Home /
Alternatives to Loom /
Loom vs OBS Studio
Loom vs OBS Studio
A side-by-side look at Loom (the paid SaaS) and OBS Studio (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Loom | OBS Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Quick screen and webcam video recordings for async updates. | Professional open source screen and stream recorder. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | GPL-2.0 |
| Pricing | Free up to 25 videos; Business from $15/user/month. | Free to self-host |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 1/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | No |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | None official |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
Professional recording with scenes, effects and streaming.
OBS Studio strengths
- Industry-standard for streamers and creators.
- Unlimited scenes, sources and effects.
- No subscription, no cloud dependency.
OBS Studio weaknesses
- Heavier learning curve than Loom.
- Recording-only — no built-in async video sharing.
- Requires manual upload to share videos.
What's the catch with Loom?
- Free tier heavily gated.
- Videos live on Loom cloud — privacy-sensitive content exposed.
- Recording length limits on lower tiers.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Loom: see Loom alternatives, or learn more about OBS Studio on its project page.