Shadow and SmartDepo are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. Shadow: A bot-free, Mac-based AI meeting assistant that transcribes and summarizes calls locally without joining as a participant. SmartDepo: AI deposition summary platform for litigators that produces cited summaries with page-line citations. 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 Shadow when capturing notes and summaries across multiple conferencing platforms without a bot joining matters most, and SmartDepo when generating cited page-line summaries of deposition transcripts matters most. Both record across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams; trial each on real meetings before committing.
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
Shadow is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); SmartDepo 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
AI deposition summaries with page-line citations
Standout feature
On-device (local) transcription on macOS
Multiple summary formats: page/line summaries, key admissions, abstracts, and memos
Team usage
Speaker identification during transcription
Topic detection that organizes content like attorney case materials
Integrations
Captures on-screen content in addition to spoken audio
Full-transcript analysis without omissions
Languages & capture
Customizable prompts/Skills to generate notes, summaries, and emails
Human review of AI-generated summaries by legal professionals
Best-fit workflow
Webhook integration to connect outputs to other tools
Fast turnaround, with summaries produced in minutes
Best for
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.
SmartDepo
Choose SmartDepo if you need generating cited page-line summaries of deposition transcripts — strengths include citation-focused output suitable for court filings.
Pros & cons
Shadow
+ Does not add a visible bot to meetings
+ Local transcription keeps core audio processing on the device
- Available for macOS only
SmartDepo
+ Citation-focused output suitable for court filings
+ Multiple summary formats tailored to different litigation tasks
- Narrowly focused on deposition summaries rather than live transcription or general meetings
FAQ
Is Shadow or SmartDepo better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. Shadow is strong for capturing notes and summaries across multiple conferencing platforms without a bot joining, while SmartDepo is strong for generating cited page-line summaries of deposition transcripts. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do Shadow and SmartDepo compare on price?
Shadow is a free tier with paid upgrades and SmartDepo 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 Shadow and SmartDepo?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.