LesskeysGranola alternative that transcribes on your computer
Granola turns the notes you type into an AI summary in the cloud; Lesskeys writes the full transcript on your computer, and the audio never leaves it.
macOS 13+ on Apple Silicon · No subscriptionWindows 10 and 11 · No subscription
Last reviewed
Pick one
Pick Granola or Lesskeys?
Pick Granola if
- You want AI notes built from what you type.
- You want note templates and shared folders.
- You want no bot and accept cloud processing.
Pick Lesskeys if
- The audio must stay on your computer.
- You transcribe recorded audio or video files.
- You want a full transcript with speaker names.
Side by side
Granola and Lesskeys, side by side
- No botjoins the call
- 99languages (Granola: 31)
- Nothinguploaded
| What | Lesskeys | Granola |
|---|---|---|
| Audio stays on your computer | ✓ Nothing is uploaded | ✗ Passed to a transcription provider while the meeting runs. Granola says it does not keep the audio |
| No bot in the call | ✓ No bot joins | ✓ No bot (“Without a meeting bot”) |
| Works offline | ✓ Once the models are downloaded | ✗ Transcription goes through cloud providers |
| Runs on | Mac (macOS 13 or later, Apple Silicon) and Windows 10 or 11. No web or phone app. | macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. The web app only views and edits notes |
| Languages | 99 | 31 on desktop, 17 on phones |
| Pricing model | No subscription | A plan at no charge (30 days of meeting history). Business: $14 per user per month. Enterprise: $35 per user per month.Checked 15 October 2026. |
Sources, all read on 15 October 2026
- Granola pricing (plans and prices)
- Granola home page (no bot, platforms)
- Granola security page (where the audio goes)
- Granola help: transcription (live meetings only, speaker names)
- Granola help: languages (31 and 17 languages)
- Granola help: exporting notes (export)
A row is missing when Granola's own pages do not state it; we leave it out rather than guess. Plans change, so check Granola's page before you buy.
Not for you?
What Lesskeys does not do that Granola does
Lesskeys writes a transcript, not notes.
- No AI summaries
- No note templates
- No chat across meetings
- No shared folders
- No phone apps
What to take from the transcript is up to you. Whisper can get names and rare words wrong, so check anything that matters.
Switching
Switching from Granola: one meeting first
Keep Granola for a week.
Its help lists copying the transcript, copying notes as Markdown and a CSV export of past notes. Save what you need first: Lesskeys does not import them.
Tell the people you record; some places require everyone's consent.
Questions
Questions about Granola and Lesskeys
Is there a Granola alternative that transcribes offline?
Yes. Lesskeys transcribes meetings on your computer with Whisper models, so it works with no internet connection and no audio is uploaded. Granola's security page says it passes your audio to a transcription provider while the meeting runs.
Does Lesskeys write AI summaries like Granola?
No. Lesskeys produces a full transcript with speaker labels on your computer. If you want a summary, you can paste the transcript into any tool you choose.
Can Lesskeys transcribe a recording I already have, which Granola cannot?
Yes. Drop an audio or video file onto Lesskeys and it is transcribed on your computer. Granola's docs say it does not support uploading pre-recorded audio.
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