BUSINESSNew tool · · Source: TechCrunch
Granola launches dictation – free and in any Mac app
Granola, known for AI meeting notes, launched a dictation feature on October 29, 2026. On a Mac, you press the Fn key and speak: Granola transcribes, cleans up and formats your words and drops them into whatever app is open.
What's new
Dictation works in any application – for notes, prompts to AI assistants, or replies to emails and messages. Granola tidies up what you say (filler words, punctuation, formatting) before the text appears.
- Price: “unlimited words, for free”, according to Granola.
- Platform: Mac now; iOS and Windows are coming “soon”.
- Languages: not specified in the report.
The competition
The move takes Granola straight into Wispr Flow's territory – the best-known AI dictation app, which itself added a meeting notetaker a few months ago. Valuations show how hot the market is: TechCrunch puts Granola at $1.5 billion and Wispr at $2 billion. Fireflies, Speechify and Monologue also combine dictation and meeting notes.
Different focus
Granola stays focused on meetings and notes and adds dictation on top. Wispr is building its own models in a research lab focused on controlling computers by voice.
What this means for you
- AI dictation is becoming a standard feature – and free for occasional users. If you've only ever typed, you can now try it at no cost.
- If you already use Granola for meetings, you get dictation without a second tool.
- If you dictate a lot across several devices, compare carefully: specialists like Wispr Flow cover more platforms and features.
Luigi's take
Transparency first: I'm an affiliate partner of both Granola and Wispr Flow, and I review both on my tool pages. That's exactly why I find this interesting – two good tools are growing toward each other, and users benefit because getting started is now free.
My take: for most people, speaking is about three times faster than typing. If you write emails, notes or prompts every day, the keyboard costs you time daily. Whether Granola or Wispr Flow fits depends on your focus: meetings or writing. Try the free dictation for a week – then you'll know whether you need a specialised tool.
Source
TechCrunch: Granola crunches up a dictation feature to compete with Wispr
This article was researched and written with AI assistance. Responsible: Luigi Lugmayr.
