users.

Limited integration capabilities restrict Granola's usefulness in existing workflows. The tool offers only basic calendar sync and Notion export, with HubSpot integration still in beta. This contrasts with users' expectations for broader CRM and productivity tool connections, and the absence of advanced automation features limits its appeal for users seeking comprehensive workflow solutions.

FAQs

Would Fathom work for in-person meetings? What about Granola?

Fathom would not work for in-person meetings as it only works for scheduled online meetings on platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams. Granola could partially work for in-person meetings since its Mac app can capture in-room audio locally, though it doesn't have a mobile app yet.

Does either of these tools require a meeting bot to join the meeting?

Fathom appears to use a bot-based approach for recording meetings on supported platforms. Granola does not require a meeting bot - it runs on your computer and listens to meetings by capturing system audio without needing a bot in the call.

What do users say about the quality of transcriptions?

Users praise Fathom's transcriptions as quick and accurate. For Granola, users report that it produces quality notes and well-organized summaries, though specific feedback about transcription accuracy wasn't mentioned in the reviews.

Do these tools help a user follow up with action items from the meeting? How so?

Yes, both tools help with follow-up actions. Fathom automatically generates action items, provides draft follow-up emails, and can push action items to CRM deals. Granola helps by producing enhanced meeting notes with structured sections including next steps, and its AI assistant can generate follow-up content like email summaries of meetings.

Do these tools integrate with software like Hubspot, Salesforce, or Linear?

Fathom has robust integrations, connecting with CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce to sync call notes, plus Slack and Notion integration. Granola has more limited integrations - it offers calendar sync and Notion export, with HubSpot integration currently in beta.

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

Try it free for 7 days. Subscribe if you love it.

/

/

Fathom vs Granola – Which meeting automation tool is right for you?

June 17, 2025

Fathom vs Granola – Which meeting automation tool is right for you?

Discover comprehensive reviews of Fathom and Granola AI meeting tools. Compare features, integrations, and user experiences to find the best solution.

Users report that Fathom is quick and accurate, adding significant value to their workflow through seamless integration with existing applications. The platform operates quietly in the background during meetings and delivers clear summaries and action points immediately after calls. Transcription accuracy is noted to be between 85% and 90%, with users appreciating the ability to manually edit transcriptions when needed.

Granola brands have been evaluated by Bon Appétit editors through comprehensive taste testing of popular options from manufacturers including Purely Elizabeth, Early Bird, and Sakara. The evaluation covered various specialty categories including grain-free and nut-free options. Specific products that received attention include Kroma Super Granola, Michele's Granola Cinnamon Raisin, and Jamie's Farm Chai Streusel Granola.

For more information, readers can explore these resources: 1 2 3 4.

Fathom offers a robust AI meeting notetaker with real-time transcription across 25+ languages and multiple summary formats. Its generous free plan and quick, accurate transcriptions make it popular among sales teams and professionals who want to focus on conversations rather than note-taking. However, advanced features require paid subscriptions, and it lacks mobile app support and external audio file processing capabilities.

While Fathom integrates with major CRMs and offers some automation for pushing summaries to deals, its integration ecosystem remains limited beyond basic CRM sync and Zapier connections. The tool excels at capturing and summarizing meetings but falls short of providing comprehensive workflow automation that would truly help users act on meeting outcomes. It's best suited for sales professionals and team leads who need reliable meeting documentation with basic CRM integration.

Granola takes a different approach as an AI notepad that works locally on Mac computers without requiring meeting bots. It captures system audio from any meeting platform and enhances user-written notes with AI-generated structure and summaries. The tool offers customizable templates and maintains user privacy by processing everything locally, appealing to users who prefer discretion and personalized note-taking.

Granola's integration capabilities are notably limited, with only basic calendar sync and Notion export currently available. The platform lacks the automation engine and workflow features that would help users translate meeting insights into actionable tasks. It's best suited for Mac users who value privacy, simplicity, and personalized note enhancement over comprehensive business system integration.

Feature

Fathom

Granola

Free Plan

✅ Generous

❌ Trial only

Mobile App

❌ None

❌ None

Platform Support

✅ Multi-platform

❌ Mac only

Local Recording

❌ Platform dependent

✅ Full offline

CRM Integration

✅ Basic sync

❌ Limited beta

Language Support

✅ 25+ languages

✅ 16 languages

In-Person Meetings

❌ Online only

✅ Audio capture

Automation Engine

✅ Basic workflow

❌ None

Privacy/Discretion

❌ Visible bot

✅ No bot

Why users switch away from Fathom or Granola

Users switch away from Fathom due to advanced feature limitations behind paywalls. Meeting templates with structured note sections are only available in the Team edition, requiring users to upgrade from the free plan to access more organized note-taking capabilities. After the free plan's 5 AI summaries per month are exhausted, users only receive basic transcripts without the AI-generated summaries that distinguish Fathom from basic recording tools.

Platform and device restrictions drive user departures from Fathom. The service lacks a mobile app, limiting access to desktop-only usage. Additionally, Fathom cannot process external audio files and works exclusively with live meetings on supported platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams), preventing users from transcribing pre-recorded content or meetings from other platforms.

Interface elements cause user friction during actual meeting participation. Some users find the on-screen widgets, including live transcripts and pop-up notifications, distracting during calls. While these elements can be hidden, the additional configuration step and potential for visual interference during important meetings leads some users to seek alternatives with less intrusive interfaces.

Users switch away from Granola due to limited platform compatibility. The tool currently only supports Mac, leaving Windows users unable to access it despite ongoing requests for Windows support. Additionally, there is no mobile app available, forcing users to rely solely on desktop or web access for their notes.

The lack of a permanent free tier drives user churn after the initial trial period. Unlike competitors, Granola offers only 25 free meetings before requiring a paid subscription at $18/month for individuals, with no ongoing free option to retain cost-conscious users.

Limited integration capabilities restrict Granola's usefulness in existing workflows. The tool offers only basic calendar sync and Notion export, with HubSpot integration still in beta. This contrasts with users' expectations for broader CRM and productivity tool connections, and the absence of advanced automation features limits its appeal for users seeking comprehensive workflow solutions.

FAQs

Would Fathom work for in-person meetings? What about Granola?

Fathom would not work for in-person meetings as it only works for scheduled online meetings on platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams. Granola could partially work for in-person meetings since its Mac app can capture in-room audio locally, though it doesn't have a mobile app yet.

Does either of these tools require a meeting bot to join the meeting?

Fathom appears to use a bot-based approach for recording meetings on supported platforms. Granola does not require a meeting bot - it runs on your computer and listens to meetings by capturing system audio without needing a bot in the call.

What do users say about the quality of transcriptions?

Users praise Fathom's transcriptions as quick and accurate. For Granola, users report that it produces quality notes and well-organized summaries, though specific feedback about transcription accuracy wasn't mentioned in the reviews.

Do these tools help a user follow up with action items from the meeting? How so?

Yes, both tools help with follow-up actions. Fathom automatically generates action items, provides draft follow-up emails, and can push action items to CRM deals. Granola helps by producing enhanced meeting notes with structured sections including next steps, and its AI assistant can generate follow-up content like email summaries of meetings.

Do these tools integrate with software like Hubspot, Salesforce, or Linear?

Fathom has robust integrations, connecting with CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce to sync call notes, plus Slack and Notion integration. Granola has more limited integrations - it offers calendar sync and Notion export, with HubSpot integration currently in beta.

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

Table of Contents
Get the most out of every meeting

Best-in-class AI-powered meeting notes, action items, and automations.

Try it free for 7 days. Subscribe if you love it.