Cap
Open-source screen recording built as a Loom alternative.
why this verdict
Keep paying — OpenAI has not replaced it
OpenAI's version overlaps, but does not finish the video job, so this one still earns its $9/mo.
- A named launch, not a vibe named, unlinked
- AI video summaries. OpenAI, January 15, 2025 — no announcement link recorded yet.
- How much of the job it covers not the job editorial call
- Parts of it. The job still needs the tool to get finished.
- Is there a free way to do it? yes
- 2 of 3 listed replacements have a usable free tier: Loom and OBS Studio.
- What the call is worth $108/yr
- $9/mo at the entry paid tier — $108 a year per seat.
- Threatened by
- OpenAI
- Since
- January 15, 2025
- List price
- $9/mo
- Per year
- $108
The backstory
Cap is an open-source screen recorder built as a Loom alternative, focused on fast, high-quality capture that you can self-host. AI recap features are commoditizing the meeting-summary layer that many video tools leaned on. Cap survived by not betting on that layer at all: it competes on being free, open-source, privacy-friendly and self-hostable, so it sidesteps the AI-summary race entirely and wins on ownership and speed instead.
Escape hatches
The incumbent async video tool with AI features
loom.com open_in_newPolished Mac screen recordings with auto-zoom
screen.studio open_in_newFree, open-source recording and streaming
obsproject.com open_in_new2 of 3 replacements have a usable free tier.