Comparison
MoosePad vs Granola
Both capture meetings without a bot in the call. The real difference is where your audio goes. Here's an honest look at how they compare, where each one is stronger, and which one fits you.
| Feature | MoosePad | Granola |
|---|---|---|
| Where your audio goes | Stays on your device, never uploaded | Uploaded to third-party transcription (Deepgram / AssemblyAI) |
| Transcription | On-device via Apple Speech framework | Cloud, server-side |
| Works offline | Yes, record + transcribe with no connection | No, needs internet |
| Listen back to audio | Yes, your recording is kept on device | No, audio deleted after transcription |
| AI summary | Sections, action items, takeaways (only transcript text sent) | Summary, templates, chat (from the uploaded audio) |
| Trains AI on your data | Never | Consumer accounts opted in by default |
| Meeting bot | No bot | No bot |
| Speaker labels | Yes, assign a name to each voice | Limited on device-captured audio |
| Price | $4.99/mo or $49.99/yr, everything included | Free (last 30 days only) / $14 per user/mo |
| Family Sharing | Yes, up to 5 family members | No, per-seat |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Mac | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android |
| Team & enterprise | Individual & family | Workspaces, CRM integrations, admin controls |
| Languages | 15+ live transcription, 25+ summaries (incl. Chinese, Arabic) | ~15, no Chinese |
The privacy difference
Both apps skip the meeting bot, so this is the real gap between them, and it's architectural, not just a policy promise.
MoosePad records and transcribes on your device using Apple's Speech framework. The audio never leaves your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. To write the AI summary, only the finished transcript text is sent, encrypted, to the AI service, never the audio. Your recording stays on your device and in your personal iCloud account.
Granola works differently. Its own security page states it uses third-party transcription providers such as Deepgram and AssemblyAI, and on iPhone the audio is uploaded and transcribed after the meeting. Granola does delete the audio once transcription finishes, which is good, but the audio has already left your device, transcripts are kept on its cloud, and consumer accounts are opted into model training by default unless you turn it off.
Both send some text to the cloud to write summaries. The difference is the audio. MoosePad never uploads it; Granola does. If you're in a regulated field, or you simply don't want your meeting audio leaving your device, that's a difference worth knowing.
On-device means it works offline
Because Granola transcribes in the cloud, it needs an internet connection to do its core job. No signal, no transcript.
MoosePad transcribes on-device, so it keeps working on a plane, in a basement conference room, in the field, or anywhere without a connection. You get a live transcript with no bars of signal. The only step that needs the internet is generating the AI summary afterward, and that can wait until you're back online.
There's a bonus you only get by keeping the recording: because MoosePad doesn't throw the audio away, you can tap into any moment and listen back to check the transcript. Granola deletes the audio, so if a line comes out wrong, there's nothing to replay.
When Granola is the better choice
We're not going to pretend MoosePad is better for everyone. Granola is the stronger choice if:
You're a team or company that lives in meetings. Granola has shared workspaces, folder-based access controls, and native integrations with Notion, Slack, and CRMs like HubSpot. It's building toward an enterprise "AI context" layer. MoosePad is built for individuals and families.
You're on Windows. Granola has a desktop app for Windows as well as Mac. MoosePad is Apple-only today.
You want the highest-accuracy cloud transcription and don't mind the audio leaving your device. Cloud ASR can edge out on-device models on messy, multi-speaker audio, and Granola improves server-side without an app update.
When MoosePad is the better choice
You don't want your audio leaving your device. On-device transcription means the recording never touches a third-party server. Only the transcript text is sent, and only to write the summary.
You record where there's no signal. On-device transcription works fully offline, so in-person meetings, field interviews, and travel are covered.
You want to keep and replay your recordings. MoosePad keeps the audio on your device so you can listen back and verify. Granola deletes it.
You want a straightforward price. $4.99/month gets you everything, with Family Sharing and no per-seat pricing or history paywall.
Frequently asked questions
Is MoosePad or Granola more private?
MoosePad keeps your audio on your device. Recording and transcription happen on-device using Apple's Speech framework, and the audio is never uploaded. Only the finished text transcript is sent, encrypted, to generate the AI summary. Granola's own security page states it sends audio to third-party transcription providers (such as Deepgram and AssemblyAI); on iPhone the audio is uploaded and transcribed after the meeting. Granola deletes the audio afterward but keeps transcripts, and consumer accounts are opted into model training by default.
Does Granola work offline?
No. Granola requires an internet connection because transcription and summaries run in the cloud. MoosePad records and transcribes entirely on-device, so it works with no connection at all, on a plane or anywhere without signal. Only the later AI summary step needs the internet.
Is MoosePad cheaper than Granola?
Yes for individuals. MoosePad is $4.99/month or $49.99/year with every feature included and no per-seat pricing. Granola's free tier only lets you access the last 30 days of notes, and its paid Business plan is $14 per user per month. MoosePad also supports Family Sharing for up to five people.
Can I play back the audio of a meeting?
Yes in MoosePad. Your recording stays on your device, so you can listen back to any moment and check the transcript against what was actually said. Granola deletes the audio once transcription finishes, so there is no recording to play back if the transcript gets something wrong.
Does MoosePad send anything to the cloud?
Only text, never audio. Recording and transcription happen on your device and the audio never leaves it. To write the AI summary, MoosePad sends only the finished text transcript, encrypted, to its AI service. Granola uploads the audio itself to third-party transcription services; MoosePad only ever sends text.