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Software · head to head

Helix vs Loom

Helix logo

Helix

Software

Post-modern modal text editor for the terminal, written in Rust

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Loom logo

Loom

Software

Record instantly, share anywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Helix no official GUI application yet, so it requires comfort with terminal workflows.; Loom free tier capped at 25 total videos with 5-minute maximum recording length per video
  • They diverge on capability: Helix covers Multiple Selections, Loom covers Screen & camera recording.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Helix and Loom actually diverge.

Attributes where Helix and Loom differ
AttributeHelixLoom
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
Platformslinux, mac, windowsWeb
FoundedUnknown2015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Helix

  • Multiple Selections
  • Tree-sitter Syntax Trees
  • Built-in LSP Support
  • Fuzzy File Finder
  • Project-wide Search

Only in Loom

  • Screen & camera recording
  • Instant sharing
  • Video editing
  • Viewer analytics
  • Comments & reactions
  • Transcription
  • Custom CTAs
  • Drawing tools

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Helix

  • Editing code over SSH or in tmux sessionsnot Loom
  • Working with syntax-aware selection and navigationnot Loom
  • Getting IDE-like completion and diagnostics without plugin setupnot Loom
  • Lightweight, low-resource code editing on laptopsnot Loom

Loom

  • Asynchronous video communication and screen recordingnot Helix
  • Product demonstrations and tutorialsnot Helix
  • Meeting transcription and documentationnot Helix
  • Team communication and knowledge sharingnot Helix

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Helix

  • No official GUI application yet, so it requires comfort with terminal workflows.
  • Plugin ecosystem is far smaller than Vim's or Neovim's, limiting customization.
  • Keybindings differ from both Vim and Kakoune, adding a learning curve for users of either.
  • Configuration is more limited than Neovim's Lua-based extensibility.

Loom

  • Free tier capped at 25 total videos with 5-minute maximum recording length per video
  • Free tier limited to 50 workspace members
  • AI features (auto-meeting recaps, auto-notes, auto-editing) only available on paid Business+AI and Enterprise tiers
  • Video branding (Loom logo) appears on free and Business plan videos; only removed on Business+AI tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Helix

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor, no paid tiers

Loom

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Loom review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Helix if

  • You need multiple selections.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on linux, mac, windows.
  • You also want tree-sitter syntax trees.
Helix review

Choose Loom if

  • You need screen & camera recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want instant sharing.
Loom review

Questions people ask

Is Helix or Loom better?
Neither clearly leads. Helix starts at Free and Loom at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Helix or Loom?
Helix starts at Free and Loom at Free.
Does Helix or Loom run on more platforms?
Helix runs on linux, mac, windows. Loom runs on Web.
Can I use Helix for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Helix best used for?
Helix is most often used for editing code over ssh or in tmux sessions, working with syntax-aware selection and navigation, getting ide-like completion and diagnostics without plugin setup, lightweight, low-resource code editing on laptops. Of those, editing code over ssh or in tmux sessions and working with syntax-aware selection and navigation are not what Loom is typically brought in for.
What can Helix do that Loom cannot?
Helix covers Multiple Selections, Tree-sitter Syntax Trees, Built-in LSP Support, Fuzzy File Finder. Loom covers Screen & camera recording, Instant sharing, Video editing, Viewer analytics.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Helix: Is Helix free to use?

Yes, Helix is free and open source, licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0), with no paid tiers or subscriptions.

Source
Helix: How do I install Helix?

Install via your operating system's package manager, or download pre-built binaries from GitHub Releases; the nightly version requires building from source.

Source
Helix: Does Helix support plugins?

Not yet. Helix currently has no plugin system, though the project intends to add one eventually; it instead ships with built-in LSP and tree-sitter support out of the box.

Source
Helix: How do I configure Helix?

Helix ships with sane modern defaults requiring much less config-file fiddling than Vim, though settings can still be customized in a config.toml file.

Source
Helix: Where can I get help or support?

Support is community-driven via GitHub for code and issues, the Matrix chat for discussion, and OpenCollective for funding ongoing development.

Source
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