Reflect and Shadow are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. Reflect: Networked note-taking and second-brain app with AI that transcribes voice notes and extracts action items from meeting notes. 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 Reflect when taking and linking meeting notes within a connected knowledge base 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.
Networked note-taking and second-brain app with AI that transcribes voice notes and extracts action items from meeting notes.
AI extraction of key takeaways and action items from meeting notesAI voice note transcription and summarizationEnd-to-end encryption with instant cross-device sync
Reflect 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 voice note transcription and summarization
On-device (local) transcription on macOS
Team usage
AI extraction of key takeaways and action items from meeting notes
Speaker identification during transcription
Integrations
Google Calendar and Outlook integration for meetings
Captures on-screen content in addition to spoken audio
Languages & capture
End-to-end encryption with instant cross-device sync
Customizable prompts/Skills to generate notes, summaries, and emails
Best-fit workflow
iOS app with offline access and browser/Kindle capture
Webhook integration to connect outputs to other tools
Best for
Reflect
Choose Reflect if you need taking and linking meeting notes within a connected knowledge base — strengths include combines a second-brain knowledge base with ai meeting summarization.
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
Reflect
+ Combines a second-brain knowledge base with AI meeting summarization
+ Calendar integration ties notes directly to scheduled meetings
- Not a dedicated meeting-bot recorder; relies on captured notes and voice input
Shadow
+ Does not add a visible bot to meetings
+ Local transcription keeps core audio processing on the device
- Available for macOS only
FAQ
Is Reflect or Shadow better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. Reflect is strong for taking and linking meeting notes within a connected knowledge base, while Shadow is strong for capturing notes and summaries across multiple conferencing platforms without a bot joining. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do Reflect and Shadow compare on price?
Reflect 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 Reflect and Shadow?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.