Show, don’t tell. Whether you’re a content creator – blogger, writer, vlogger – marketer, or business owner, this advice is simple enough. Screen recording tools make it easier for your audience to follow along.
Such tools capture or record what’s displayed on your screen from the cursor movement to the sound and more, so you can describe problems, deliver instructions, or just share knowledge.
It takes significantly longer to write out descriptions of something you need to explain or talk about compared to showing it on your screen. If you’re not standing next to those who need to see what’s happening on your screen, a screen recording tool will solve that issue.
Screen recording or capture tools come in various forms and offer different features, making it tough to know where to start.
That’s why in this comparison guide, we’ll review two of the popular screen capture/recording apps – Vidyard vs Loom – so you can get an overview of which one would work for you.
Ideally, the tool you pick should record a specific area, window, or entire screen, superimpose a webcam feed over the screen capture, and record your mic and system audio simultaneously.
Plus, it should provide native video sharing, an intuitive and friendly user interface, and/or convenient exporting tools.
To help you choose, we reviewed Vidyard and Loom based on features, video quality, integrations, support, pricing, and their pros and cons. Let’s dive in.
Vidyard vs Loom: What Are They And How They Work
Vidyard
Vidyard is a free screen recording software that comes with a Chrome extension or desktop app. It’s intuitive and works on most devices, recording your videos in HD quality and allowing you to share without watermarks. You can share your screen and yourself simultaneously and be notified when somebody watches your content.
It’s an easy screen recorder that allows you to record your screen only, add a human touch to your recordings, or a webcam bubble featuring your face.
It’s great for recording and sharing demos, presentations, sales prospecting videos, walkthroughs, and more. Plus, you can use Vidyard to host and share videos, and it automatically uploads them to the cloud or local storage on your device.
You can also trim recordings and in a few taps, you can share videos via email.
Loom
Loom also lets you record a video quickly and share the link. It’s not overly complicated when you need to record. In fact, you can either record your screen only, webcam only, or your screen with your webcam video.
Once you’re done, you’ll find your video on Loom, and you can edit it in your browser or copy the link to share it with others.
As one of the best screen recorders, Loom makes it easy to record high-quality videos. You can also enable the option to let people comment and react to your videos and see who viewed the content.
The software is designed to help teams or clients communicate more and improve productivity. It works with all devices – smartphones (Android or iOS) and computers (Windows and Mac).
You’ll get a link to share your recordings automatically plus branding options, video trimming, CTA buttons, and security settings to password protect the screen recordings. And you can collaborate on-the-go with other users even if you can’t access your device.
Interesting Comparison: Loom vs Zoom
Loom vs Vidyard: Features
Vidyard
From easy video creation for small businesses or enterprises to powerful video analytics, the screen recording software and online video platform provide the bells and whistles you need to engage your audience – no matter who or where they are.
We’ll explore the main features you should expect to find in Vidyard below.
Video creation
With Vidyard, you can easily record videos of up to one hour from your browser or smartphone.
Screen recording
Vidyard lets you record your browser tab or screen with or without your camera.
Video personalization
If you need unique messages for each audience recipient, Vidyard lets you personalize your videos on demand.
Video playlists
You can put together many videos and stitch them into one playlist.
Animated video previews
Vidyard can generate a three-second GIF preview automatically, which you can then embed into your email messages.
Quick video editing
Vidyard allows you to trim the start or end of your video so you can make quick edits.
Integrations
If you use a sales engagement platform, Vidyard allows you to create and send videos through it thanks to its integration with multiple popularly used apps.
Intro banner
With Vidyard, you can add a banner with your name and title to the webcam bubble when starting the recording.
Online video hosting
Vidyard offers an ad-free video hosting experience with high-quality video streaming and lightning-fast load times.
Fast video uploads
You can upload MP4s, WMVs, and MOVs among other video formats on Vidyard.
Uploader widget
If you want to share your video with external users or agencies, you can get a link to share and add videos to your library.
User permissions
Vidyard lets you manage user access and permissions to folders in your company’s video platform.
Security and compliance
You can control access to your video content using passwords and SSO content.
Online video player
Vidyard has a responsive video player that you can embed anywhere, and that supports 360 and 4k video.
Embed videos
Add videos to your email messages, website, knowledgebase, or company portal anywhere else you want.
Email videos
In a few clicks, you can add videos to your email messages from Vidyard to Gmail and Outlook without requiring downloads or attachments.
Video sharing pages
Vidyard lets you customize your video’s landing page to match your company’s brand assets.
View notifications
You’ll receive notifications when someone watches your video, and know who watched it, what they watched, and for how long.
Video hubs
You can curate your recordings in one platform and they will be published publicly or secured for internal-only access.
Share to social
Vidyard allows you to push videos to social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
Video calls to action
Vidyard recordings have options like adding links or buttons to your videos so viewers know what to do after watching.
SEO
The video recordings can be optimized automatically using metadata or captions to rank better in search.
Automatic transcriptions
You can transcribe your Vidyard videos automatically for accessibility.
