If you’re searching for an open source alternative to Loom, your priorities are likely different from most teams.

Instead of polished UX or built-in collaboration, you may care more about:

• transparency and source code access
• self-hosting and infrastructure control
• privacy, compliance, or internal deployment
• avoiding vendor lock-in

This guide focuses only on open source Loom alternatives – tools that let you record and share video without relying on closed, proprietary platforms.

What Makes an Open Source Loom Alternative Different?

Open source screen recording tools usually focus on recording itself, not on async collaboration or team workflows.

That means most open source options:

• require self-hosting or local setup
• offer limited sharing and analytics
• lack built-in commenting or async collaboration
• prioritize control over convenience

For some teams, that trade-off is exactly the point.

1. Screenity (Open Source, Chrome-Based)

Screenity is one of the most popular open source Loom alternatives.

It’s a Chrome extension that allows screen and webcam recording without requiring an account.

Why people choose Screenity:

• fully open source
• free to use
• works directly in Chrome
• no sign-up required

Limitations to be aware of:

• no built-in hosting or analytics
• no async collaboration or replies
• videos must be stored and shared manually
• not designed for team workflows

Screenity works well for individual recordings, demos, or quick explanations – especially in technical environments.

2. OBS Studio (Open Source, Self-Hosted)

OBS Studio is a well-known open source video recording and streaming tool.

While not built specifically as a Loom replacement, it’s often used by teams that want full control over recording and output.

Strengths:

• fully open source
• extremely powerful and configurable
• works offline and on local machines

Trade-offs:

• steep learning curve
• not browser-based
• no built-in sharing, comments, or async workflows
• requires separate hosting and distribution

OBS is best suited for technical users who already manage their own infrastructure.

3. SimpleScreenRecorder / Kazam (Linux)

On Linux-based systems, tools like SimpleScreenRecorder or Kazam are often mentioned as open source Loom alternatives.

They offer:

• local screen recording
• lightweight setup
• full control over files

But like most open source tools, they stop at recording and leave collaboration, sharing, and async workflows to other systems.

What Open Source Loom Alternatives Are (and Aren’t)

Open source Loom alternatives are great if you need:

• full control over software and data
• offline or self-hosted recording
• transparent, auditable code

They are not ideal if you’re looking for:

• async team collaboration
• reusable video libraries
• viewer analytics
• frictionless sharing with non-technical users

That’s an intentional trade-off.

When Open Source Makes Sense – and When It Doesn’t

An open source Loom alternative makes sense when:

• compliance or privacy is a top priority
• your team can manage hosting and distribution
• video is occasional, not core to daily collaboration

For teams using video daily across sales, support, onboarding, or internal updates, open source tools often become limiting – not because they’re bad, but because they’re designed for a different purpose.

Want Help Choosing the Right Video Workflow?

If you're evaluating video tools for developer teams, we’re happy to help.

The Videolink team works closely with product, engineering, and support teams that use video to explain bugs, review code changes, and improve async collaboration.

If you'd like to discuss how video can fit into your workflows, schedule a conversation with us. We’re always open to sharing our experience and helping teams design better video workflows.

‍Speak with the Videolink team

An Alternative for GitHub and Developer Workflows

If your team is exploring open source Loom alternatives because you work in developer environments, there is another option worth considering.

Videolink is not open source, but it is designed specifically for product and engineering workflows where video explanations are tied to real work.

For example, Videolink integrates directly with tools many developer teams already use, including GitHub. Product managers, engineers, and contributors can record short walkthroughs to explain bugs, review pull requests, or show product flows with visual context.

Instead of writing long issue descriptions or review comments, teams can attach a quick video explanation directly to their workflow.

This approach helps teams:

• explain bugs and reproduction steps clearly
• review pull requests with visual context
• capture product feedback for engineers
• reduce back-and-forth discussions in GitHub issues

Because the video is tied to the development workflow, it becomes easier for teams to close feedback loops between product and engineering.

If you're exploring video tools for developer collaboration rather than pure screen recording, Videolink may be a practical alternative to both Loom and self-hosted recording tools.

Final Thoughts

There is no single “perfect” open source Loom alternative – because the goal is different.

Open source tools prioritize control and transparency over convenience and collaboration. For developers, IT teams, and privacy-focused organizations, that’s often exactly what’s needed.

Choosing the right tool depends on whether your priority is ownership or workflow efficiency.