OBS Studio
OBS Studio - Free and open source software for live streaming and screen recording.
78.6k GitHub stars · GPL-2.0 · last code push Oct 29, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Free, open-source alternatives to Loom
Record your screen and share it. Cap is the closest to Loom; OBS Studio and ShareX are powerful recorders without built-in share links.
Category: Screen recording · GitHub data as of Oct 29, 2026 · FAQ · Cost & self-hosting
| Project | What it is | License | GitHub stars | Last release | Runs as | Hosted plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio Active GPL-2.0 | OBS Studio - Free and open source software for live streaming and screen recording. | GPL-2.0 | 78.6k | Oct 29, 2026 | Desktop app | Not confirmed |
| ShareX Active GPL-3.0 | ShareX is a free and open-source application that enables users to capture or record any area of their screen with a single keystroke. | GPL-3.0 | 40.5k | Oct 20, 2026 | Desktop app | Not confirmed |
| Cap Active Mixed or custom | Open source Loom alternative. Beautiful, shareable screen recordings. | Mixed or custom | 24.1k | Oct 28, 2026 | Desktop app | Yes, from the project |
Are they still maintained?
3 of 3 Loom alternatives here had a code push or release in the last 180 days (checked Oct 29, 2026).
- OBS Studio: active, last activity Oct 29, 2026 (0 days ago)
- ShareX: active, last activity Oct 29, 2026 (0 days ago)
- Cap: active, last activity Oct 29, 2026 (0 days ago)
See every project in the "Is it still maintained?" tracker →
What switching from Loom costs
Loom: current plans and prices are on Loom's pricing page.
| Alternative | How you run it | Software cost | What you pay for |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Desktop app | $0 (GPL-2.0) | Nothing to host. Install it on your own device. |
| ShareX | Desktop app | $0 (GPL-3.0) | Nothing to host. Install it on your own device. |
| Cap | Desktop app | $0 (Mixed or custom, check terms) | Nothing to host. Install it on your own device. |
Don't want to run a server? Cap offers a hosted plan run by the project itself. Prices change, so check each project's site.
Nothing to host: OBS Studio, ShareX and Cap run on your own computer.
License check: Cap does not use a single standard open-source license that GitHub can detect. Read the license before using it in a business.
The options in more detail
ShareX
ShareX is a free and open-source application that enables users to capture or record any area of their screen with a single keystroke.
40.5k GitHub stars · GPL-3.0 · last code push Oct 29, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Cap
Open source Loom alternative. Beautiful, shareable screen recordings.
24.1k GitHub stars · Mixed or custom · last code push Oct 29, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Loom alternatives: common questions
What is the best open-source alternative to Loom?
It depends on how you use Loom. Of the 3 options here, OBS Studio is the most followed on GitHub (78.6k stars) and is actively maintained, with its latest release on Oct 29, 2026.
Is there a free alternative to Loom?
Yes. Every project on this page can be downloaded and used at no cost from its public repository. OBS Studio, ShareX and Cap install on your own device, so they cost nothing to run. Check the license of Cap before using it in a business.
Are these Loom alternatives still maintained?
As of Oct 29, 2026, 3 of 3 had a code push or release in the last 180 days. None are flagged as inactive or archived. We re-check every project weekly.
How much does it cost to switch from Loom?
The software itself is free. Desktop and device apps (OBS Studio, ShareX and Cap) cost nothing to run. The hidden cost is time: moving your data and, for self-hosted apps, keeping up with updates and backups.
Are all of these really open source?
Not all under a standard license. Cap: GitHub could not identify a single standard license for this repository (often a mix of open-source and commercial parts). Read the LICENSE file before using it. The others use OSI-approved open-source licenses.
Know a project we missed, or maintain one listed here? Tell us. Maintainers can add a live status badge to their README.
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