# Loom Alternatives for Indie Makers: 8 Cheaper Screen Recorders

> Cheap Loom alternatives for solo founders, checked 8 Nov 2026: Cap, Zight, ScreenPal, Jam, OBS, CleanShot X, Tella and Screen Studio, with free tiers and prices.

- Canonical: https://zeroraised.com/blog/loom-alternatives-for-indie-makers
- Published: 2026-11-08T09:30:00Z
- Author: ZeroRaised Team (https://zeroraised.com/blog/authors/zeroraised)
- Publisher: ZeroRaised (https://zeroraised.com/)
- Section: Building
- Tags: tools, video, comparison, solo-founder

**Short answer:** If you want Loom's share-a-link workflow for less money, start with **Cap** (open source, free for personal use, $58 once for a lifetime commercial license) or **ScreenPal** ($4 a month paid annually). If you only need bug reports, use **Jam's** free plan. If you want zero cost and do not mind hosting the file yourself, use **OBS Studio**.

Every price and limit below comes from the vendor's own pricing page, checked on 8 Nov 2026. The picks and opinions in between are ours and are marked as such.

## TL;DR

- **Loom today:** Starter is $0 with 25 videos, 5 minutes per video and up to 720p. Business is $18 per user per month ([Loom pricing](https://www.loom.com/pricing)).
- **Best overall cheap swap:** Cap. Free for personal use, Desktop License $29 a year or $58 once, Pro $12 per user per month or $8.16 billed annually ([Cap pricing](https://cap.so/pricing)).
- **Cheapest paid share-link plan:** ScreenPal Deluxe at $4 a month paid annually ([ScreenPal plans](https://screenpal.com/plans)).
- **Bug reports:** Jam, free for 30 Jams a month ([Jam pricing](https://jam.dev/pricing)).
- **Pay once on a Mac:** CleanShot X Basic, $35 with a year of updates ([CleanShot pricing](https://cleanshot.com/pricing)).
- **Free forever, any desktop OS:** OBS Studio ([OBS](https://obsproject.com/)).

**Disclosure:** ZeroRaised is a launch directory for bootstrapped products. We have no commercial relationship with any tool in this post and earn nothing if you sign up. Prices are as published on 8 Nov 2026 and can change.

## Why solo founders look for a Loom alternative

A two-minute recording can replace a support email thread, an unnecessary sales call or a bug report a contractor cannot reproduce.

The friction comes from the free plan. Loom Starter allows "Up to 25" recordings per person, 5 minutes per video and quality "Up to 720p" ([Loom pricing](https://www.loom.com/pricing)). Once you are answering customer questions with video, 25 videos goes quickly. The next step is Business at $18 per user per month, or Business + AI at $24. Loom's page says you "save 17% if you pay annually."

Our read: for a solo founder on a small revenue base, $18 a month is worth questioning when several tools below do the same job for a few dollars or a one-time fee.

## Price and free-tier comparison (checked 8 Nov 2026)

| Tool | Free option | Cheapest paid option | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loom (baseline) | Starter: 25 videos, 5 min each, up to 720p | Business $18/user/mo | Teams already on Loom |
| Cap | Personal use only: unlimited local recording, 25 share links/mo up to 5 min | Desktop License $29/yr or $58 once; Pro $12/user/mo ($8.16 billed annually) | Closest Loom replacement |
| Zight | Share: 5 min recordings, up to 720p, 1 GB storage | Create $9.95/user/mo billed annually | Screenshots plus video |
| ScreenPal | Free: 15 min recording limit, 10 hosted videos | Deluxe $4/mo paid annually | Lowest monthly price |
| Jam | Free: 30 Jams/mo, recordings up to 5 min | Team $14/creator/mo billed yearly | Bug reports |
| OBS Studio | Free and open source (Windows, macOS, Linux) | None needed | $0 and full control |
| CleanShot X | No free plan or trial (30-day money-back) | Basic $35 once | Mac screenshots and quick clips |
| Tella | No free plan, 7-day trial | Pro $13/user/mo (as listed) | Polished demo recordings |
| Screen Studio | No free plan | $9/mo billed yearly, $29/mo monthly | Polished launch videos on a Mac |

Sources are linked in each section below and listed at the end.

