MeetingVault vs Granola
MeetingVault and Granola both record meetings from your own computer without a bot, then send the audio to the cloud for transcription. Granola is a notepad that enhances the notes you type; MeetingVault produces structured minutes — decisions, action items and a risk register — and adds a Linux desktop app.
How MeetingVault and Granola actually differ
Granola and MeetingVault capture the same way: the desktop app listens to system audio and your microphone, and nothing joins the call. The difference is what comes out. Granola is a notepad: you write during the meeting and it fills in the rest, with Recipes — saved prompts — for things like a PRD. MeetingVault turns each meeting into minutes with decisions, action items and a severity-rated risk register, and groups meetings into projects. Both transcribe in the cloud; Granola says it deletes audio after transcription, while MeetingVault stores the uploaded recording encrypted for as long as our privacy page sets out.
MeetingVault vs Granola, feature by feature
Granola is an AI notepad for meetings. Every Granola entry links to the page on Granola's own site it comes from, with the date we checked it; products change, so check the source before deciding. A dash means we have not verified it either way.
| Feature | MeetingVault | Granola |
|---|---|---|
| Recording method | System audio on desktop, microphone on mobile, or upload | Desktop app, no botchecked 2026-10-16 |
| A bot joins the call | No — MeetingVault, A bot joins the call | No — Granola, A bot joins the callchecked 2026-10-16 |
| Records without a bot | Yes — MeetingVault, Records without a bot | Yes — Granola, Records without a botchecked 2026-10-16 |
| Calendar access needed to record | No — MeetingVault, Calendar access needed to record | Not verified — Granola, Calendar access needed to recordSigning in connects a calendar; ad-hoc notes are possible. |
| Where transcription happens | Cloud (recorded on your device) | CloudAudio is not kept after transcription.checked 2026-10-16 |
| Decisions captured | Yes — MeetingVault, Decisions captured | Through notes and Recipeschecked 2026-10-16 |
| Action items | Yes — MeetingVault, Action items | Yes — Granola, Action itemschecked 2026-10-16 |
| Risk register with severity | Yes — MeetingVault, Risk register with severity | Not verified — Granola, Risk register with severity |
| Questions across many meetings | Yes — MeetingVault, Questions across many meetings | Yes — Granola, Questions across many meetingschecked 2026-10-16 |
| Answers cite their sources | Yes — MeetingVault, Answers cite their sources | Not verified — Granola, Answers cite their sources |
| Drafts PRDs or user stories | Not yet | Through a Recipe (a saved prompt)checked 2026-10-16 |
| AI audio recap | Yes — MeetingVault, AI audio recap | Not verified — Granola, AI audio recap |
| Windows app | Yes — MeetingVault, Windows app | Yes — Granola, Windows appchecked 2026-10-16 |
| macOS app | Yes — MeetingVault, macOS app | Yes — Granola, macOS appchecked 2026-10-16 |
| Linux app | Yes — MeetingVault, Linux app | No — Granola, Linux appmacOS and Windows desktop apps only.checked 2026-10-16 |
| iOS app | Yes — MeetingVault, iOS app | Yes — Granola, iOS appchecked 2026-10-16 |
| Android app | Yes — MeetingVault, Android app | Yes — Granola, Android appchecked 2026-10-16 |
| Web app | Yes — MeetingVault, Web app | View and edit onlychecked 2026-10-16 |
| Free plan | Yes — MeetingVault, Free plan | Yes — Granola, Free plan30 days of note history.checked 2026-10-16 |
| Cheapest paid plan (billed monthly) | See our pricing page | $14/user/monthchecked 2026-10-16 |
Why teams move from Granola to MeetingVault
- Structured minutes with a severity-rated risk register, not only enhanced notes
- A Linux desktop app alongside macOS and Windows
- No calendar connection at sign-up
When Granola is the better choice
Granola is the better fit if you like typing your own notes and want AI to fill them in, or if you want a free plan with no daily limit on meetings.
MeetingVault vs Granola: common questions
Does Granola use a bot?
No. Granola records device audio from its desktop app, the same approach MeetingVault takes. Neither tool adds a participant to the call.
Is either tool on-device?
Both record on your device and transcribe in the cloud. Neither does the transcription on your computer.
Can both draft PRDs?
Granola offers a PRD Recipe, a saved chat prompt. MeetingVault does not draft PRDs yet; it extracts decisions, action items and risks from each meeting.
Try it on your next meeting
MeetingVault is free to start — 300 audio minutes a month, no card required. Record from the desktop app on macOS, Windows or Linux, or upload audio you already have.