Loom's free plan limits you to 25 videos at 5 minutes each. The paid plan is $15/month. Here are better alternatives — including free ones and Zumie at $39 once (cheaper than 3 months of Loom).
Every tool has trade-offs. Here's what each option actually gives you.
$39 one-time (free plan available)
Best for professional-looking recordings without a subscription
Free (open source)
Best for power users who need streaming + recording
Free (open source Chrome extension)
Best truly free Chrome extension for basic recordings
Free (limited) / $7/mo paid
Best for very short recordings if you don't mind limits
OBS and Screenity record full-screen. Viewers squint at tiny UI elements. Zumie automatically zooms into your clicks so recordings are easy to follow.
Loom Business is $15/month ($45 for 3 months). Zumie is $39 once. You save money starting month 3 — and every month after that.
Screencastify requires Google login. Loom requires full signup. Zumie installs and works immediately. Your recordings stay on your device.
Click highlights, keyboard shortcuts, gradient backgrounds — all automatic. No need to spend hours in a video editor like you would with OBS.
Zumie has a free plan with unlimited recordings and no time limits. The free plan includes basic recording features. The $39 lifetime upgrade adds automatic zoom, click highlights, HD exports, and more. Unlike Loom, there's no subscription — it's a one-time payment.
Common reasons include: subscription costs adding up ($180+/year), the free plan being limited to 25 videos at 5 minutes each, reliability issues after the Atlassian acquisition, and no auto-zoom or click highlight features. Many users want a simpler, cheaper tool.
OBS is powerful but it's designed for streaming, not quick screen recordings. It has no auto-zoom, no click highlights, and a steep learning curve. If you just need to record your screen and share it, OBS is overkill and frustrating to set up.
Zumie excels at individual recording with professional output. It doesn't have Loom's team workspace, comments, or viewer analytics. For solo use or small teams sharing via links, Zumie works great. For enterprise async communication, Loom's team features may still be needed.
Loom Business costs $15/month. Three months = $45. Zumie's lifetime deal is $39. So after just 2.6 months, Zumie is cheaper — and you never pay again. Over a year, you save $141.
Try Zumie free. Upgrade for $39 once. Save $141+ in your first year vs Loom.