Loom vs Kap
Loom is async video messaging platform for recording and sharing screen recordings with your team, while Kap is open-source screen recorder for macOS with GIF and video export. The biggest difference up front: Kap is free, while Loom starts at $12.50/user/mo. Loom is built for remote teams that want to replace meetings with async video updates, whereas Kap targets macos developers wanting a simple open-source screen recorder.
| Feature | Loom | Kap |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✓ | — |
| Async Video | ✓ | — |
| Drawing Tools | ✓ | — |
| GIF Export | — | ✓ |
| Lightweight | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | — | ✓ |
| Plugins | — | ✓ |
| Screen Recording | ✓ | — |
| Transcripts | ✓ | — |
Pricing: Kap is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Loom starts at $12.50/user/mo, but Free for 25 videos up to 5 minutes each. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.
Feature gaps: Loom offers Analytics, Async Video and Drawing Tools that Kap lacks. Kap brings GIF Export, Lightweight and Open Source that Loom does not have.
Team fit: Loom is geared toward any size teams, while Kap is aimed at individual users and small setups. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Open source: Kap is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Loom is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Loom's biggest strengths are: one-click recording and instant link sharing. ai-generated titles, summaries, and transcripts. Kap's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development.
Watch out for: With Loom, users commonly note that free tier limits recordings to 5 minutes. With Kap, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.
choose Loom if
- You need a tool built for remote teams that want to replace meetings with async video updates
- You specifically need Analytics and Async Video
- You care about ai-generated titles, summaries, and transcripts
- Your team size fits the any size profile Loom is designed for
- The free tier works for you: free for 25 videos up to 5 minutes each
choose Kap if
- You need a tool built for macos developers wanting a simple open-source screen recorder
- Budget is a hard constraint — Kap is free, Loom is not
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need GIF Export and Lightweight
- You care about open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development
frequently asked
What is the difference between Loom and Kap?
Loom is async video messaging platform for recording and sharing screen recordings with your team, while Kap is open-source screen recorder for macOS with GIF and video export. The biggest difference up front: Kap is free, while Loom starts at $12.50/user/mo. Loom is built for remote teams that want to replace meetings with async video updates, whereas Kap targets macos developers wanting a simple open-source screen recorder.
Should I use Loom or Kap?
Kap is the free option; Loom charges $12.50/user/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
When should I choose Loom over Kap?
Choose Loom if You need a tool built for remote teams that want to replace meetings with async video updates; You specifically need Analytics and Async Video; You care about ai-generated titles, summaries, and transcripts; Your team size fits the any size profile Loom is designed for; The free tier works for you: free for 25 videos up to 5 minutes each.
When should I choose Kap over Loom?
Choose Kap if You need a tool built for macos developers wanting a simple open-source screen recorder; Budget is a hard constraint — Kap is free, Loom is not; You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code; You specifically need GIF Export and Lightweight; You care about open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development.
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