Sales management boils down to one thing: managing risk.
You have a number to hit. There are a thousand ways to miss it.
That’s why the best sales managers obsess over risk. Every pipeline review, forecast call, deal inspection, customer meeting, and coaching session is ultimately about the same goal: reducing uncertainty and increasing predictability.
Conversation Intelligence is valuable because it’s a direct lever on that risk.
If every scrap of every conversation you’ve had with a customer is captured, analyzed, and searchable, you’re no longer relying on a rep’s memory or their subjective “gut feel.” You know precisely what the customer said, what they didn’t say, and what commitments were made. That transparency surfaces risks earlier, validates opportunities more quickly, and helps you forecast with greater confidence.
But not all Conversation Intelligence platforms are created equal. Some are laser-focused on sales teams and risk management. Others are merely meeting recorders with a sales label attached. The difference between them can mean the difference between hitting your number or missing it.
We evaluated six major players, Gong, Chorus, Fathom, Otter.ai, Granola, and HeySam, against a scorecard built around what matters for reducing sales risk.
We used seven key criteria, each chosen because it directly affects your ability to surface deal risks early and keep the forecast predictable:
Why it matters: Sales teams have unique workflows and deal risks. Tools built for sales from the ground up capture the signals that matter for forecasting, coaching, and deal health.
Why it matters: Modern sales isn’t just on Zoom. A big competitor mention might come over Slack Connect, or a critical timeline update might be buried in an email thread. Miss those, and you miss key risk signals.
Why it matters: Every tool does text summaries. But busy managers need to spot risk cues fast, and a 3–5 minute video recap makes it easier to pick up tone, urgency, and stakeholder alignment.
Why it matters: If your intelligence is buried in another platform, it’s not impacting deals in real time. Slack-native access means your team can surface risk signals and update deal info without losing context.
Why it matters: CRMs are the system of record for deal status, but manual updates are prone to errors and incompleteness. Platforms that push accurate updates (with rep approval) keep your forecast clean and your risks visible.
Why it matters: Post-call analysis finds risks after the fact. Live call assist lets reps clarify budget, uncover timeline, or counter objections before they become deal-killers.
Why it matters: In-call bots can be blocked, creating customer friction. Desktop recorders avoid that, but introduce their compliance considerations. Both have tradeoffs in risk visibility.
Why it matters: Coaching at scale reduces execution risk across the team. AI-driven coaching enables managers to focus on strategic risks, rather than spending hours on routine call reviews.
To help you choose the right tool, we compared the top conversation intelligence software for 2025 across key sales criteria—such as multi-channel coverage, AI coaching, and CRM automation.
This side-by-side view makes it easy to see which platforms deliver comprehensive risk management and which leave gaps.
| Vendor | Sales Focus | Multi-channel | Video Summaries | Deep Slack | CRM Auto-Update | Live Call Help | Recorder Type | AI Coaching |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HeySam | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Advanced | ✅ | Both | Advanced |
| Gong | ✅ | Partial | ❌ | Partial | Basic | ❌ | In-call | Tracker-based |
| Chorus | ✅ | Partial | ❌ | Minimal | Basic | ❌ | In-call | Tracker-based |
| Fathom | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Partial | Basic | Limited | In-call | Minimal |
| Otter | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Partial | Basic | Some | In-call | Minimal |
| Granola | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Zapier | ❌ | Desktop | Minimal |
Here’s our in-depth review of the top conversation intelligence platforms in 2025, detailing how each platform stacks up in terms of features, usability, and sales impact.
The only platform here that combines conversation intelligence with deep product knowledge. HeySam ingests calls, emails, and Slack Connect, so when you ask it a question about your deals, it scours your team’s entire digital footprint.
It goes further by also becoming a deep product expert, by ingesting your knowledge base and extracting the tribal knowledge that’s shared by your best reps on sales calls.
