Compare / Scribe vs Loom
Scribe vs Loom: which should you choose?
A neutral breakdown of both tools, plus a third option if neither fits your budget.
Scribe
Scribe records clicks in your browser (and desktop on paid plans) and turns them into step-by-step guides with screenshots. It is the best-known tool in the category and has a polished editor and large template library.
Best for: Larger companies that want a mature, enterprise-ready documentation platform and are fine paying per seat.
Loom
Loom records your screen and camera as shareable videos. Many teams use it for how-tos, but it produces videos, not step-by-step documents.
Best for: Quick async video walkthroughs and updates where a person’s voice matters.
Side by side
| Scribe | Loom | Howdock | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free (Basic, web capture only) | Free (limited) | Free forever |
| Entry paid plan | $25/seat/mo annual · $35 monthly (Pro Personal) | Paid from about $18/mo | $22/mo annual · $29 monthly (Pro) |
| Teams | $13/seat/mo annual · $17 monthly, 5-seat minimum (Pro Team) | Per creator | $12/seat/mo annual · $15 monthly, 2-seat minimum |
| Unlimited guides on the free plan | ✓ Yes | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
| Browser capture (extension) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Desktop / any-app capture | Paid plans | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Desktop capture on the free plan | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Desktop capture without installing an app | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
| PDF export on the free plan | ✕ No | ✕ No | Yes (small badge) |
| Screenshot redaction on the free plan | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
| Custom branding | Paid plans | Paid plans | Pro & Team |
| AI-written step text | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Video output | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Team plan seat minimum | 5 seats | Check vendor | 2 seats |
Competitor prices are public list prices as of November 2026 (sources: supered.io Scribe pricing teardown (July 2026); dubble.so Scribe pricing (2026); softwares.com Scribe pricing page, related tools (Oct 2026)). Vendors change pricing often, so confirm on their sites before buying.
Verdict
- Choose Scribe for: very polished capture and editor.
- Choose Loom for: fastest way to record a quick video.
- Choose Howdock if you want screenshot guides with free PDF export, redaction and desktop capture, at a lower price.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Scribe or Loom?
Scribe: $25/seat/mo annual · $35 monthly (Pro Personal). Loom: Paid from about $18/mo. Team pricing and seat minimums change the answer, so use the calculator for your team size.
What is the main difference between Scribe and Loom?
Scribe is screenshot step-by-step guides; Loom is async video messages. Larger companies that want a mature, enterprise-ready documentation platform and are fine paying per seat. Quick async video walkthroughs and updates where a person’s voice matters.
Is there a cheaper option than both?
Howdock offers a free plan with PDF export and desktop capture, Pro at $22/mo annual and Team at $12/seat with a 2-seat minimum.
Try Howdock free
Unlimited guides, PDF export and redaction on the free plan. No credit card.
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