The best open-source Loom alternative is Cap, which is licensed AGPL-3.0, makes share links and has a self-hosting guide. Screencap is a free hosted service built on Cap's code, for people who want the links without running a server. Screenity (GPL-3.0) and OBS Studio (GPL-2.0) are open source too.
Which open-source Loom alternatives are worth using?
Four are worth a look: Cap, Screencap, Screenity and OBS Studio. Licences below were read from each project's own repository or site on 25 October 2026, and plans can change.
| Licence | Share links | Run your own server | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cap | AGPL-3.0 (MIT for the camera and scap crates) | Yes, on cap.so or your own server | Yes, Docker Compose |
| Screencap | AGPL-3.0, a fork of Cap | Yes, hosted at screencap.co | Not supported |
| Screenity | GPL-3.0 (version 3.0.0 and later) | Via Google Drive, or Screenity Pro | No server. Self-built copies are local-only |
| OBS Studio | GPL-2.0 or later | No | Not applicable |
What is Cap, and how is it different from Loom?
Cap is an open-source screen recorder whose README calls it "the open source alternative to Loom". It records on macOS and Windows, then gives you instant share links, comments, transcripts and analytics. Screencap is built on Cap, and we are grateful to the Cap team for it.
Cap's code is AGPL-3.0, apart from the MIT-licensed camera and scap crates. On cap.so pricing (October 2026) the Free plan is for personal use, with no time limit on local recordings and cloud share links limited to 5 minutes. Pro is $12 per user a month, or $8.16 billed annually.
How do I self-host a Loom-style tool?
Run Cap Web with Docker Compose. Cap's self-hosting guide describes a stack of the Cap Web app, a media server, MySQL and MinIO storage on any Docker-capable host, then points desktop apps at your server in settings.
Before you expose it, replace the placeholder secrets in the compose file and set your public URLs. The guide says Cap does not offer direct support for self-hosted deployments, and covers email, AI features and backups in more detail than we do here.
Should I self-host Cap or use Screencap?
Self-host Cap if you need recordings on your own infrastructure. Use Screencap if you want share links without running anything. As of October 2026, Screencap is free, has no limit on recording length, and offers a Mac app plus browser recording in Chrome or Edge.
- Self-host Cap when data must stay on servers you control, or you need Windows recording.
- Use Screencap when you record on a Mac and would rather not manage a database, storage and updates.
Screencap documents and supports only its own hosted service, so it is not a self-hosting option. The Mac app can be built from the public repo, and Screencap vs Cap goes through the differences.
Is Screenity a Loom alternative?
Partly. Screenity is a Chrome-based recorder that its README says works offline with no sign-in, and its licence is GPL-3.0. It records a tab, an area or the desktop and edits in the browser.
Free users can save to Google Drive to share a link. Link sharing is also listed under Screenity Pro, and copies you build yourself run in local-only mode.
Is OBS Studio a Loom alternative?
Only for the recording half. OBS Studio is GPL-2.0 or later software for capturing, compositing, encoding, recording and streaming video. It has no hosting or share links, so a recording lands as a file you must upload somewhere. See OBS vs Screencap for when each fits.
Questions
What is the best open source Loom alternative?
Cap is the closest: its README calls it the open source alternative to Loom, and it is licensed AGPL-3.0. Screencap is a free hosted service built on Cap's code. Screenity (GPL-3.0) suits Chrome users, and OBS Studio (GPL-2.0 or later) records locally without share links.
Is there a self-hosted screen recording tool like Loom?
Yes, Cap. Its self-hosting guide runs Cap Web, a media server, MySQL and S3-compatible storage with Docker Compose. Cap says it does not offer direct support for self-hosted deployments. Screencap does not support self-hosting.
Is Cap really free?
Cap's source is free under AGPL-3.0. On cap.so, as of October 2026, the Free plan is for personal use with no time limit on local recordings, and cloud share links on Free are limited to 5 minutes. Commercial use needs a paid licence.
Is Screenity open source?
Yes. Screenity's README says versions from 3.0.0 use GPL-3.0. Builds you make yourself run in local-only mode, and link sharing is a Screenity Pro feature on the official version.
Is OBS Studio a Loom alternative?
Only for recording. OBS Studio is GPL-2.0 or later and captures, mixes and records video, but it does not host videos or give you share links. Pair it with a host if you want links.
Is Screencap open source?
Yes. Screencap is a public fork of Cap under AGPL-3.0, and you can build the Mac app yourself from the repo. Using Screencap means using the hosted service at screencap.co, which is free.