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Software · head to head

Microsoft 365 vs Granola

M

Microsoft 365

Software

Productivity apps with built-in AI, security and cloud storage in one plan

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Granola logo

Granola

Software

AI notepad that transcribes meetings and merges transcripts with user notes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft 365 free web tier caps storage at 5GB; Basic tier is $1.99/month for only 100GB; Granola free plan limits note access to 30 days; older notes become inaccessible unless upgraded

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft 365 and Granola actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft 365 and Granola differ
AttributeMicrosoft 365Granola
PlatformsWebmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Microsoft 365

No use cases recorded yet. See the Microsoft 365 review.

Granola

  • Automatic meeting documentation without dedicated note-takernot Microsoft 365
  • Action item extraction and task assignmentnot Microsoft 365
  • Meeting context retrieval via AI agent queriesnot Microsoft 365
  • Multi-language meeting transcriptionnot Microsoft 365
  • Compliance-friendly note generation for regulated industriesnot Microsoft 365

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Microsoft 365

  • Free web tier caps storage at 5GB; Basic tier is $1.99/month for only 100GB
  • Family plan tops out at 6 people and AI features cannot be shared across family members even on paid plans

Granola

  • Free plan limits note access to 30 days; older notes become inaccessible unless upgraded
  • Premium pricing not published on main website; requires account signup or sales contact
  • Requires local computer audio; not suitable for purely phone-based calls via traditional phone lines
  • Note retention limits may affect long-term project documentation

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft 365

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft 365 review.

Granola

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited note-taking
    • 30-day note retention
    • No credit card required
  • Premium$null/month
    • Access and search notes older than 30 days
    • Specific pricing not detailed on available pages

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft 365 if

  • You want to start without paying.
Microsoft 365 review

Choose Granola if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams.
Granola review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft 365 or Granola better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft 365 starts at Free and Granola at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft 365 or Granola?
Microsoft 365 starts at Free and Granola at Free.
Does Microsoft 365 or Granola run on more platforms?
Microsoft 365 runs on Web. Granola runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams.
Can I use Microsoft 365 for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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Related pages

More on Microsoft 365

More on Granola

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