# Grain vs Fireflies.ai (2026) - Verdict

**Verdict:** both live and price-verified as of Jul 21, 2026. Choose Grain if it starts cheaper, at $15/mo against $18/mo. Choose Fireflies.ai if a longer track record matters to you; it has run since 2016.

Category: AI Meeting Notes & Scheduling · Verified: Jul 21, 2026

## Choose Grain if

- it starts cheaper, at $15/mo against $18/mo.
- you lean toward the more recent build, from 2018.
- it is built for SMB teams.

Link: https://verdict.tools/go/grain (rel="sponsored nofollow")

## Choose Fireflies.ai if

- a longer track record matters to you; it has run since 2016.

Link: https://verdict.tools/go/fireflies-ai (rel="sponsored nofollow")

## What each one is

**Grain.** Grain records and summarizes meetings and leans toward conversation intelligence for revenue teams, adding coaching, team-interaction insights, and CRM sync on higher tiers. It records without a bot and lets non-recording teammates join as free viewers. It fits customer-facing teams that want deal and coaching insight, not just a transcript.
Sources: Grain pricing (https://grain.com/pricing)

**Fireflies.ai.** Fireflies records and transcribes meetings across Zoom, Meet, Teams, and other platforms, with transcription in a wide range of languages and search that can jump to a specific sentence and timestamp months later. It connects to CRMs and collaboration tools and layers on assistants such as AskFred. It fits teams that meet across several platforms and want one searchable, integrated record.
Sources: Fireflies pricing (https://fireflies.ai/pricing)

## Side by side

| Metric | Grain | Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
| From $/mo | $15 | $18 |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Founded | 2018 | 2016 |
| Best for | SMB | solo & SMB & enterprise |
| Status | Live | Live |

All figures = lowest paid monthly plan · verified Jul 21, 2026.

## Where they differ

**Price.** Grain is the cheaper entry at $15/mo, versus $18/mo for Fireflies.ai.

**Free access.** Both Grain and Fireflies.ai offer a permanent free tier.

**Track record.** Fireflies.ai has been operating since 2016; Grain since 2018. A longer survival record matters.

## FAQ

### Grain or Fireflies.ai - which is better in 2026?
Both are live and price-verified as of Jul 21, 2026. Choose Grain if it starts cheaper, at $15/mo against $18/mo. Choose Fireflies.ai if a longer track record matters to you; it has run since 2016.

### Is Grain cheaper than Fireflies.ai?
Grain has the lower entry price - from $15/mo vs $18/mo (verified Jul 21, 2026).

### Does Grain or Fireflies.ai have a free tier?
Both Grain and Fireflies.ai offer a permanent free tier.

### Are Grain and Fireflies.ai still maintained?
Yes - both are live as of Jul 21, 2026, with no official sunset announced for either.

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Canonical: https://verdict.tools/vs/grain-vs-fireflies-ai