Meeting Notetaker Circleback Launches Free Tier to Draw in More Users

The competition in the meeting note-taker market is fierce. Recently, the dictation tool Wispr launched its own note-taking and scheduling feature, while Calendly incorporated a similar addition to its platform. Meanwhile, established note-taking services like Granola, Read AI, and Fireflies have successfully raised millions in funding.

To adapt to the increasing competition, Circleback, which is supported by Y Combinator, is introducing a free subscription tier that allows users to test its service. This new offering enables users to transcribe an unlimited number of meetings, though they can only access their transcriptions from the last 30 days (echoing a tier introduced by Granola a few months earlier).

The free tier permits users to record meetings, use mobile and Apple Watch applications, leverage AI to search transcripts, and integrate the app with Linear and Slack. For users looking for extensive integrations, unlimited meeting history, and complete API and MCP access, subscription plans start at $14 per month (when billed annually). Before this change, Circleback had no free option, with rates starting at $20.83 per month.

Founded in 2023 by Ali Haghani and Kevin Jacyna, Circleback secured $2.5 million in investments in 2024. The company has reported profitability since, achieving a run-rate revenue exceeding $1 million per employee, supported by a team of eight, for a total run-rate of about $8 million.

Haghani pointed out that the limited trial period resulted in a significant decrease in users, leading to the decision to implement a free plan.

“By lowering barriers and allowing more users to interact with the product, Circleback can broaden its user base. We are proficient at improving our product and monetizing users,” he said.

The company asserts that it does not engage in Google Ads or Meta Ads; this free tier will effectively function as its marketing strategy.

Haghani also mentioned that the company is not currently seeking additional funding, despite interest, as it does not see any hindrances to growth.

“We are competing effectively and acquiring customers from much larger companies, both in terms of staff and financing. I believe there’s now a heightened drive to succeed,” he remarked.

He added that the startup would consider fundraising if it determined that capital could help address any existing challenges.