Screen Recording vs. Loom
Loom uploads your recording and gives you a link to share. Screen Recording keeps the video on your Mac, lets you cut it by editing the transcript, and shares an MP4 file.
Loom figures are from Loom's pricing page as of August 2026.
| What matters | Screen Recording | Loom |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free tier; Business $18/user/mo; Business + AI $24/user/mo |
| Free option | Every feature, with no limits | 25 videos total, 5 minutes each, 720p, Loom branding |
| Works on | macOS | macOS, Windows, web, mobile |
| Captions | On your Mac, included | Cloud, AI features on the top self-serve tier |
| How you share | An MP4 file, through the share menu | A hosted link that plays in the browser |
| Works offline | Yes | No |
| Watermark | Never | On the free tier |
Recording and export details
| What matters | Screen Recording | Loom |
|---|---|---|
| Recording length | No limit | Capped on free |
| Where your videos live | Your Mac | Loom's cloud |
| Download your own MP4 | Always | Paid plans only |
| What the viewer needs | None. The MP4 plays in any player | Viewer accounts for some team features |
Where your data lives
Loom keeps videos in its online library. Its free plan allows 25 videos, and MP4 downloads need a paid plan.
Screen Recording saves files on your Mac. You edit, export, and share them there. The Share button opens the Mac share menu for AirDrop, Messages, Mail, or another service you choose.
Where the AI runs
Loom’s summaries, chapters, and filler-word removal run on its servers and require the $24/user/month tier, as of August 2026. Screen Recording does that work on your Mac, for free. You can review the suggested filler words and remove them together in the transcript editor.
Other differences
Loom provides browser links, viewing statistics, and team video libraries with permissions. It also supports Windows and has a free plan.
Choose Screen Recording if you want to record on a Mac, cut spoken mistakes, and send a video file with captions.
Moving your recordings
Download your Loom videos while your plan allows it. Screen Recording keeps new recordings and transcripts in recording packages on your Mac. You can export MP4 videos and copy the transcript as text.
See pricing. Screen Recording is free, and people who receive your MP4 need no account.