Shmeetings vs Granola
A complete comparison of privacy-first vs hybrid AI meeting assistants
The Key Difference
Granola is a hybrid note-taking app that combines manual notes with AI enhancement, requiring cloud processing for transcription and AI features.
Shmeetings runs entirely on your personal computer with complete offline AI processing, giving you an AI meeting assistant without any cloud dependencies or privacy concerns.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Shmeetings | Granola |
|---|---|---|
| Data Privacy |
100% Local Processing
Never leaves your computer |
Hybrid Processing
Transcription & AI require cloud |
| Company Approval |
Not Required
Run on personal computer |
May Be Required
Due to cloud processing |
| Note-Taking Style |
Fully Automated
Zero manual input needed |
Manual + AI Enhancement
Requires you to take notes |
| Custom Prompts |
Unlimited Customization
Any prompt, any length |
Custom Templates
Create your own templates |
| Context Files |
.txt, .rtf, .csv, .md, .html, and other file types
Include sensitive documents |
Not Available
No custom context support |
| Meeting Bots |
No Bots
Works via audio capture |
No Bots
Direct audio transcription |
| Platform Support |
Mac Only
Windows coming soon |
Mac & iPhone
Windows coming soon |
| Pricing Model |
$39
Lifetime license |
$18/month
Or $14/user for teams |
Choose Shmeetings If You:
- Need 100% offline, private AI processing
- Want fully automated notes without manual input
- Need to include context files in summaries
- Prefer one-time purchase over subscriptions
- Work with sensitive or confidential information
- Need to record in-person meetings
Choose Granola If You:
- Prefer taking your own notes with AI enhancement
- Want a more interactive note-taking experience
- Need iPhone support for mobile meetings
- Want to chat with AI about past meetings
- Like the hybrid approach of manual + AI notes
- Don't mind cloud processing for transcription
Cost Comparison Over Time
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
* Granola requires monthly subscriptions. Shmeetings is a one-time purchase.
Ready to Try Shmeetings?
Get your fully private AI meeting assistant with a one-time purchase