Loom
Async screen recording with instant hosting, transcripts, and team sharing
Local screen recording is easy, but instant hosting, permissions, viewer analytics, comments, trimming, and team libraries push it beyond one sitting.
Build verification: not recorded. How we judge buildability
What you give up
- instant reliable hosting
- permissions
- comments
- analytics
- workspace libraries
- browser extensions
Why people still pay
They pay because a Loom link works everywhere and preserves context for the team.
Your build guide
The stack, security requirements, and agent rules for a focused replacement.
Before you start
- A supported Node release, PostgreSQL, HTTPS for a shared deployment, and a backup destination. Begin with one workspace and explicit owner/member permissions. Browser capture permissions, object storage credentials and FFmpeg; start with a supported browser/codec combination.
- Implementation components: Next.js App Router and TypeScript for server-rendered pages and validated mutations. PostgreSQL with Drizzle migrations; Better Auth sessions for a small private workspace. Browser getDisplayMedia/getUserMedia and MediaRecorder, private object storage and an FFmpeg/transcription worker.
- Scope boundary: instant reliable hosting; permissions
Use these project rules and optional skill references alongside the prompt. Review each skill before adding it to your agent; the AGENTS.md export includes the same guidance.
Optional external skill: vercel-react-best-practices — Improve React and Next.js data fetching, rendering, bundle size and server performance. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: supabase-postgres-best-practices — Review PostgreSQL schemas, queries, indexes, pooling, concurrency and row-level security. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: web-design-guidelines — Review web interfaces for accessibility, keyboard focus, forms, navigation and interaction quality. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Project rule — data model: recording sessions, chunk manifests, media assets, share permissions, transcript segments and timestamp comments
Project rule — preserve this invariant: Denied capture permissions produce no successful recording; share links are revocable and transcript timestamps map to the saved media revision.
Project rule — acceptance evidence: Interrupt an upload and resume without duplicated chunks; revoking a share link denies the video, poster and transcript together.
Implementation plan
Phase 1
Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Record a selected screen and optional camera/microphone with visible controls, upload resumable chunks and review the result on an authenticated share page. Add transcript navigation and non-destructive trimming. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: instant reliable hosting; permissions
Phase 2
Durable model. Model recording sessions, chunk manifests, media assets, share permissions, transcript segments and timestamp comments Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: Denied capture permissions produce no successful recording; share links are revocable and transcript timestamps map to the saved media revision.
Phase 3
Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Commit related database changes in one transaction. Use version checks for competing edits and an outbox for external notifications; retry delivery independently of saving the record.
Phase 4
Permissions and integration failure. Authorize every record read and mutation on the server using its workspace membership; validate payloads, protect mutations against CSRF, and escape user-authored HTML. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results.
Phase 5
Portable handoff. Export versioned JSON plus attachments and a readable CSV summary. Restore into a separate database and compare record IDs and attachment checksums before switching. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README.
Phase 6
Acceptance scenarios. Interrupt an upload and resume without duplicated chunks; revoking a share link denies the video, poster and transcript together. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder.
WORKING SLICE Record a selected screen and optional camera/microphone with visible controls, upload resumable chunks and review the result on an authenticated share page. Add transcript navigation and non-destructive trimming. Build this scoped Loom-inspired workflow with a documented data model and visible failure states. Architecture - Next.js App Router and TypeScript for server-rendered pages and validated mutations. - PostgreSQL with Drizzle migrations; Better Auth sessions for a small private workspace. - Browser getDisplayMedia/getUserMedia and MediaRecorder, private object storage and an FFmpeg/transcription worker. Prerequisites and limits A supported Node release, PostgreSQL, HTTPS for a shared deployment, and a backup destination. Begin with one workspace and explicit owner/member permissions. Browser capture permissions, object storage credentials and FFmpeg; start with a supported browser/codec combination. Outside this release: instant reliable hosting; permissions Data model and correctness recording sessions, chunk manifests, media assets, share permissions, transcript segments and timestamp comments Invariant: Denied capture permissions produce no successful recording; share links are revocable and transcript timestamps map to the saved media revision. Commit related database changes in one transaction. Use version checks for competing edits and an outbox for external notifications; retry delivery independently of saving the record. Security and privacy Authorize every record read and mutation on the server using its workspace membership; validate payloads, protect mutations against CSRF, and escape user-authored HTML. Recovery and export Export versioned JSON plus attachments and a readable CSV summary. Restore into a separate database and compare record IDs and attachment checksums before switching. Implementation order 1. Phase 1 — Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Record a selected screen and optional camera/microphone with visible controls, upload resumable chunks and review the result on an authenticated share page. Add transcript navigation and non-destructive trimming. