What Granola does
Granola is an AI meeting notebook for desktop and iPhone that combines device-captured transcripts, a user's typed observations, calendar context, and custom templates into organized notes.
Granola keeps the familiar experience of taking a few personal notes while automating the exhaustive part of meeting documentation. It captures audio from the user's device rather than adding a participant bot to Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. After the meeting, its AI uses the transcript and the user's emphasis to organize decisions, themes, and next steps into a customizable format.
Calendar integration surfaces upcoming meetings, while spaces, folders, templates, and cross-meeting chat turn individual notes into a searchable working memory. Paid integrations can send notes to Slack and Notion, match meetings to HubSpot, Attio, or Affinity records, connect through Zapier, or expose context to compatible assistants through MCP. Business and Enterprise plans also offer API access for custom workflows.
Granola says it does not retain meeting audio, although it does store transcripts and notes and temporarily caches iOS audio for processing. Capture must be started manually, so users can miss meetings, and transcript accuracy depends on audio quality and speaker conditions. A bot-free interface also does not remove consent obligations; every organization should establish recording, access, retention, and review rules before rollout.
How Granola works
The user manually starts Granola, which captures microphone and computer audio on desktop or an in-person conversation on iPhone. It transcribes the discussion and combines that context with typed notes, calendar details, and a chosen template to produce enhanced notes that can be searched, shared, or sent to connected tools.
Start a meeting from your device
Granola reads calendar context and, when manually started, captures microphone and computer audio without joining as a meeting bot. On iPhone it can capture an in-person conversation.
Add lightweight human notes
During the conversation, type only the details you want to emphasize—questions, decisions, or follow-ups. The system combines those cues with the transcript rather than forcing you to document every sentence.
Generate structured notes
After the meeting, Granola applies the selected template to organize the transcript and your notes into sections, decisions, themes, and action items. Users can correct names and speaker assignments before sharing.
Search, share, and connect
Notes can be organized into spaces, queried across meetings, shared with teammates, or sent to supported knowledge, messaging, and CRM tools. Consent, access, retention, and follow-up ownership still need explicit team policies.
How to set up Granola
Install and sign in
Download Granola for macOS or Windows and sign in with the Google or Microsoft account connected to the calendar used for meetings.
Grant required permissions
Allow read-only calendar access plus microphone and system-audio permissions, and enforce MFA through the Google, Microsoft, or SSO identity provider.
Set privacy defaults
Review consent and retention requirements, opt out of model training if desired, and choose appropriate private versus team workspace settings.
Create useful templates
Complete the demo meeting, then build templates for recurring formats such as discovery calls, recruiting screens, or one-to-ones.
Run a test meeting
Start Granola manually, type a few important observations, review the enhanced notes and speaker details, then connect only the destinations the workflow needs.
Granola FAQs
Does Granola add a bot to meetings?
No. It captures microphone and computer audio from the user's device and must be started manually.
Does Granola store meeting recordings?
Granola states that it does not retain audio. It stores transcripts and notes, while iOS audio is cached temporarily for processing.
Does Granola work with Zoom, Meet, and Teams?
Yes. Desktop capture works with those services and other meeting software or computer audio.
Is Granola free?
Yes. Basic is free with limited meeting history; Business and Enterprise add unlimited history, integrations, stronger models, administration, and API capabilities.
Can Granola send notes to a CRM?
Yes. Paid integrations include HubSpot, Attio, and Affinity, with Zapier and API options for additional systems.
Is participant consent still required?
Potentially. A bot-free interface does not override applicable recording, wiretap, employment, or privacy rules, so users should obtain appropriate consent.
Listing reviewed 2026-07-15. Product details and pricing can change; verify important terms on the provider's website.
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