> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.useraven.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Raven vs Circleback
> A free, open-source Circleback alternative with live in-call help and local storage - no paywall from day one, no per-seat cloud subscription.
Circleback is a polished, automation-heavy notetaker - it turns meetings into CRM updates, tasks, and Slack posts automatically. The catch is there's **no free tier at all** (a 7-day trial, then you pay from day one), it's **per-seat cloud**, and it's after-the-call. Raven is **free** and **open source**, keeps meetings **local**, and helps you **live during** the call.
## At a glance
| | Raven | Circleback |
| ------------------------ | --------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Free tier | **Yes** - full app | **No** - 7-day trial, then paid |
| Live in-call assist | **Yes** | No - after the call |
| Where your meetings live | Local SQLite | Circleback's cloud |
| Price | Free, open source (your own keys) | Individual \$20.83/user/mo (annual), \$25 monthly; Team \$25/user/mo (annual) |
| Capture | Local, bot-free (Mac + Windows) | Visible bot (plus botless mode) |
| Open source | Yes | No |
## Price
Circleback has **no permanent free plan** - after a 7-day trial you're a paid seat: **Individual \$20.83/user/mo** (annual; \$25 monthly), **Team \$25/user/mo** (annual; \$30 monthly). So every active user costs from the first week.
Raven is free and open source; you pay your own AI/transcription usage (a few dollars a month), with no trial clock and no seat fee.
## Where your meetings live
Circleback runs in its cloud (and joins calls with a visible bot by default) to power its automations. Raven keeps transcripts and notes in a **local SQLite database** on your machine, with no bot in the meeting; audio only goes to the providers you chose with your own keys. Open source makes the data path auditable.
## What Circleback does better (honestly)
* **Post-call automations** - auto-update CRM, create tasks, post to Slack; plus email context and MCP.
* Very accurate transcription with speaker names, and a clean product.
If your job is "meetings should automatically update my other tools," Circleback's automation engine is genuinely good - that's what you're paying for.
## When Raven wins
* You don't want to **pay from day one** with no free tier.
* You want meetings **local** and **no bot** in the call.
* You want **live help during** the call, not just automations after.
* You want a **free**, **open-source**, auditable tool with no per-seat fee.
## Switching from Circleback
1. Export anything you want to keep from Circleback.
2. [Download Raven](https://useraven.ai/download), add your keys, enable meeting auto-start.
3. Run Raven through your trial window; keep Raven instead of converting to a paid seat. (CRM push is on Raven's roadmap; today, copy the follow-up email/action items out.)
Free, open source, Mac + Windows. Bring your own keys.
Action items, follow-up email, export.
Circleback pricing verified August 2026 (circleback.ai); no free tier, 7-day trial only. Vendors change pricing often - confirm before relying on a figure.