SlateSlate vs Read.ai: Which is better? (2026)
Read.ai sends an assistant into Zoom, Teams and Google Meet calls and records from its desktop and phone apps, but lists 35 languages and doesn't describe live translation.
TLDR: Slate wins for people whose conversations cross languages: it transcribes 99 languages, translates live in 60+, and records on Apple Watch as well as iPhone and Mac. Read.ai is better for teams on Windows or Android, and for teams that want meeting notes pushed to Salesforce, HubSpot, Notion or Jira on a paid plan, or an AI search that also covers their email and Slack.
Slate's Mac app takes the audio of a Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams or Webex call straight from your computer, so there is no extra participant on the guest list. Away from the desk, the iPhone and Apple Watch apps record whoever is in the room.
Language range is the bigger gap. Slate transcribes recordings in 99 languages and runs live in more than 60 of them, putting the original speech and its translation next to each other, with speaker labels, on iPhone or Mac. See every language.
After a recording you get an AI summary, Ask AI for follow-up questions, and sharing as text or PDF. Any iPhone on iOS 18 or later works, with no Apple Intelligence needed, and the free plan covers 100 minutes a month. Pro is on the pricing page.
| Feature | Slate | Read.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | 100 minutes a month | Free: 5 meeting reports and transcripts a month, meetings up to 1 hour, no audio or video uploads, basic integrations |
| Paid plan from | Pro: $69.99/year or $19.99/month | Pro: $15 per user/month on the annual plan, or $19.75 per user/month billed monthly (USD) |
| Recording | ||
| Records Zoom, Meet and Teams calls on a Mac without a bot | ✓ | ✓ |
| Records in-person conversations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Records from Apple Watch | ✓ | ✕ |
| Languages | ||
| Transcribes recordings in 50+ languages | ✓ | ✕ |
| Live transcription in 50+ languages | ✓ | ✕ |
| Live translation while people talk | ✓ | ✕ |
| Notes | ||
| Speaker labels | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI summaries | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ask questions about a recording | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apps and integrations | ||
| iPhone app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows or Android app | ✕ | ✓ |
| CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot) | ✕ | ✓ Paid plans |
✓ offered · ✕ not offered, or not stated on Read.ai's own pages. Read.ai facts from Read.ai's own pages, checked November 4, 2026.
Questions about Slate and Read.ai.
Does Read.ai join my calls as a bot?
On Zoom and Microsoft Teams, the Read assistant joins as a participant; on Google Meet it can also use Meet's own recording. Its Windows and Mac desktop app can instead record your computer's audio with no bot in the call. Slate for Mac always works that way, for Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Webex. How it works.
Can Read.ai translate a meeting live?
Read.ai's own pages don't describe live translation. Slate translates live on iPhone and Mac in 60+ languages, showing the original and the translation together. How live translation works.
How many languages does Read.ai transcribe?
Read.ai's help centre lists 35 languages for meeting reports, with Chinese in both Cantonese and Mandarin, while its pricing page says 20+. Slate transcribes recordings in 99 languages, 60+ of them live.
Is Read.ai cheaper than Slate?
On a yearly plan, Slate Pro costs less than Read.ai Pro, which is charged per user. Billed month to month, Read.ai Pro is slightly cheaper. The free plans count differently: Read.ai allows five meeting reports a month, Slate 100 minutes. Exact prices are in the table above.
Does Read.ai work on Windows or Android?
Yes. Read.ai has apps for Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone, plus a Chrome and Edge extension. Slate runs on iPhone, Apple Watch and Mac, with no Windows, Android or web app.
Which meeting-notes app is right for you?
Slate transcribes, translates and summarizes on iPhone, Apple Watch and Mac. Try it free; see what the free plan includes.
Features and prices change. Read.ai is a trademark of its owner. Slate is not affiliated with Read.ai.
Updated