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Software · head to head

Loom vs PlanetScale

Loom logo

Loom

Software

Record instantly, share anywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlanetScale logo

PlanetScale

Software

The MySQL-compatible serverless database

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Loom has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Loom free tier capped at 25 total videos with 5-minute maximum recording length per video; PlanetScale eBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • They diverge on capability: Loom covers Screen & camera recording, PlanetScale covers Database Branching.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Loom and PlanetScale actually diverge.

Attributes where Loom and PlanetScale differ
AttributeLoomPlanetScale
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebCloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure)
Founded20152018

Identical on both: 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 Loom

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

Only in PlanetScale

  • Database Branching
  • Non-blocking Schema Changes
  • Insights
  • Horizontal Scaling
  • Connection Pooling
  • Query Caching
  • Automatic Backups
  • Global Replication

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • GDPR

What people use each for

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

Loom

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

PlanetScale

  • MySQL database hosting with automatic failover and replicationnot Loom
  • Vitess-based sharding for horizontal scaling across large datasetsnot Loom
  • Cloud provider flexibility across AWS, GCP, Azure with 60+ regionsnot Loom
  • Cost-effective database clusters using ARM64 architecture optionsnot 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

PlanetScale

  • EBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • EBS Non-HA single-node option lacks redundancy and automatic failover
  • Pricing varies by cloud provider and region, requiring queries for specific rates
  • ARM64 architecture only available on EBS tier, not Metal deployments

Pricing, plan by plan

Loom

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Loom review.

PlanetScale

$15/month

No published plan breakdown. See the PlanetScale review.

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 PlanetScale if

  • You need database branching.
  • You work on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
  • You also want non-blocking schema changes.
PlanetScale review

Questions people ask

Is Loom or PlanetScale better?
Neither clearly leads. Loom starts at Free and PlanetScale at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Loom or PlanetScale?
Loom has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Loom and $15/month for PlanetScale.
Does Loom or PlanetScale run on more platforms?
Loom runs on Web. PlanetScale runs on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
Can I use Loom for free?
Yes. Loom has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PlanetScale starts at $15/month.
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 PlanetScale is typically brought in for.
What can Loom do that PlanetScale cannot?
Loom covers Screen & camera recording, Instant sharing, Video editing, Viewer analytics. PlanetScale covers Database Branching, Non-blocking Schema Changes, Insights, Horizontal Scaling. Both handle SOC2, GDPR.
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Related pages

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