So, it’s a Conversation Intelligence platform that doubles as your in-call product expert.
| Criteria | Score | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Custom-built for sales teams | ✅ | Engineered specifically for sales workflows, deal health tracking, and forecasting accuracy. |
| Multi-channel coverage | ✅ | Ingests calls, email, and Slack Connect, catching risks wherever they appear. |
| Video Summaries | ✅ | Creates manager-focused recaps and customer-facing “sizzle reels” for faster risk scanning. |
| Deep Slack Integration | ✅ | Posts summaries, answers deal questions, and enables CRM updates directly in Slack. |
| Automatic CRM Updates | Advanced | Suggests field-level changes for approval via Slack after the call. |
| Live Call Help | ✅ | Handles objections, tracks discovery gaps, and surfaces LinkedIn insights while the deal is live. |
| Recorder Type | Both | Offers desktop and in-call recording for flexibility. |
| Ai Coaching | Advanced | Flags missing meeting structure, suggests improvements, and tracks talk-time to highlight risk patterns. |
Many sales teams lose deals because critical buyer signals are hidden in channels like Slack, email, or side conversations that traditional conversation intelligence tools can’t track. HeySam solves this by capturing and analyzing every interaction—calls, emails, and Slack Connect—so you can see the full picture of each deal and act before risks escalate.
Waiting for post-call analysis means issues are spotted too late. HeySam’s Live Call AI flags objections, missing stakeholders, and deal-blocking questions in real time, giving reps the chance to resolve them while the conversation is still live.
When reps can’t instantly access accurate product knowledge, messaging drifts and credibility suffers. HeySam ingests your entire knowledge base and the tribal wisdom from your best reps, making it easy for anyone on your team to deliver confident, accurate answers in the moment.
Newer to market with a smaller (but growing) review base; some users note occasional response/confusion edges as the system learns.
Slack app and web/desktop experiences; optional CRM integration; live‑call support for Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet; desktop recording add‑on.
Customer specific Slack channels.
Modular, per‑agent pricing: Call Intelligence $45/seat/mo; AI Sales Engineer $45/seat/mo; Live Call AI $45/seat/mo; RFP Copilot $45/seat/mo; add‑ons such as Desktop Recording (+$10) and CRM Integration (+$10). Annual and bundle savings available.
If others are about reviewing game tapes, HeySam is your coach on the field—helping you spot and reduce deal risk in real time, across every channel. Especially useful for SMB and Mid-Market companies.
It’s not just about note-taking. It’s everything else Sam delivers that we haven’t seen from bigger names like Gong or Otter.
The category leader for years, Gong is laser-focused on post-call intelligence for sales teams. Its Smart Trackers remain its standout AI feature, but it hasn’t expanded much into real-time assist or multi-channel depth.
| Criteria | Score | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Custom-built for sales teams | ✅ | Designed specifically for sales, workflows align with forecasting, deal inspection, and pipeline management. |
| Multi-channel coverage | Partial | Covers calls and email, but not Slack, missing key interactions that can signal deal risk. |
| Video Summaries | ❌ | Only provides text summaries, which can slow risk detection for managers who prefer quick visual cues. |
| Deep Slack Integration | Partial | Can push meeting summaries to Slack, but no in-Slack querying or direct deal inspection. |
| Automatic CRM Updates | Basic | Strong Salesforce integration; can push summaries and field updates, but mapping feels secondary to call analytics. |
| Live Call Help | ❌ | No current live-assist features; reps can only act after the call. |
| Recorder Type | In-call | Joins as a participant; customers may decline or restrict recording. |
| Ai Coaching | Tracker-based | Smart Trackers can be trained to spot risk topics, but lack the flexibility of modern LLM-driven analysis. |
200+ integrations and partners, including Slack, Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams—covering CRM, conferencing, BI, and more.
Knowledge base, product academy, and ticketed support are available through the Gong Help Center, along with customer resources and community programs.
G2: 4.8/5 (6,283+ reviews).
Pricing is quote‑based. Licenses are priced per user with a platform fee that scales by user count; integrations are included.
Still dominant for structured post-call analysis, especially for enterprises, but its single-channel focus and lack of real-time tools limit its ability to catch risks in the moment.
