kitio.aiRead AI 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 $20 for Read AI.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Meeting summaries
- Engagement metrics
- Email and chat summaries
- Search Copilot
- Integrations with CRMs
- Bot-free call recording
- Real-time speaker labels
- Meeting and Action Skills
- Markdown storage
- Webhooks
| Feature | Read AI | Shadow |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Meeting summaries plus AI search across your email, chat and calls | Bot-free Mac meeting assistant that saves notes as Markdown |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $19.75/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Read AI | Shadow |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Shadow has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $20 for Read AI.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- 5 meeting transcripts / month
- Unlimited enterprise search
- Summaries and meeting coach
Pro
$19.75/mo
- Per user
- Unlimited meeting transcripts
- 100 file upload credits / month
- Unlimited storage
Enterprise
$29.75/mo
- Per user
- Audio and video playback
- Video highlights
Enterprise+
$39.75/mo
- Per user, requires 5+ licenses
- HIPAA compliance
- SAML and SCIM
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
Read AI
- Covers meetings, email and chat
- Useful meeting metrics
- Works on major call platforms
- Engagement scores can feel intrusive
- Free plan has a monthly meeting cap
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 Read AI if you want:
- Covers meetings, email and chat
- Useful meeting metrics
- Works on major call platforms
Watch out: engagement scores can feel intrusive.
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.
Read AI vs Shadow FAQ
What is the difference between Read AI and Shadow?
Read AI: Meeting summaries plus AI search across your email, chat and calls. Shadow: Bot-free Mac meeting assistant that saves notes as Markdown. Both are productivity tools.
Is Read AI or Shadow cheaper?
Shadow has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $20 for Read AI.
Do Read AI and Shadow have free plans?
Read AI: Yes. Shadow: Yes.
Who makes Read AI?
Read AI is made by Read AI, based in United States.
Who makes Shadow?
Shadow is made by Shadow.
Which should I choose, Read AI or Shadow?
Choose Read AI if you value covers meetings, email and chat and useful meeting metrics. Choose Shadow if you value no bot joins your meetings and notes are markdown files you own.