Loom vs Zoom — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Loom starts at $18/mo. Zoom starts at $16.99/mo. Zoom is $1.0100000000000016/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Loom.
Async video messaging (record + share Loom links), acquired by Atlassian for $975M in 2023. Positioned as the alternative to sending Slack novels or scheduling live meetings. Distinctive for the Chrome-extension UX that made recording as fast as writing an email. Now bundled into Atlassian's ecosystem — free plan capped at 5 videos, paid tiers add unlimited recording plus AI-generated summaries and action items.
Video conferencing that displaced WebEx and GoToMeeting through better free-tier quality and simpler UX. Scaled from 10M to 300M daily meeting participants during COVID. Now bundling AI Companion into paid tiers to defend against commoditization from Google Meet (free) and Microsoft Teams (bundled with M365). Priced per host, not per participant. Best free tier in the category if you can live with 40-minute group meeting caps.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Loom monthly | Loom annual | Zoom monthly | Zoom annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Starter / Basic | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Business + AI / Pro | $24 | $20 | $16.99 | $13.33 |
| Teams | Business | $18 | $15 | $21.99 | $18.33 |
| Enterprise | Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom | Custom |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Loom is worth it if… distributed teams (5-500 people) that need async video recording — screen capture + webcam + light editing — as a replacement for meetings and Slack novels. Free tier covers basic use; Business adds unlimited recordings and admin; Enterprise adds SSO and advanced admin.
Zoom is worth it if… Zoom is still worth it in 2026 if video is core to your work — frequent external meetings, webinars, or client calls needing reliable recording, transcription, and calendar integrations. Pro covers most professional users; Business adds SSO and advanced admin.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Loom over Zoom if…
Choose Loom if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $18/mo).
- You match the profile Loom is built for: distributed teams (5-500 people) that need async video recording — screen capture + webcam + light editing — as a replacement for meetings and Slack novels.
- You need a general-purpose communication option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Zoom if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $16.99/mo).
- You match the profile Zoom is built for: still worth it in 2026 if video is core to your work — frequent external meetings, webinars, or client calls needing reliable recording, transcription, and calendar integrations.
- You need a general-purpose communication option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Loom | Zoom | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | $18/mo | $16.99/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Seat |
| Last verified | September 14, 2026 | September 19, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 19, 2026. Tracked daily.