Zoom AI Companion may use third-party AI models, including OpenAI and Anthropic, for certain features. Geode records Zoom audio playing on your device and transcribes it locally on iPhone or Mac, with local AI summaries available on Mac.
Both tools turn meetings into transcripts and summaries. The difference is where the work happens, who else may process your content, and how you pay for it.
| Topic | Zoom AI Companion | Geode |
|---|---|---|
| Transcription location | Cloud | On-device on iPhone or Mac |
| AI summary location | Zoom-hosted and/or third-party AI models | On-device on Apple Silicon Macs |
| Data storage location | Zoom cloud | On-device when processed locally |
| Third-party AI access | May use third-party models including OpenAI and Anthropic for certain features | None for local processing |
| Meeting bot required | No, built into Zoom | No, records audio playing on your device |
| Pricing model | Standalone plan from $8.33/user/month, or included with eligible paid Zoom plans | Free, subscription, or one-time Lifetime |
| Uses your data to train AI | Zoom states it does not use customer content to train its own AI models | We do not use your audio, transcripts, or summaries to train AI |
| Best for | Teams that want shared AI notes across Zoom meetings | Professionals who need meeting transcripts to stay local |
Most professionals don’t look for an alternative because of a feature checklist. They look because their workflow breaks. Check out the differences between Zoom AI Companion and Geode.
Outside attorneys, consultants, journalists, or anyone joining a Zoom call where they need their own notes. You may not control whether AI notes start, whether you receive them, or whether they cover what you need.
Geode records the audio playing on your device. Local transcript. Local summary on Mac. The host role is irrelevant.
Summaries can be sent by email, be posted to the meeting’s group chat if continuous meeting chat is enabled, and follow Zoom Team Chat retention.
No Team Chat posting. Your Geode transcript is not hosted in Zoom. You decide how long to keep your files.
Berkeley guidance says not to use Zoom AI for sensitive matters like privileged legal discussions when AI features are enabled. Penn guidance says AI Companion is not approved for HIPAA/PHI, SSNs, or credit card data.
Geode records the audio playing on your device. Local transcript, local summary on Mac. The host role is irrelevant. On-devive AI meeting notes for Zoom with you in total control.
Anonymous scenarios. Common situations, not specific people.
A partner spends two weeks of evening prep calls with a client before a deposition. The calls cover fact patterns, witness recollections, and strategy. AI Companion is off because the firm restricts it for privileged matters. She records each call with Geode on her Mac, creates local transcripts and summaries, and reviews them before the next call. With local processing, the prep materials stay on her Mac.
A clinician runs weekly telehealth sessions and needs private notes for treatment continuity. She does not want the recording, transcript, or summary processed by another cloud AI provider. Geode records the session audio on her Mac, transcribes locally, and generates a summary using a template she defined. She reviews and edits the notes before deciding what belongs in her EHR. The Geode transcript and summary stay on her Mac.
A reporter interviews a source over Zoom about a story. The source agrees to be recorded, with the understanding that the reporter keeps the recording and notes under their control. AI Companion is a cloud AI workflow that may use third-party models for certain features. Geode records on the reporter’s Mac and transcribes locally. The local Geode file stays on their drive, helping them honor the recording agreement.
A consultant joins three or four client-hosted Zoom calls a day. He is not the host, so he cannot count on AI Companion notes being started or shared. He used to write notes by hand and reconstruct action items after each call. Now Geode records on his MacBook, creates summaries using his consulting template, and helps him move action items into his project tracker. The host role no longer decides whether he leaves with usable notes.
Quick answers to what professionals ask before they switch.
No. Keep using Zoom for your calls. Geode runs alongside Zoom for recording and transcription, with local summaries available on Mac. Use it when you want your transcript and summary to stay on your device, or when AI Companion is not available to you.