Fireflies sends a visible bot called Fred to join and record your meeting. Sway runs on your Mac — private, local, and helping you in real time while Fred sits in nobody's participant list.
Fireflies.ai works by sending "Fred" — a visible meeting bot — to join your call as a participant. Everyone in the meeting sees it. In sensitive contexts — deal closings, candidate screens — that's a problem before the conversation even starts. Sway runs on your Mac, below the OS capture layer. There is nothing to disclose. There is nothing for participants to see. And while Fireflies focuses on documentation after the call, Sway is actively helping you during it.
Feature comparison
How Sway and Fireflies.ai compare on the features that matter most.
| Feature | Sway | Fireflies.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time AI suggestions during the call | ✓ | ✗ |
| No meeting bot in your call | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bot joins meeting as visible participant | No bot | Yes — "Fred" |
| Audio processed locally on device | ✓ | ✗ — cloud recorded |
| Recordings stored on company servers | No — never stored | Yes — cloud storage |
| Live transcription | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI-generated meeting summary | ✓ | ✓ |
| CRM auto-sync (Salesforce, HubSpot) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Works during live sales calls | ✓ — private | ✗ — bot is visible |
| macOS native desktop app | ✓ | Web + Chrome extension |
| Free tier available | ✓ — 7-day trial | Limited free tier |
What each tool does
Understanding what Fireflies was built for — and where Sway goes instead.
Where Sway wins
Fireflies value arrives after the call ends. Sway's value is the call — the moment someone asks you something you weren't prepared for.
Sway has no participant entry. No notification. No "Fireflies is recording this meeting." The people you're talking to see only you — not a bot called Fred hanging in the participant list.
Sway surfaces talking points, objection responses, and context the moment the conversation shifts — not in the Fireflies summary you receive 20 minutes after the call has ended and the deal has moved on.
Fireflies records and stores calls in the cloud. Sway processes audio locally in real time. Nothing is recorded. Nothing is stored. Your conversations are yours.
If your team explicitly needs a visible recording for compliance, if CRM auto-sync to Salesforce or HubSpot is a critical part of your sales workflow, or if you need a searchable archive of past calls — Fireflies is purpose-built for that and does it well. Sway and Fireflies are not strictly competing: Sway handles the live moment, Fireflies handles the documentation layer. Teams that need both can run them alongside each other.
When to use Sway
Sway is for the conversations where a visible recording bot changes the dynamic.
A bot joining a sensitive client call is often unwelcome. Sway runs locally with no meeting bot — surface answers and examples in real time.
Handle objections on the spot. A bot joining your first call with a new prospect can set the wrong tone before you've said a word.
Some clients will not consent to recording. Sway needs no consent — it never records anything. Use it where a bot would damage the trust.
Keep complex details within reach during high-pressure conversations. Let Sway surface the right reference, number, or context instantly.
Pricing
Sway starts with a 7-day free trial — no credit card required. No bot to configure. Just download and open Sway before your next call.
7-day free trial. Full real-time suggestions. No credit card required to start today.
Unlimited sessions, full private mode (private, with no meeting bot), and priority AI response speed.
Frequently asked questions
Fireflies.ai sends a visible bot participant called Fred to join your meeting as an attendee — other people on the call can see it in the participant list. It records the meeting and stores transcripts on its servers. Sway runs locally on your Mac with no bot, no recordings, and is free of any meeting bot. Sway also provides real-time AI suggestions during the call; Fireflies focuses on post-meeting summaries and CRM sync.
Yes. Fireflies.ai joins your meetings as a bot participant named Fred that other attendees can see in the attendee list. Sway does not send any bot — it runs as a local macOS overlay free of any meeting bot, screen sharing tools, and recording software.
Yes, for users who want real-time help without a visible bot. Sway runs locally on macOS, is free of any meeting bot, stores no recordings, and provides live AI suggestions during the call. Fireflies is better suited if you primarily need post-meeting transcripts with CRM integrations like Salesforce or HubSpot and you are comfortable with a bot joining your calls.
No. Sway does not record, store, or transmit meeting audio. It processes audio locally in real time to generate suggestions. Only the text of a specific prompt you send is forwarded to an AI provider — nothing is retained. Fireflies stores recordings and transcripts on its servers for post-call access.
Sway provides real-time assistance during sales calls but does not currently offer CRM auto-sync (Salesforce, HubSpot) that Fireflies provides for post-call documentation. If your workflow requires CRM-integrated call notes after the fact, Fireflies handles that. If you need live coaching and objection responses during the call, Sway is the right tool.
Sway offers a 7-day free trial. Sway Plus is $30/month or $216/year. Fireflies.ai offers a limited free tier and paid plans with higher usage. Check each product's current pricing page for up-to-date rates.
Sway starts with a 7-day free trial. No credit card required. Download and have real-time AI in your next call in under two minutes.