The meeting note-taker space is increasingly crowded.

In recent weeks, dictation app Wispr and scheduling app Calendly launched their own note-taking features, while dedicated players like Granola, Read AI, and Fireflies have raised millions.

Likely reacting to this intensity, Y Combinator-backed Circleback is introducing a free subscription tier.

The free plan offers unlimited meeting transcription, mobile and Apple Watch apps, AI querying of transcripts, and integrations with Linear and Slack.

However, access to meeting history is limited to the last 30 days. This mirrors Granola, which added a similar free tier months ago.

Previously, Circleback had no free tier, with plans starting at $20.83/month. Now, paid plans begin at $14/month (annual) for all integrations, unlimited history, and full API and MCP access.

Founded in 2023 by Ali Haghani and Kevin Jacyna, Circleback raised $2.5 million in 2024 and has been profitable since.

The company reports a run-rate revenue over $1 million per employee with eight employees, totaling roughly $8 million.

Founder Haghani stated that a previously limited trial period caused significant user drop-off, prompting the free tier.

The company does not spend on Google or Meta ads, using the free tier as a marketing channel.

Haghani also said Circleback is not immediately seeking funding despite interest, as it sees no growth bottlenecks, but remains open if capital becomes a problem solver.