Bluedot vs Read.ai for meeting automation

Here's what you should look for in an AI meeting automation tool:

• Transcripts that create a word-for-word record of the meeting. For example, a one-hour product development meeting generates a searchable document containing every feature discussion, technical requirement, and team decision.

• Action items are pulled directly from the conversation. When someone says "John will update the wireframes by Friday," the AI automatically creates a tracked task with the assignee and deadline.

• Meeting summaries distill hour-long conversations into 2-3 paragraphs. A 45-minute sprint planning meeting becomes a concise overview of sprint goals, resource allocation, and key decisions.

• Topic segmentation breaks discussions into labeled sections. A client call covering multiple projects is automatically divided into sections like "Website Redesign," "Q1 Marketing Campaign," and "Budget Review."

Other key features

In addition to the quality of these deliverables, we'll want to look at a number of other key factors:

• Ease-of-use: does it have a simple, intuitive setup that works for non-technical users?

• In-person meeting support: can it transcribe audio from live recordings or uploaded files, not just virtual calls?

• Security and privacy: how is customer data handled on the platform?

• Integrations: can it connect with your existing stack, like HubSpot, Notion, or Slack?

• Functionality: does it go beyond transcriptions and actually help you take action?

• Languages: can it transcribe and summarize meetings in different languages?

• Desktop and mobile apps: can you access it on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android for on-the-go meetings?

Understanding Bluedot and Read.ai

Bluedot is an AI meeting recorder and transcriber that operates as a Chrome extension, working on Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other platforms without requiring a meeting bot. It records meetings in real-time, generates AI-powered notes, and can sync these to various systems including CRM tools (Salesforce, HubSpot), project tools (Notion, Slack), and Google Docs. The tool supports over 100 languages for transcription and functions whether you're hosting the meeting or not.

The service operates on a tiered pricing model: a free version limited to 5 lifetime meetings, Basic at $18/month for unlimited audio recordings (1-hour max), Pro at $25/month adding unlimited video recording and custom templates, and Business at $40/month with CRM integrations and unlimited guest members. Bluedot works on desktop Chrome browsers with limited mobile support, and records locally via its application, making it suitable for both virtual and in-person meetings.

Read.ai is an AI meeting copilot that provides real-time transcription, summaries, and analytics for virtual meetings across Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet. It generates reports with key points, action items, and metrics like speaker time distribution, sentiment analysis, and attention scores. The platform includes an AI search function across all meeting transcripts and can handle asynchronous communication by summarizing Slack threads or emails. It supports over 20 languages with real-time translation capabilities and offers integrations with tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, Confluence, Jira, Notion, and Slack.

The service is tiered with a free plan allowing 5 meeting transcripts monthly, a Pro plan at $19.75/user/month (annual) for unlimited meetings and integrations, and Enterprise plans starting at $29.75/user/month with video playback features. Read.ai works via web app and browser extensions rather than a desktop client, offers an iOS app for recording in-person meetings, and doesn't require meeting bots to join calls. Some users find the interface complex, and privacy concerns exist around joining others' meetings with the tool without consent.

Comparing Bluedot and Read.ai

Bluedot

• Bluedot offers Chrome-based meeting recording without requiring a bot, working across major platforms like Zoom and Teams. It provides accurate transcription in over 100 languages and syncs to CRMs and project tools, though its limited free version and lack of mobile support restrict accessibility.

• While praised for transcription accuracy and discreet background recording, Bluedot has notable limitations in its integration depth and post-meeting productivity features. The tiered pricing structure with the most useful features locked behind higher-cost plans makes it less accessible for small teams that need comprehensive meeting assistance.

Read.ai

• Read.ai functions as a meeting copilot that transcribes meetings and analyzes engagement and sentiment, supporting 20+ languages and offering real-time transcription with on-the-fly summaries. Despite its comprehensive feature set, it falls short on workflow automation and has limited third-party integrations for post-meeting productivity.

• The tool creates reports with key points and metrics like speaking time and sentiment, but its complex UI and restrictive free tier (5 meetings monthly) create barriers to adoption. While it has valuable meeting analytics capabilities, it lacks the depth of integration needed to seamlessly incorporate meeting outcomes into actionable workflows.

Bluedot is better suited for individual users and small teams who prioritize transcription accuracy and need a discreet recording solution that works across platforms without requiring host permissions. Its simple interface and focus on core functionality make it appealing for those who want meeting notes without the complexity of additional analytics.

Read.ai works best for management teams and organizations interested in measuring meeting effectiveness through engagement metrics and sentiment analysis. Its additional analytical features provide insights into communication patterns and team dynamics, making it valuable for companies focused on improving meeting culture and measuring participation across distributed teams.

Another alternative: Circleback

Circleback provides best-in-class AI-powered meeting notes and automations. We support over 100 languages and automatic participant identification in both in-person and online meetings.

• Automatically-identified and assigned action items

• AI-enabled search across all meetings

• Automations with 100+ app integrations

• Industry-leading security with SOC 2 Type II, EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, and HIPAA compliance

• Ability to capture both online and in-person meetings with desktop and mobile apps