Softwr

All industries · head to head

Loom vs Oyster

Loom logo

Loom

All industries

Record instantly, share anywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Oyster logo

Oyster

Payroll & Benefits

Hire globally, compliantly

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Loom free tier capped at 25 total videos with 5-minute maximum recording length per video; Oyster employer of Record is $699 per employee per month, with the discount tied to annual billing
  • They diverge on capability: Loom covers Screen & camera recording, Oyster covers Global Employment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Loom and Oyster actually diverge.

Attributes where Loom and Oyster differ
AttributeLoomOyster
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryAll industriesPayroll & Benefits
Founded20152020

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

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 Loom

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

Only in Oyster

  • Global Employment
  • Payroll
  • Benefits
  • Compliance
  • Contractor Management
  • Time Off
  • Expenses
  • BambooHR

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Loom

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

Oyster

  • Hiring employees abroad without setting up a local legal entitynot Loom
  • Onboarding and paying international contractorsnot Loom
  • Getting country specific employment compliance advice for distributed teamsnot Loom

Where each one falls short

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

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

Oyster

  • Employer of Record is $699 per employee per month, with the discount tied to annual billing
  • A refundable deposit is required before an EOR engagement starts
  • Contractor management is free for 30 days then $29 per contractor per month
  • HR advisory through People Partner Services is billed at $300 per hour on top of the subscription
  • A currency conversion fee applies when you pay Oyster in a currency other than the contract currency
  • Payments are accepted only by direct debit or wire in USD, EUR, GBP or CAD

Pricing, plan by plan

Loom

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Loom review.

Oyster

Free
  • Contractor$29/month
    • Contractor Payments
    • Compliant Contracts
    • Invoicing
  • Employee$599/month
    • Global Employment
    • Payroll
    • Benefits

Which should you pick?

Choose Loom if

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

Choose Oyster if

  • You need global employment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want payroll.
Oyster review

Questions people ask

Is Loom or Oyster better?
Neither clearly leads. Loom starts at Free and Oyster at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Loom or Oyster?
Loom starts at Free and Oyster at Free.
Does Loom or Oyster run on more platforms?
Loom runs on Web. Oyster runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Loom for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Loom best used for?
Loom is most often used for asynchronous video communication and screen recording, product demonstrations and tutorials, meeting transcription and documentation, team communication and knowledge sharing. Of those, asynchronous video communication and screen recording and product demonstrations and tutorials are not what Oyster is typically brought in for.
What can Loom do that Oyster cannot?
Loom covers Screen & camera recording, Instant sharing, Video editing, Viewer analytics. Oyster covers Global Employment, Payroll, Benefits, Compliance. Both handle Slack.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Loom

More on Oyster

Keep looking

Other head to heads