Loom is an easy-to-use video messaging app. It’s not like Zoom, Google Meet, or FaceTime because it is one-way, meaning you can only record yourself and your screen, then send the final video to others via a shareable link.
Loom is a video-sharing app similar to Marco Polo or Snapchat. However, Loom gives more focus to share on-screen recording and professional use.
That should give you an idea of what it is. Before we go further, let’s take a look at how it works on different platforms.
Loom’s Supported Platforms
Loom supports just about any platform. It has a website, Chrome extensions, desktop apps for Mac and Windows, and mobile apps for iOS and Android. The features offered by each app vary, however.
The iOS app, for example, cannot capture in screen and camera mode, while the Android app is unable to record in just camera mode. Furthermore, the Chrome extension cannot record with any application except Chrome.
To keep things simple, we’ll walk through using Loom on the desktop. Even though the overall process described here also applies to Loom’s mobile apps.
Download: Loom for Mac and Windows | Chrome | iOS | Android (Free, subscriptions available)
How to Record a Video With Loom
There are a couple of ways to record a video message using Loom—by using the Loom desktop app or Chrome extension or clicking New Video on the Loom website’s Personal Library page.
Quick note: This article contains images taken from the desktop app for Mac.
Before you start recording, you will see a pop-up menu that offers a variety of options. You can choose to either capture a video or take a screenshot.
You can also choose the recording option (Screen and camera, Screen only, or Cam only) and the size of the recording (Full screen, Window, or Custom size) after selecting the video.
Now you can choose to use the default settings for your camera and microphone, unless you are using an external camera and mic.
Once you hit Start recording, a three-second countdown will appear before your recording starts.
When you’re recording, you can change the size of your camera bubble, make it full screen, move it anywhere on the screen, or just remove it to record your screen only.
Moreover, you can add notes and doodles to your screen. If you need to pause the recording to gather your thoughts, you can do that as well.
You can end your recording by clicking the red stop button. You will be taken directly to Loom’s website for editing.
How to Edit a Loom Video
With Loom, you’ll only have the editing essentials—nothing like Premiere or Final Cut. Nevertheless, the basics are all you need.
Before editing your video, you might want to rename it and give it a description. This is helpful if you’re sharing the video with your team or clients.
There are five options on the right side of your finished recording.
Choosing the first option will give you a transcript of your recording. Meanwhile, the second option will allow you to change your video’s general settings, like comment notifications and downloading options.
If you make a mistake, you won’t have to restart the recording since you can trim your video while editing.
The fourth option adds a call-to-action button that will redirect to the URL you specify. This button is customizable from shape to color. Once saved, your call-to-action button will appear at the top-right corner of the finished video.
Lastly, you can upload an image file for a thumbnail using the fifth and final editing option.
Now, if you’re using Loom with your team, you might want to invite others to edit your video. To do this, click the horizontal three-dot icon above your video and select Invite to edit… from the dropdown menu.
This is pretty much the extent of Loom’s editing capabilities. It’s a relatively straightforward app that just provides the basics. Once you’ve tweaked your video, it’s ready to share.
How to Share a Loom Video
Just as there are many ways to begin a Loom recording, there are many ways to share one. Unlike Zoom, which lets you share your screen but doesn’t make it easy to share the recorded video, sharing a Loom recording is simple.
To get started, click the Share option above your video message. A menu will appear with six choices.
The first two options give you the choice of sharing just the link to your video or the link and an auto-generated GIF of your video. Here’s what these look like in an email:
If you would like to embed your video into another application, such as Notion, you can do this by choosing the third option and copying the generated code.
The last three options to share your video include posting it to Facebook, tweeting about it, and sending it through Gmail.
A final note: if you’re using Loom with your team, you may want to share your video to the Team Library rather than keeping it in your Personal Library.
To do this, click on the three-dot drop-down menu above your video and choose Share with Team from the option.
Is It Worth Using Loom?
Loom really shines if used by a group. For example, it might be the perfect medium for one-way communication, such as announcing company updates and creating new employee onboarding videos.
There is limited use for Loom on personal projects. But you could use it for YouTube videos since it allows you to record your screen. You could also use it for slideshows of family photos to send to friends and family.
Regardless, Loom ultimately solves a niche issue, letting you easily screen record videos and share them. If this is an application you’d use often, give the app a try. Other than that, you’re probably better off using Zoom’s native share screen and recording functionality.