What is Loom?
Loom is a video messaging platform that lets you record your screen, webcam, or both, and instantly share the video with a link. It's designed for asynchronous communication — explaining something in 2 minutes of video instead of scheduling a 30-minute meeting.
Recent AI features add automatic transcripts, titles, and summaries, making videos searchable and skimmable. This has made Loom a core tool for remote and hybrid teams.
How We Tested
- Recorded 50+ screen recordings for client walkthroughs and team updates
- Used AI summaries, transcripts, and viewer analytics for a month
- Tested across desktop, browser, and mobile
What We Loved
Pros
- Dead-simple recording & sharing
- AI transcripts and summaries
- Viewer analytics (who watched, when)
- Great for async team communication
- Works everywhere
Cons
- Free plan limits video count
- Video length caps on lower tiers
- Pricing scales with seats
- Self-hosting not an option
Pricing
- Free: 25 videos, 5-min limit — enough to evaluate
- Business ($15/seat/month): Unlimited videos, longer recordings, AI, analytics
- Enterprise: Custom pricing, SSO, advanced controls
Loom's free tier is a generous trial but the 25-video cap quickly pushes active users to paid. The Business plan is reasonably priced for the AI and analytics value.
Who Should Use It
Perfect for: remote and hybrid teams, customer support (walkthroughs), sales (demo videos), and anyone who communicates complex ideas asynchronously.
Not ideal for: teams that rarely share screens, or very cost-sensitive small teams that could use built-in OS screen recording (though they lose Loom's sharing and analytics).
Loom vs Alternatives
| Tool | Score | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loom | 8.8 | $15/seat | Async video messaging |
| Screen Studio | 7.8 | $89 one-time | Polished marketing videos |
| Zight (CloudApp) | 7.5 | $10/seat | Lightweight alternative |
| OS screen recording | 6.5 | Free | One-off recordings |
FAQ
Is Loom free to use?
Yes, Loom has a free plan with 25 videos and a 5-minute recording limit. It's good for trying the tool. Paid Business plans start at $15/seat/month for unlimited videos and AI features.
Does Loom replace meetings?
For information-sharing and updates, yes — Loom can replace many synchronous meetings. For collaborative discussions and decisions, live meetings are still needed. Teams typically reduce meetings by 30-50% with Loom.
Is Loom worth the cost?
For remote teams that regularly communicate asynchronously, yes. The time saved by replacing meetings usually far exceeds the $15/seat/month cost. The AI transcripts and summaries add significant value for searchability.