kitio.aiGranola vs Barside
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Barside is completely free, while Granola is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- No meeting bot
- AI-enhanced notes
- Meeting templates
- Shared team folders
- Chat across notes
- Linked notes and note map
- AI assistant and agents
- AI search with sources
- Call transcription
- Screen recording and clips
- Reading inbox
| Feature | Granola | Barside |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Bot-free meeting notepad that turns your notes into full summaries | Free local-first desktop app for notes, tasks, meetings and AI agents |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | $14/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Granola | Barside |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Barside is completely free, while Granola is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Basic
Free
- AI meeting notes
- 30 days of meeting history
- Shared folders
Business
$14/mo
- Per user
- Unlimited notes and history
- Advanced integrations and API
- MCP integration
Enterprise
$35/mo
- Per user
- SSO and admin controls
- Priority support
- Org-wide auto-deletion
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Granola
- No bot in the call
- Works with any meeting app
- Notes read like your own
- Does not keep audio recordings
- Free plan limits note history
Barside
- Free with many tools in one app
- Data stays on your computer
- Agents need approval before acting
- Mac version is still in beta
- Desktop only, no web app shown
- Wide scope means a learning curve
Which one should you choose?
Choose Granola if you want:
- No bot in the call
- Works with any meeting app
- Notes read like your own
Watch out: does not keep audio recordings.
Choose Barside if you want:
- Free with many tools in one app
- Data stays on your computer
- Agents need approval before acting
Watch out: mac version is still in beta.
Granola vs Barside FAQ
What is the difference between Granola and Barside?
Granola: Bot-free meeting notepad that turns your notes into full summaries. Barside: Free local-first desktop app for notes, tasks, meetings and AI agents. Both are productivity tools.
Is Granola or Barside cheaper?
Barside is completely free, while Granola is freemium.
Do Granola and Barside have free plans?
Granola: Yes. Barside: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Granola?
Granola is made by Granola.
Who makes Barside?
Barside is made by Barside.
Which should I choose, Granola or Barside?
Choose Granola if you value no bot in the call and works with any meeting app. Choose Barside if you value free with many tools in one app and data stays on your computer.