If you like Granola's bot-free notes but want your meetings transcribed on your own computer, Unidesk is an alternative to consider. Both record calls without a bot. The difference is where transcription runs: Granola's help center says it passes meeting audio to a transcription provider, while Unidesk's Free plan transcribes and summarises on your Mac or Windows PC, with unlimited meetings.
Unidesk vs Granola at a glance
Granola statements are quoted from granola.ai and its help center (checked on 24 October 2026), and from its security and pricing pages (checked on 26 October 2026). Plans and prices change, so check Granola's pricing page for the latest.
| Feature | Unidesk | Granola |
|---|---|---|
| Records without a bot | Yes | Yes: "Uses your computer audio, so doesn't invite a bot." |
| Platforms | Mac (Apple silicon), Windows 10 and 11 | "Available for macOS, Windows, iOS, Android" |
| Where transcription runs | On your computer (Free), or the cloud (Pro, Max) | "Granola passes audio directly from your microphone and system audio to our transcription provider" |
| Works without internet | Yes on the Free plan, after a one-time model download | Uses cloud providers: "Granola uses best-in-class transcription providers (like Deepgram and Assembly) and AI providers (like OpenAI and Anthropic) to summarize your meeting." |
| Where meetings are kept | On your computer; no cloud sync | "Notes are stored in our US-hosted AWS Virtual Private Cloud." |
| Free plan | Unlimited meetings, transcripts and summaries on your computer | Basic, $0: "See limited meeting history" (pricing) |
| Also included | Notes, tasks, whiteboards, time tracker, dictation | On Basic: "AI chat within and across meetings", "Shared folders for collaboration", "Customized note templates" |
Why choose Unidesk
- Private by default. On the Free plan, your meeting audio, transcripts and summaries are made by models on your computer and stored in a folder you choose.
- No limit on meetings. Free meetings stay until you delete them.
- It works without internet. After the one-time model download, record and summarise on a plane, or anywhere the connection is poor.
- More than meetings. Notes, tasks, whiteboards, a time tracker and dictation into any app live in the same app.
When Granola is the better choice
- You want notes on your phone. Granola lists iOS and Android apps. Unidesk runs on Mac and Windows only.
- Your team shares notes. Unidesk stores meetings on your computer and doesn't sync them.
- You use an Intel Mac. Unidesk needs Apple silicon (M1 or later).
- You need on-device transcripts in a language other than English. Unidesk's on-device transcripts are currently in English.
- Your computer has less than 16 GB of memory. Unidesk's on-device AI needs a capable machine. On an older laptop, use Unidesk Pro or Max, or a cloud app.
Moving from Granola to Unidesk
- Download Unidesk for Mac or Windows and open it.
- Join your next Zoom, Google Meet or Teams call and click record. On a Mac, you can also accept the prompt when Unidesk spots the call.
- When the call ends, read the summary, decisions and action items.
Recording laws differ by place, and some US states require everyone on the call to agree. Tell everyone before you record, and stop if anyone objects.
Questions
Is Unidesk free? Yes. The Free plan has unlimited meetings, transcripts and summaries on your computer, with no time limit and no card.
Does Unidesk join my calls? No. Like Granola, it records from your computer's audio, so no bot joins the call.
Can I use cloud AI with Unidesk? Yes. Pro (126 cloud hours a month) and Max (252 cloud hours) send meeting audio over an encrypted connection to our cloud service, which passes it to AI model providers. Unidesk doesn't store that audio on its servers; the providers process it under their own terms. We don't use your meetings to train AI models.
Download Unidesk free for Mac or Windows.
Granola, Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams are trademarks of their respective owners. They are named only to identify the products discussed. Unidesk is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by them. Statements about other products are quoted from their public websites on the date shown and may have changed since; check their sites for current information.