Granola vs Otter: which one fits you?
Granola and Otter take different approaches. Granola captures meetings without a bot and builds on the notes you type. Otter transcribes the call live so you can follow and highlight it.
Granola vs Otter in short
Pick Granola if you like writing your own notes and don't want a bot in the call. Pick Otter if you want a full live transcript and a free plan measured in minutes. If you want notes written for you, with or without a bot, and follow-up across meetings, look at a tool that does both.
Granola vs Otter, side by side
With Acta as a third option, for teams that need follow-up after the meeting.
| Feature | Granola | Otter | Acta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chat across meetings | Chat across folders | Otter AI Chat | OneChat |
| Ask about files together with meetings | Upload in chat | ||
| Action items with owners | With assignees | ||
| Action item tracker across meetings | |||
| Daily follow-up email of what's overdue | |||
| Decision log across meetings | |||
| Templates for different meetings | Templates & recipes | 42 templates | |
| Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams | |||
| Record without a bot | Bot-free only | Desktop app & Chrome extension | |
| Free plan or trial | Last 30 days of notes | 300 min/month, 30-min calls | 15-day free trial |
| Paid plans | From $14/user/month | From about $8.33/user/month | Pro, per user |
Based on public pages and reviews as of October 2026; see the sources below. A dash means we didn't find it listed. Prices and plans change, so check each vendor's pricing page.
Pick Granola if you want
- Bot-free notes that build on what you type
- Chat across all meetings or a folder, with files
- Reusable recipes
Best for: People who like writing their own notes and want AI to fill in the rest.
Acta vs GranolaPick Otter if you want
- A live transcript during the call
- Action items with assignees
- 300 free minutes a month
Best for: People who want a live transcript to follow and highlight during the call.
Acta vs OtterNeed follow-up, not just notes? Try Acta.
Acta records Zoom, Google Meet and Teams with or without a bot, fills 42 templates from the conversation, tracks every action item to done with a daily follow-up email, keeps a decision log across meetings, and answers across your meetings and files with OneChat.
Granola vs Otter: questions
Does Granola use a bot like Otter?
No. Granola captures meetings without a bot. Otter records Zoom, Google Meet and Teams meetings and transcribes them live.
How much do Granola and Otter cost?
Reviews in October 2026 list Granola Business at $14 per user per month, with a free plan that keeps the last 30 days of notes, and Otter Pro from about $8.33 per user per month.
Can I chat with my meetings in Granola and Otter?
Yes. Granola lets you chat across all meetings or a folder and attach files; Otter has AI Chat across your meeting library.
Is there an option that records with or without a bot?
Yes. Acta records Zoom, Google Meet and Teams with a notetaker from your calendar, or without a bot from the desktop app or Chrome extension, and tracks action items and decisions across meetings. It's free for 15 days.