Loom

Overview

Loom is a market-leading video communication tool that allows users to record their screen, camera, and microphone simultaneously. It focuses on replacing long-winded emails and unnecessary meetings with short, shareable videos. Known for its instant sharing capabilities and AI features that automate summaries and titles, Loom is a staple for remote and hybrid teams worldwide.

What it does

• Records high-quality screen and camera videos with one click.
• Generates instant shareable links the moment a recording finishes.
• Includes 'Loom AI' for automated video titles, summaries, and action item extraction.
• Allows for interactive video reactions and time-stamped comments.
• Provides a team library for centralized video knowledge management.

Who it's for

• Product Managers
• Software Engineers
• Customer Support Teams
• Sales Reps

Why it works

• Speed: It's faster to record a 2-minute video than to write a 10-paragraph email.
• Context: Video allows for nuance and emotion that is often lost in text communication.
• Instant Gratification: No waiting for files to upload or process; links are live immediately.
• AI Integration: Automatically cleans up filler words ('umms' and 'ahhs') and generates transcripts.

Founder story

Founded in 2015 by Joe Thomas, Shahed Khan, and Vinay Hiremath in San Francisco. Originally launched as a user testing tool called Opentest, they realized the core technology—easy screen recording—was actually the most valuable product. They pivoted to 'Loom' and fundamentally changed how modern teams communicate asynchronously.

Alternatives

• Vidyard
• Zight (CloudApp)
• ScreenPal
• Berrycast

Comparison overview

• Vidyard: More focused on sales and marketing analytics; Loom is the specialist for general internal team communication.
• Zight: Strong on screenshots and annotations; Loom is superior for video-first async messaging.
• Loom is the undisputed gold standard for async video messaging.