Granola AI and Fireflies solve the same problem – automating meeting notes – but do so in a completely different way. Granola AI runs locally on your device and works without a bot. Fireflies sends an AI bot to your meetings that records and transcribes everything. That difference largely determines which tool fits you.
Granola AI in brief
Granola AI is an AI notebook that runs locally on your Mac, Windows PC or iPhone. It records audio without others noticing – no bot joining your meeting. You type your own notes during the meeting, and Granola enriches them with AI summaries based on the transcription. It feels more like a smart notebook than an automatic recorder. Privacy is central: all processing happens on your device. Ideal for those who want to maintain control over what is recorded.
Fireflies in brief
Fireflies is an AI notetaker that automatically joins your meetings as a bot. That bot records, transcribes, and creates summaries you can share with your team. It works platform-independent: Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams – Fireflies joins everywhere. You get searchable transcripts, can create highlights, and query the AI assistant AskFred about previous meetings. It’s built for teams that want a central archive of all conversations, with strong CRM integrations for sales teams.
Granola AI vs Fireflies: the differences
The biggest difference lies in the approach. Fireflies sends a visible bot to your meeting that automatically records. Convenient for teams, but not everyone feels comfortable with an extra ‘participant’ in the call. Granola AI works invisibly: it runs locally on your device and only records your audio. No bot that others see, no notification in the meeting. That makes Granola more suitable for confidential conversations or situations where you want to remain discreet.
The philosophy also differs. Granola AI sees you as the primary author of your notes. You type along during the meeting, and the AI supplements and improves. You maintain control over what’s important. Fireflies works fully automated: the bot does everything, you don’t have to do anything. That’s easier, but gives you less influence on the final result. Users who switch from Fireflies to Granola often cite that ‘human-in-the-loop’ approach as the reason.
Platform support differs considerably. Fireflies works everywhere: Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and web. It doesn’t matter which system you use. Granola AI focuses on Mac and iOS, with a more recent Windows version that sometimes gets features later. Android users are out of luck. Unique though: Granola’s iOS app works for in-person meetings without internet connection. Put your iPhone on the table and it records locally. Fireflies can’t do that.
For teams, the difference is clear. Fireflies builds a central database that everyone can search through. Sales teams use this to analyze deal conversations and automatically send data to their CRM. Granola AI launched Granola 2.0 with team folders and shared knowledge bases, but remains more focused on individual workflows. The integrations also differ: Fireflies goes deep with Salesforce and HubSpot, Granola offers broader connectivity via Zapier with thousands of apps.
Privacy is another point. Granola processes everything locally, Fireflies sends data to the cloud. For companies with strict compliance requirements or confidential conversations, that can make the difference. At the same time, Granola received criticism when it turned out that shared links were public by default – now resolved, but it damaged trust. Fireflies gets complaints about ‘spam’: the bot sends unsolicited summaries to all participants, including external clients who didn’t ask for them.
The prices compared
Both tools have a free plan, but with different limitations. Granola AI gives you a maximum of 25 meetings in total and 14 days of history – it’s more a trial than a permanent free plan. Fireflies offers 800 minutes of storage space with limited AI features, but no hard limit on number of meetings. For those who want to keep using it for free for a long time, Fireflies is more generous.
With paid plans, it gets more interesting. Fireflies Pro costs € 10 per month with annual payment, € 18 per month with monthly payment. Fireflies Business costs € 19 per month (annual) or € 29 per month. Granola AI asks € 14 per user per month for Business with annual payment, and € 18 per month for individual users with monthly payment. Granola is therefore more expensive if you pay monthly, comparable with annual payment.
What do you get for that money? Fireflies Pro provides unlimited transcriptions, AI summaries and basic integrations. Business adds CRM connections and team features. Granola Business offers unlimited meetings, team folders, customizable templates and priority support. Fireflies has more pricing tiers, Granola keeps it simpler. For teams with many meetings, Fireflies per seat is often cheaper, but then you accept the bot.
Conclusion
The choice depends on how you work and what matters to you. Fireflies wins on price, platform support and team features. It’s the practical choice for teams that want a central archive and don’t lose sleep over a bot in their meetings. The automation is stronger and the integrations deeper, especially for sales.
Granola AI wins on privacy, user experience and discretion. If you don’t want a bot, have confidential conversations or want to enrich your own notes with AI, Granola is the better choice. The local processing and invisible operation make it suitable for situations where Fireflies becomes socially awkward. For solo users on Mac or iOS who want to maintain control, Granola is the winner. For teams with budget awareness and need for automation: Fireflies.
