Softwr

Communication · head to head

KakaoTalk vs Loom

KakaoTalk logo

KakaoTalk

Communication

The default messaging app in South Korea, bundled with payments, taxi hailing and other Kakao services

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Loom logo

Loom

Communication

Record instantly, share anywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: KakaoTalk kakaoTalk has minimal relevance outside South Korea, so it is the wrong tool for reaching audiences anywhere else.; Loom starter plan limited to 25 videos per person
  • They diverge on capability: KakaoTalk covers Plus Friend business accounts, Loom covers Screen & camera recording.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KakaoTalk and Loom actually diverge.

Attributes where KakaoTalk and Loom differ
AttributeKakaoTalkLoom
Pricing modelFree to download, paid emoticons, gifting and business messagingfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, WebWeb
FoundedUnknown2015

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

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 KakaoTalk

  • Plus Friend business accounts
  • KakaoPay integration
  • Gift sending
  • KakaoT integration
  • Emoticons
  • Open chat

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.

KakaoTalk

  • A business entering the South Korean consumer market that needs a Plus Friend account to message customersnot Loom
  • An individual living in South Korea who needs the app almost everyone else there uses by defaultnot Loom
  • A brand running a digital gifting campaign through KakaoTalk during a Korean holiday periodnot Loom
  • A company integrating KakaoPay as a checkout option for Korean customersnot Loom

Loom

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

Where each one falls short

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

KakaoTalk

  • KakaoTalk has minimal relevance outside South Korea, so it is the wrong tool for reaching audiences anywhere else.
  • Standard chats are not end to end encrypted by default; a Secret Chat mode with encryption exists but must be turned on per conversation.
  • Concentration of messaging, payments, banking and mobility data inside one company creates a single point of both convenience and risk that has drawn scrutiny from Korean regulators.
  • Plus Friend business messaging costs scale with volume, so a company messaging its full Korean customer base regularly can face a meaningful recurring bill.
  • A 2022 data centre fire caused a multi-day outage across KakaoTalk and related Kakao services, which showed how much everyday activity in Korea depends on a single provider staying online.

Loom

  • Starter plan limited to 25 videos per person
  • Starter plan limited to 5 minute recordings
  • Enterprise plan pricing not publicly available, requires sales contact
  • Per-user billing for Business plans may increase costs with team growth

Pricing, plan by plan

KakaoTalk

Free
  • KakaoTalkFree
    • Free messaging and calling
    • Emoticon packs typically cost a few thousand won each
    • Plus Friend business messaging is billed per message beyond a free allowance

Loom

Free
  • StarterFree
    • Up to 50 members
    • 25 videos per person
    • 5 minute screen recordings
  • Business$18/month
    • Unlimited videos
    • Unlimited recording time
    • 4K quality
  • Business + AI$24/month
    • Auto-video enhancement
    • Video-to-text automation
    • Auto-meeting recap emails

Which should you pick?

Choose KakaoTalk if

  • You need plus friend business accounts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web.
  • You also want kakaopay integration.
KakaoTalk 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 KakaoTalk or Loom better?
Neither clearly leads. KakaoTalk 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, KakaoTalk or Loom?
KakaoTalk starts at Free and Loom at Free.
Does KakaoTalk or Loom run on more platforms?
KakaoTalk runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web. Loom runs on Web.
Can I use KakaoTalk for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is KakaoTalk best used for?
KakaoTalk is most often used for a business entering the south korean consumer market that needs a plus friend account to message customers, an individual living in south korea who needs the app almost everyone else there uses by default, a brand running a digital gifting campaign through kakaotalk during a korean holiday period, a company integrating kakaopay as a checkout option for korean customers. Of those, a business entering the south korean consumer market that needs a plus friend account to message customers and an individual living in south korea who needs the app almost everyone else there uses by default are not what Loom is typically brought in for.
What can KakaoTalk do that Loom cannot?
KakaoTalk covers Plus Friend business accounts, KakaoPay integration, Gift sending, KakaoT integration. Loom covers Screen & camera recording, Instant sharing, Video editing, Viewer analytics.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

KakaoTalk: Is KakaoTalk free?

Yes to download and for standard messaging and calling. Emoticons, gifting and business messaging are paid.

Loom: How much does Loom cost?

Loom offers a free Starter plan at no cost. Paid plans begin at $18 per user per month for Business, or $24 per user per month for Business + AI. Annual billing provides a 17% discount. Enterprise pricing is custom and requires contacting sales.

Source
KakaoTalk: Is KakaoTalk encrypted by default?

No, standard chats are not end to end encrypted by default. A separate Secret Chat mode offers encryption but has to be enabled per chat.

Loom: What are the limitations of Loom's free plan?

The free Starter plan includes up to 50 members, 25 videos per person with 5 minute maximum screen recordings, and basic features like comments and emoji reactions.

Source
KakaoTalk: Do I need KakaoTalk to do business in South Korea?

Not legally, but a very large share of Korean consumers expect to interact with businesses through a Plus Friend account, so most consumer brands operating there use one.

Loom: What does Loom AI add compared to the standard Business plan?

Business + AI adds $6 per month to the Business plan and includes auto-video enhancement, video-to-text automation, auto-meeting recap emails, and auto-meeting notes.

Source
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