Loom is a video-making platform that is designed to help businesses facilitate better and more efficient workplace communication through video and screen recording. It empowers users to use a web-based interface that supports screen recording and screen capture, shared via a link for easy viewing.
Segment |
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Deployment | Cloud / SaaS / Web-Based, Desktop Mac, Desktop Windows, Mobile Android, Mobile iPhone |
Support | 24/7 (Live rep), Chat, Email/Help Desk, FAQs/Forum, Knowledge Base, Phone Support |
Training | Documentation |
Languages | English |
The popularity of remote and hybrid work is increasing at an incredible rate. Since the pandemic, around 16% of companies worldwide have gone fully-remote, while 62% of companies allow their staff to work remotely on occasion.
The distributed nature of the workplace today means companies need to invest in new tools to keep their staff aligned and connected. Whether you’re sharing messages in Slack, or video conferencing in Microsoft Teams, you’re probably already investing in tools that will support the change landscape of work.
Loom is quickly emerging as one of the most valuable platforms in remote and asynchronous work. It focuses on allowing users to capture video content, screenshots, and other information for recipients to watch whenever they choose. This can be a lot easier for teams looking to communicate when other staff members aren’t available for a real-time video call.
Today’s Loom review will explore everything you need to know about leveraging this video and screen-capture tool for the age of asynchronous and remote work.
Loom is the leading video communication platform for asynchronous work. Designed for speed and simplicity, the solution allows you to record, share, and interact with videos. Over 14 million people across 200,000 companies use Loom to work more collaboratively.
The primary features of Loom include:
One of the things that makes Loom so compelling to modern workforces is how easy it is to use. It only takes a few seconds to sign up with Loom using your Google, Slack, or Apple ID. You can also create an account with an email address or SSO.
Once you’ve created an account, you can simply install your application onto your device. Downloads are available for Windows and Mac, and you can get the iOS or Android app directly from respective app stores. There’s also a Chrome extension for Loom.
After installing the application, you’ll have to make sure you enable permissions for recording from your microphone, webcam, and screen. The desktop application will appear in your system tray or menu bar, so you can start recording with one click. There’s also the option to set up keyboard shortcuts.
When you’re fully setup, you can start recording your videos instantly. By default, the app records your screen with a webcam overlay, but you can also choose to record your face or screen individually. The iOS version of Loom does not allow for recording both your webcam and your screen at once, however.
Before you begin recording, you’ll be able to reposition and resize the webcam overlay, and choose whether you want to capture a portion of your screen or the whole thing. You can also decide whether to record system audio alongside your voice.
When you’re done recording, the entire video will automatically upload to the Loom cloud environment, and be accessible through your account. Here, you can edit the video in various basic ways, such as stitching different pieces of content together, cutting out the parts you don’t need, and adding “call to action” buttons which popup for users after the video finishes.
Notably, every video created with Loom is automatically made “public”. You can share the link to anyone, and they’ll be able to watch it without signing up for an account. The share button also offers one-click sharing for social media, and access to code for embedding videos on a website. The Chrome Extension will also automatically convert videos into embedded content for Google Doc, JIRA, Gmail, and GitLab.
Users viewing your video can speed up playback, react with emojis throughout the viewing process, see an automatic transcript, and leave comments.
Loom’s pricing structure is relatively straightforward. There are 3 primary plans to choose from, starting with an attractive free package.
Options include:
Price: Free
The Starter plan is free for anyone who wants to record quick videos (less than 5 minutes) and share them with colleagues quickly. You can use this package with up to 50 creators, and create 25 videos per person, with access to features like:
Price: $8 per user per month
The Business plan comes with all the free features of Loom for unlimited creators, and 50 Creators “Lite”. You can create as many videos as you like with unlimited recording lengths. As well as the features in the Starter pack, you also get:
Price: Custom
Designed for companies with specific recording needs and privacy requirements, the Enterprise plan gives you more advanced admin and security settings. You can also set up unlimited members, videos, and record for as long as you choose. Along with all the features in the Business plan, you’ll also get access to:
If you’re a teacher in the digital world, you can access a specialist plan specifically for education. Loom offers qualified educators access to premium features and unlimited recordings for free. You also get advanced HD videos, up to 45 minute recording lengths, and unlimited viewers.
