Pauta vs Granola vs MacWhisper, a Granola alternative
Pauta runs on Windows and Mac, transcribes on your own computer and charges once. Among the four apps in the table, it is the only one that the official pages checked on November 12, 2026 show with all three.
The four apps side by side
The Superwhisper column describes Meetings, its meeting feature. In all four apps no bot joins the call, so the bot row reads the same in every column.
| Criterion | Pauta | Granola | MacWhisper | Superwhisper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS 13 or later and Windows 10 and 11 | macOS, Windows, iPhone and Android | Mac, with an iPhone and iPad version | Mac only, at launch of Meetings |
| Price and billing | $5 one time, lifetime license, with a 7 day trial and no card | Free plan with 30 days of history. The Business plan costs $14 per user per month | Free version. Pro costs €64 one time, with lifetime updates | Included in Superwhisper Pro, at $8.49 a month or $84.99 a year |
| Where transcription runs | Transcription and summary on your computer. The cloud only comes in if you connect an API key | In the cloud. The security page says transcription and summarization use cloud processing | Local models on the Mac, with remote models as an option. Summaries use your own API key for an AI provider or local models through Ollama and LM Studio | Local or cloud, your choice. Cloud models receive audio or text |
| Bot in the meeting | No bot | No bot | No bot | No bot |
| Works offline | Yes, with local speech and summary models | Notes and history stay on the device for offline viewing. Recording and transcribing offline is not stated on the official page | Yes, with local models | Yes, with offline models, speaker separation included |
Pauta or Granola
Granola has apps for macOS, Windows, iPhone and Android, and a free plan with 30 days of history. Unlimited history, pre-meeting briefs, follow-up emails and API access come only with paid plans. People who want the app on the phone too, for in-person meetings, have a reason to pick it.
Pauta suits people who want transcription and summary to stay on the computer and prefer to pay once, with no monthly fee. Granola, according to its security page, transcribes and summarizes in the cloud with providers such as Deepgram, Assembly, OpenAI and Anthropic.
Pauta or MacWhisper
MacWhisper has a free version, and Pro costs €64 one time, the same billing model as Pauta. It transcribes with local models on the Mac, with remote models as an option, and lets you summarize with your own API key or with local models. The iPhone and iPad version transcribes files and recordings. It works well for people who use only a Mac and also want to transcribe on an iPhone or iPad.
Pauta fits people who use Windows, a platform the official MacWhisper page does not mention, and people who share one license between a Mac and a PC. The license covers up to 2 computers.
Pauta or Superwhisper Meetings
Meetings comes inside Superwhisper Pro, at $8.49 a month or $84.99 a year, next to dictation. It runs on Mac only at launch, which may change. It processes meetings on the Mac and lets you choose cloud models, which receive audio or text. It suits people who already dictate with Superwhisper and want meetings in the same app.
Pauta fits people who use Windows. People who prefer to pay once get that option in Pauta, while the Meetings page shows monthly and yearly plans.
Sources and check date
The Granola, MacWhisper and Superwhisper data comes from their official pages, checked on November 12, 2026. Prices and platforms change, and each vendor's own site is worth more than this page.
- Granola at granola.ai/pricing and granola.ai/security
- MacWhisper at macwhisper.com and macwhisper.helpscoutdocs.com
- Superwhisper Meetings at superwhisper.com/meetings
Frequently asked questions
What is a Granola alternative for Windows?
Granola also has a Windows app, so the operating system does not separate the two. Pauta runs on Windows and transcribes on the PC itself, while Granola transcribes and summarizes in the cloud.
Is there a Granola alternative with a one-time payment?
Pauta and MacWhisper Pro show a one-time payment on the official pages checked. Pauta costs $5 and runs on Mac and Windows, and MacWhisper Pro costs €64 and runs on Mac. The Superwhisper Meetings page shows monthly and yearly plans.
Which Granola alternative transcribes on the computer?
Pauta transcribes only on the computer. MacWhisper and Superwhisper Meetings transcribe with local models and let you choose remote models. Granola uses cloud processing, according to its security page.
Do any of these apps put a bot in the meeting?
None of them. Pauta, Granola, MacWhisper and Superwhisper capture the computer audio and do not join the call.
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