The short answer
Loom changed the way teams communicate asynchronously: record your screen, get a shareable link, done. But in February 2026, Atlassian did something that pushed a lot of teams over the edge: they eliminated Loom's free team seats entirely. Teams that had lightweight free users were auto-upgraded to full paid plans overnight. The Business plan now runs $15 per user per month (annual billing) or $18 per user per month month-to-month. A 10-person team that was paying nothing is now looking at $1,800 per year, minimum. If that's you, our free Loom alternative is built for exactly this switch.
What changed in 2026
Then there are the privacy concerns. Every Loom recording lives on their servers. If you are recording internal demos, client data, or anything sensitive, you are trusting a third party with that footage whether you intended to or not.
The good news: there are excellent free alternatives that match or beat Loom on features, privacy, or both. We tested seven of the most popular options so you do not have to. Here is what we found.
What makes a good Loom alternative?
- Screen + webcam recording with system and mic audio
- No artificial time or video limits on the free tier
- Easy sharing via link, download, or both
- Cross-platform support so your whole team can use it
- Respects your privacy and does not force cloud uploads
Quick Comparison: 7 Free Loom Alternatives at a Glance
YoRecord, OBS Studio, and ScreenPal top this list of seven free Loom alternatives, compared here on price, platform, and standout feature.
| Tool | Price | Platform | Key differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|
| YoRecord Our pick | Free | Any browser | No account, no install, true privacy |
| OBS Studio | Free | Windows, Mac, Linux | Professional-grade, open-source |
| ScreenPal | Free (15-min limit) | Web + Desktop | Easy editing, cloud hosting, no watermark |
| Vimeo Record | Free with Vimeo account | Chrome extension | Direct Vimeo hosting |
| Screenity | Free | Chrome extension | Open-source, annotations |
| ShareX | Free | Windows only | Screenshots + recording, automation |
| Awesome Screenshot | Freemium | Chrome extension | Screenshot + recording combo |
Pricing and features current as of May 2026. See individual sections below for details.
1. YoRecord - Best Overall Free Loom Alternative
Free • Browser-based • No account required • All platforms
YoRecord is a completely free, browser-based screen recorder that requires zero setup, no account, and no download to start capturing your screen. Open the page, click record, and you are capturing your screen, webcam, and audio within seconds. No credit card wall lurking behind a "free trial" button. For the full walkthrough, see our guide to recording a screen video online.
What sets YoRecord apart from every other tool on this list is its privacy-first architecture. Your recording never leaves your browser. There are no servers processing your video, no cloud uploads happening behind the scenes. The entire recording, editing, and export pipeline runs locally using browser APIs and WebAssembly-powered FFmpeg. If you record a confidential client call or an internal product demo, that footage stays on your machine unless you explicitly choose to share it.
Despite being browser-based, YoRecord packs editing features that rival desktop apps. The built-in editor supports zoom effects, chapter markers, trimming, and AI-powered automatic subtitles (via Groq Whisper). You get a polished MP4 file ready to share - not a raw screen dump. For a deeper look at the subtitle feature, see our guide to auto-subtitles in screen recordings.
Pros
- Free tier with up to 10-minute recordings - no video count limit
- True privacy - nothing uploaded to any server
- No account, no install - works in any modern browser
- Built-in editor with zoom, chapters, trimming, and subtitles
- AI-powered auto-subtitles via Groq Whisper
- Exports clean MP4 files you can share anywhere
Cons
- Shared links expire after 31 days - no permanent cloud library
- No team workspace, viewer analytics, or comments
- Requires a modern browser with WebAssembly support
- Export speed depends on your device's processing power
Best for
YoRecord
Want watermark-free exports?
YoRecord Pro removes the export watermark and unlocks full 1080p (free tier is 720p) for $4/month - cancel anytime.
2. OBS Studio - Best for Power Users and Streamers
Free • Open-source • Windows, Mac, Linux
OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free, open-source recorder built for live streamers and power users who need granular control over their setup. It supports multiple scenes, audio sources, webcam overlays, custom transitions, and plugin extensions. If you can imagine a recording configuration, OBS can probably do it.
The trade-off is complexity. OBS was designed for broadcasting, not quick screen captures. First-time users face a wall of settings: output resolution, encoder selection, bitrate, scene composition, audio mixer routing. It is a professional tool that rewards investment but punishes impatience. There is no shareable link feature - you get a local video file and handle distribution yourself.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source
- Extremely powerful: scenes, sources, filters, plugins
- Cross-platform desktop support
- Massive community and plugin ecosystem
Cons
- Steep learning curve - not beginner-friendly
- Requires desktop installation (no browser option)
- No cloud sharing, editing, or team features
- Overkill for simple "record my screen and share" tasks
Best for
3. ScreenPal - Best Freemium Option with Cloud Hosting
Free tier (15-min limit, no watermark) • Paid from $3/mo • Web + Desktop
ScreenPal (formerly Screencast-O-Matic) is a freemium screen recorder with a generous free tier: screen and webcam capture, trimming, and cloud hosting, with no watermark on exports. It has been in the screen recording space for years, and the interface is approachable - a reasonable middle ground between Loom's simplicity and OBS's power.
The catch is the 15-minute recording limit on the free plan. That is three times Loom's 5-minute cap but still restrictive for longer tutorials or walkthroughs. Paid plans start at $3/month (billed annually) and unlock unlimited recording, drawing tools, and better export options. It is cheaper than Loom but still not free.
Pros
- Free tier with cloud hosting included
- Free exports have no watermark
- Easy-to-use editing tools
- Works via web launcher and desktop app
- Affordable paid plans compared to Loom
Cons
- 15-minute recording limit on free plan
- Recordings stored on their servers (privacy trade-off)
- Desktop app required for full functionality
Best for
4. Vimeo Record - Best for Existing Vimeo Users
Free with Vimeo account • Chrome extension
Vimeo Record is a free Chrome extension that records your screen and webcam, then uploads straight to your existing Vimeo library. The recording experience is clean and minimal - very Loom-like in its simplicity.
