Shadow and Zeck 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. Zeck: Modern board meeting platform that replaces static decks with interactive updates, AI-generated minutes, smart agendas, pre-voting, and digital voting. 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 Zeck when preparing and distributing interactive board updates before a meeting 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
Modern board meeting platform that replaces static decks with interactive updates, AI-generated minutes, smart agendas, pre-voting, and digital voting.
AI-assisted board update creation from reports and notesAI-generated board minutes from agenda blocks, votes, and discussionsAI summaries of key takeaways from data and charts
Shadow is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Zeck 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-generated board minutes from agenda blocks, votes, and discussions
Standout feature
On-device (local) transcription on macOS
AI-assisted board update creation from reports and notes
Team usage
Speaker identification during transcription
AI summaries of key takeaways from data and charts
Integrations
Captures on-screen content in addition to spoken audio
Smart agendas and interactive, mobile-first board updates
Languages & capture
Customizable prompts/Skills to generate notes, summaries, and emails
Pre-vote and digital voting with a centralized automated minutes book
Best-fit workflow
Webhook integration to connect outputs to other tools
Real-time commenting across board materials
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.
Zeck
Choose Zeck if you need preparing and distributing interactive board updates before a meeting — strengths include purpose-built to streamline board meeting prep, execution, and minutes.
Pros & cons
Shadow
+ Does not add a visible bot to meetings
+ Local transcription keeps core audio processing on the device
- Available for macOS only
Zeck
+ Purpose-built to streamline board meeting prep, execution, and minutes
+ Pre-vote and AI summaries shift routine items out of the live meeting
- Positioned more for startups and growth-stage boards than heavily regulated public companies
FAQ
Is Shadow or Zeck 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 Zeck is strong for preparing and distributing interactive board updates before a meeting. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do Shadow and Zeck compare on price?
Shadow is a free tier with paid upgrades and Zeck 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 Zeck?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.