## The 8 Loom alternatives

### 1. Cap: best overall cheap Loom replacement

Cap is the closest thing to Loom with a lower bill. Its pricing page says "Cap is open source and available on GitHub", and it links a self-host option ([Cap pricing](https://cap.so/pricing)).

- **Free:** "Free forever" for personal use, with unlimited local recording and 25 shareable links a month, each up to 5 minutes. No cloud storage.
- **Desktop License:** $29 per license per year, or $58 once for a license "that never renews". One user, commercial use rights, unlimited local recording and editing, plus the same 25 cloud links a month.
- **Cap Pro:** $12 per user per month, or $8.16 a month billed annually. Unlimited cloud sharing, storage and bandwidth, AI titles, summaries, chapters and transcriptions.

The catch: the page says "A paid plan is required for commercial usage." If you are recording for your business, budget at least the Desktop License.

Our read: for a solo founder, the $58 lifetime license is the standout deal in this list if most of your recordings are local edits you upload elsewhere. If you send lots of share links, Pro billed annually is still under half of Loom Business.

### 2. Zight: screenshots, GIFs and video in one app

Zight bundles screen recording with screenshots and GIFs. Its free Share plan includes 5-minute recordings, up to 720p, 1 GB of storage, 15-second GIFs and your last 50 captures ([Zight pricing](https://zight.com/pricing/)). The page's own line is "Start free and stay there if sharing is all you need."

Create is $9.95 per user per month billed annually and adds up to 4K, unlimited recording length and 5 GB of storage. Collaborate is $12 per user per month billed annually. Zight says annual billing saves 20% compared with paying monthly.

Our read: pick Zight if you want one tool for annotated screenshots and short videos in support replies.

### 3. ScreenPal: lowest monthly price with a longer free limit

ScreenPal has the cheapest paid plan we found: Deluxe at $4 a month paid annually, with Max at $10 a month paid annually ([ScreenPal plans](https://screenpal.com/plans)). The free plan has a "15 minute recording limit" and "10 hosted videos", so it allows recordings three times longer than Loom's free plan but hosts fewer of them.

Our read: a good pick if you record longer walkthroughs, such as onboarding sessions or tutorials, and want to pay as little as possible.

### 4. Jam: best for bug reports

Jam is built for bug reports rather than general video messages. The free plan includes 30 Jams a month, 5 recording links a month, recordings up to 5 minutes and 5 creator seats, installed from the Chrome Web Store ([Jam pricing](https://jam.dev/pricing)). Team is $14 per creator per month billed yearly, with a 14-day trial. Jam also has a Mac app and says "Open source teams apply free."

Our read: if you work with a contractor or beta testers, ask them to send Jams instead of written bug reports. Use something else for sales and support videos.

### 5. OBS Studio: free, open source, any desktop

OBS Studio describes itself as "Free and open source software for video recording and live streaming" and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux ([OBS](https://obsproject.com/)). The latest release on the site when we checked was 33.0.1.

The trade-off: OBS gives you a video file, not a share link with view counts, so you host it yourself (help center, unlisted YouTube video or your own storage).

Our read: OBS is the right answer if your budget is truly $0 and you record a few longer videos a month rather than dozens of quick replies.

### 6. CleanShot X: pay once on a Mac

CleanShot X is a Mac screenshot and recording tool. Basic is $35 once, which includes one year of updates and 1 GB of cloud storage, with optional renewal at $19 a year ([CleanShot pricing](https://cleanshot.com/pricing)). Pro is $10 per user per month billed annually and includes unlimited storage. The page says "Pay once, use forever." There is no trial, but there is a 30-day money-back guarantee. There is no Windows version.

Our read: if you are on a Mac and mostly send short clips and annotated screenshots, $35 once beats a subscription within two months of Loom Business.

