Cap

Cap covers the same job as Loom — record your screen and camera, then hand someone a link — but it's open source end to end, from the desktop app down to the storage backend. Instant Mode uploads while you record for a link the second you stop; Studio Mode records locally first and gives you a real local editor with backgrounds, auto-zoom, trimming, and captions before you export or share.

Why it makes the list

It's a fast-moving open-source project (22k+ GitHub stars) built by a small independent team, not a division of a larger company — and it's genuinely trying to out-build Loom rather than just clone it: custom S3 storage, custom domains, and full self-hosting are all first-class, not enterprise add-ons bolted on later.

Standout features

• Instant Mode — starts uploading as you record, with a shareable link ready the moment you stop

• Studio Mode — records locally at up to 4K/60fps, with an editor for backgrounds, auto-zoom, trimming, and captions

• AI transcripts, titles, summaries, and chapters generated automatically for every recording

• Comments and reactions on shared recordings, plus a Loom library importer for switching over

• Bring-your-own storage — Cap Cloud, S3, Google Drive, or fully self-hosted

• Cross-platform — native apps for macOS and Windows, with a Chrome extension and web dashboard

Pricing

Free for unlimited local recording and editing (cloud share links capped at 5 minutes). A desktop-only license removes that cap for $29/year or $58 once. Cap Pro (unlimited cloud storage, team features) is $12/user/month, or $8.16/month billed annually.