Which screen recording tools have a free plan?

Descript has a free plan, with limits on usage, users or features. Pricing for Loom, VEED and Kapwing has not been checked against the vendor in the last 90 days, so they are not included.

How much does screen recording software cost?

The entry paid plans as each vendor lists them, checked against its pricing page: Descript Hobbyist at $24 per user a month. Some vendors quote the annual-billing rate, and seat minimums, higher tiers and add-ons all change the real cost, so price the plan you actually need. Pricing for Loom, VEED and Kapwing has not been checked against the vendor in the last 90 days, so they are not included.

Do I need an editor or just a recorder?

If most recordings go out as they are, a recorder with an instant share link is faster and enough. If you routinely cut the first minute, remove mistakes or add captions before sending, an editor with transcript-based editing pays for itself quickly.

For occasional use, often — with caveats that show. Free tiers here watermark exports, cap length or resolution, or limit how many recordings each person keeps. Check which of those your use hits first, because that is what forces the upgrade.

Best tools · Video

Best screen recording software

Screencasts, tutorials and async demos. 4 tools in this list, 4 with a free plan.

How this list is ranked. Tools are ordered by how strongly they are built for this job (as tagged in VERILO’s catalogue), then by editorial score and editor rating. Affiliate relationships and featured status are never inputs.

01
Loom
Built for it
Async screen and camera recorder that shares videos as links with transcripts and AI summaries.
4.5From $15/moFree plan
- This is a core use case of the product.
- Includes AI assistant, Comments & mentions, Roles & permissions
View Loom Visit Loom
02
Descript
Good at it
Audio and video editor where you edit recordings by editing the transcript, with AI cleanup tools.
4.4From $24/moFree plan
- Well supported, though not the product's main focus.
- Includes AI content generation, Real-time collaboration, Comments & mentions
View Descript Compare with Loom Visit Descript
03
VEED
Supports it
Browser-based video editor with automatic subtitles, AI voiceovers, avatars and script-to-video generation.
4.2From $12/moFree plan
- Possible, but other tools on this list are more purpose-built.
- Includes AI content generation, Templates, Text to video
View VEED Visit VEED
04
Kapwing
Supports it
Collaborative online video editor with AI subtitles, dubbing, text-based editing and repurposing tools.
4.1From $24/moFree plan
- Possible, but other tools on this list are more purpose-built.
- Includes AI content generation, Real-time collaboration, Templates
View Kapwing Visit Kapwing

Who this list is for

For people who record their screen to explain something — product walkthroughs, bug reports, async updates, tutorials — and want it watchable without opening an editor. Polished marketing video is a different job with different tools.

How to choose

Decide whether you are sending or producing. Loom is built for sending: recording starts in one click from the browser extension or desktop app, and the share link is ready as soon as you stop. Descript, VEED and Kapwing are editors that also record, and they earn their place when the recording needs cutting before anyone should watch it.

Transcript-based editing is what saves the most time in this category. All three editors here let you cut spoken content by editing text, strip filler words and add captions automatically, which turns a rambling take into something usable without touching a timeline.

Then check who records and who watches. These tools price per creator, so count the people who will make videos rather than the audience; on free tiers expect watermarks, length or resolution caps, or a limit on how many recordings each person keeps.

What to compare

Time from recording to link: If the job is async updates, measure the path from starting a recording to a link in a message. Extra steps are the reason recordings get made and never sent.
How much editing you need: Transcript editing and filler-word removal cover most cleanups. Multi-track, colour and audio work belong to a video editor — if you need those, this is the wrong shortlist.
Captions and translation: Captions decide whether a video is watched away from a desk. Check accuracy in your language, and whether translated subtitles or dubbing are included or metered by the minute.
Storage, privacy and sharing: A recording of an internal screen is company data. Check where videos are stored, who can open a link, and whether password or domain restrictions exist on the plan you need.

Common questions

Which screen recording tools have a free plan?: Descript has a free plan, with limits on usage, users or features. Pricing for Loom, VEED and Kapwing has not been checked against the vendor in the last 90 days, so they are not included.
How much does screen recording software cost?: The entry paid plans as each vendor lists them, checked against its pricing page: Descript Hobbyist at $24 per user a month. Some vendors quote the annual-billing rate, and seat minimums, higher tiers and add-ons all change the real cost, so price the plan you actually need. Pricing for Loom, VEED and Kapwing has not been checked against the vendor in the last 90 days, so they are not included.
Do I need an editor or just a recorder?: If most recordings go out as they are, a recorder with an instant share link is faster and enough. If you routinely cut the first minute, remove mistakes or add captions before sending, an editor with transcript-based editing pays for itself quickly.
Will a free plan do?: For occasional use, often — with caveats that show. Free tiers here watermark exports, cap length or resolution, or limit how many recordings each person keeps. Check which of those your use hits first, because that is what forces the upgrade.

Choosing between the top two?

See Loom and Descript side by side on pricing, free plans, ease of use and features.

Compare Loom vs Descript

Guides for this decision

Video6 min read

AI video tools: how to choose the right one in 2026

Six AI video tools compared by output type, metering, seats, and lock-in, with a situation-to-tool map and the questions to ask before paying annually.

Updated Sep 2026Read guide

4 tools compared. Each listing shows when its information was last reviewed; prices can change, so check the vendor’s pricing page before you decide.

Loom

Descript

VEED

Kapwing