Softwr

Communication · head to head

Loom vs Visual Studio Code

Loom logo

Loom

Communication

Record instantly, share anywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Visual Studio Code logo

Visual Studio Code

Developer Tools

Code editing. Redefined.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Loom starter plan limited to 25 videos per person; Visual Studio Code requires extension installation for language-specific features and tooling
  • They diverge on capability: Loom covers Screen & camera recording, Visual Studio Code covers IntelliSense.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Loom and Visual Studio Code actually diverge.

Attributes where Loom and Visual Studio Code differ
AttributeLoomVisual Studio Code
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWebWindows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces)
CategoryCommunicationDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), founded (2015).

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 Visual Studio Code

  • IntelliSense
  • Debugging
  • Built-in Git
  • Extensions
  • Integrated terminal
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Code refactoring
  • Snippets

Both cover

  • GitHub

What people use each for

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

Loom

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

Visual Studio Code

  • Code editingnot Loom
  • Web developmentnot Loom
  • Debuggingnot Loom
  • Version controlnot Loom
  • Remote developmentnot 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

Visual Studio Code

  • Requires extension installation for language-specific features and tooling
  • Performance can degrade with very large codebases (100,000+ files)
  • Git integration is basic; requires extensions for advanced version control workflows

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

Visual Studio Code

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Visual Studio Code 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 Visual Studio Code if

  • You need intellisense.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces).
  • You also want debugging.
Visual Studio Code review

Questions people ask

Is Loom or Visual Studio Code better?
Neither clearly leads. Loom starts at Free and Visual Studio Code at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Loom or Visual Studio Code?
Loom starts at Free and Visual Studio Code at Free.
Does Loom or Visual Studio Code run on more platforms?
Loom runs on Web. Visual Studio Code runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces).
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 Visual Studio Code is typically brought in for.
What can Loom do that Visual Studio Code cannot?
Loom covers Screen & camera recording, Instant sharing, Video editing, Viewer analytics. Visual Studio Code covers IntelliSense, Debugging, Built-in Git, Extensions. Both handle GitHub.

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
Visual Studio Code: Is Visual Studio Code free?

Yes. Visual Studio Code is completely free to use under the MIT license. There are no subscription fees or paid tiers.

Source
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
Visual Studio Code: Can I use VS Code for remote development?

Yes. The Remote Development extension pack allows development on remote machines via SSH, in containers, or in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) while using the full VS Code feature set.

Source
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
Visual Studio Code: How many extensions are available?

The VS Code Marketplace contains thousands of extensions from Microsoft and the community for language support, debuggers, themes, formatters, and productivity tools.

Source
Visual Studio Code: Does VS Code support debugging?

Yes. VS Code includes built-in debugging for JavaScript, TypeScript, and Node.js, and supports debugging for Python, C++, C#, Java, Ruby, Go, PHP, and other languages via extensions.

Source
Visual Studio Code: What operating systems does VS Code support?

VS Code runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with identical features and keybindings across all platforms.

Source
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