Dot and Granola: what each does in your meetings
Granola and Dot both hear a meeting through your own computer, and neither adds anything to the call. Both work with Teams, Zoom and Google Meet. The difference is what each is for while you talk. Granola is a notepad: you jot down what matters and it writes up your notes from the transcript. Dot takes part: somebody says “Hi Dot” and asks, and the answer appears on its screen.
Every row below was checked against Granola’s own website and help centre, and links to the page it came from. Granola does several things Dot does not, and they are listed below rather than left out.
Every row below was checked against Granola’s own documentation on 29 September 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it and say when.
The comparison
| Dot | Granola | |
|---|---|---|
| How it hears the meeting | Through the Dot app on your computer. Nothing joins the call, unless your organisation has Dot’s meeting bot switched on, so telling the people in it is up to you | Through your computer’s microphone and speakers, once you start it. No bot joins the callGranola, security → |
| Computers it runs on | Mac, Windows and Ubuntu | Mac (macOS 14 or later) and WindowsGranola help, setting up Granola → |
| Phone and watch apps | None. Dot is a desktop app | iPhone and Android, for meetings in person, and Apple WatchGranola help, Granola on your phone → |
| Answers a question during the call | Yes. Anybody Dot can hear may say “Hi Dot” and ask. The answer appears on the screen of the person running Dot, and the whole call sees it when they present Dot’s window | Its chat answers the person using Granola, during the meeting or after, and the answer is theirs aloneGranola help, chatting with your meetings → |
| Answers from earlier meetings | Yes. It reads the notes of your last five meetings when it answers; presented to the call, only earlier meetings of the same series | Yes. Its chat can search all your meetings, a folder, or a person or company. On the free plan it reaches back 30 daysGranola help, chatting with your meetings → |
| Tells the call it is taking notes | Not by itself: telling the call is up to you. Dot’s window carries a notice, which the call sees when you present it | If switched on, a message in the meeting chat, a watermark on your video, or both, for you or across your teamGranola help, letting people know → |
| Where your notes are kept | In the region your organisation picks at sign-up: the UK (London), the EU (Frankfurt) or the US (Virginia) | On AWS in the United States. Granola says it does not offer EU or UK data residencyGranola help, security, privacy and data → |
| Keeps the audio | No. Dot keeps the transcript and the notes, not the audio | No. It keeps the transcript and your notesGranola, security → |
| Free plan | No. A free trial, then a paid seat | Yes. Basic is free, with the last 30 days of notes in reachGranola help, plans and billing → |
Writing the notes, or asking the meeting
Granola is built around the notes you write. You jot a few words as the meeting goes, and when it ends Granola writes them up from the transcript. Its chat answers you privately, during the meeting or after, which suits somebody catching up on what they missed.
Dot is built to be asked out loud. Somebody in the call says “Hi Dot” and asks what the renewal date is, and the answer appears on Dot’s screen; present Dot’s window and everyone reads the same answer. After the call Dot writes the notes by topic, with the next steps and who owns them.
If the person taking notes is the only one who needs answers, Granola covers it and costs nothing to start. If the meeting keeps stopping to look something up, that is what Dot is for.
Where Granola is the better choice
Be honest with yourself about this, because it is often the right answer.
Granola keeps what you typed and fills in the rest from the transcript. Dot writes its notes itself, after the call.Granola help, how your notes are made →
Granola has iPhone, Android and Apple Watch apps for meetings in person. Dot runs on a Mac, a Windows PC or an Ubuntu computer, and nowhere else.Granola help, Granola on your phone →
Granola can post a notice in the meeting chat and put a watermark on your video, for you or your whole team. The Dot app leaves telling the call to you.Granola help, letting people know →
Granola’s Basic plan costs nothing and keeps the last 30 days of notes in reach. Dot has a free trial, then a paid seat.Granola, pricing →
Granola holds a SOC 2 Type II report, and signs HIPAA agreements on Enterprise. Dot does not have a SOC 2 report yet.Granola help, security, privacy and data →
On its Business plan Granola connects to HubSpot, Attio, Affinity, Notion and Zapier. Dot does not connect to a CRM.Granola help, plans and billing →
Questions
Do Granola and Dot both work without a bot?
Yes. Both hear the meeting through your own computer, so nobody sees an extra participant. Dot can also join a call as a participant, where your organisation has that switched on.Granola help, security, privacy and data →
Which one runs on Ubuntu?
Dot does. It has a desktop app for Ubuntu, on Intel, AMD or Arm computers, as well as for Mac and Windows. Granola’s help centre lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.Granola help, setting up Granola →
Where are the notes kept?
Granola keeps notes on AWS in the United States, and says it does not offer EU or UK data residency. Dot keeps each organisation’s meetings in the region it picks at sign-up: the UK, the EU or the US.Granola help, security, privacy and data →
Can the whole meeting see the answers?
In Dot, yes, while you present Dot’s window to the call. Granola’s chat answers are yours alone, even when you share the note itself.Granola help, chatting with your meetings →