Powerful analytics dashboards
Vidyard offers analytics dashboards with insight into aggregate attention spans, views over time, and other video performance metrics.
CRM integrations
To report on the ROI of your video, you can push your video analytics data back to your MAP or CRM.
Loom
Loom also provides multiple features that ensure you have a great screen recording. Here are some of the main ones.
Custom branding
Add your own logo and color scheme instead of the default Loom branding on your video player to be right on-brand. This feature is visible to people who aren’t logged in, or don’t have a Loom account as they play your video, and also to Business and Enterprise users.
Engagement Insights
Show who viewed your video and how the people engage with it. This feature shows completion rate and call-to-action conversion rate and is available to Workspaces in the Business or Enterprise plan.
Call-to-action
With a CTA button, you can increase engagement by allowing viewers to be redirected to another brand asset for more information, make purchases after viewing your online store, make appointments, or visit your site. The feature is for Business, Education, and Enterprise users.
HD Recording
With this feature, you can record crystal clear videos in full high definition and up to 4k recording.
Click emphasis
Make your clicks crystal clear by highlighting mouse clicks so they know the action you’re performing with your cursor. You can enable or disable it anytime.
Drawing tools
These tools guide viewers through your recording. You can launch the recording from the desktop app and then hover over any tool to activate its functions. The feature is only available as you record on the desktop app.
Canvas
Express yourself visually using this customizable recording backdrop. It makes videos look good and more engaging. You can use it to share greetings, intros, or update your team.
Virtual background
A virtual background can be an image that adds a more polished look and makes it easy to feel comfortable or confident as you record a Loom with your video.
Track your recording time
You can monitor how long you’ve been recording your video and maximize engagement.
Frames
If you want to express yourself, you can also add a frame in Loom to your camera bubble. Frames add a bit of flair and fun to your recording.
Keyboard shortcuts
These shortcuts help you avoid being distracted by the mouse. You can control your video with the shortcuts and double-check or override the ones you’ve already set.
Capture and share screenshots straight to your Workspace
Loom screenshots help you capture and share images with others. You also get shareable URLs for your screenshots and they’re stored in the screenshots tab in your workspace’s personal library.
Reactions and comments
Express yourself with in-video emojis and comments so you can respond or react to a specific moment in the video. The reactions appear on the video’s timeline as you leave them.
Custom thumbnail
To make your recording sleeker, Loom added a custom thumbnail feature that can showcase your video’s topic and add stunning visuals that represent your brand or yourself.
GIF preview
You can give viewers an animated GIF preview of your video’s content to convey emotion and information instead of using a static preview. You can grab their attention and entice them to click play while sparking their interest in what they’re about to watch.
Custom branding
Add your logo and color scheme by custom branding your video player so it’s on-brand.
Annotations (Desktop App only)
With Loom’s drawing tool, you can make quick markings on the screen while narrating and offer feedback. These markings last a few seconds so your screen is clutter-free.
Chrome Extension
Loom offers a Chrome extension so you can quickly open the recording menu, view advanced options, and more features.
Loom Virtual Classroom
For many teachers and students, the use of screencasts and videos in classroom instruction has become a lifeline. Loom is not only user-friendly but lets you record and share videos quickly with students via an embed code or link.
Through the virtual classroom, you can record directions once for students who learn from home or in class so they can watch over and over again. You can create multiple short videos, send quick reminders, add CTAs, and more tasks or resources.
With Loom, you can also adjust video playback speed, edit and trim videos, choose who can see your video with access and security controls, and more. You can also share invitation links with your workmates and import contacts via Slack.
It’s a no-frills setup that Works on any device or platform, and you can save your videos to the cloud for easy sharing without worrying about student accounts. You can also download videos for further edits or share them on platforms that need you to upload the file.
Vidyard vs Loom: Integrations & Support
Vidyard
Vidyard goes beyond letting you create great screen recordings so your video isn’t left in a vacuum. It integrates with marketing automation, sales engagement, and other systems and platforms that you’re already using every day.
These integrations give you more ways to use Vidyard and include tools like Gmail, Outlook, Outreach, Groove, Salesforce, Marketo, Salesloft, HubSpot, Zapier, LinkedIn, Autoklose, Cognism, ConvertKit, Gong, Dropbox, Facebook, Excel, Google Analytics, Google Drive, Google Sheets, HootSuite, Kapost, Leadpages, MixMax, Proposify, Slack, Turtl Docs, Twitter, Uberflip, Unbounce, Wix, WordPress, and Zendesk among many others.
Loom
Loom doesn’t disappoint either. It offers multiple integrations with popular everyday tools and apps you use including Salesforce, Gmail, Jira and Jira Service Desk, Slack, Zendesk, Notion, Medium, Enbedly, and more.
Loom vs Vidyard: Pricing
Vidyard
Vidyard’s pricing packages are designed with user-friendly video tools, video analytics, and other powerful features. It’s built for business and helps you grow your video strategy.