Password protected videos, call-to-action buttons, search functionality, and system audio tools are also included as part of the package.
Loom is an excellent tool for rapidly creating and sharing video content and screens with your colleagues. It’s easy-to-use, packed full of useful features, and relatively affordable compared to some other options. However, there are other solutions out there.
Some of the most compelling alternatives include:
Slack Clips is the native screen recording feature built into Slack. If you’re already using the Slack service for asynchronous collaboration, it might make sense to choose this product over Loom. With Clips, you can not only capture screen information, but also add voice overs to something, and implement your webcam too.
The Slack Clips feature doesn’t work outside of Slack, so you will need an account to start using the service. Clips can also only be shared in channels or through Slack direct messages. There’s also a five minute limit with no way to increase your recording options.
You’ll also need a paid account with Slack to access this service. Clips is not included as part of the Slack free package.
If you’re using Dropbox for storing and managing files in the remote working world, you can also tap into one of the most recent features introduced by Dropbox. “Dropbox Capture” automatically uploads the videos you create directly into your Dropbox folder, which makes it ideal for sharing with distributed team members.
Though still relatively new to Dropbox, the Capture function offers many of the same features as Loom, including the option to take a screenshot, record your screen, or combine your screen recording with a view of your webcam. You can also record audio, or make a gif this way.
All of the content you produce will be saved to the Capture folder in your Dropbox account. You’ll also be able to hover over the capture to collect an URL to share with colleagues. The “Markup” feature allows you to draw on your content and add annotations.
Another option for those who already have a dedicated productivity and collaboration tool in place with their team, Asana comes with a range of “add-on” features for screen recording and video. One of the most common options is the “Coview” service, which allows you to create detailed videos and screen recordings with a couple of clicks.
You can also use Coview as part of your customer service strategy, allowing customers to capture information and code-level insights into any problem they’re having. All of the content is stored to your Asana account, where you can export screenshots and recordings as Asana tasks.
While the features aren’t exactly the same as the ones you’ll get from Loom, they’re pretty straightforward, and ideal for customer service teams.
If you want to avoid adding any more apps to your workplace, or you need to keep your budget as low as possible, Mac and Windows devices also have some of their own screen capturing options. You can capture an entire screen, window, or portion of a screen on a Mac by pressing shift, command, and 3 together on your device.
The QuickTime player on Mac also allows you to capture video recordings of your computer screen. Simply open the QuickTime player, then click on “File”, then “New Screen Recording”. You’ll be able to control exactly which portion of the screen you want to record, and decide whether you want to include your pointer in the recording.
On Windows, the best way to capture screen recordings is with the “Game Bar”, built for Xbox consoles. You can access this feature by going into “Settings > Gaming > Xbox Bar”. From there, enable the Xbox Game Bar, and you’ll be able to start recording videos or taking a screenshot with the click of a button. You can also trigger the game bar with shortcuts.
You should be able to record activity in most windows and applications with Game Bar, and there are various tools for allowing you to adjust your recordings, adding audio, and reducing the size of your screen.
For capturing asynchronous video messages, screenshots, and screen recordings, Loom is one of the simplest tools on the market. It’s ideal for beginners who want to be able to capture quick videos to share with colleagues in an instant. The fact that other people don’t need an account to watch your videos can make it much easier to collaborate with Loom.
Share your experiences with the Loom app in the comments below, and let us know if you prefer any of the alternative options available today.
Loom has been extremely helpful for our Customer Success team to send enablement videos to our customers. The Chrome Extension makes it very easy to record a video and copy a link to quickly send to colleagues and customers. This has been a core tool in my day-to-day workflow.
It has been difficult to navigate between a team workspace and my own workspace (i.e. sharing videos internally).
Loom is helping us streamline visual and written content internally and externally.
screen recording and sharing. Who can view.
