Notetaker AI by BlueSky Apps and Shadow are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. Notetaker AI by BlueSky Apps: Zoom Marketplace app from BlueSky Apps that transcribes and summarizes Zoom meetings with AI. 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 Notetaker AI by BlueSky Apps when zoom-centric teams wanting automatic transcripts and summaries of calls 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.
Zoom Marketplace app from BlueSky Apps that transcribes and summarizes Zoom meetings with AI.
AI-generated summaries, action items, and highlightsCentralized dashboard storing past meeting notes and transcriptsDownloadable notes in PDF or text format
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
Notetaker AI by BlueSky Apps 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.
Installs and runs through the Zoom Marketplace inside the Zoom client
Bot-free capture that records system audio without joining the meeting as a participant
Standout feature
Real-time AI transcription of Zoom meetings
On-device (local) transcription on macOS
Team usage
AI-generated summaries, action items, and highlights
Speaker identification during transcription
Integrations
Centralized dashboard storing past meeting notes and transcripts
Captures on-screen content in addition to spoken audio
Languages & capture
Downloadable notes in PDF or text format
Customizable prompts/Skills to generate notes, summaries, and emails
Best-fit workflow
Optional waiting-room admission control
Webhook integration to connect outputs to other tools
Best for
Notetaker AI by BlueSky Apps
Choose Notetaker AI by BlueSky Apps if you need zoom-centric teams wanting automatic transcripts and summaries of calls — strengths include native zoom marketplace install with no extra desktop software.
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
Notetaker AI by BlueSky Apps
+ Native Zoom Marketplace install with no extra desktop software
+ Stores a searchable history of meeting notes and transcripts
- Built specifically for Zoom rather than a broad set of platforms
Shadow
+ Does not add a visible bot to meetings
+ Local transcription keeps core audio processing on the device
- Available for macOS only
FAQ
Is Notetaker AI by BlueSky Apps or Shadow better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. Notetaker AI by BlueSky Apps is strong for zoom-centric teams wanting automatic transcripts and summaries of calls, while Shadow is strong for capturing notes and summaries across multiple conferencing platforms without a bot joining. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do Notetaker AI by BlueSky Apps and Shadow compare on price?
Notetaker AI by BlueSky Apps 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 Notetaker AI by BlueSky Apps and Shadow?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.