Alter vs Grain: Features, Pricing and User Reviews 2026
Compare features, pricing, reviews, and more to make an informed decision
Alter
Alter is a native macOS AI assistant that integrates with all apps for voice-first workflows and enhanced productivity.
Grain
Grain is an AI-powered meeting notetaker that automatically records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings for growing teams.
Alter
Voice-first AI workflows across all Mac apps
50+ premium AI models with smart routing
Meeting recording with instant transcription
80+ built-in actions plus custom creation
Local processing with Ollama/LM Studio support
File drag-and-drop for any document type
Privacy-first with encrypted local storage
System-wide integration via global shortcuts
YouTube transcript extraction
Real-time dictation and speech-to-text
Grain
AI-powered automatic transcription and meeting summaries
Customizable note templates for different meeting types
Real-time clip creation and video highlight sharing
Advanced search across all recorded meetings
CRM integration with HubSpot, Salesforce, and others
Automated follow-up email generation
Team collaboration with playlists and stories
Calendar sync with Google and Outlook
Multi-language support for global teams
Alter
Alter offers flexible pricing to suit different user needs, starting completely free for basic usage.
Free Plan: Use all core features by connecting your own API keys or running local AI models. Includes 7-day trial with unlimited access to all premium models, no credit card required.
Local+ ($29/year): Adds real-time speech-to-text with advanced Whisper Pro and Parakeet V3 models for instant dictation and privacy-focused meeting recordings. Supports up to 3 devices.
Pro ($240/year): For power users needing consistent access to premium models. Includes unlimited requests to 50+ cloud models, meeting intelligence with speaker identification, and 2,000+ tool integrations with Google Workspace, HubSpot, and Notion.
Lifetime ($720): One-time payment for permanent access to all current and future features, ideal for long-term users wanting predictable costs without subscriptions.
Special discounts available for students, academics, and non-profit organizations.
Grain
Grain offers flexible pricing plans designed to accommodate teams of all sizes. The platform provides a free tier that includes essential features with up to 20 recorded meetings, making it perfect for trying out the service.
Pricing tiers include:
Free Plan - Up to 20 recordings with basic features and limited collaboration tools
Starter Plan - Starting around $15 per user per month with unlimited recordings and advanced features
Business Plan - Approximately $29 per user per month annually, including full CRM integration and team collaboration features
Enterprise Plan - Custom pricing with advanced security, SAML SSO, and dedicated support
The platform operates on a workspace model where you only pay for users who need recording capabilities, while other team members can view and collaborate on content for free. All paid plans include unlimited meeting storage, AI-powered insights, and integration with popular business tools. Enterprise customers also receive priority support and enhanced security features.