Choose the delivery route before the recorder. OBS Studio is built around local recording and streaming; Loom Starter packages capture with a hosted library and share links. A file produced by OBS still needs storage, access control and a delivery service if the recipient expects a browser link. Loom Starter’s recording and library limits can instead constrain a recurring workflow, and its plan does not supply the same download rights as Business. Compare a complete handoff, including playback while signed out. The zero purchase price of either edition does not establish equal hosting costs or identical export permissions.
Vendor sources and our tests are labelled separately. Independent tests that have not been run are not implied.
Vendor documentation is shown below. Independent tests are pending. Totals show known charges in each product’s currency; no currency conversion, tax or future price increase is assumed. List charges exclude volume discounts.
LO
Loom
Starter
PlatformWindows · macOS · Browser
Purchase basisFreePrice checked: 12 Sept 2026
Known 1-year cost · 1 person$0.00Tax excluded. Future upgrades and optional maintenance are not included unless stated.
Record your screenAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Screen, camera and microphone recording are documented. Starter allows 25 videos per person and five minutes per recording.
Include your webcamAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Screen, camera and microphone recording are documented. Starter allows 25 videos per person and five minutes per recording.
Record microphone audioAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Screen, camera and microphone recording are documented. Starter allows 25 videos per person and five minutes per recording.
Save a local videoNot supportedOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Starter cannot download videos. A paid eligible role is required for MP4 downloads.
Send a hosted video linkAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Hosted viewing links are included; access and workspace policies still apply.
Export without a watermarkNot supportedOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Starter does not support downloading the video, so watermark-free local export is unavailable.
Capture system audioNot established
Download an MP4Not established
Manage a hosted team libraryNot established
Record without a fixed time limitNot established
Offline core taskOnline required · task test pending
25 videos per person, five minutes per recording, and no MP4 download on Starter.
Known 1-year cost · 1 person$0.00Tax excluded. Future upgrades and optional maintenance are not included unless stated.
Record your screenAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Screen/window capture and recording are documented.
Include your webcamAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Video Capture Device sources support webcams.
Record microphone audioAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Desktop and microphone audio sources are documented.
Save a local videoAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Start Recording saves a local recording; this is separate from streaming.
Send a hosted video linkNot supportedOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026OBS does not provide its own hosted video library. Publish a recording through a separate hosting service to obtain a viewing link.
Export without a watermarkAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026The official FAQ explicitly states that OBS has no watermarks or other license limitations.
Capture system audioNot established
Download an MP4Not established
Manage a hosted team libraryNot established
Record without a fixed time limitNot established
Offline core taskLocal core task documented · task test pending
A recording and streaming application; a hosted team video library is a separate workflow.
Choose between a local recording and a hosted workflow
Decide who will store and share the video
OBS Studio is a candidate for local recording and streaming. Loom Starter includes a hosted workflow with plan limits. If you choose a local recorder, separately decide how recipients will obtain and play the file.
Verify one complete recording task
Capture a short screen, camera and microphone sample, then inspect the exported file or shared link. Test the applicable limit, permissions and watermark behavior on the plan you will actually use. A successful recording is only part of a successful handoff.
