Loom vs Zoom Clips (2026): Which for Async Video?
Vorec Team · 2026-10-24 · About 4 min read
If your team already pays for Zoom Workplace Pro, Zoom Clips covers basic async screen videos at no extra cost; Loom is the better pick when short video messages are the main way you communicate and you want them to stand on their own. Zoom's free Basic plan allows 5 two-minute clips, while Loom's free Starter plan allows 25 videos per person of up to 5 minutes. Facts come from Loom's pricing page read 6 October 2026 (rechecked 23 October) and Zoom's pricing page read in US dollars on 24 October 2026. We did not test either product, and "not checked" means our reads do not cover it. Vorec, which publishes this page, is mentioned briefly near the end.
Side-by-side
| Loom | Zoom Clips (part of Zoom Workplace) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A standalone async video messaging tool | A short-video feature inside Zoom Workplace (meetings, chat, mail, calendar) |
| Free plan | Starter: 25 videos per person, 5-minute screen recordings, up to 720p | Basic: 5 two-minute clips, plus 40-minute meetings |
| Paid entry | Business: $18 per user a month, $180 a year ($15 a month) | Pro: $16.99 per user a month billed monthly, $14.16 billed annually |
| Paid recording limits | Recording count and length shown as unlimited, up to 4K | Unlimited clips; 10 GB cloud storage per user |
| AI tier | Business + AI: $24 a month, $240 a year; transcript editing, summaries, chapters, filler removal | Pro lists unlimited meeting summaries and AI queries; Clips AI features not checked |
| Avatars | Not checked | Custom avatars: 1 minute per lifetime on Basic, 3 minutes a month on Pro |
| Also included | Video messaging only | Meetings up to 30 hours, Team Chat, Mail, Calendar, Scheduler on Pro |
The real question: do you already pay for Zoom?
Zoom bundles Clips into Workplace, so a team on Zoom Pro gets unlimited clips with the meeting licence it already pays for. Loom is a separate subscription, and it is built around the video message itself: its free plan is far more generous for clips (25 videos of up to 5 minutes against Zoom's 5 two-minute clips), and its AI tier adds transcript editing and filler removal on recorded videos.
Cost for a team of five, annual billing
Our arithmetic from the displayed prices: Loom Business is 5 x $180 = $900 a year, and Loom Business + AI is 5 x $240 = $1,200. Zoom Workplace Pro is 5 x $14.16 x 12 = $849.60 a year, and that also buys meetings, chat and calendar. If the team already pays for Zoom, adding Loom Business costs the full $900 on top.
Which to choose
Choose Zoom Clips if your team lives in Zoom already and needs the occasional walkthrough or update video; Pro's unlimited clips come with the licence.
Choose Loom if async video is a daily habit, you want a generous free tier to try it, or you want editing features such as transcript editing and filler removal on Business + AI.
Where Vorec fits
Both tools expect you to talk while you record. If you would rather record silently and add narration afterwards, Vorec records with its own macOS recorder or takes an uploaded recording (including one made in Loom or Zoom), drafts narration matched to each on-screen step and voices it with AI, and can generate a written step-by-step guide from the same capture. Plans: a free trial with no credit card required (current allowances on the pricing page), then Starter $9, Pro $24 or Business $59 a month. See Vorec vs Loom.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zoom Clips free?
Zoom's free Basic plan includes 5 two-minute clips. Paid Workplace Pro ($16.99 per user a month, or $14.16 billed annually) includes unlimited clips.
Is Loom better than Zoom for screen recording?
For async video messages, Loom's free plan is more generous (25 videos of up to 5 minutes per person) and its AI tier adds transcript editing. If your team already pays for Zoom Pro, Zoom Clips may be enough.
How much does Loom cost compared with Zoom?
Loom Business is $18 per user a month or $180 a year; Zoom Workplace Pro is $16.99 a month or $14.16 a month billed annually, and includes meetings. See Loom pricing.
Related reading: Loom vs Snagit, Loom vs OBS Studio, Descript vs Loom and the alternatives and comparisons hub.
See also: ScreenPal vs Loom (2026): Price, Limits, Best Fit.
See also: How to Download a Loom Video as MP4 (2026).
See also: How to Record a Zoom Meeting (2026): Local, Cloud, Mobile.
Record your screen without talking and get AI narration matched to every step. Start your free trial, no card needed. Trial includes up to 3 projects; exports carry a watermark.