Replace Loom?

KINDA · weekend project

catalog price reference $18/mocategory 📹 screen recordingreported replacement votes 0

Local screen recording is easy, but instant hosting, permissions, viewer analytics, comments, trimming, and team libraries push it beyond one sitting.

the prompt

Build me a screen-record-and-share tool to replace Loom on macOS. Requirements:

- Two parts: a local recording CLI and a share server on my own VPS.
- Recording: `rec start` / `rec stop` wrapping ffmpeg's avfoundation capture,
  screen plus mic, saved to ~/Recordings/YYYY-MM-DD-HHMM.mp4. No camera bubble.
- On stop: transcode to web-friendly H.264, transcribe with whisper.cpp, then
  upload video and transcript to the server with rsync over SSH.
- The server (Node + Express + better-sqlite3 behind my existing reverse proxy)
  serves each recording at an unguessable /v/<random-id> URL: player, title, date,
  and the transcript below it, searchable in-page.
- `rec stop` ends by printing the share URL and copying it to my clipboard. Target:
  under a minute from stop to link for a 2-minute video.
- The index page listing all recordings stays private (localhost or VPN only); the
  share pages are link-only, no listing anywhere. No accounts, no telemetry.
- Out of scope: viewer analytics, comments, trimming, and team libraries. The
  unlisted URL is the entire permission model.
- README: macOS screen-recording and mic permissions, finding the right ffmpeg
  device index, and the server deploy steps.

$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter) or copy it raw · this prompt is generated from the build plan · improve it via PR

why people still pay

They pay because a Loom link works everywhere and preserves context for the team.

what you lose

xinstant reliable hosting

xpermissions

xcomments

xanalytics

xworkspace libraries

xbrowser extensions

prior art to inspect before buildingOBS StudioExcellent open-source recording engine; hosting/sharing remains the DIY gap.↗

reported replacements · 0share on X ↗"Loom replacement research and build prompt"

questions

What does the Loom verdict mean?

The core job looks buildable, with meaningful gaps: instant reliable hosting, permissions. Read the full tradeoff list before committing. This research record is not a hosted IVCIFY tool.

What price does this directory record show for Loom?

The directory records $18/month for Business, checked 2026-07-30. Verify the source before making a purchase decision. This reference stays outside retail Stack Math unless current matched evidence supports the comparison.

What do I lose by replacing Loom?

Honestly: instant reliable hosting; permissions; comments; analytics; workspace libraries; browser extensions. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.

Is there an open-source alternative to Loom?

The listed prior art includes OBS Studio (Excellent open-source recording engine; hosting/sharing remains the DIY gap.). Inspect those projects before starting from a blank prompt.