StreamYard vs Loom: Which Video Tool is Right for You?

Compare StreamYard and Loom for video creation. StreamYard excels at live streaming to multiple platforms, while Loom specializes in quick async video messages and screen recordings.

Updated 2026-09 · 2026

StreamYard

Live streaming studio in your browser

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Strengths

+Free plan available (unlimited recording/streaming time, 1 destination)
+Multi-platform streaming (YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn simultaneously) on paid plans
+Professional overlays, banners, and branding tools

Weaknesses

-Free plan limited to 1 destination and carries StreamYard branding
-Removing the watermark and multi-destination streaming requires the $25/mo Basic plan
-Limited editing capabilities post-stream

Best for

Content creators, podcasters, and businesses doing live webinars or multi-platform streaming

Loom

Quick async video messages and screen recordings

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Strengths

+Free Starter plan for up to 25 videos (5 minutes each)
+Instant sharing with automatic transcription
+Desktop and mobile apps with easy recording

Weaknesses

-Free plan caps out at 25 total videos, not unlimited
-5-minute limit per video on the free plan
-Not designed for live streaming

Best for

Remote teams, customer support, sales demos, and quick tutorial videos

Feature Comparison

Feature	StreamYard	Loom
Free Plan	✅ Yes (1 destination, StreamYard watermark)	✅ Yes (25 videos total, 5-min each)
Live Streaming	✅ Yes (multi-platform on paid plans)	❌ No
Screen Recording	✅ Yes (during streams)	✅ Yes (primary feature)
Video Length Limit	Unlimited	5 min (free), unlimited (paid)
Guest/Participant Limit	Up to 10 on-screen guests (paid plans)	Solo recording only
Automatic Transcription	❌ No	✅ Yes
Custom Branding	✅ Yes (overlays, logos; watermark removal on paid plans)	✅ Yes (paid plans)
Platform Integrations	YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Twitch	Slack, Notion, Gmail, Jira, Salesforce
Video Editing	Basic (trim only)	Basic (trim, cut, stitch)
Analytics	Stream stats and viewer count	Detailed viewer engagement metrics
Mobile App	iOS only (limited features)	iOS and Android (full features)
Starting Price	Free (paid plans from $25/month)	Free (paid plans from $12.50/user/month)

The Verdict

StreamYard and Loom serve completely different use cases. Choose StreamYard if you need professional live streaming to multiple platforms with guests and branding — its free plan works for casual one-destination streams, but you'll need the $25/mo Basic plan for real branding and reach. Choose Loom if you want quick async video messages for team communication, tutorials, or sales demos; its free plan is generous for light use, but the 25-video cap means active teams will hit the Business plan fast.

How to switch from StreamYard to Loom

1Download all your existing recordings from StreamYard's 'Recordings' tab as MP4 files (StreamYard has no bulk export, so do this manually for each stream) before canceling or downgrading your account.
2Create a Loom workspace and use the 'Upload video' feature to drag in your exported MP4 files so past webinars and recordings remain in your library.
3Rebuild your sharing workflow by connecting Loom to Slack, Notion, Gmail, or Jira through Loom's app directory, replacing any links you previously shared from StreamYard.
4Invite your team to the Loom workspace and set recording permissions/roles, since Loom manages access per-seat rather than per-stream like StreamYard.
5Decide how you'll handle live streaming going forward — either keep StreamYard on its free plan for occasional broadcasts, or move live sessions to a dedicated tool like YouTube Live or Zoom.
6Cancel or downgrade your StreamYard paid subscription once all recordings are migrated and your team is actively using Loom for async video.

StreamYard vs Loom: common questions

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

StreamYard doesn't offer bulk export — go to the 'Recordings' tab in your account and download each stream's composite recording (and individual camera feeds, if needed) as MP4 files. Do this before canceling or downgrading your plan, since past recordings become inaccessible once your paid plan lapses.

What features do I lose moving from StreamYard to Loom?+

You lose live streaming entirely, along with multi-destination broadcasting (YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn at once), guest interviews with up to 10 on-screen participants, and custom overlays/banners. Loom is recording-only, so any live webinar workflow needs a separate tool like YouTube Live, Zoom, or keeping StreamYard's free tier around.

Is Loom's free plan enough for a small team?+

It works for occasional use, but the free Starter plan caps out at 25 total videos per person and 5 minutes per video. A small team recording tutorials or demos regularly will hit that cap within weeks and need the Business plan at $12.50/user/month (billed annually).

Does Loom integrate with the same tools as StreamYard?+

No — the integrations don't overlap. StreamYard connects to streaming destinations like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch, while Loom integrates with workplace tools like Slack, Notion, Gmail, and Jira for sharing async video. If multi-platform streaming is core to your workflow, you'll need to keep that separate from Loom.

How much will switching from StreamYard to Loom save over time?+

If you're currently on StreamYard's $25/mo Basic plan, that's $300/year. Loom's Business plan runs $12.50/user/month billed annually ($150/user/year), so a solo user saves money, but a team of 3+ recording heavily could cost similarly or more once past the free tier. If you only need occasional recording, Loom's free plan costs nothing.