Decision Support · Side-by-side
Compare pricing, strengths, and use cases so it is easier to pick the right fit.
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Spellar 3.0
Best overallSpellar 3.0 wins for most people because it works across Mac, iPhone, iPad, and web, integrates with 18+ tools, and has a genuinely useful live AI copilot. Shadow 2.0 is the better choice only if you are a macOS-only user who absolutely cannot have a bot visible in meetings and needs local-first privacy. The single biggest difference is platform: Shadow is Mac-only, while Spellar runs on nearly everything.
Shadow 2.0
Spellar 3.0
Scores at a glance
Choose Shadow 2.0 if
Choose Spellar 3.0 if
Key differences
Facts side by side
| Shadow 2.0 | Spellar 3.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| API access |
Common questions
Yes, if you need absolute local-only storage. Shadow keeps everything on your Mac by default and never uses your data for training. Spellar uses cloud processing but is GDPR and SOC 2 compliant, so it's still very secure for most professionals.
Yes, Spellar has native iPhone and iPad apps. However, the mobile version does not include the live AI copilot feature — that's desktop-only. Shadow has no mobile app at all.
Both are easy. Shadow installs like any Mac app and runs on autopilot immediately. Spellar requires connecting your calendar and choosing integrations, but the guided setup takes under 10 minutes. Neither requires coding.
Spellar can struggle with meetings over 100 participants. Shadow handles large meetings better because it runs locally and doesn't depend on cloud processing for transcription. For very large all-hands, Shadow is more reliable.
No — both tools are designed to be invisible. Shadow never appears as a bot. Spellar also joins silently without showing up in the participant list. Your colleagues won't know the tool is there.
Probably not. Both free tiers cap at 10 meetings per month, and Spellar's free meetings are also shorter. If you have more than 2-3 meetings per week, you'll need to pay. Shadow's paid pricing is not published; Spellar's pricing is also unclear, so check their websites.
Spellar 3.0 beats Shadow 2.0 for most people thanks to cross-platform support and deep integrations, but Shadow wins for privacy-obsessed Mac-only users who need invisible recording.
If you use a Mac and nothing else, and privacy is your #1 concern, go with Shadow 2.0. For everyone else — especially if you have an iPhone, use multiple tools, or want live meeting help — Spellar 3.0 is the smarter, more flexible choice. Both have free trials, so try them before committing.
Detail pages: Shadow 2.0 · Spellar 3.0