- Free plan: $0 per month offers video recording and uploads, and you can share via email, social media, and more in a few clicks.
- Pro plan: $15 per month, for individuals to communicate with coworkers and customers. It offers password protection, video replies, and you can create CTAs for videos among other features.
- Teams plan: $300 per month adds video to your marketing and sales strategies. Its key features include custom branding, full video analytics, and the inclusion of three users.
- Business: $1250 per month is designed to help teams generate more pipeline, leads, and revenues through video. It includes five users, CRM/MAP integration, and fully customizable video CTAs.
See the Vidyard pricing page for further details.
Loom
Loom also has different plans that you can choose for you or your team. It works on all platforms and operating devices and comes with the following packages:
- Starter: Free $0, and offers up to 50 Creators Lite, 25 videos per person, and 5 minutes per video. The main videos include viewer insights, instant editing, team workspace, cam bubble, and screen recording.
- Business: $8 per creator per month. This plan offers unlimited video recording, access to 4k quality, advanced analytics and recordings, unlimited creators, videos, recording length, and up to 50 Creators Lite. You also get whatever is in the Starter package, plus filler word removal, custom branding, transcriptions and closed captions, and engagement insights. A 14-day free trial is available to test run this plan and its features.
- Enterprise: custom pricing and offers everything in the Business plan, plus SSO (SAML), SCIM, advanced content privacy, Salesforce integration (beta), and advanced admin and security.
Visit Loom’s pricing page for more information.
Vidyard vs Loom: Similarities & Differences
| Vidyard | Loom | |
| Software type | Screen recording | Screen recording |
| Unique features | Intro banner Video hubs Animated video previews Uploader widget Custom playlists HD quality No watermarks on videos. | Webcam bubble Custom branding Canvas Frames Custom thumbnail Chrome extension Keyboard shortcuts Click emphasis Virtual background. |
| Integrations | Multiple integrations with many everyday used apps and tools. | Fewer integrations compared to Vidyard |
| Pricing | Free plan: $0 per month Pro plan: $15 per month Teams plan: $300 per month Business: $1250 per month | Starter: Free $0 Business: $8 per creator per month. A 14-day free trial is available to test run this plan and its features. Enterprise: custom pricing |
| Support | Knowledgebase, Help button, video walkthroughs, email, social media, resources page | Contact form, knowledgebase, FAQ page, Help center, email, social media |
| Free plan/trial | Free plan available | Free plan available, inclusive of 14-day trial on premium plans |
Loom vs Vidyard: Pros & Cons
Vidyard
Pros
- Free to use
- Can upload and stream videos from a branded player or pull them in through YouTube
- Offers split testing to measure the videos’ effectiveness and see where more clicks come from
- Customization available for your own player
- Full compatibility with leading video players, browsers, and operating systems and devices
- Easy to implement CTA strategies using videos for conversion of viewers to customers
- Allows viewers to browse your content by adding custom playlists
- Measures video reach
- Offers video performance analytics plus viewer statistics through an integrated CRM
- Provides full video control – permissions and access so you know who can see when the videos are launched and where to embed
- Multiple third-party integration possibilities
- You can create video hubs to showcase your content in one place
- Automatic search engine optimization
- Supports multiple video formats
Cons
- User interface not friendly to beginners
- Premium pricing plans are costly
- Limited editing capabilities
- No free trial for premium features
Loom
Pros
- Easy to use
- Has a webcam bubble and custom branding
- Offers virtual backgrounds
- You can embed it in other apps like ClickUp
- Restricts video viewing to specific users
- Integrates with Notion, Slack, and Gmail
- Has CTA buttons
- Automatically generates video sharing links
- Works as a Chrome extension or desktop app
- Can resize webcam video
- Easy-access viewing links
- Multiple layouts for video recording
- Offers free plan and free trial on premium plans
Cons
- Limited CRM integrations
- High enterprise-level pricing plan
- Five-minute recording limits
- 100 screenshot and video limits
- You have to sign up for an account through a lengthy process
- Lacks option to insert notes and tags in videos
- Buggy desktop app
Vidyard vs Loom: Which Is Better?
A good screen recording software should produce the most worthwhile content for your audience while saving you the most time.
Knowing your target audience is a good place to start as it helps you select whether to use Vidyard or Loom based on use cases.
Both options come with free plans so you can give them a whirl and find out which one works best for you.
For this round though, we recommend Vidyard. The software integrates with almost every app you can think of that you use in your everyday business work, and it’s free to use. But it doesn’t end with screen recording.
Vidyard is also intuitive, works on most operating systems and devices, offers HD quality, and you don’t have to worry about sharing videos that have watermarks.
Plus, you can share yourself and your screen while recording, know when people watch your videos, and their reactions too.
Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing. I started my first e-commerce company in college, designing and selling t-shirts for my campus bar crawl using print-on-demand. Having successfully established multiple 6 & 7-figure e-commerce businesses (in women’s fashion and hiking gear), I think I can share a tip or 2 to help you succeed.