Kai for Chrome and Shadow are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. Kai for Chrome: A Chrome extension that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely on-device in the browser, with no bot, no account, and no upload. 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 Kai for Chrome when privately transcribing google meet, zoom web, or teams calls inside chrome 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.
A Chrome extension that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely on-device in the browser, with no bot, no account, and no upload.
Bot-free capture from Google Meet, Zoom web, Teams, and any Chrome audio tabFully on-device transcription in the browser via Whisper on WebGPU or WebAssemblyKeyboard-shortcut recording with a live transcript side panel
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
Kai for Chrome 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.
Fully on-device transcription in the browser via Whisper on WebGPU or WebAssembly
Bot-free capture that records system audio without joining the meeting as a participant
Standout feature
Bot-free capture from Google Meet, Zoom web, Teams, and any Chrome audio tab
On-device (local) transcription on macOS
Team usage
No account or sign-up required to start transcribing
Speaker identification during transcription
Integrations
Keyboard-shortcut recording with a live transcript side panel
Captures on-screen content in addition to spoken audio
Languages & capture
Local summaries with decisions, topics, and assigned action items
Customizable prompts/Skills to generate notes, summaries, and emails
Best-fit workflow
One-click optional email sharing of finished notes
Webhook integration to connect outputs to other tools
Best for
Kai for Chrome
Choose Kai for Chrome if you need privately transcribing google meet, zoom web, or teams calls inside chrome — strengths include audio and transcription stay on-device for strong privacy.
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
Kai for Chrome
+ Audio and transcription stay on-device for strong privacy
+ No bot joins the call and no account is needed to get started
- Requires a recent version of Chrome and works only within the 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 Kai for Chrome or Shadow better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. Kai for Chrome is strong for privately transcribing google meet, zoom web, or teams calls inside chrome, while Shadow is strong for capturing notes and summaries across multiple conferencing platforms without a bot joining. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do Kai for Chrome and Shadow compare on price?
Kai for Chrome 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 Kai for Chrome and Shadow?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.