Free alternative to Loom
Home › Guides · Last checked 2026-10-20 · Facts verified from each project's docs unless marked tested
The closest free alternative to Loom for recording is OBS Studio, free open-source software (GPL-2.0) for screen recording and streaming on Windows, macOS and Linux. Recordings save to your own disk, so there's no video count or length cap. The catch: OBS has no instant share link, comments or viewer analytics. You upload the file yourself.
| Loom | OBS Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free Starter plan and paid plans (Loom pricing) | Free |
| Free-plan caps | 25 videos per person, 5 min per recording (Loom pricing, checked 2026-10-20) | None set by OBS; limited by your disk |
| Runs where | Cloud + desktop app | Windows 10/11, macOS 13+, Linux |
| Share links and comments | Yes | No: upload the file yourself |
| License | Commercial service | GPL-2.0 |
Set up a Loom-style recording in OBS
- Run the Auto-Configuration Wizard on first launch and pick recording.
- In Sources, click + and add Display Capture (Windows and Linux) or macOS Screen Capture.
- Add a Video Capture source for your webcam and resize it into a corner.
- Check the mic in the Audio Mixer. Add a noise suppression filter if your room is noisy.
- Click Start Recording, then upload the file where your viewers are.
The catches
- No sharing layer: no auto link, comments, reactions or view counts.
- Setup time: scenes and sources take a few minutes to learn compared with Loom's one-click start.
- No built-in editor: trim in a free editor like Kdenlive.
When Loom is still worth paying for
If your team lives on quick async video replies and needs links, comments and analytics, Loom's paid plans remove the free caps. OBS wins when you want long or many recordings and don't mind uploading them yourself.
Sources: obsproject.com (features and supported OS), GitHub (GPL-2.0), OBS quick start, Loom pricing (checked 2026-10-20). See all free video tools or read free auto-subtitle tools to caption your recording.
FAQ
What are the limits on Loom's free plan?
Loom's pricing page (checked 2026-10-20) lists the free Starter plan at 25 videos per person and 5-minute screen recordings. Plans change, so check Loom's pricing page.
Is OBS Studio really free?
Yes. It's free and open source under GPL-2.0, per its GitHub repo, with no paid tier.
Can OBS record my webcam and screen together?
Yes. Add a Display Capture (or macOS Screen Capture) source and a Video Capture source for the webcam in the same scene, per the OBS quick start.
Does OBS clean up mic noise?
OBS has per-source audio filters including noise gate, noise suppression and gain, per obsproject.com.
How do I share an OBS recording like a Loom link?
Upload the file somewhere that makes links, such as an unlisted YouTube video or a shared drive folder. That extra step is the cost of going free.