G 
Granola
An AI notepad that merges your typed notes with the meeting transcript.
NOT REALLY
why this verdict
Keep paying — OpenAI has not replaced it
OpenAI's version overlaps, but does not finish the productivity job, so this one still earns its $18/mo.
- A named launch, not a vibe named, unlinked
- Every meeting platform now transcribes and summarises for free. OpenAI, January 1, 2025 — no announcement link recorded yet.
- How much of the job it covers not the job editorial call
- Parts of it. The job still needs the tool to get finished.
- Is there a free way to do it? yes
- 3 of 3 listed replacements have a usable free tier: Otter.ai, Fathom and Fireflies.ai.
- What the call is worth $216/yr
- $18/mo at the entry paid tier — $216 a year per seat.
Reason composed from the fields above missing: announcement linked recorded: free replacement listed recorded: two or more escape hatches
- Threatened by
- OpenAI
- Since
- January 1, 2025
- List price
- $18/mo
- Per year
- $216
The backstory
Granola's insight is that a raw AI summary is generic while your own scribbled fragments carry the intent. It merges both, and it captures system audio without joining as a bot, which is why people use it in calls where a visible notetaker would be awkward.
Escape hatches
O 
Otter.ai Cheaper, bot-based.
otter.ai open_in_new F 
Fathom Generous free tier.
fathom.video open_in_new F 
Fireflies.ai Better CRM integrations.
fireflies.ai open_in_new3 of 3 replacements have a usable free tier.