Last updated: 2026-01-19

For most podcasters in the US, StreamYard is the best starting point because you get an in-browser studio with screen sharing, local multi-track recordings, and easy repurposing without complex setup. Use OBS if you want a free, hardware-heavy local rig, or Loom if you just need quick, short async clips instead of full podcast sessions.

Summary

• StreamYard is the most practical default for podcasters who need presenter-led screen recordings, remote guests, and clean audio tracks they can edit later.
• OBS suits technical hosts who want deep control and are comfortable managing local files, formats, and hardware.
• Loom is best reserved for short async updates or feedback videos, not full podcast episodes due to free-tier time and storage caps. (Loom)
• Your choice should follow your workflow: live or pre-recorded shows with guests favor StreamYard; single-computer capture favors OBS; quick explainers favor Loom.

What actually matters for podcasters choosing screen recording software?

Before comparing tools, it helps to define what “best” means for podcasters.

Most podcasters looking for screen recording want to:

• Record a presenter plus a shared screen (slides, product demo, browser).
• Bring in remote guests without asking them to install technical software.
• Capture clean audio tracks that are easy to edit and mix.
• Get high-quality output that works for both video and audio feeds.
• Avoid spending days configuring encoders, bitrates, and storage workflows.

That’s why we focus here on:

1. Ease of setup on a typical laptop.
2. How well the tool handles remote guests and multi-track audio.
3. Limits that will actually affect podcasters (recording length, storage, sharing).
4. How quickly you can get from “hit record” to a published episode.

On those criteria, StreamYard tends to be the best default for podcasters, with OBS and Loom playing supporting roles for more specialized needs.

Why is StreamYard such a strong default for podcasters who screen record?

At StreamYard, we built the studio around live and pre-recorded shows, which maps naturally to podcasting.

Key reasons podcasters start here:

• Browser-based studio: You open a link, invite guests, and you are in a virtual studio that can record camera, mic, and shared screens without installing heavy desktop apps. (StreamYard)
• Presenter-visible layouts: You can arrange layouts so that your camera, your guest, and your screen share appear exactly how you want, in real time, with branded overlays and logos applied as you record.
• Local multi-track recording: We support per-participant local recording, so each host and guest gets separate audio and video files recorded on their own devices—ideal for post-production cleanup. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Cloud + local safety net: Paid plans allow extensive local recording and cloud recording within storage limits, so you get redundancy without managing every file manually. (StreamYard Help Center)

For a typical US podcaster who wants to run an interview show, share slides, or walk through software, that combination—browser studio, screen sharing, and multi-track local recording—is often exactly what you need.

How does StreamYard compare with OBS for podcast screen recording?

OBS is a desktop application that gives you deep control over scenes, sources, and encoding. It is also free and open source. (OBS)

When OBS can fit well:

• You are comfortable configuring scenes and audio buses.
• You have a powerful computer and plenty of local storage.
• Your podcast is recorded from a single location (e.g., one studio PC) and you don’t mind extra setup.

OBS supports multiple sources in a scene—windows, displays, capture cards, and cameras—and lets you record several audio tracks into one file, up to six tracks. (OBS Knowledge Base)

Where StreamYard is usually the easier choice:

• Remote guests: OBS expects your guests to come in via some other app (Zoom, Discord, etc.) that you then capture, while we provide a built-in guest studio with its own local recordings.
• Onboarding: Joining a StreamYard studio is a simple browser link; no guest needs to install or configure a desktop encoder.
• Workflow: We lean into layouts, overlays, and presenter notes visible only to the host, so you can run a show without juggling multiple windows.

A simple rule of thumb:

• If you want a live-show style podcast with remote guests, branded layouts, and minimal tech overhead, start with StreamYard.
• If you want a single-machine production rig and love tweaking encoders and file formats, OBS is a powerful alternative.

Where does Loom fit for podcasters (and where does it fall short)?

Loom is built for quick, async recording: you hit record, talk over your screen with a camera bubble, and share a link.

On the free Starter plan, Loom limits you to 5 minutes per recording and 25 stored videos, which is too restrictive for most podcast episodes. (Loom Support)

How podcasters can use Loom effectively:

• Sharing quick feedback on edits with your producer.
• Sending short visual notes to your co-host.
• Recording ultra-brief, behind-the-scenes updates for your community.

Why it’s rarely the main recording tool for a show:

• Full-length episodes will quickly exceed free limits, and even on paid plans, Loom is optimized for link-based async clips, not multi-guest studios.
• You don’t get the same show-style layouts, on-screen branding, or multi-participant production environment you get in a studio like StreamYard. (Loom Pricing)

So Loom can complement your podcast workflow, but it usually does not replace a dedicated studio when your goal is a polished episode.

How do StreamYard’s limits and pricing compare to Loom and OBS for teams?

Pricing and limits matter once you move from a solo project to a small team or show.

• StreamYard: We use workspace-based pricing, not per-user pricing, which often ends up cheaper for teams compared with per-seat tools. Our free plan is truly free; paid plans include extensive streaming and recording with storage measured in hours (for example, 50 hours of permanent storage on key paid plans). (StreamYard)
• Loom: Pricing is per user, with the free Starter tier limited to 5-minute recordings and 25 videos, while paid plans promote unlimited recording time and storage within a workspace. (Loom Help Center)
• OBS: There is no subscription cost at all, but you are fully responsible for hardware, storage, and backups.

For a podcast team that includes a host, co-host, producer, and occasional guests, a workspace-based studio like StreamYard typically simplifies collaboration and avoids scaling costs per seat.

How do I record separate audio tracks for each podcast guest?

Separate audio tracks are one of the biggest upgrades you can make to your post-production quality.

With StreamYard, you can use local multi-track recording so each participant’s audio and video are captured on their own device and then uploaded as separate files. (StreamYard Help Center)

A simple workflow many podcasters follow:

1. Open a StreamYard studio and enable local recording.
2. Invite your guests with the studio link.
3. Share your screen if needed; adjust layouts so your visuals look episode-ready.
4. Record the session; after it finishes, download individual tracks and edit them in your DAW.

Compared with stitching together multiple local recordings or configuring advanced OBS track routing, this approach tends to be far simpler while still giving you clean, fixable audio.

What we recommend

• Default choice for most podcasters: Start with StreamYard if you want an easy, browser-based studio with presenter-led screen recordings, remote guests, and per-participant local tracks.
• When to add OBS: Bring in OBS if you need deep encoder control on a single machine and you are comfortable with more technical setup.
• When to add Loom: Use Loom as a side tool for quick, short async videos and feedback, not as your primary podcast recording environment.
• Next step: Define your workflow (live vs pre-recorded, solo vs guests, team vs solo) and pick the tool—or combination—that reduces friction from recording to published episode.