> ## 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 the alternatives

> How Raven compares to Cluely, Fathom, Granola, and Otter — open-source, local-first, with live in-call assist and no bot.

Most meeting tools do one of two jobs: **help you during the call** (Cluely) or **write it up afterward** (Fathom, Granola, Otter). Raven does both — in one open-source, local-first app that brings your own API keys, keeps recordings on your machine, and never puts a bot in the meeting.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Raven vs Cluely" icon="eye-slash" href="/compare/cluely">
    Screen-share invisibility, free — vs Cluely's \$149.99/mo tier. Local vs cloud, open vs closed.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Raven vs Fathom" icon="file-lines" href="/compare/fathom">
    Unlimited AI notes on your own key — vs Fathom's 5-summaries-a-month free cap. Plus live help during the call.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Raven vs Granola" icon="feather" href="/compare/granola">
    Live assist and unlimited local history — vs Granola's 30-day free window and no in-call help.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Raven vs Otter" icon="waveform-lines" href="/compare/otter">
    No 300-minute cap, no bot, no cloud — vs Otter's metered free tier.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## The short version

|                           | Raven                    | Cluely              | Fathom                      | Granola      | Otter           |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------ | --------------- |
| Live in-call assist       | Yes                      | Yes                 | No                          | No           | No              |
| Invisible to screen share | Yes, free                | Only on \$149.99/mo | No                          | No           | No              |
| Bot-free capture          | Yes (Mac + Windows)      | Yes                 | Bot, or bot-free beta (Mac) | Yes (Mac)    | Bot             |
| Where your data lives     | Local SQLite             | Cloud               | Cloud                       | Cloud        | Cloud           |
| Open source               | Yes                      | No                  | No                          | No           | No              |
| Price                     | Free (your own API keys) | \$19.99–\$149.99/mo | \$16/user/mo+               | \$14/user/mo | \$8.33/user/mo+ |

<Note>
  Raven is free and open source. You bring your own keys, so transcription (Deepgram / AssemblyAI) and AI (Anthropic / OpenAI) are billed by those providers for what you use — typically a few dollars a month for regular use, and nothing when you're not in a call.

  Competitor prices verified August 2026 — they change often; check each vendor's pricing page before relying on a number.
</Note>