Once a strong challenger to Gong, Chorus has stagnated since its acquisition—solid recording for sales teams, but not keeping pace with modern AI expectations.
| Criteria | Score | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Custom-built for sales teams | ✅ | Built with sales workflows in mind, suitable for call review and pipeline discussions. |
| Multi-channel coverage | Partial | Pulls in CRM-logged email but can’t directly ingest Slack conversations. |
| Video Summaries | ❌ | Text-only recaps; no video format to speed up risk scanning. |
| Deep Slack Integration | Minimal | Sends alerts about new calls but doesn’t post summaries or allow deal queries in Slack. |
| Automatic CRM Updates | Basic | Logs activity and pushes summaries, but no custom field mapping to capture nuanced deal risks. |
| Live Call Help | ❌ | Strictly a post-call analysis tool. |
| Recorder Type | In-call | Bot participant. |
| Ai Coaching | Tracker-based | Relies on keyword trackers; no AI-driven auto-scorecards for risk detection. |
Verified G2 integrations include Asana, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce Sales Cloud, and Slack.
Support is delivered through ZoomInfo’s support channels and documentation; mobile support exists, but third‑party feedback is mixed.
G2: 4.5/5 (2,974 reviews).
Pricing is not publicly listed; ZoomInfo/Chorus is quote‑based. Third‑party trackers also indicate quote‑only pricing.
Dependable recorder for teams already on ZoomInfo, but pre-GenAI capabilities mean you are missing out on how AI is changing sales productivity and management
A slick, general-purpose notetaker that’s great for individuals, but not specifically designed for sales teams.
| Criteria | Score | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Custom-built for sales teams | ❌ | Primarily for internal meetings, sales frameworks like BANT are add-ons |
| Multi-channel coverage | ❌ | Records calls only, leaving email and Slack blind spots where risks can hide. |
| Video Summaries | ❌ | Text-only recaps |
| Deep Slack Integration | Partial | Can post summaries; no search or risk queries in Slack. |
| Automatic CRM Updates | Basic | Pushes next steps to CRM, but no ability to suggest field-level risk updates. |
| Live Call Help | Limited | Alerts for monologues, but no proactive objection or discovery gap handling. |
| Recorder Type | In-call | Bot participant. |
| Ai Coaching | Minimal | Basic talk-time stats; no structured meeting health evaluation. |
Native Slack; CRM sync for HubSpot, Salesforce, Close; Zapier for broader automation; first‑party support for Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
Help Center with contact support options, product documentation, and security resources available.
G2: 5.0/5 (5,700+ reviews).
Free plan; Premium $15/user/mo; Team Edition $19/user/mo; Team Edition Pro $29/user/mo (monthly billing shown on site; annual options available).
Great for personal productivity, but limited in supporting sales teams.
Known for transcription accuracy, Otter has added light live assistance, but remains general-purpose with a limited sales team focus.
| Criteria | Score | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Custom-built for sales teams | ❌ | Not designed for sales-first workflows; sales features feel like bolt-ons. |
| Multi-channel coverage | ❌ | Calls only; no email or Slack ingestion. |
| Video Summaries | ❌ | No video format for rapid risk scanning. |
| Deep Slack Integration | Partial | Pushes summaries but doesn’t enable risk queries or deal updates from Slack. |
| Automatic CRM Updates | Basic | Can map some sales frameworks, but lacks flexibility for nuanced risk tracking. |
| Live Call Help | Some | Sales Agent can offer objection handling mid-call, useful for reducing in-call risk |
| Recorder Type | In-call | Bot participant. |
| Ai Coaching | Minimal | Focused on talk-time and filler words; lacks deal health scoring. |
AI meeting agent that joins Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams for live notes, summaries, and slide capture; Sales Agent for CRM sync.
Accurate live transcription, automated summaries, and strong collaboration options at accessible price points.
Sales‑specific analytics/coaching are lighter vs. conversation intelligence category leaders.