Who can view should be easily accessible
Explain details steps and provide examples. Sharing experiences and allowing others to see.
I love that I can quickly create a video! The link automatically copies to my clipboard and makes it simple to share.
Downsides, sometimes it will crash when I'm recording, but that doesn't happen often enough to stop me from using it!
Making it easy to communicate and connect with clients while teaching them about our companies tools!
Easy to record, edit, and share with my team!
No dislikes but if I were to share any ideas for improvement - maybe add an option to download a video clip?
1. Reduces emails 2. Improves training/communication 3. Doesn't require add'l resources/training
I love how people can leave comments on specific sections of the video and that you can see the watch history.
I think the fact that a lot of features are hidden behind the paywall is annoying. I want to at least try it out.
Loom is solving the need for async presentations and reviews. It makes things a lot easier than just a zoom recording.
How I can provide video feedback and assistance to customers in a way that they understand because I am showing them step by step.
n/a I have not found anything that I dislike about this service.
Being able to provide walk-throughs for customers.
It is an extremely easy way to create videos! Emails are fine, but why not add a Loom video to provide more context? I have used Loom in every office job I 've had and never been disappointed.
I have not found anything that I do not like.
Video creation. I work with customers and answer a lot of questions via email. It is so much easier to take a video that includes my personality and is more alive than text.
Loom is extremely helpful as you can show others via loom what might not be easy to explain in words. Loom is also excellent as it allows the viewer(s) to watch at their convenience.
The only down side to zoom that I have found is you cannot record two screens at once to show comparisons of excel spreadsheets or documents. If you are able to, I'm not aware how.
Loom helps me explain to others or demonstrate through recordings how to perform workflows that customers may have trouble following through written explanation.
Loom is a very user-friendly tool -- I like all of the available options, and it makes my job easier as I can communicate with clients effectively. Simply record + share!
I don't have unlimited access, so my library fills up quickly, and I frequently need to delete videos to make space, but that could be easily fixed with a different package.
Loom saves me time! I am in a client facing role where I spend majority of my work days on calls with clients, but Loom allows me to share a personalized message in a time-efficient way to accomplish the same thing.
When you know a problem or question is going to require some back and forth, Loom helps nip it in the bud by helping talk through complex topics that Slack might not be the best tool for.
This is partially a me problem - but I use it so frequently that I'm sure my library is a mess. I don't go far outside from recording a video and immediately sending it to the recipient.
Saving time and becoming more efficient for those questions that might be more complex to discuss via slack. It also helps supplement training programs for internal new hires by having pre-recorded videos of certain topics for training. It also helps supplement JIRA tickets for engineering when wanting to show certain bugs or issues that might span multiple products, topics, and windows while also adding your own narration of the events witnessed.
It is easy to use and it is easy to share videos with my clients.
I only wish that you could have default settings so that you do not need to always select tab/desktop or update video settings.
Communicating more efficiently and concisely with clients and teammates.
It's a great tool to show internal or external folks about an issue, solution, or use it as a teaching opportunity. Our team has increased productive because of this tool, I totally recommned using this tool.
it doesn't save your setting from the previous recording session
When it's super hard to explain something over text, Loom becomes a powerful tool to record a short snippet to communicate information in an easier fashion.
Quick creating video resources and easy to share with everybody
when I am recording the current tab and do not remember that is not recording emerging tabs
It is a great resource to give brief explanations to students
The fact that I know when my video is viewed.
Nothing! Very easy platform - to the point and easy to navigate
I have been applying for jobs and 90% of them require you to submit a video introducing yourself. This helps me to keep track of which videos are viewed and when.
It's easy to create videos and easy to send them to my clients & colleagues. I have saved so much time by eliminating the need to type everything out and insert screenshots.
I love everything Loom! It would be nice to attend a user training session because sometimes I feel there are features that I am not using.
My job requires me to teach people how to use our platform. I can achieve a lot of this through live sessions, but my customers often come to me with questions or need help troubleshooting when we are not on the phone together. Loom allows me to give a "live demonstration" without actually meeting with the client.