Extension or desktop app: which one do you need?
Both work with meetings in your browser. What decides it is meetings outside the browser: the Zoom or Teams desktop app, or any other app. Only the desktop app can caption those.
Pick by where the meeting runs
| Your meeting runs in | Browser extension | Desktop app |
|---|---|---|
| A browser tab: Google Meet, or Zoom, Teams, Webex and others in the browser | Yes | Yes |
| The Zoom or Microsoft Teams desktop app | No | Yes |
| Any other app on your computer that plays sound | No | Yes |
For meetings in the browser, pick whichever you prefer: the extension shows captions right on the meeting page, and the desktop app shows them in its own window or in a floating window on top of other apps.
What's different
| Browser extension | Desktop app | |
|---|---|---|
| Listens to | One browser tab: the one you start it on | Everything your computer plays, browser tabs included |
| Runs on | Chrome, Edge or Brave, on Windows, Mac, Linux or ChromeOS | Windows 10/11, or macOS 14.2 or later |
| Captions appear | In a panel on the meeting page, or a compact caption bar | In the app, or a floating window on top of other apps |
| When you switch to another tab or app | The captions stay on the meeting tab | Floating captions stay on top, where you can see them |
| Idle auto-stop | After 5, 10 or 20 minutes without captions | After 3 to 30 minutes without captions |
Everything else works in both: translation, Instant and Accurate modes, your own microphone, notes, AI summaries, Ask AI, history, export and share links.
Using both
Sign in with the same Google account and both share one plan, one balance of minutes and AI credits, and one history. Install both and use whichever fits the meeting.
Common questions
Does SonicMeet work with the Zoom desktop app?
Yes, with the SonicMeet desktop app for Windows or Mac. The browser extension can only hear browser tabs, so it can't caption the Zoom or Teams desktop apps.
Can I use the desktop app for meetings in my browser?
Yes. The desktop app captures everything your computer plays, so it also works with Google Meet and any other meeting in a browser tab.
Do I pay separately for the extension and the desktop app?
No. Your plan belongs to your Google account, not to an app. The extension and the desktop app share the same minutes and AI credits.
Which one works on a Chromebook or on Linux?
The browser extension, in Chrome. The desktop app is only for Windows and Mac.