Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most U.S. nonprofits, StreamYard is the best default screen recording studio because it runs in the browser, handles multi-participant recordings, and produces high-quality, reusable local tracks with minimal setup. Nonprofits with deeply technical staff and powerful hardware may prefer OBS for advanced, installable recording, while Loom can be added for quick async clips—especially if your organization confirms an applicable nonprofit discount.

Summary

• StreamYard offers browser-based screen + camera recording, multi-participant sessions, and local multi-track files that are easy to repurpose.
• OBS is a powerful, free desktop recorder, but it demands more technical setup and strong hardware to run reliably. (OBS)
• Loom focuses on fast async screen messaging and may be cost-effective for eligible nonprofits through Atlassian discounts, but it is less suited to live-style sessions. (Atlassian)
• For most nonprofits, a StreamYard-first workflow with OBS or Loom as optional add-ons covers nearly every recording need.

What do nonprofits actually need from screen recording software?

When you strip away specs, most nonprofit teams are trying to achieve a few simple things:

• Share clear, presenter-led screen walkthroughs (for volunteers, boards, and funders).
• Capture virtual trainings and town halls with multiple speakers.
• Repurpose recordings into social clips, email embeds, or training libraries.
• Avoid burdening staff with complex tech.

That means the “best” tool for a nonprofit is not the one with the most knobs; it’s the one that:

• Is fast and easy to get started.
• Shares and distributes content quickly.
• Produces high-quality output on typical laptops.
• Handles multi-presenter collaboration gracefully.

StreamYard is designed around exactly those outcomes, with a browser-based studio, simple layouts, and recordings that work whether you’re live or not. (StreamYard)

Why is StreamYard a strong default for nonprofit screen recording?

At StreamYard, we built our studio for creators and small teams who need to hit record, look professional, and move on with their day. That maps closely to how most nonprofit staff actually work.

Key reasons nonprofits tend to start here:

• Zero installs for staff or guests. StreamYard runs in the browser, so presenters and external partners don’t need to download software before joining a session. (StreamYard)
• Presenter-visible screen sharing and layouts. You can mix your screen, camera, and guest feeds, choosing layouts that keep the “human” front and center during a demo.
• Independent control of screen and mic audio. This helps when you’re playing a clip, switching tabs, or juggling interpreters.
• Local multi-track recording. Each participant can be recorded locally with separate audio/video tracks, which is ideal when you need to clean up audio or re-cut content for campaigns. (StreamYard)
• Landscape and portrait from the same session. This lets you record once and output for YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok without reshooting.
• Branded overlays and lower thirds. You can apply logos, banners, and calls-to-action live, which reduces editing time later.
• Presenter notes visible only to the host. Perfect for board updates, grant reports, or sensitive talking points.
• Multi-participant screen sharing. Multiple teammates can share slides or dashboards in a single session for collaborative trainings.

On the recording side, StreamYard supports cloud recordings with per-stream length caps and local recordings per participant, with paid plans offering unlimited local recording while your storage is governed by simple hour-based limits. (StreamYard)

How does StreamYard compare with OBS for nonprofit teams?

OBS Studio is a powerful, free option. It’s “free and open source software for video recording and live streaming,” and it offers high-performance real-time video and audio capture with multiple scenes and sources. (OBS)

For nonprofits, the trade-offs look like this:

• Cost vs. time. OBS has no license fee, but it does require installation, configuration, and ongoing maintenance. Many organizations end up “paying” in staff time and frustration.
• Hardware dependency. OBS performance and stability depend heavily on your local CPU/GPU and disk. The project notes that having a compatible system does not guarantee it can stream or record effectively, which can be a challenge on older laptops common in nonprofits. (OBS)
• Complexity. Scenes, sources, encoders, and audio routing can overwhelm non-technical staff, especially volunteers cycling in and out.
• No built-in cloud storage or sharing. OBS creates large local files; you still need a workflow for uploading, sharing, and backing them up.

