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A Free Granola Alternative
Granola is a bot-free AI notepad: a desktop app that listens to your meeting audio and turns it into notes. If you’d rather not install an app or create an account — and you already have a transcript — MinutesAI is a free, paste-based alternative that’s also bot-free.
Processed by z.ai to write your notes — not stored on our servers. How we handle your data
Summary, action items & decisions in seconds — your text is never saved.
Reading your meeting and writing the notes…
MinutesAI vs. Granola
| Feature | MinutesAI | Granola |
|---|---|---|
| Account to start | No — paste and go | Yes |
| Joins your meeting | No bot | No bot |
| How you get notes | Paste a transcript you have | Desktop app captures the audio |
| Install anything | No — runs in any browser | Desktop app (Mac / Windows) |
| Stores your data | Not stored on our servers | Stored in your Granola account |
| Price | Free (daily limit) | Free tier + paid plans |
Reflects Granola’s general approach as of June 2026. Features and pricing change — verify on granola.ai.
Both are bot-free — what’s different
Granola and MinutesAI both avoid sending a bot into your call, which is why people reach for either one on sensitive or client meetings. The difference is the input: Granola runs as a desktop app that listens to the meeting audio on your machine and writes notes, so it needs an app and an account. MinutesAI works from a transcript you already have — no app, no account, and no audio captured on its side.
When Granola is the better choice
If you want a tool that sits on your desktop, picks up the meeting audio live, and builds notes as the call happens — without a transcript on hand — Granola is built for that. MinutesAI is for when you already have the transcript (from Meet, Teams, or Zoom) and just want fast, private notes from it.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Granola alternative?
Yes. MinutesAI is free with no signup — paste a meeting transcript and get a summary, decisions, and action items. Like Granola, no bot joins your call; unlike Granola, there is no app to install and no account.
Does this use a bot like some other note takers?
No. MinutesAI is bot-free, the same as Granola. Nothing joins your meeting — you paste a transcript you already have.
Does it capture meeting audio like Granola’s app?
No. Granola’s desktop app listens to the meeting audio on your computer. MinutesAI does not capture or record audio — it works from a transcript you paste in.
Do I need to install an app?
No. MinutesAI runs in any browser with nothing to install. Granola runs as a desktop app on Mac or Windows.
Is my meeting data stored?
No. Your transcript is used only to generate the notes and is not stored on our servers.