Y Combinator-backed Circleback previously charged $20.83 per month with no free plan and a limited trial period.
Circleback added a free tier to its meeting note-taking service, a shift from its previous pricing that started at $20.83 per month. The free plan includes unlimited meeting transcription, 30 days of history, mobile and Apple Watch apps, AI queries over transcripts, and Linear and Slack integrations.
Ali Haghani and Kevin Jacyna founded Circleback in 2023. The Y Combinator-backed company raised $2.5 million in 2024 and says it has been profitable since, with a team of eight people and run-rate revenue above $1 million per employee. The new free tier responds to growing competition from meeting note-takers like Granola, Read AI, and Fireflies.
For teams evaluating meeting note-takers, the free tier removes the upfront cost barrier and lets them test the AI querying and Slack and Linear integrations before paying. Circleback expects the free tier to act as a marketing expense, replacing paid ads on Google and Meta, which the company does not run. The company says it has been profitable and does not plan to raise funds immediately.
Ali Haghani said Circleback has no immediate fundraising plans despite investor interest. The company is consistently winning customers against larger rivals, he added, and would raise money only if it hits a growth bottleneck. The free tier aims to reduce user drop-off from limited trials, so watch whether it drives conversion to paid plans.
What matters
- Circleback now offers a free tier with unlimited meeting transcription and a 30-day history.
- The free tier lets builders evaluate Circleback without committing to a $14 monthly plan.
- Watch whether the free tier generates paid conversions or just becomes a marketing expense.
Why it matters
Watch whether the free tier generates paid conversions or just becomes a marketing expense.
This GenAI News article was prepared in original wording using reporting and materials published by TechCrunch AI. Source reference: https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/31/meeting-notetaker-circleback-adds-a-free-tier-to-attract-more-customers/.
Drafted by the GenAI News review pipeline.