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Most buyers should pick Fathom.
Choose Granola if you want notes captured from your device without a meeting bot, private by default, and an MCP connector; its Business plan is $14 per user monthly. Choose Fathom if you want a free plan with unlimited recordings and transcripts, searchable calls, and team tools. Fathom’s Team plan requires two seats, and its $15 per-user price is annual-billed; monthly billing is $19. Granola’s free tier limits meeting history to 30 days.
01Side by side
| Granola | Fathom | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $14/user monthly for Business | $15/user monthly, annual-billed Team |
| Free plan | Free; meeting history limited to 30 days | Free; unlimited recordings and transcriptions |
| Best for | Bot-free notes and private-by-default capture | Free recordings, searchable calls, and team workflows |
| Core strength | Device-audio notes and MCP access | Searchable transcripts, summaries, and Ask Fathom |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations / data | MCP, API, Notion, HubSpot, Zapier, and more | Automatic CRM sync on Business |
| Team / seat costs | $14/user monthly; no minimum stated | Team: two-user minimum; $19 monthly or $15 annual |
| Support | Review support score: 5.5/10 | Review support score: 5/10 |
Granola Choose Granola if
- Choose Granola if you want meeting notes without a bot joining.
- Choose Granola if private-by-default notes and MCP access matter.
- Choose Granola if a 30-day free history limit works for you.
Fathom Choose Fathom if
- Choose Fathom if you want unlimited recordings on the free plan.
- Choose Fathom if searchable transcripts and Ask Fathom matter.
- Choose Fathom if you need CRM sync on Business.
02Pricing compared
Both have free plans, but their paid pricing is structured differently. Granola Basic is free and limits meeting history to 30 days. Business costs $14 per user per month, with unlimited notes and history; the pricing page lists no annual discount. Enterprise is $35 per user per month.
Fathom Free includes unlimited recordings and transcriptions. Its Team plan costs $19 per user monthly or $15 per user per month billed annually, with a two-user minimum. Premium is $20 monthly or $16 annually. Business is $34 monthly or $25 annually, while Enterprise is $35 per user per month, annual billing only. Fathom advertises annual savings of 25% or more. Compare the plan you’d actually need: Fathom Team’s annual rate is close to Granola Business, but the seat minimum changes the bill.
03Features and depth
Granola’s main distinction is how it captures audio: it records from your device, so no meeting bot joins the call. Notes are private by default unless you share them. It works with Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, Huddles, and in-person conversations, and syncs with your calendar. Business adds pre-meeting briefs, follow-up emails, integrations, API access, and an MCP connector for other AI tools.
Fathom offers bot-free capture as well as bot capture, so it isn’t limited to one recording method. Its free plan includes unlimited recordings and transcripts, summaries, clips, playlists, and call search. Paid plans add features such as action items, a conversational meeting assistant, shared workspaces, trackers, Ask Fathom, and CRM field sync, depending on the tier. Fathom has more explicit team and call-review tools in the listed plans; Granola stands out for device-based capture and MCP access on Business. Check plan details before switching: not every Fathom feature is included in Free.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Granola’s device-based capture avoids adding a bot to the meeting, and calendar sync can detect upcoming calls. That may suit people who want notes without changing how they invite attendees. Its free tier’s 30-day history is a practical limit if you need to revisit older meetings; unlimited history starts on Business.
Fathom’s Free plan gives individuals unlimited recordings and transcripts, with bot or bot-free capture available. Teams should account for the two-user minimum on Team, even if only one person needs a paid seat. Fathom also has more plan-specific tools to evaluate, including shared workspaces, trackers, and CRM sync on higher tiers. Choose based on your workflow: Granola keeps capture centered on your own device; Fathom offers more options for sharing and reviewing calls.
Questions people ask
Is Granola cheaper than Fathom?
Granola Business costs $14 per user per month, according to its pricing page. Fathom Team costs $19 monthly or $15 per user per month billed annually, with a two-user minimum. Fathom Free may be enough for individuals, while Granola Basic limits meeting history to 30 days.
Does Granola join meetings as a bot?
No. Granola records meeting audio from your device rather than sending a bot into the call. Fathom also offers bot-free capture, but its Free plan supports either bot or bot-free recording, so you can choose the method.
Which has a better free plan?
Fathom Free includes unlimited recordings and transcriptions, instant AI summaries, bot or bot-free capture, clips, playlists, and call search. Granola Basic is free too, but meeting history is limited to 30 days. The better fit depends on whether unlimited call records or device-based capture matters more.
Does Fathom require two seats?
Fathom’s Team plan has a two-user minimum, according to the published pricing details. Its Free and Premium plans don’t list that requirement. Check the current plan terms before switching, especially if you need team sharing but have only one paid user.