Shmeetings vs Fathom
A complete comparison of privacy-first vs free cloud-based AI notetakers
The Key Difference
Fathom is a free cloud-based AI notetaker that requires your meeting data to be processed on external servers and joins your video calls directly.
Shmeetings runs entirely on your personal computer, giving you an AI meeting assistant without compromising meeting privacy or notifying other participants.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Shmeetings | Fathom |
|---|---|---|
| Data Privacy |
100% Local Processing
Never leaves your computer |
Cloud-based
Data sent to Fathom's servers |
| Meeting Visibility |
Invisible to Others
Records audio from your computer |
Visible Bot Joins
Other participants see recording |
| Company Approval |
Not Required
Run on personal computer |
Often Required
Cloud service may need approval |
| Custom Prompts |
Unlimited Customization
Any prompt, any length |
Basic Templates
Limited summary options |
| Context Files |
.txt, .rtf, .csv, .md, .html, and other file types
Include sensitive documents |
Not Available
No custom context support |
| In-Person Meetings |
Full Support
Records from any audio source |
Online Only
Must join video meeting |
| Pricing |
$39
Lifetime license |
Free (Basic)
$32+/month for premium |
Choose Shmeetings If You:
- Can't have visible bots joining your meetings
- Need complete privacy for sensitive meetings
- Record in-person meetings and phone calls
- Want unlimited customization with prompts
- Can't install cloud AI tools on work computer
- Prefer one-time purchase over subscriptions
Choose Fathom If You:
- Want a completely free solution
- Only attend online video meetings
- Don't mind visible recording bots
- Need basic summaries for non-sensitive meetings
- Want easy sharing and collaboration features
- Prefer cloud-based convenience
Long-term Cost Comparison
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
* Fathom Free has limited features. Pro plans start at $32/month. Shmeetings is unlimited usage.
Ready to Try Shmeetings?
Get your invisible AI meeting assistant with complete privacy