Shmeetings vs Otter.ai
A complete comparison of privacy-first vs cloud-based AI meeting assistants
The Key Difference
Otter.ai is a cloud-based service that requires company approval and sends your meeting data to external servers.
Shmeetings runs entirely on your personal computer, giving you an AI meeting assistant without waiting for company approval or compromising meeting privacy.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Shmeetings | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Data Privacy |
100% Local Processing
Never leaves your computer |
Cloud-based
Data sent to Otter's servers |
| Company Approval |
Not Required
Run on personal computer |
Often Required
IT approval for cloud services |
| Meeting Integration |
Audio Capture
Works with any meeting platform |
Direct Integration
Zoom, Teams, Google Meet |
| Custom Prompts |
Unlimited Customization
Any prompt, any length |
Templates Only
Pre-defined meeting templates |
| Context Files |
.txt, .rtf, .csv, .md, .html, and other file types
Include sensitive documents |
Not Available
No custom context support |
| Pricing Model |
$39
Lifetime license |
$8.33-$30/month
Recurring subscription |
Choose Shmeetings If You:
- Can't install cloud AI tools on your work computer
- Need complete privacy for sensitive meetings
- Want unlimited customization with prompts and context
- Prefer one-time purchase over monthly subscriptions
- Need to record an in-person meeting
- Don't want to wait for company approval
Choose Otter.ai If You:
- Have company approval for cloud AI tools
- Need real-time team collaboration features
- Want direct CRM and productivity tool integrations
- Prefer cloud-based convenience and accessibility
- Need seamless meeting platform integration
- Want the simplest possible setup
Cost Comparison Over Time
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
* Otter.ai pricing ranges from annual to monthly billing. Shmeetings is a one-time purchase.
Ready to Try Shmeetings?
Get your AI meeting assistant without waiting for company approval