Meeting Notetaker Circleback Launches Free Tier to Boost User Engagement

The market for meeting note-taking tools is intensely competitive. Recently, Wispr, a dictation software, introduced its note-taking and scheduling features, while Calendly has incorporated a similar functionality into its services. Established competitors like Granola, Read AI, and Fireflies have also made significant strides in securing substantial investments.

In light of this intensifying competition, Circleback, which is supported by Y Combinator, is launching a free subscription tier that allows users to experience its offerings. This new option provides users the ability to transcribe unlimited meetings, with the limitation of accessing transcripts only from the last 30 days, akin to a tier introduced by Granola a few months earlier.

The free plan enables users to record meetings, use mobile and Apple Watch applications, leverage AI for transcript searches, and integrate the service with Linear and Slack. For users seeking advanced integrations, unlimited meeting history, and complete API and MCP access, subscription plans start at $14 per month (when billed annually). Previously, Circleback had no free tier, with prices beginning at $20.83 per month.

Founded in 2023 by Ali Haghani and Kevin Jacyna, Circleback obtained $2.5 million in funding in 2024. The company has reported profitability with a run-rate revenue exceeding $1 million per employee, supported by a small team of eight, leading to a total run-rate of around $8 million.

Haghani pointed out that a restrictive trial period significantly diminished user engagement, which led to the implementation of a free plan.

“By removing barriers and inviting more users to interact with the product, Circleback can grow its user base. We excel at improving our product and converting users into paying customers,” he explained.

The company claims it does not engage in Google Ads or Meta Ads; instead, this free tier will be its main marketing strategy.

Haghani also mentioned that the company is not currently seeking additional funding despite some interest, as it perceives no barriers to its continued growth.

“We are effectively competing and attracting customers from much larger firms in both manpower and capital. I believe there’s a heightened urgency to succeed now,” he asserted.

He also stated that the startup will consider fundraising if it finds that additional capital could help address any current challenges.