Fireflies.ai vs Granola for meeting automation

Fireflies.ai is an AI meeting assistant that joins calls as a participant to record and transcribe conversations across platforms like Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet. The system provides searchable transcripts with speaker identification, generates summaries with action items, and offers an AskFred chatbot for querying meeting content. It integrates with tools like Slack, Asana, and CRM systems to facilitate follow-ups, and can be used for team knowledge sharing, sales call analysis, and personal note-taking.

The service offers multiple tiers: a free plan with limited credits, a Pro plan ($10/user/month) with unlimited audio recording, and a Business plan ($19/user/month) adding video recording and analytics. Fireflies supports over 100 languages, works for in-person meetings via a mobile app, and allows local recording. While it offers good transcription accuracy, users note it sometimes struggles with accents and technical jargon, and some find the AI summaries too high-level or the interface cluttered.

Granola is an AI notepad for meetings that runs locally on Mac computers. It captures system audio from any meeting platform without requiring a bot participant, allowing users to jot minimal notes during calls. After meetings, it produces structured summaries with sections like key takeaways and next steps based on the audio recording and user notes. The app features customizable note templates and an AI assistant for follow-up content generation.

The tool works offline on Mac with local recording and transcription in about 16 languages. Pricing starts with a 25-meeting free trial, followed by an $18/month individual plan or $14/user/month for business teams. Current limitations include Mac-only support (no Windows version), no mobile apps yet, limited integrations (calendar sync and some Notion/HubSpot capabilities), and no advanced workflow automation.

Comparing Fireflies.ai and Granola

Fireflies.ai

• Fireflies.ai uses a cloud-based bot that joins meetings to record, transcribe and summarize discussions across various platforms. The tool offers integrations with CRMs and task managers but lacks depth in helping users truly action meeting outcomes.

Granola

• Granola runs locally on Mac computers, capturing system audio without needing a bot participant in meetings. While it provides customizable templates and a clean interface, it falls short in integration capabilities and doesn't offer robust workflows to help implement meeting decisions.

Fireflies.ai suits teams that need cross-platform compatibility and broader integration with business tools. Its bot-based approach works well for organizations with strict compliance requirements or those needing to capture meetings across varied environments without relying on individual devices.

Granola fits privacy-conscious Mac users who prefer local processing and a distraction-free experience during meetings. Its offline functionality and minimalist interface make it ideal for individual professionals who value simplicity and discreet note-taking, though they'll need to accept limited integrations and platform support.

Fireflies.ai vs Granola: What do users say?

User reviews of Fireflies.ai highlight its ease of use and time-saving capabilities, with many praising its accurate transcription quality even in languages like Dutch. The AI assistant joins meetings across platforms like Zoom and Teams, delivering summaries and action items within minutes after calls. While users appreciate the mobile app and integrations with project management tools, some desire more nuanced summaries and note that transcription accuracy can dip with heavy accents or technical jargon. The free tier offers limited features, with paid plans starting at around $10/user/month.

Granola, an AI notepad for Mac, receives praise for its "set and forget" note-taking that allows users to focus on conversations. The clean interface reminds users of Apple Notes, and the app produces well-organized summaries that can be tailored via templates. Since it runs locally on your computer without requiring a bot in meetings, users appreciate its discreet operation. Limitations include Mac-only availability (Windows support is frequently requested), no mobile app yet, and potential issues when audio isn't played through the system. Pricing starts with a 25-meeting free trial, followed by plans beginning at $18/month for individuals.

For more information, check out Fireflies AI review on Reddit, The Business Dive's Fireflies AI review, and comparisons like Otter.ai vs. Fireflies.ai on Reddit.

FAQs

• Would Fireflies.ai work for in-person meetings? What about Granola? Fireflies.ai works for in-person meetings through its mobile app, which can record in-person meetings and voice notes. Granola partially supports in-person meetings as the Mac app can capture in-room audio locally, but it has no mobile app yet (Android/iOS are "coming soon").

• What about meeting bots? Does either of these tools require a meeting bot? Fireflies.ai requires a bot participant ("Fred") that joins meetings to record, transcribe, and summarize discussions across platforms like Zoom, Teams, etc. Granola does not require a meeting bot - it runs on your computer and listens to meetings directly without needing a bot in the call.

• What do users say about the quality of transcriptions? For Fireflies.ai, users report good transcription quality, even in other languages like Dutch. However, some note that transcription accuracy can decrease with heavy accents or technical jargon, with reviewers mentioning misidentified speakers or missed slang.

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