Granola vs tl;dv: which one fits you?
Granola and tl;dv can both capture meetings without a bot, and both answer questions across meetings. Granola builds on the notes you type; tl;dv records the call and sends reports across many meetings.
Granola vs tl;dv in short
Pick Granola if you like typing your own notes and want AI to fill in the rest, with no bot ever. Pick tl;dv if you want the full recording, scheduled reports across meetings and the choice of a bot or a desktop recorder. Neither keeps a decision log or tracks action items across meetings.
Granola vs tl;dv, side by side
With Acta as a third option, for teams that need follow-up after the meeting.
| Feature | Granola | tl;dv | Acta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chat across meetings | Chat across folders | Ask tl;dv | OneChat |
| Ask about files together with meetings | Upload in chat | ||
| Action item tracker across meetings | |||
| Daily follow-up email of what's overdue | |||
| Decision log across meetings | |||
| Templates for different meetings | Templates & recipes | Playbooks (Business) | 42 templates |
| Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams | |||
| Record without a bot | Bot-free only | Desktop app | Desktop app & Chrome extension |
| Free plan or trial | Last 30 days of notes | Limited AI notes | 15-day free trial |
| Paid plans | From $14/user/month | From about $18/seat/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 folders, with files you attach
- Reusable recipes for common questions
Best for: People who like writing their own notes and want AI to fill in the rest.
Acta vs GranolaPick tl;dv if you want
- Recordings with a bot or a bot-free desktop app
- Scheduled multi-meeting reports
- Playbook monitoring on the Business plan
Best for: Teams that want recordings with scheduled multi-meeting reports.
Acta vs tl;dvNeed 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 tl;dv: questions
Do Granola and tl;dv both work without a bot?
Yes. Granola is bot-free only. tl;dv offers a bot-free desktop app as well as a meeting bot.
How much do Granola and tl;dv cost?
Reviews in October 2026 list Granola Business at $14 per user per month and tl;dv paid plans from about $18 per seat per month billed annually.
What do the free plans include?
Granola's free Basic plan keeps the last 30 days of notes. tl;dv's free plan has limited AI notes.
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.