Granola AI and Otter both help with creating meeting notes, but do so in fundamentally different ways. Granola AI runs locally on your device and avoids bots in the call. Otter sends a visible bot into your meeting that records everything. Which approach suits you?
Granola AI in brief
Granola AI is an AI notepad that runs locally on your Mac, Windows PC, or iPhone. It records system audio without a bot appearing in your video call. You manually type some brief notes, after which the AI enriches them into full summaries. The tool offers customizable templates that let you steer the output to your format. Especially popular with consultants and sales teams who don’t want a bot notification with clients.
Otter in brief
Otter is an AI assistant that automatically records, transcribes, and summarizes your meetings. The OtterPilot function automatically joins your Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet calls via a calendar integration. Everything happens in the cloud and is accessible via web, Android, and iOS. The tool offers real-time transcription that you can share live with others. Suitable for teams that want full automation and have no problem with a visible bot.
Granola AI vs Otter: the differences
The biggest difference is in the recording approach. Granola AI records local system audio, so nobody in the meeting sees that recording is happening. Otter, on the other hand, sends OtterPilot into the call, which results in an “OtterPilot has joined the meeting” notification. For external client calls or confidential meetings, this is often a dealbreaker. Do you mainly work internally with colleagues who are used to bots? Then Otter’s automation is actually convenient.
The second key difference is the workflow. With Granola AI, you type some keywords and bullet points yourself during the meeting. The AI enriches this afterwards into complete notes with context from the transcription. This hybrid process gives you control over what’s important. Otter works fully automatically: you don’t have to do anything, but you do get a long transcription with automatically generated summaries. Users regularly complain that Otter’s summaries are a ‘wall of text’, while Granola’s output feels more structured thanks to the custom templates.
Platform support also makes a big difference. Otter works on Android, iOS and web without software installation. Granola AI requires a native app on MacOS, Windows or iOS. No Android version available. Do you use an Android phone for recording meetings on the go? Then Granola AI is out. Do you work on a locked work laptop where you’re not allowed to install software? Then Otter’s web version is the only option.
Language support has recently improved for both. Granola AI now supports 10 languages including Dutch, French and German. Otter has added French and Spanish in addition to English, but remains more limited. For Dutch-language meetings, Granola AI is currently the better choice. Otter focuses mainly on the English-speaking business market.
Privacy is a sensitive issue. Granola AI emphasizes that audio is processed locally and only then goes to the cloud for AI processing. Otter records everything directly in the cloud. For GDPR-sensitive organizations or consulting firms with confidentiality obligations, this difference can be important. Otter does offer HIPAA compliance for Enterprise customers, but that’s an expensive plan.
Pricing compared
Granola AI starts at € 14 per month for the Business plan, with an Enterprise option for € 35 per month. There is a free Basic plan, but it’s strictly limited to 25 meetings total and 14 days of history. This is essentially a trial, not a usable free plan. Do you want to use Granola AI structurally? Then you pay.
Otter offers more flexibility. The free Basic plan gives 300 transcription minutes per month with a maximum of 30 minutes per conversation. This renews monthly, unlike Granola’s lifetime limit. For light users, this is usable. The Pro plan costs € 16.99 per month with monthly payment, or € 8.33 per month with an annual subscription. Business costs € 30 per month or € 20 per month annually.
Note: Otter’s free plan has a strict limitation on file imports: only 3 lifetime. Do you want to regularly upload audio files recorded elsewhere? Then you have to pay. Granola AI doesn’t focus on imports but on live recordings.
For those who pay monthly, Otter is cheaper: € 8.33 versus € 14 for the entry level. But Granola’s € 14 plan offers unlimited meetings and better quality notes according to users. Otter’s volume pricing makes it attractive for larger teams that pay annually.
Conclusion
The choice depends on your work context. Granola AI wins for solo users and consultants who want discrete, high-quality notes without social friction. The bot-free approach and custom templates deliver better readable output. But you pay more and have to install a native app.
Otter is the better choice for teams that want full automation, need cross-platform access, or use Android. The usable free plan makes experimenting low-threshold. The trade-off is the visible bot and less structured summaries.
For most business users conducting external client conversations, Granola AI is the winner. The privacy advantages and better note quality outweigh the higher price. Teams working internally who want maximum automation are better off with Otter’s lower entry price and platform flexibility.
