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Fathom vs Shadow

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors.

The short answer

Cheaper paid plan
Shadow — $8/mo vs $20/mo for Fathom
Free plan
Both have one
Public API
Fathom has one; not confirmed by us for Shadow
Higher Trust score
Fathom — 94 vs 81 for Shadow
Best fit
Fathom: Individuals who want unlimited recording and summaries without paying anything · Shadow: Mac users wanting meeting notes without a visible bot joining the call

From our own records as of each tool's last check. Anything we have not confirmed is left out rather than guessed. How we verify

FathomMeeting recorder with instant summaries and CRM write-backShadowMac app that records meetings without a bot and runs custom AI Skills to draft notes, emails, or summaries.

Side by side

FactFathomShadow
CategoryMeeting AssistantsMeeting Assistants
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starts at$20/mo$8/mo
Public APIYesNot confirmed
Trust score94 / 10081 / 100
PlatformsWeb, macOS, APImacOS
CompanyFathom (part of Superhuman)Taper Labs, Inc.
Launched2020—
Last verifiedOct 15, 2026Oct 15, 2026

What our research says

Fathom

Still one of the most generous free notetakers we have looked at: unlimited recordings and transcripts with no paywall on the basics, and the paid tiers stay cheap for small sales teams. Since September 2026 Fathom belongs to Superhuman (the former Grammarly), so buyers signing annual contracts should expect the product to be pulled toward that suite. Teams that need deep revenue analytics are still better served by Gong-class platforms.

Pros

  • Free tier includes unlimited recordings, transcripts and clips, which competitors gate
  • Bot-free capture avoids the awkward third participant in the call
  • Public API and MCP server on paid plans, plus native Claude and ChatGPT integrations
  • Aggressive switching offers: free Business for Gong contract holders, 10 free nonprofit seats

Cons

  • CRM sync is capped at three users per domain on lower tiers
  • Team and Business both require two seats, so a solo user pays the $20 Premium rate
  • Business costs $34 per user on monthly billing, $25 only when paid annually
  • Account-wide Ask Fathom search is still marked beta and has lookback limits by tier

Shadow

Shadow's bot-free recording and on-device transcription solve two real complaints about meeting-notetaker tools: awkward bot participants and audio leaving your machine. Skills give it more range than a plain transcription tool, but the whole product is Mac-only, so it's not an option for Windows-based teams.

Pros

  • Free tier includes unlimited transcription and recording, not just a trial
  • No bot joins the call, capture happens locally on the Mac
  • Custom Skills extend beyond notes into emails and structured summaries
  • On-device processing keeps audio off external servers

Cons

  • Mac only, no Windows or Linux client
  • Not joining as a visible bot could raise meeting-recording consent questions depending on jurisdiction

Which one fits

Choose Fathom if you need

  • Individuals who want unlimited recording and summaries without paying anything
  • Small sales teams that need CRM notes written automatically after every call
  • Anyone who wants meeting context piped into ChatGPT or Claude via API/MCP

Choose Shadow if you need

  • Mac users wanting meeting notes without a visible bot joining the call
  • Privacy-conscious teams wanting on-device transcription
  • Sales teams wanting BANT or similar structured meeting breakdowns automatically

Fathom vs Shadow: the questions people ask

Is Fathom cheaper than Shadow?

On published entry prices, Shadow starts lower — $8/mo against $20/mo for Fathom. Entry price is the lowest paid plan as we last verified it; what each plan includes differs.

Does Fathom or Shadow have a free tier?

Both: Fathom has a free tier, and Shadow has a free tier.

Which has a public API, Fathom or Shadow?

Fathom ships a public API, as of our last verification. A public API for Shadow is not confirmed by us — check its developer docs before you plan an integration.

More comparisons

All Fathom alternatives →All Shadow alternatives →Browse all Meeting Assistants →

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