Aside vs Granola
Granola and Aside both listen through your computer, with no bot in the meeting. Granola is a notepad that turns what you typed and what was said into polished notes. Aside is for the moment a question lands: it puts an answer beside your call.
Mac and Windows · Free 30-day trial · Checked October 29, 2026
At a glance
| Feature | Aside | Granola |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Answers questions during the call | Turns your notes and the transcript into polished meeting notes |
| During the call | Detects questions as they’re asked and streams an answer on its own. You can also type one. | Live transcript, plus a chat you can ask during the meeting |
| How it hears the meeting | Your microphone and system audio. No bot joins. | Your microphone and system audio. No bot joins. |
| Where transcription runs | On your computer, with a local Whisper model | In the cloud, through transcription providers. Audio isn’t saved. |
| Kept on servers | No conversation content. Transcripts stay on your computer. | Transcripts and notes, stored encrypted in the US |
| Platforms | macOS 14.6+ on Apple Silicon; Windows 10 (version 2004) and 11 | macOS, Windows, iPhone, Android and Apple Watch, with the web for viewing and editing notes |
| Teams and integrations | None. Each person uses Aside on their own. | Shared folders, templates, and integrations like Slack, Notion, HubSpot and Zapier |
| Free plan | 30-day trial with 40 answers | Basic: unlimited notes, with the last 30 days available |
| Paid plans | Pro $19 a month (600 answers). Max $39 a month (1,500 answers and the Max model). | Business $14 a user per month. Enterprise from $35 a user per month. |
Which one fits
Pick Granola if
- You take notes during meetings and want them turned into clean summaries.
- You want a shared library of meeting notes for your team.
- You want apps for your phone and watch too.
- You want a free plan, or a lower monthly price.
Pick Aside if
- You want an answer on screen while the question is being asked, without typing.
- You’d rather your meeting audio never leave your computer.
- You don’t want your transcripts kept on someone else’s servers.
Granola details checked on October 29, 2026, from granola.ai/pricing, its security page, its transcription help page and its chat help page. Prices and features change, so check their site before you decide. Granola is a trademark of its owner, and Aside isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Granola.
Questions about Aside and Granola
Both work without a bot. What’s the real difference?
Timing. Granola’s enhanced notes are written when the call ends, and its chat answers what you type. Aside listens for questions and answers them as they’re asked, without you typing anything.
Can I use both?
Yes. Both listen to your computer’s audio, and neither joins the call.
Is Granola cheaper?
Yes. Granola Business is $14 a user per month, and Granola has a free plan. Aside Pro is $19 a month or $190 a year. Aside’s price pays for live answers, since transcription runs on your computer.
See how Aside handles your next call.
Thirty days free. Forty answers. No card.