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: instant reliable hosting; permissions 2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model recording sessions, chunk manifests, media assets, share permissions, transcript segments and timestamp comments Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: Denied capture permissions produce no successful recording; share links are revocable and transcript timestamps map to the saved media revision. 3. Phase 3 — Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Commit related database changes in one transaction. Use version checks for competing edits and an outbox for external notifications; retry delivery independently of saving the record. 4. Phase 4 — Permissions and integration failure. Authorize every record read and mutation on the server using its workspace membership; validate payloads, protect mutations against CSRF, and escape user-authored HTML. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results. 5. Phase 5 — Portable handoff. Export versioned JSON plus attachments and a readable CSV summary. Restore into a separate database and compare record IDs and attachment checksums before switching. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README. 6. Phase 6 — Acceptance scenarios. Interrupt an upload and resume without duplicated chunks; revoking a share link denies the video, poster and transcript together. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder. Acceptance Interrupt an upload and resume without duplicated chunks; revoking a share link denies the video, poster and transcript together. Use real source data or clearly labeled fixtures. Explain unsupported input and provider failures; do not fabricate analytics, delivery receipts, accuracy claims or security guarantees. Optional agent guidance Optional external skill: [vercel-react-best-practices](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/react-best-practices/SKILL.md) — Improve React and Next.js data fetching, rendering, bundle size and server performance. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Optional external skill: [supabase-postgres-best-practices](https://github.com/supabase/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/supabase-postgres-best-practices/SKILL.md) — Review PostgreSQL schemas, queries, indexes, pooling, concurrency and row-level security. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Optional external skill: [web-design-guidelines](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/web-design-guidelines/SKILL.md) — Review web interfaces for accessibility, keyboard focus, forms, navigation and interaction quality. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Project rule — data model: recording sessions, chunk manifests, media assets, share permissions, transcript segments and timestamp comments Project rule — preserve this invariant: Denied capture permissions produce no successful recording; share links are revocable and transcript timestamps map to the saved media revision. Project rule — acceptance evidence: Interrupt an upload and resume without duplicated chunks; revoking a share link denies the video, poster and transcript together.
$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter), copy the prompt or copy or download AGENTS.md
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Loom pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| starter | $0/user | $0/user | Up to 50 workspace members; 25 videos/person; 5 minutes/video; unlimited-length meeting recordings; 720p.Unlimited screenshots. |
| business | $18/user | $15/user | Unlimited videos and recording length; paid Creator/Admin seat. |
| business + ai | $24/user | $20/user | Unlimited videos and length plus AI workflows; 14-day trial. |
| enterprise | — | — | Custom users and limits; price not public. |
free tier50 workspace members, 25 videos per person, 5 minutes per video, unlimited-length meeting recordings, unlimited screenshots and 720p recording.
billingmonthly + annual (about 17% off); 14-day Business + AI trial
hidden costsCreator and Admin roles are paid; Creator Lite is free. Seat counting and billing mechanics differ between direct Loom subscriptions and Atlassian subscriptions.
pricing sources checked 2026-08-11 · pricing source ↗
Questions about Loom
Can you build your own Loom with AI?
Partly. Local screen recording is easy, but instant hosting, permissions, viewer analytics, comments, trimming, and team libraries push it beyond one sitting.
What does the Loom build prompt cover?
The prompt starts with this scope: Record a selected screen and optional camera/microphone with visible controls, upload resumable chunks and review the result on an authenticated share page. Add transcript navigation and non-destructive trimming. Full-product capabilities excluded from the comparison include: instant reliable hosting; permissions; comments. Follow the implementation plan and its prerequisites before expanding the build.
How do I use the prompt, AGENTS.md and agent skills?
Start with the Loom prerequisites and stack, then copy the prompt into your coding agent. Save the project rules as AGENTS.md in the project root. Linked skills are optional packages or source instructions for specific tasks; review their current contents and install only those matching the chosen stack. A skill does not supply API credentials or verify the finished app.
How long will this Loom project take?
The catalogue estimate is weekend for the limited scope. Setup, integration approvals, debugging, deployment and ongoing maintenance can add time. This is an estimate, not a delivery guarantee.
What would I give up by replacing Loom?
instant reliable hosting; permissions; comments; analytics; workspace libraries; browser extensions. They pay because a Loom link works everywhere and preserves context for the team.
What price is this guide comparing against?
The recorded Business plan is $18/mo per seat (monthly per user), checked 2026-08-07. Check the linked pricing source before buying. Building your own also has hosting, API and maintenance costs; the recorded amount is not a guaranteed saving.
What can I use instead of building Loom?
Cap: Loom with your own storage and your own server chores. Check each option's license, hosting needs and feature limits.