Communication · head to head
Loom vs Slack
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Loom starter plan limited to 25 videos per person; Slack 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing
- They diverge on capability: Loom covers Screen & camera recording, Slack covers Channels.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Loom and Slack actually diverge.
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 Loom
- Screen & camera recording
- Instant sharing
- Video editing
- Viewer analytics
- Comments & reactions
- Transcription
- Custom CTAs
- Drawing tools
Only in Slack
- Channels
- Direct messaging
- Voice & video calls
- Screen sharing
- File sharing
- Search
- Workflow builder
- Slack Connect
Both cover
- Jira
- GitHub
- SOC2
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Loom
- Asynchronous video communication and screen recordingnot Slack
- Product demonstrations and tutorialsnot Slack
- Meeting transcription and documentationnot Slack
- Team communication and knowledge sharingnot Slack
Slack
- Team communicationnot Loom
- Project coordinationnot Loom
- Customer supportnot Loom
- Remote worknot Loom
- Cross-functional collaborationnot 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
Slack
- 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing
- Per-user pricing becomes expensive quickly for larger teams
- Notification overload with 78% of employees feeling overwhelmed by notifications
- Mobile app performance issues including lag and slow syncing
- Huddles limited to 50 people and cannot be recorded
- Requires dedicated video conferencing service for formal meetings and webinars
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
Slack
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Loom if
- You need screen & camera recording.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want instant sharing.
Choose Slack if
- You need channels.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
- You also want direct messaging.
Questions people ask
- Is Loom or Slack better?
- Neither clearly leads. Loom starts at Free and Slack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Loom or Slack?
- Loom starts at Free and Slack at Free.
- Does Loom or Slack run on more platforms?
- Loom runs on Web. Slack runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
- 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 Slack is typically brought in for.
- What can Loom do that Slack cannot?
- Loom covers Screen & camera recording, Instant sharing, Video editing, Viewer analytics. Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, Screen sharing. Both handle Jira, GitHub, SOC2.
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.
SourceSlack: Does Slack have a free plan?
Yes, Slack offers a free plan indefinitely with no credit card required. Free users get 90-day message history, up to 10 app integrations, and 1:1 huddles.
SourceLoom: 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.
SourceSlack: What are Slack's pricing plans?
Slack offers Free, Pro ($7.25/user/month with annual billing), Business+ ($12.50/user/month), and Enterprise Grid (custom pricing). Monthly billing costs approximately 20% more than annual.
SourceLoom: 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.
SourceSlack: Does Slack support offline use?
Slack is a cloud-based platform and does not support robust offline work. Internet connectivity is required to access messages and collaborate.
SourceSlack: What integrations does Slack support?
Slack integrates with 43+ apps on average per team, including Google Drive, ChatGPT, Vercel, Asana, GitHub, and many others through their app marketplace.
SourceRelated pages
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