HoverNotes and Shadow are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. HoverNotes: Chrome extension that watches lecture and course videos with you and generates AI notes saved as Markdown. Shadow: A bot-free, Mac-based AI meeting assistant that transcribes and summarizes calls locally without joining as a participant. They overlap on ai-meeting-assistants, so the right pick depends on team size, budget, and which meeting workflows you automate.
For ai-meeting-assistants workflows, shortlist HoverNotes when taking notes from coursera and udemy course videos matters most, and Shadow when capturing notes and summaries across multiple conferencing platforms without a bot joining matters most. Both record across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams; trial each on real meetings before committing.
Chrome extension that watches lecture and course videos with you and generates AI notes saved as Markdown.
Chrome extension that generates AI notes while watching videosFreemium plan with paid tiers for more usageNotes saved locally as Markdown files for use in Obsidian and similar tools
A bot-free, Mac-based AI meeting assistant that transcribes and summarizes calls locally without joining as a participant.
Bot-free capture that records system audio without joining the meeting as a participantCaptures on-screen content in addition to spoken audioCustomizable prompts/Skills to generate notes, summaries, and emails
HoverNotes is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Shadow is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
Chrome extension that generates AI notes while watching videos
Bot-free capture that records system audio without joining the meeting as a participant
Standout feature
Video frame analysis to capture on-screen code, equations, and diagrams
On-device (local) transcription on macOS
Team usage
Notes saved locally as Markdown files for use in Obsidian and similar tools
Speaker identification during transcription
Integrations
One-click timestamped screenshots that link back to the video moment
Captures on-screen content in addition to spoken audio
Languages & capture
Support for YouTube, Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Bilibili, and lecture portals
Customizable prompts/Skills to generate notes, summaries, and emails
Best-fit workflow
Freemium plan with paid tiers for more usage
Webhook integration to connect outputs to other tools
Best for
HoverNotes
Choose HoverNotes if you need taking notes from coursera and udemy course videos — strengths include captures visual on-screen content, not just audio, for technical lectures.
Shadow
Choose Shadow if you need capturing notes and summaries across multiple conferencing platforms without a bot joining — strengths include does not add a visible bot to meetings.
Pros & cons
HoverNotes
+ Captures visual on-screen content, not just audio, for technical lectures
+ Local Markdown output gives users full ownership and portability of notes
- Limited to video content viewed in a Chrome browser
Shadow
+ Does not add a visible bot to meetings
+ Local transcription keeps core audio processing on the device
- Available for macOS only
FAQ
Is HoverNotes or Shadow better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. HoverNotes is strong for taking notes from coursera and udemy course videos, while Shadow is strong for capturing notes and summaries across multiple conferencing platforms without a bot joining. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do HoverNotes and Shadow compare on price?
HoverNotes is a free tier with paid upgrades and Shadow is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Can I use both HoverNotes and Shadow?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.