kitio.aiPlaud vs Shadow
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Shadow has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $18 for Plaud.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Wearable recorders
- Automatic transcription
- Summary templates
- Mind maps
- Desktop meeting capture
- Bot-free call recording
- Real-time speaker labels
- Meeting and Action Skills
- Markdown storage
- Webhooks
| Feature | Plaud | Shadow |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Wearable AI voice recorders that transcribe and summarize conversations | Bot-free Mac meeting assistant that saves notes as Markdown |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $17.99/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Plaud | Shadow |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Pricing compared
Shadow has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $18 for Plaud.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Starter
Free
- 300 transcription minutes per month
- Requires a Plaud device
Pro
$17.99/mo
- 1,200 transcription minutes per month
Unlimited
$29.99/mo
- Unlimited transcription minutes
Team
$35/mo
- Per user
- Launch offer $28/user until Nov 30, 2026
- SAML SSO, centralized billing
2 plans
Free
Free
- Unlimited transcription
- Unlimited audio recording
- Unlimited smart screenshots
Plus
$8/mo
- Everything in Free
- Unlimited Action Skills
- Unlimited AI meeting notes
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Plaud
- Captures in-person talks easily
- Long battery life
- Many summary templates
- Requires buying hardware
- Heavy use needs a paid plan
Shadow
- No bot joins your meetings
- Notes are Markdown files you own
- Unlimited transcription on the free plan
- Mac only
- AI features need the Plus plan
- Plans beyond Plus are not listed
Which one should you choose?
Choose Plaud if you want:
- Captures in-person talks easily
- Long battery life
- Many summary templates
Watch out: requires buying hardware.
Choose Shadow if you want:
- No bot joins your meetings
- Notes are Markdown files you own
- Unlimited transcription on the free plan
Watch out: mac only.
Plaud vs Shadow FAQ
What is the difference between Plaud and Shadow?
Plaud: Wearable AI voice recorders that transcribe and summarize conversations. Shadow: Bot-free Mac meeting assistant that saves notes as Markdown. Both are productivity tools.
Is Plaud or Shadow cheaper?
Shadow has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $18 for Plaud.
Do Plaud and Shadow have free plans?
Plaud: Yes. Shadow: Yes.
Who makes Plaud?
Plaud is made by Plaud.
Who makes Shadow?
Shadow is made by Shadow.
Which should I choose, Plaud or Shadow?
Choose Plaud if you value captures in-person talks easily and long battery life. Choose Shadow if you value no bot joins your meetings and notes are markdown files you own.