Native apps/integrations for Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Dropbox, and more; Zapier support for thousands of additional apps.
Standard email support with prioritized support on Business/Enterprise; admin controls documented on pricing page.
G2: 4.3/5 (303 reviews).
Monthly: Pro $16.99/user; Business $30/user; Enterprise: contact sales. Annual discounts bring Pro to $8.33 and Business to $20 per user/month.
Accurate transcription plus a taste of live assist, but doesn’t track enough channels to be a reliable risk radar.
Stands out for desktop recording; thus, it avoids bot detection in meetings. Great for personal productivity, but lacks depth for sales team use.
| Criteria | Score | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Custom-built for sales teams | ❌ | General-purpose tool; no dedicated sales risk workflows. |
| Multi-channel coverage | ❌ | Calls only; email and Slack risks go undetected. |
| Video Summaries | ❌ | Summaries only. |
| Deep Slack Integration | ❌ | No meaningful integration for surfacing risks in Slack. |
| Automatic CRM Updates | Zapier | No native mapping; risk updates depend on manual setup. |
| Live Call Help | ❌ | No in-call risk reduction tools. |
| Recorder Type | Desktop | Avoids bot detection but raises concerns about consent and compliance. |
| Ai Coaching | Minimal | No sales-specific evaluation. |
Simple UX, fast capture, and low friction for participants (desktop recording model).
Limited native sales workflows; privacy concerns with buyers not realizing they are being recorded.
Notion integration (G2). Also advertises Zapier connectivity to 8,000+ apps for workflows.
Email support and basic documentation; the product is positioned as lightweight. (Vendor site + G2 profile.)
G2: 5.0/5 (12 reviews).
Free plan; Pro $19/mo; Team $49/month for 3 users (+$12/additional user); custom Enterprise available.
Useful for discreet recording, but too shallow to be a sales tool.
General meeting recorders can capture conversations, but they often miss the nuances that drive revenue outcomes. Platforms designed specifically for sales teams include built-in frameworks like BANT, MEDDPICC, or SPICED, ensuring deal reviews and coaching sessions focus on the right signals.
This sales-first approach makes it easier to identify risks and accelerate opportunities.
The best conversation intelligence tools don’t just record Zoom calls—they track emails, Slack messages, and other communication channels where buying signals can appear.
Multi-channel visibility ensures that competitor mentions, timeline changes, or decision-maker updates aren’t lost in an inbox or chat thread.
Without it, critical context for forecasting and deal strategy can go unseen.
Post-call analytics are valuable, but they only help after the fact. Live call assist allows sales reps to handle objections, clarify budgets, and fill discovery gaps while the conversation is still in progress.
This real-time intervention can prevent deals from stalling or falling apart entirely.
Even the most insightful analysis is wasted if it’s buried in a separate tool. Platforms with native CRM and Slack integrations surface conversation insights where your team already works, reducing friction and boosting adoption.
Automated updates keep your pipeline clean and your forecast accurate without forcing reps to do extra data entry.
Scaling manager oversight is one of the biggest challenges in sales. AI-driven coaching automates routine reviews by scoring calls, tracking talk-time, and flagging missed meeting structures.
This frees managers to focus on strategic deals while still ensuring consistent performance across the team.
Not every sales conversation can be recorded the same way. Platforms that offer both in-call bots and desktop recording give teams the flexibility to handle compliance, customer preference, and meeting platform constraints.
This adaptability ensures more conversations are captured without introducing friction.
Conversational intelligence tools have evolved into essential sales technology, helping teams forecast accurately, coach effectively, and win more deals.
The right platform will combine multi-channel coverage, AI-driven analysis, and real-time assistance to reduce deal risk and improve execution. While Gong, Chorus, and others excel in post-call analytics, they can leave gaps in visibility and responsiveness.
HeySam stands out for modern sales teams with its deep Slack integration, live coaching, and ability to unify product expertise with deal intelligence.
By choosing a solution that matches your workflows and risk profile, you set your team up for stronger, more predictable results.
