Loom vs OBS Studio: Which Should You Use in 2026?

Loom and OBS Studio solve different problems — Loom is quick async video messaging with instant sharing, OBS is free, unlimited screen recording and live streaming software. Here's how they actually compare.

Updated 2026-09 · 2026

Loom

Record and instantly share video messages

0seat/month (Business is $15/seat/month)

Strengths

+One-click record and instant shareable link, no upload/export step
+Automatic transcription and AI-generated summaries
+Viewer analytics (who watched, how much, drop-off points)

Weaknesses

-Free plan caps videos at 5 minutes and 25 total videos
-No live streaming support
-Limited editing — trimming and basic tools only

Best for

Remote teams sending quick async video updates, product demos, and bug reports without setting up recording software.

OBS Studio

Free, open-source recording and streaming software

0free forever

Strengths

+Completely free and open source, no seat limits or paywalls
+Unlimited recording length and resolution, saved locally
+Live streaming to YouTube, Twitch, and custom RTMP servers

Weaknesses

-No built-in hosting or shareable links — you host videos elsewhere
-No transcription, comments, or viewer analytics
-Steeper learning curve with scenes, sources, and audio mixing

Best for

Content creators, streamers, and anyone recording long-form video or live streams who doesn't need a sharing/hosting layer built in.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Loom	OBS Studio
Price	Free tier limited; Business $15/seat/month	Free, open source, no tiers
Recording length limit	5 min on free plan, unlimited on paid	Unlimited
Video hosting	Built-in cloud hosting with shareable link	None — saves locally, you host elsewhere
Live streaming	Not supported	Yes, to YouTube, Twitch, RTMP
Transcription / AI summary	Yes, automatic	No
Viewer analytics	Yes (views, watch time, drop-off)	No
Comments / reactions	Yes, built-in	No
Editing tools	Basic trim, cut, call-to-action overlays	None (external editor needed)
Scene/source switching	No	Yes, multi-scene compositing
Integrations	Slack, Notion, Jira, Salesforce, Gmail	Plugin ecosystem, no native SaaS integrations
Platform support	Web, Mac, Windows, Chrome extension, mobile	Windows, Mac, Linux

The Verdict

Loom and OBS aren't really competitors — Loom is a sharing and messaging tool with recording attached, while OBS is a recording/streaming engine with no sharing layer. If your team needs quick async video with a link people can click and comment on, Loom's free tier or $15/seat plan is worth it. If you're recording tutorials, courses, or streaming and don't mind hosting the file yourself (YouTube, Drive, S3), OBS is free and has no limits.

How to switch from Loom to OBS Studio

Full Loom export guide →

1Export existing Loom videos by opening each one and clicking 'Download' to save as MP4; for bulk export, Business/Enterprise accounts can request a full data export from Loom support.
2Install OBS Studio and configure a basic scene collection (webcam, screen capture, microphone) to match your typical recording setup.
3Pick a hosting destination for future recordings — options include YouTube (unlisted links), Google Drive, or a dedicated host like Vimeo — since OBS has no built-in hosting.
4Recreate any Loom-triggered workflows manually: instead of auto-posting a Loom link to Slack, set a habit of uploading the OBS recording and pasting the hosted link.
5Import your downloaded MP4 archive into your new hosting destination so old Loom videos remain accessible to the team.
6Run OBS in parallel with Loom for a week on a pilot team, confirm recording quality and sharing workflow are solid, then cancel your Loom Business subscription.

Loom vs OBS Studio: common questions

How do I export my videos from Loom before switching to OBS?+

Open each video in your Loom library and use the 'Download' option to save it as an MP4 file. There's no native bulk export for free accounts; Business and Enterprise users can request a bulk data export from Loom support. Once downloaded, you can re-upload the MP4s to wherever you plan to host video going forward.

What do I lose if I move from Loom to OBS?+

You lose automatic transcription, viewer analytics, instant shareable links, and inline comments — none of these exist in OBS. You'll need to pair OBS with a separate hosting/sharing tool (YouTube unlisted, Google Drive, or a dedicated video host) to replicate any of that functionality.

Is OBS Studio's free version enough for a small team?+

Yes, technically — OBS has no seat limits, feature gates, or paywalls, so a team of any size can use it for free. The catch is OBS only records/streams; you'll still need a separate free or low-cost tool for hosting and sharing the resulting files with your team.

Does OBS integrate with Slack, Notion, or Jira like Loom does?+

No, OBS has no native integrations with SaaS tools — it's a standalone recording/streaming application. You can manually share output files or links to hosted videos in Slack or Notion, but there's no automatic embed or notification workflow like Loom provides.

Is OBS actually cheaper than Loom long-term for a growing team?+

Yes — OBS is free indefinitely regardless of team size, while Loom Business costs $15/seat/month, which adds up quickly for teams of 10+. The trade-off is you'll likely pay for separate hosting (or use free options like YouTube unlisted) to replace what Loom bundles in.