SmartDepo and WhisperLiveKit 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. WhisperLiveKit: Open-source, self-hosted real-time speech-to-text and speaker diarization toolkit with a FastAPI server and web interface, suitable for meeting transcription. 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 WhisperLiveKit when self-hosted real-time meeting transcription with speaker labels matters most. Both record across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams; trial each on real meetings before committing.
Open-source, self-hosted real-time speech-to-text and speaker diarization toolkit with a FastAPI server and web interface, suitable for meeting transcription.
FastAPI backend with OpenAI-compatible REST API and Deepgram-compatible WebSocket protocol
Included customizable HTML/JavaScript web interface and Docker images (GPU and CPU)
Multiple ASR backends (Whisper variants, Voxtral, Qwen3-ASR) and 200+ language support with translation
SmartDepo is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); WhisperLiveKit is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
Real-time streaming speech-to-text with low latency over WebSocket
Standout feature
Multiple summary formats: page/line summaries, key admissions, abstracts, and memos
Real-time speaker diarization to distinguish multiple speakers
Team usage
Topic detection that organizes content like attorney case materials
FastAPI backend with OpenAI-compatible REST API and Deepgram-compatible WebSocket protocol
Integrations
Full-transcript analysis without omissions
Multiple ASR backends (Whisper variants, Voxtral, Qwen3-ASR) and 200+ language support with translation
Languages & capture
Human review of AI-generated summaries by legal professionals
Included customizable HTML/JavaScript web interface and Docker images (GPU and CPU)
Best-fit workflow
Fast turnaround, with summaries produced in minutes
Voice activity detection and multi-user support on a single backend
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.
WhisperLiveKit
Choose WhisperLiveKit if you need self-hosted real-time meeting transcription with speaker labels — strengths include fully open source (apache 2.0) and self-hostable for private, on-premise transcription.
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
WhisperLiveKit
+ Fully open source (Apache 2.0) and self-hostable for private, on-premise transcription
+ Real-time diarization and low-latency streaming designed for live scenarios like meetings
- Requires technical setup and, for best performance, GPU hardware
FAQ
Is SmartDepo or WhisperLiveKit better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. SmartDepo is strong for generating cited page-line summaries of deposition transcripts, while WhisperLiveKit is strong for self-hosted real-time meeting transcription with speaker labels. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do SmartDepo and WhisperLiveKit compare on price?
SmartDepo is a free tier with paid upgrades and WhisperLiveKit 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 WhisperLiveKit?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.