- Same search term, two very different buyers
- Five quick questions to sort it out
- The two recorders, line by line
- What viewers can do once a video lands
- Devices, captions and admin controls
- Where AI fits on each side
- Straight advice for offices and classrooms
- Four more recorders in the running
- Frequently asked questions
Go with Loom if you send video messages to colleagues or customers and want editing, comments, mobile apps and admin controls such as SSO and SCIM. Go with Screencastify if you teach and want interactive questions, assignments, grading and links into Google Classroom and Schoology. Both state a free plan; the room you work in decides it.
One of these recorders is built for the office and the other for the classroom, and that matters far more than which one has the nicer record button. If you send video updates to colleagues or customers, you'll read this page one way. If you teach, you'll read it quite differently.
To save repeating the names, I'll call Loom the workplace recorder and Screencastify the classroom recorder from here on.
Same search term, two very different buyers
The workplace recorder's home page now leads with feeding recordings to AI agents. A feature called Record for agent captures your screen, clicks and URLs into a prompt for any AI agent, with MCP tools, the vendor says. That's a long way from simply sharing a video link, though it still does that too, with editing and link sharing across a Chrome extension, desktop and mobile apps.
The classroom recorder speaks to teachers. It lists Google Classroom, Schoology and Canvas, and has a tool called Submit for student-made videos. The vendor says more than 500M videos have been created with it and that it has 12.4M+ users in 195 countries. Same search term, then, but it's two different buyers with two different days ahead of them.
Five quick questions to sort it out
- Are your viewers colleagues and customers, or students?
- Do you need assignments and grading, or comments, tasks and calls to action?
- Will you record on a phone, or is a browser extension enough?
- Does your IT team need SSO, SCIM and data retention controls?
- Is handing recordings to an AI agent part of how you work?
If most of your answers lean towards the office, start with the workplace recorder. If they lean towards lessons and student work, the classroom recorder is the more natural fit. Mixed answers? Read on, because the detail below should tip it.
The two recorders, line by line
| Question | Loom | Screencastify |
|---|---|---|
| Main audience | Sales, engineering and customer support teams at companies | Teachers and students, with Google Classroom, Schoology and Canvas listed |
| Interactivity | Comments, emojis, tasks and calls to action on a video | Interactive Questions, with assignments and grading workflows |
| Where it records | Chrome extension, desktop app and mobile app for iOS and Android | Chrome Web Store and Edge Add-On Store listings |
| Languages | Transcripts and captions in 50+ languages | AI-powered translation for viewers |
| Security and admin | SSO, SCIM and custom data retention settings | Education focus, with a quote route for schools |
| AI angle | Record for agent packages screen, clicks and URLs into an AI prompt | AI translation and interactive video for learning |
| Getting started | Free plan stated | Free plan stated |
What viewers can do once a video lands
Interactivity is where the two audiences show most clearly. On the workplace recorder, viewers can leave comments and emojis, and you can add tasks and calls to action to a video. That suits a sales rep who wants a prospect to book a call, or a support agent walking a customer through a fix.
The classroom recorder adds Interactive Questions to a video, with assignments and grading workflows behind them. A teacher can check whether a student understood the lesson, which no amount of emoji reactions will tell you. And with Submit, students can record their own videos and hand them in, so the tool works in both directions.
Devices, captions and admin controls
The workplace recorder runs as a Chrome extension, a desktop app and a mobile app for iOS and Android. The classroom recorder is listed in the Chrome Web Store and the Edge Add-On Store, so it's browser-first, which suits school laptops well.
On languages, the workplace recorder offers transcripts and captions in 50+ languages, while the classroom recorder offers AI-powered translation for viewers. For admin, the workplace recorder lists SSO, SCIM and custom data retention settings, which any IT team will ask about before a company-wide rollout. The classroom recorder's pitch centres on education use, with a quote route for schools.
Where AI fits on each side
Both use AI, but for different ends. The workplace recorder's Record for agent packages what's on screen into a prompt so an AI agent can act on it, which will appeal to engineers reporting bugs or support teams handing over a problem. The classroom recorder uses AI for translation and builds interactive video for learning.
If you're weighing up a wider set of options, our list of the best screen recording software covers recorders for many different jobs, from quick messages to full tutorials.
Straight advice for offices and classrooms
Pick Loom if you send quick video messages across a company and want editing, comments, mobile recording and enterprise security such as SSO and SCIM. Pick Screencastify if you teach and want questions, assignments, grading and classroom integrations such as Google Classroom and Schoology. Both state a free plan, so you can start either without a long commitment. Nothing here makes one the better recorder in general; they're built for different rooms.
Four more recorders in the running
If neither one fits, start with these. There's also a full page of Loom alternatives for team video if the workplace side is your focus.
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Vidyard
Best for: Sales and marketing teams who want video benchmarks and plays for revenue work, recorded through a Chrome extension.
Tella
Best for: Creators and product teams recording demos and messages, sharing the moment they stop and editing only when they want.
ScreenPal
Best for: Teachers and general users needing an online recorder, a desktop app for advanced work, quizzes and templates.
Camtasia
Best for: Polished tutorials, with professional editing and a library of motion graphics and music assets alongside Snagit and Audiate.
Do you make a screen recording or video messaging tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this page.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Screencastify only for teachers?
It speaks mainly to teachers and students, with Google Classroom, Schoology and Canvas listed and a Submit tool for student videos. Its extras are built around lessons.
Does Loom work on mobile?
Yes, it has mobile apps for iOS and Android alongside its Chrome extension and desktop app.
Which one has better security controls for a company?
The workplace recorder lists SSO, SCIM and custom data retention settings. The classroom recorder focuses on education use, with a quote route for schools.
Can I add quiz questions to a video?
The classroom recorder adds Interactive Questions with assignments and grading. The workplace recorder offers comments, emojis, tasks and calls to action instead.
What's Record for agent?
It's the workplace recorder's feature that captures your screen, clicks and URLs into a prompt for an AI agent, with MCP tools, according to the vendor.
Is there a free plan on either?
Both state a free plan. Check each sign-up page to see what's included.
