SmartDepo and StenoAI are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. SmartDepo: AI deposition summary platform for litigators that produces cited summaries with page-line citations. StenoAI: Open-source desktop app that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings entirely on-device with no bots, subscriptions, or cloud processing. 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 SmartDepo when generating cited page-line summaries of deposition transcripts matters most, and StenoAI when capturing and summarizing confidential meetings without sending audio to the cloud matters most. Both record across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams; trial each on real meetings before committing.
SmartDepo is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); StenoAI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
On-device transcription with Parakeet TDT v3 (Apple Silicon) or Whisper models
Standout feature
Multiple summary formats: page/line summaries, key admissions, abstracts, and memos
System audio and microphone capture via native Core Audio Tap (no bots)
Team usage
Topic detection that organizes content like attorney case materials
Real-time on-screen speaker labels distinguishing you from others
Integrations
Full-transcript analysis without omissions
Local LLM summaries through Ollama, with remote Ollama server support
Languages & capture
Human review of AI-generated summaries by legal professionals
25 European languages live, up to 99 languages via Whisper after recording
Best-fit workflow
Fast turnaround, with summaries produced in minutes
Markdown export of transcripts and summaries
Best for
SmartDepo
Choose SmartDepo if you need generating cited page-line summaries of deposition transcripts — strengths include citation-focused output suitable for court filings.
StenoAI
Choose StenoAI if you need capturing and summarizing confidential meetings without sending audio to the cloud — strengths include fully local, bot-free capture with no cloud processing or subscriptions for core use.
Pros & cons
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
StenoAI
+ Fully local, bot-free capture with no cloud processing or subscriptions for core use
+ MIT-licensed and open source, with active 2026 releases
- Primary support is macOS on Apple Silicon; Windows build is alpha and Intel Mac support ended at v0.3.8
FAQ
Is SmartDepo or StenoAI better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. SmartDepo is strong for generating cited page-line summaries of deposition transcripts, while StenoAI is strong for capturing and summarizing confidential meetings without sending audio to the cloud. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do SmartDepo and StenoAI compare on price?
SmartDepo is a free tier with paid upgrades and StenoAI 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 SmartDepo and StenoAI?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.