Comparison · Screen recorders
Loom vs SimpleScreenRecorder: which is better in 2026?
Loom ranks higher in our list of screen recorders (#2 against #10, score 88.5 against 77.5).
- 88.5Editorial score77.5
- 5Platforms1
- YesFree to useYes
- NoOpen sourceYes
Which should you choose?
Choose Loom if you want
Quick shareable video messages.
Fast screen and camera recordings shared as links, with apps for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android and a Chrome extension. The free plan caps video count and recording length, and recordings sit on Loom's servers.
Choose SimpleScreenRecorder if you want
Game and program recording on Linux.
A free GPL-3.0 recorder for Linux that records programs and games and installs from most distributions' repositories. It offers fewer options than OBS Studio.
The main differences
- Only SimpleScreenRecorder runs on Linux.
- Only Loom runs on Windows.
- Only Loom runs on macOS.
- Only Loom runs on iOS.
- Only Loom runs on Android.
- SimpleScreenRecorder is open source; Loom is not.
Side by side
 Loom | SimpleScreenRecorder | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 88.5 | 77.5 |
| Rank in list | #2 of 10 | #10 of 10 |
| Price | Free plan, paid upgradesStarter is free with 25 videos; Business is $18 per user a month | Free and open sourceFree and open source under the GPL-3.0 license |
| Free to use | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Platforms | WindowsmacOSiOSAndroidBrowser extensionWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser extension | LinuxLinux |
| Made by | Not stated | Maarten Baert |
| Best for | Quick shareable video messages | Game and program recording on Linux |
| Strengths |
|
|
| Limits |
|
|
| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Loom vs SimpleScreenRecorder
- Is Loom better than SimpleScreenRecorder?
- Loom ranks higher in our list of screen recorders (#2 against #10, score 88.5 against 77.5). Loom is best for: quick shareable video messages. SimpleScreenRecorder is best for: game and program recording on Linux.
- Which is cheaper, Loom or SimpleScreenRecorder?
- Loom: Starter is free with 25 videos; Business is $18 per user a month. SimpleScreenRecorder: Free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license.
- Do Loom and SimpleScreenRecorder run on the same platforms?
- Loom supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser extension. SimpleScreenRecorder supports Linux.
Choosing between the two
Learning Center
1:17How to decide between two good optionsSettle a close call by sorting it by how hard it is to undo, setting a deadline, scoring the criteria as a tie-breaker and writing down why you chose.
1:20How to compare products fairly: what to keep in mindDefine the job, cap the must-haves, compare like with like, count total cost over one period and weigh the criteria. Includes a worked example.