### 7. Tella: polished recordings without a video editor

Tella is aimed at good-looking recorded demos and tutorials rather than quick replies. It has no free plan, but it does have a 7-day free trial. Its pricing page lists Pro at $13 per user per month and Premium at $19 per user per month ([Tella pricing](https://www.tella.com/pricing)); check the billing toggle there, as annual and monthly rates can differ. Clips can be up to 6 hours long and recordings go up to 4K. Removing Tella branding needs Premium.

Our read: Tella makes sense if you publish recorded demos often enough that polish matters. For the craft of a demo, see our guide on [how to make a product demo video](https://zeroraised.com/blog/how-to-make-a-product-demo-video).

### 8. Screen Studio: polished launch videos on a Mac

Screen Studio is a Mac recorder aimed at polished product videos. Its site lists $9 a month billed yearly or $29 a month billed monthly, and says "Every Screen Studio feature is available in every plan" ([Screen Studio](https://screen.studio)). The old one-time license is no longer sold to new buyers. It is Mac only, with "no near-future plans to add Windows support."

Our read: this is a tool for your landing page and launch video, not for answering support tickets. Billed yearly, it costs a little less per month than Cap Pro billed monthly.

### Also considered

- **Vidyard** has a free plan with 5 videos a month up to 30 minutes, no credit card needed. Its Starter plan is $59 per seat per month billed annually or $89 monthly, according to Vidyard's pricing file ([Vidyard pricing](https://www.vidyard.com/pricing.md)). That is more than Loom, so it is not a cheap alternative.
- **Descript** is a text-based video editor with recording built in. Its free plan includes 60 media minutes a month. Paid plans start at Hobbyist, listed at $16 or $24 per person per month depending on billing ([Descript pricing](https://www.descript.com/pricing)). Pick it if editing is the bottleneck, not recording.

## Picks by use case

This is our advice for a solo founder, based on the prices above.

| What you record | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quick support replies with a link | Cap (Desktop License or Pro) or Zight | Share links, low cost, fast to record |
| Longer walkthroughs and onboarding | ScreenPal Deluxe | 15 min on free, $4/mo paid annually |
| Bug reports from testers or contractors | Jam (free) | Built for the job |
| Sales videos to prospects | Cap Pro or Loom Business | View-ready links. Vidyard is sales-focused but pricier |
| Product demo for your landing page | Screen Studio (Mac) or Tella | Polish matters more than speed |
| Annotated screenshots plus short clips on Mac | CleanShot X Basic | $35 once |
| $0 budget, any OS | OBS Studio plus your own hosting | Free and open source |

If support is where most of your videos go, pair the recorder with a support system that scales. Our guide on [how to handle support as a solo founder](https://zeroraised.com/blog/how-to-handle-support-as-a-solo-founder) covers the rest of that setup.

## What to check before switching

1. **Commercial use.** Some free plans are personal-use only. Cap says so explicitly. Read the terms before you send a free-plan link to a paying customer.
2. **Recording length.** Loom, Cap's free links, Zight Share and Jam Free all cap at 5 minutes. ScreenPal Free allows 15. If you record longer walkthroughs, check this first.
3. **Link hosting versus files.** OBS and local-only plans give you files. Decide where those files will live and whether you need view tracking.
4. **Your old Loom links.** Videos embedded in your help docs or emails point to Loom. List the ones you rely on and re-host the important ones before you change plans.
5. **Platform.** CleanShot X and Screen Studio are Mac only. Jam's free plan starts as a Chrome extension.
6. **Monthly versus annual pricing.** Many prices above are annual-billed rates. Zight, Cap, ScreenPal and Jam all quote annual figures, so a monthly plan will cost more.
7. **Branding.** Loom removes its branding only from Business up, and Tella only on Premium. If customer-facing polish matters, check each vendor's branding terms before you commit.

Our read: switch when you are about to start paying Loom, or when the 5-minute and 25-video limits already slow you down.

