Proactor AI and Shadow are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. Proactor AI: AI note-taking app that records conversations, transcribes in real time, and turns meetings into structured notes and tasks. 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 Proactor AI when capturing meetings and immediately generating assignable follow-up tasks 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.
Proactor AI 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.
Bot-free capture that records system audio without joining the meeting as a participant
Standout feature
AI summaries, key insights, and in-conversation suggestions
On-device (local) transcription on macOS
Team usage
Automatic action items with assigned owners and due dates
Speaker identification during transcription
Integrations
Notes organized by speaker and topic
Captures on-screen content in addition to spoken audio
Languages & capture
Cross-session context retention
Customizable prompts/Skills to generate notes, summaries, and emails
Best-fit workflow
Export to PDF, Word, Markdown, and TXT
Webhook integration to connect outputs to other tools
Best for
Proactor AI
Choose Proactor AI if you need capturing meetings and immediately generating assignable follow-up tasks — strengths include converts conversations directly into trackable tasks with owners and due dates.
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
Proactor AI
+ Converts conversations directly into trackable tasks with owners and due dates
+ Real-time transcription and suggestions during the meeting
- Advanced capabilities are gated behind paid subscription tiers
Shadow
+ Does not add a visible bot to meetings
+ Local transcription keeps core audio processing on the device
- Available for macOS only
FAQ
Is Proactor AI or Shadow better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. Proactor AI is strong for capturing meetings and immediately generating assignable follow-up tasks, while Shadow is strong for capturing notes and summaries across multiple conferencing platforms without a bot joining. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do Proactor AI and Shadow compare on price?
Proactor AI 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 Proactor AI and Shadow?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.