By contrast, StreamYard:

• Runs in the browser and abstracts away encoder decisions.
• Auto-saves to the cloud within your storage limits, so you don’t lose files when a presenter forgets to move them.
• Produces local multi-track files on paid plans without asking staff to think about file containers or remuxing.

A practical approach for nonprofits: use StreamYard as the primary studio for trainings, donor briefings, and hybrid events, and reserve OBS for rare cases where you have an AV-savvy volunteer who wants fine-grained control over encoding and scene composition.

When does Loom make sense for nonprofits—and what about discounts?

Loom is oriented around quick, async screen messages: record your screen with a camera bubble, then share a link, often embedded in tools like Slack or Jira. Its pricing model is per user per month, with a free Starter tier and Business and Business + AI tiers that unlock unlimited recording time and storage. (Loom)

Two specifics matter for nonprofits:

• The free Starter plan is intentionally constrained: 5-minute maximum screen recordings and a 25-video storage limit per person, which makes it less suitable for long trainings or building a large learning library. (Loom)
• Atlassian states that Loom, as part of its portfolio, is available at 75% off for eligible nonprofits, but organizations need to go through Atlassian’s nonprofit program to confirm eligibility and which Loom plans are covered. (Atlassian)

Compared with Loom’s per-seat model, StreamYard pricing is per workspace rather than per user, which tends to be more economical when you want several staff and volunteers to record or co-host content without worrying about adding individual licenses.

A sensible workflow is to treat Loom as a supplemental async tool—useful for quick internal updates—while you rely on StreamYard when you need multi-participant, branded recordings that can double as live broadcasts or on-demand sessions.

How should nonprofits think about budgets and pricing?

Budgets are tight for most nonprofits, so the question is usually: “What’s the minimum stack we can adopt that still feels professional?”

Here’s a practical way to think about it:

• StreamYard: Our free plan is genuinely useful for getting a feel for the studio, with some hour limits, a cap on local recording time, and branding applied. (StreamYard) Paid plans unlock unlimited local recording, more storage, and higher-quality options, but pricing is per workspace, not per user, which usually stays budget-friendly even as your team grows.
• OBS: No subscription fees, but you must invest in hardware, storage, and technical training. That can be worth it if you have an AV-focused staff member or volunteer.
• Loom: Free Starter is constrained; paid plans are per user, which can add up, though a verified nonprofit discount through Atlassian may offset that for some organizations. (Loom)

For many nonprofits, consolidating most recording and live needs into a single StreamYard workspace ends up both simpler and cheaper than managing multiple per-seat tools.

What does a simple StreamYard-first workflow look like for a nonprofit?

Imagine a small U.S. nonprofit running a quarterly board update, a monthly volunteer training, and a few campaign explainers each year. A lightweight, repeatable setup could look like this:

1. Create a StreamYard studio for “Training & Updates.”
2. Invite presenters by link—no installs, no IT tickets.
3. Use screen sharing + presenter video to walk through slides, dashboards, or your CRM.
4. Enable local multi-track recording on a paid plan so you have clean audio for future edits. (StreamYard)
5. Apply your logo and lower thirds live so the recordings are immediately usable without heavy editing.
6. Export clips in landscape and portrait to reuse the same session on YouTube, your website, and short-form platforms.

You can then supplement this with OBS for the occasional complex production and Loom for 2–3 minute internal updates, keeping StreamYard at the center of your storytelling.

What we recommend

• Start with StreamYard as your primary screen recording and live-style studio: browser-based, multi-participant, with high-quality local recordings that are easy to repurpose. (StreamYard)
• Add OBS only if you have technical staff and need deep encoder or scene control on powerful hardware. (OBS)
• Use Loom sparingly for quick async updates, and only lean on it heavily if your nonprofit secures an Atlassian-managed discount that fits your budget. (Atlassian)
• Keep your stack simple: for most U.S. nonprofits, a StreamYard-first approach covers training, outreach, and donor communication without overwhelming your team.