StenoteA Granola alternative that keeps the audio.
Granola and Stenote both skip the meeting bot. The difference is what you have afterwards: Stenote keeps the recording, so every note can take you back to the moment it came from.
Stenote is a good Granola alternative if you want bot-free capture but also want to keep the recording, jump to the exact moment behind a note, and transcribe audio you did not record live. Granola is the better pick if you want the lowest price, a free tier, shared team workspaces or its wider list of integrations.
Your first hour is free. No card needed.
Stenote vs Granola at a glance
Both apps record from your own computer, so nobody has to admit a notetaker to the call. Here is where they differ.
| Stenote | Granola | |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting bot | None. Records from your own mic and speakers. | None. Captures device audio. |
| Desktop and mobile | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, web app. | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Apple Watch. The web app views and edits notes only. |
| Keeps the audio | Yes. Recordings stay in your library until you delete them. | No. Its docs say it “does not record or save audio or video at any point during the call.” |
| Play back a moment | Yes. Jump from a note, chapter or answer to that point in the audio. | No audio is kept, so there is nothing to replay. |
| Transcribe an existing file | Yes. Upload a recording from your phone or a voice recorder. | No. Its docs say it does not support importing pre-recorded audio files. |
| Speaker names | Detected from the audio itself, so it works the same in any app and in a room. | Taken from the meeting app’s active-speaker data, per its docs. Some sections can have no name. |
| Integrations | Notion and Evernote export. | Slack on the free plan. Notion, Zapier, HubSpot, API and MCP on Business. |
| Free plan | Your first hour is free, no card needed. | Basic plan is free, with 30 days of meeting history. |
| Price | $19.99 a month or $179 a year. One plan with everything. | Business $14 per user a month. Enterprise $35 per user a month. |
| AI training | Your audio is never used to train AI models. | Per-user opt-out from model training on every plan. |
Sources: Granola pricing and Granola transcription docs, checked 19 October 2026. Plans change, so check the vendor’s own page before you decide.
Why people look for a Granola alternative
Granola is well liked, and it solved a real problem by dropping the bot. People usually start looking elsewhere for one of two reasons, both of which come from how it is designed rather than from bugs.
First, there is no recording to go back to. Granola sends audio to its transcription provider and does not store it, so if a note looks wrong, the transcript is all you have. Second, it only works on meetings it hears live, so a voice memo, an interview someone sent you, or a recording from last year cannot be added.
Neither matters if all you want is quick notes from calls you are on. They matter a great deal if you do client work, interviews, research, or anything where you may need to check exactly what was said.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Stenote if you…
- want to keep the recording and replay the moment behind a note
- also transcribe interviews, voice memos or files you did not record live
- record in-person meetings, calls on your phone, or calls in any app
- want your audio kept out of AI training
Pick Granola if you…
- want the lowest monthly price, or a free plan you can keep
- need shared folders, SSO or admin controls for a team
- rely on Slack, HubSpot, Zapier or API access
- only need notes from live calls and never need the audio again
How Stenote works
Open a meeting
Join Zoom, Teams or Meet as usual. When the meeting app opens your microphone, Stenote asks whether to take notes. Nothing records until you say yes.
Talk
Stenote listens from your own Mac or PC. Nothing joins the call, and nobody has to admit a notetaker.
Get the notes
A summary, action items with owners, chapters, named speakers and a searchable transcript, with the audio kept alongside.
Frequently asked questions
Does Stenote join my meetings as a bot?
No. Stenote records from your own microphone and speakers on your Mac, PC or phone. Nothing appears in the participant list.
Does Stenote keep my recordings?
Yes. Recordings stay in your library until you delete them, and you can delete anything at any time. Your audio is never used to train AI models.
Can I import my notes from Granola?
Stenote starts fresh and does not import Granola notes. You can bring in any audio you still have by uploading the file.
How much does Stenote cost compared with Granola?
Your first hour in Stenote is free. After that it is $19.99 a month or $179 a year for one plan with everything included. Granola’s Business plan is $14 per user a month, and it has a free Basic plan with 30 days of history, so Granola costs less.
Do I still need to tell people I am recording?
Yes. Not having a bot in the call does not change consent rules, which vary by country and state. Tell people you are taking notes. This is not legal advice.
Be in the meeting.
Download Stenote and let it take the notes. No bot, no admitting anyone.
Last checked October 19, 2026. · How AI note takers without a bot work