## Example: what a year costs

This is illustrative arithmetic for one person, using the published prices above:

- Loom Business at $18 a month: $216 a year (before Loom's annual discount).
- Cap Pro billed annually at $8.16 a month: about $98 a year.
- ScreenPal Deluxe at $4 a month paid annually: $48 a year.
- Cap Desktop License, lifetime: $58 once.
- CleanShot X Basic: $35 once, plus $19 a year if you want updates after year one.
- OBS Studio: $0.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the cheapest Loom alternative?

OBS Studio is free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux, but it only records to a file. If you want Loom-style share links, Cap, Zight, ScreenPal and Jam all have free plans. For paid plans, ScreenPal Deluxe is $4 a month paid annually and Cap's Desktop License is $58 once.

### Is Loom still free in 2026?

Yes. Loom's Starter plan costs $0 and includes up to 25 videos per person, 5 minutes per video, up to 720p quality and up to 50 members. Unlimited videos and recording length, up to 4K and branding removal start at the Business plan, $18 per user per month.

### Is there an open source Loom alternative?

Cap describes itself as open source and available on GitHub, and it offers a self-host option. OBS Studio is also free and open source, though it is a general recorder and streaming tool rather than a share-link product.

### Can I use Cap's free plan for my business?

No. Cap's pricing page says the free plan covers personal use and that a paid plan is required for commercial usage. The cheapest commercial option is the Desktop License at $29 per year or $58 once for a lifetime license.

### Which Loom alternative is best for bug reports?

Jam is built for it. Its free plan includes 30 Jams a month, 5 recording links a month and recordings up to 5 minutes, installed as a Chrome extension. Team is $14 per creator per month billed yearly.

## Show people what you built

A short screen recording is often the best launch asset you have. When your demo is ready, read our guide on [how to launch a bootstrapped app](https://zeroraised.com/blog/how-to-launch-a-bootstrapped-app), then [submit your product to ZeroRaised](https://zeroraised.com/submit) for free. For more tool guides written for founders without investors, [join the ZeroRaised newsletter](https://zeroraised.com/newsletter).

## Sources

- [Loom pricing](https://www.loom.com/pricing), last checked 8 Nov 2026
- [Cap pricing](https://cap.so/pricing), last checked 8 Nov 2026
- [Zight pricing](https://zight.com/pricing/), last checked 8 Nov 2026
- [ScreenPal plans](https://screenpal.com/plans), last checked 8 Nov 2026
- [Jam pricing](https://jam.dev/pricing), last checked 8 Nov 2026
- [OBS Studio](https://obsproject.com/), last checked 8 Nov 2026
- [CleanShot pricing](https://cleanshot.com/pricing), last checked 8 Nov 2026
- [Tella pricing](https://www.tella.com/pricing), last checked 8 Nov 2026
- [Screen Studio](https://screen.studio), last checked 8 Nov 2026
- [Vidyard pricing file](https://www.vidyard.com/pricing.md), last checked 8 Nov 2026
- [Descript pricing](https://www.descript.com/pricing), last checked 8 Nov 2026

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the cheapest Loom alternative?

OBS Studio is free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux, but it only records to a file. If you want Loom-style share links, Cap, Zight, ScreenPal and Jam all have free plans. For paid plans, ScreenPal Deluxe is $4 a month paid annually and Cap's Desktop License is $58 once.

### Is Loom still free in 2026?

Yes. Loom's Starter plan costs $0 and includes up to 25 videos per person, 5 minutes per video, up to 720p quality and up to 50 members. Unlimited videos and recording length, up to 4K and branding removal start at the Business plan, $18 per user per month.

### Is there an open source Loom alternative?

Cap describes itself as open source and available on GitHub, and it offers a self-host option. OBS Studio is also free and open source, though it is a general recorder and streaming tool rather than a share-link product.

### Can I use Cap's free plan for my business?

No. Cap's pricing page says the free plan covers personal use and that a paid plan is required for commercial usage. The cheapest commercial option is the Desktop License at $29 per year or $58 once for a lifetime license.

### Which Loom alternative is best for bug reports?

Jam is built for it. Its free plan includes 30 Jams a month, 5 recording links a month and recordings up to 5 minutes, installed as a Chrome extension. Team is $14 per creator per month billed yearly.