Softwr

Communication · head to head

Loom vs ScreenFlow

Loom logo

Loom

Communication

Record instantly, share anywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ScreenFlow logo

ScreenFlow

Video Production

Mac-only screen recording and editing sold as a one-time purchase

From
On request
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 starter plan limited to 25 videos per person; ScreenFlow it runs on macOS only, so a mixed fleet cannot standardise on it and project files cannot be handed to a Windows colleague in any form.
  • They diverge on capability: Loom covers Screen & camera recording, ScreenFlow covers Screen and device capture.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Loom and ScreenFlow actually diverge.

Attributes where Loom and ScreenFlow differ
AttributeLoomScreenFlow
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebmacOS
CategoryCommunicationVideo Production
Founded2015Unknown

Identical on both: 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 ScreenFlow

  • Screen and device capture
  • Callouts
  • Animated zoom and pan
  • Caption authoring
  • Stock media library
  • Direct publishing

What people use each for

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

Loom

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

ScreenFlow

  • Producing a paid online course where a recurring software subscription would erode the marginnot Loom
  • Recording software tutorials for a support knowledge base on a fixed annual budgetnot Loom
  • Capturing an iOS app demonstration directly from a connected device without a screen mirroring workaroundnot Loom
  • Training teams who need captioned, annotated walkthroughs without a full editing suitenot Loom

Where each one falls short

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

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

ScreenFlow

  • It runs on macOS only, so a mixed fleet cannot standardise on it and project files cannot be handed to a Windows colleague in any form.
  • Each major version is a paid upgrade rather than an included update, so the one-time purchase is in practice a purchase every eighteen months to two years if you want current macOS compatibility.
  • New macOS releases have repeatedly broken screen and audio capture until an update arrives, which is a scheduling risk for anyone recording to a publication calendar.
  • Media lives inside a project bundle that grows quickly and there is no real media management, so a long-running series consumes disk with no straightforward way to consolidate or relink.
  • It is a recorder with an editor attached; multicam, colour work and audio repair beyond simple cleanup all require a proper non-linear editor.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

ScreenFlow

On request
  • ScreenFlow$undefined/year
    • Perpetual licence for one major version
    • Screen, camera and device capture
    • Full editing timeline

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 ScreenFlow if

  • You need screen and device capture.
  • You work on macOS.
  • You also want callouts.
ScreenFlow review

Questions people ask

Is Loom or ScreenFlow better?
Neither clearly leads. Loom starts at Free and ScreenFlow at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Loom or ScreenFlow?
Loom has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Loom and On request for ScreenFlow.
Does Loom or ScreenFlow run on more platforms?
Loom runs on Web. ScreenFlow runs on macOS.
Can I use Loom for free?
Yes. Loom has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ScreenFlow starts at On request.
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 ScreenFlow is typically brought in for.
What can Loom do that ScreenFlow cannot?
Loom covers Screen & camera recording, Instant sharing, Video editing, Viewer analytics. ScreenFlow covers Screen and device capture, Callouts, Animated zoom and pan, Caption authoring.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
ScreenFlow: Is it a subscription?

No. The application is bought outright. Major version upgrades are charged separately, and the optional stock media library is a subscription.

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
ScreenFlow: Will it ever run on Windows?

No. It is a macOS application and Telestream has never shipped a Windows version.

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
ScreenFlow: How does it compare with Camtasia on cost?

Both are bought rather than rented and both charge for major upgrades. ScreenFlow is Mac only; Camtasia runs on both platforms, which usually decides it for a mixed team.

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