Shadow and Sonix 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. Sonix: Automated transcription service that converts audio and video into searchable text in many languages, with editing tools. 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 Sonix when transcribing recorded meetings 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); Sonix 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
Automated transcription
Standout feature
On-device (local) transcription on macOS
In-browser transcript editor
Team usage
Speaker identification during transcription
Multi-language support
Integrations
Captures on-screen content in addition to spoken audio
Translation and subtitles
Languages & capture
Customizable prompts/Skills to generate notes, summaries, and emails
Search across transcripts
Best-fit workflow
Webhook integration to connect outputs to other tools
Automated transcription
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.
Sonix
Choose Sonix if you need transcribing recorded meetings — strengths include accurate transcription with strong editing.
Pros & cons
Shadow
+ Does not add a visible bot to meetings
+ Local transcription keeps core audio processing on the device
- Available for macOS only
Sonix
+ Accurate transcription with strong editing
+ Wide language coverage
- Not a live meeting bot
FAQ
Is Shadow or Sonix 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 Sonix is strong for transcribing recorded meetings. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do Shadow and Sonix compare on price?
Shadow is a free tier with paid upgrades and Sonix 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 Sonix?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.