comparison
When a screen recorder is not a site walkthrough
If you have ever recorded a site update with a generic screen recorder, you already know the gap. Field capture and desktop capture are different jobs.
Loom is built for quick screen recordings, async updates, and internal team communication. Walkflow is for tradie site walkthroughs your client opens on any device.
This comparison is about which job each tool fits.
What Loom does well
Loom shines when you need to:
- Record your screen and webcam for internal handoffs
- Explain a design file, spreadsheet, or SaaS workflow
- Drop a link in Slack for a teammate
For desk-based async video, it is fast and familiar.
Where job walkthroughs break on generic recorders
Site communication has different constraints:
| Job-site need | Generic screen recorder | Walkflow |
|---|---|---|
| Walk and talk on site | Awkward; often tied to screen capture | Built for mobile field capture |
| Video or audio-only capture | Screen/video only | Video walkthrough or photo + speech (no continuous video) |
| Snapshots at key moments | Manual screenshots, disconnected from timeline | Snapshots anchored to the walkthrough timeline |
| Client-facing share link | Possible, but not job-first | Share link is the core workflow |
| Narrative + searchable transcript | Varies by plan/workflow | Transcript supports progressive enrichment after publish |
| Scope document from site visit | Manual rewrite | Documents you pick, such as a scope of work or quote items, included with the subscription |
| Photo-first client updates | Not the primary model | Walkthrough replaces scattered photo texts |
When your client needs to follow physical work in sequence, a screen-recording habit gets in the way.
Walkflow vs Loom: practical differences
1. Capture context
Loom assumes you are at a desk showing something on screen.
Walkflow assumes you are on site, moving through spaces, narrating trade decisions, and capturing snapshots as you go.
That difference shows up in how natural the workflow feels after a long day on tools.
2. Client experience
Clients do not want another app with another login for a five-minute update.
Walkflow share links open in the browser as a walkthrough viewer: video, snapshots, and supporting context in one place. The client can rewatch that record instead of assembling a file dump.
3. Documentation intent
Loom videos often live in a personal library of updates.
A Walkflow walkthrough is titled, reviewed before you publish, and shared for a specific client outcome.
If you want a repeatable pattern for site updates, start with how to send a client a video walkthrough.
4. Pricing model for tradies
Walkflow is pay as you go. You buy minutes when you need them. A subscription adds more storage, and generated documents come with it. You are not buying a seat in generic video software.
For a lot of tradies, that fits job-based use better than an always-on subscription to a screen recorder.
When Loom is the right tool
Choose Loom when:
- You are recording screen-based workflows for staff or partners
- The audience is internal, not a client reviewing physical site work
- You do not need snapshot-timeline job documentation
Choose Walkflow when:
- You walk the job and talk the client through decisions
- You want one link that replaces texting photos
- You need a client-facing walkthrough record, not a screen share
Real situations
- Quote from a site visit. A screen recorder gives you a video to rewatch. Walkflow gives you a draft scope of work and quote items from the walk to edit.
- A client update when you are on the tools. Record on your phone as you walk. There is no screen to share.
- Explaining a quote or a drawing from your desk. A generic recorder is a good fit here. See the section above on when Loom is the right tool.
- A disputed extra. Snapshots tied to the timeline show what was said at that moment. A separate screen recording does not.
Trade-specific example
Electricians often need to show board locations, cable routes, and compliance constraints in one update. A desk recorder does not match that motion.
See site walkthrough app for electricians for how that looks on an electrical job. If the client needs to understand the physical work, the walkthrough carries more than a screen recording of the same update.
Common questions
Can I use Loom and Walkflow together?
Yes. Use Loom for desk explanations and Walkflow for site walks that need to become documents.
Do clients need an account to watch a Walkflow walkthrough?
No. You send one link and they open it.
Does Walkflow work without continuous video?
Yes. Choose photo + speech to narrate and tap snapshots without filming.