The limitation is that it ties you to the Vimeo ecosystem. Every recording goes to Vimeo's cloud, and the editing tools are basic (trimming, thumbnail selection). If you want to download a raw file or use a different hosting platform, the workflow gets cumbersome. It is also Chrome-only, so Firefox and Safari users are out of luck.
Pros
- Free with any Vimeo account
- Clean, minimal interface
- Instant shareable links via Vimeo
- Professional video player with privacy controls
Cons
- Requires a Vimeo account (vendor lock-in)
- Chrome extension only - no Firefox, Safari, or desktop app
- Limited editing: trimming and thumbnails only
- All recordings are cloud-stored on Vimeo servers
Best for
5. Screenity - Best Open-Source Chrome Extension
Free • Open-source • Chrome extension
Screenity is a free, open-source Chrome extension that records screen and webcam with on-screen annotations, push-to-talk audio, and basic editing. For a browser extension, it punches above its weight.
Being a Chrome extension means it works within Chrome's sandbox, which keeps things lightweight but limits what it can do. Longer recordings can strain memory, and the editing tools are functional but basic compared to dedicated editors. Since it is open-source, you can audit the code yourself if privacy matters to you - a meaningful advantage over closed-source alternatives.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source
- On-screen annotations during recording
- Push-to-talk for cleaner audio
- Lightweight - no desktop install needed
Cons
- Chrome-only (no Firefox, Safari, or Edge support)
- Can struggle with long recordings due to memory limits
- Basic editing compared to dedicated tools
- No cloud hosting or sharing features
Best for
6. ShareX - Best for Windows Power Users
Free • Open-source • Windows only
ShareX is a free, open-source Windows utility that combines screen recording with screenshots, GIF creation, OCR, and one-hotkey uploads to dozens of cloud destinations. The screen recording feature supports region selection, audio capture, and outputs to MP4 or GIF.
The downside is that ShareX's interface reflects its feature density: it is complex and can feel overwhelming. The settings menus are deep, and the learning curve is non-trivial. It is also Windows-only, so Mac and Linux users are out. But if you are a Windows user who wants a free, endlessly configurable capture tool, ShareX is hard to beat.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source
- All-in-one: screenshots, recordings, GIFs, OCR, and more
- Highly configurable with automation workflows
- Built-in upload to dozens of cloud services
Cons
- Windows only - no Mac, Linux, or browser version
- Complex UI with a steep learning curve
- No webcam overlay during recording
- No built-in video editing tools
Best for
7. Awesome Screenshot - Best Screenshot-First Tool with Recording
Freemium • Chrome, Firefox, Edge extensions
Awesome Screenshot is primarily a screenshot and annotation tool for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge that added basic screen recording as a secondary feature. The screenshot features are genuinely excellent: full-page capture, annotation, blur, crop, and instant sharing.
The free plan limits recordings to 5 minutes and adds a watermark. The premium plan ($6/month) removes limits and adds cloud storage. Since recording was bolted on to an existing screenshot tool, it lacks the polish of dedicated recorders. But if you primarily need screenshots and occasionally want to record, it is a reasonable two-in-one.
Pros
- Excellent screenshot tools with annotation
- Works on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge
- Two-in-one: screenshots and screen recording
- Cloud storage and instant link sharing (premium)
Cons
- 5-minute recording limit and watermark on free plan
- Recording feels secondary to screenshot features
- Limited video editing capabilities
- Premium required for full functionality ($6/mo)
Best for
Which Loom Alternative Is Right for You?
The right Loom alternative depends on what you value most - privacy, simplicity, power-user control, cloud hosting, or zero-cost team scaling.
“Privacy is my top priority”
“I just want something simple that works”
“I need full control and customization”
“I need cloud hosting and shareable links”
“I mostly take screenshots but sometimes record”
“My team is outgrowing Loom's free plan”
Feature Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | YoRecord | OBS | ScreenPal | Vimeo Rec | Screenity | ShareX | Awesome SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free (no video cap) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| No account required | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| No install needed | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Webcam overlay | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Built-in editor | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Auto subtitles | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Shareable cloud links | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Open-source | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Works offline | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Cross-platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Why Are People Leaving Loom in 2026?
People are leaving Loom in 2026 mainly because Atlassian eliminated free team seats, prices jumped, and privacy concerns grew after the acquisition.
- Free team seats eliminated (February 2026). Atlassian removed Creator Lite - Loom's free-seat tier for teams. Teams that had lightweight users at $0 were auto-upgraded to full paid seats with no warning. New team accounts can no longer access any free tier at all. This is the single biggest driver of the current wave of users looking for alternatives.
- Pricing jumped. The Business plan is now $15/user/month (annual) or $18/user/month month-to-month. For a 10-person team, that is $1,800-$2,160/year for screen recording.
- Free plan restrictions. The free tier is now limited to 25 videos with a 5-minute cap per recording. Power users burn through that in days.
- Privacy concerns. Every recording is processed and stored on Loom's servers. After the Atlassian acquisition, data handling policies became a question mark for some users.
- Vendor lock-in. Exporting videos from Loom in bulk is tedious. Your content lives on their platform, and leaving means downloading each video individually.
None of this means Loom is bad. For enterprise teams that need viewer analytics, CRM integrations, and centralized admin controls, it delivers. But for freelancers, educators, startups, and anyone who values simplicity and privacy, the alternatives above are genuinely better fits. For a deeper dive into how YoRecord compares to Loom and other paid tools, check out our full screen recorder comparison.