Video is vital for delivering engaging and impactful training for employees and stakeholders. It’s a dynamic medium that brings complex concepts to life, which makes it invaluable for learning and development initiatives.
Video provides visual cues that aid in understanding and foster better knowledge retention than text-based materials. It also improves onboarding and increases understanding of vital organizational activities and concepts.
Selecting the right tool to build your assets is the key to building effective video training. Modern solutions offer a range of features and capabilities to make videos more professional, engaging, and impactful.
This article covers the basic information you need to begin your selection process. We will also review the top five video training tools to consider when weighing your options.
The role of video in training
Marketers say that “video is king” for good reason. Video marketing is engaging, interactive, and always on, which makes it a flexible and accessible choice for lessons and video tutorials. Video also accommodates various learning styles and different types of content.
With video, employees can replay parts that they need help understanding and watch at their own pace—a kind of personalization that traditional classroom-style training often lacks. With the advent of mobile screen recording, video-based training is accessible anytime and anywhere, which allows for continuous learning beyond office hours.
These benefits extend beyond simple knowledge persistence. Retention increases in organizations where employees feel supported and empowered to perform well. Video improves this experience, which makes it a popular option with learners. Over 80% of respondents to a recent TechSmith study said they prefer watching videos over accessing information or instructional content via text or audio.
Modern video training platforms can incorporate interactive elements like quizzes or surveys, which enhances engagement levels and provides instant feedback on comprehension. Platforms can also facilitate real-life scenario enactment through simulations or animations.
Video is not just another way of teaching. It’s a powerful catalyst for driving effective training programs that resonate with modern learners while simultaneously meeting organizational objectives.
Choosing the right video training platform for your needs
Over 80% of businesses use a traditional learning management system (LMS). Although an LMS offers some benefits, newer video training and education options are gaining traction.
Modern video tools allow leaders to more easily share quick, spontaneous training and knowledge with their teams. These options are also flexible enough for all types of training applications and formats. Leading computer screen recording tools offer all the functionality of a traditional LMS with extra features to make information more easily digestible and allow collaboration throughout the learning experience.
Look for these 10 key features when selecting a video training solution for your organization:
- Easy-to-use interface: A learning tool should be easy to navigate for both learners and teachers. Choose a tool with an intuitive design that allows for quick video creation and delivery.
- OS and device-agnostic design: You should select a tool that lets trainers and leaders record a presentation on any device or operating system.
- Captioning and transcription: Captions, subtitles, and transcription give learners multiple ways to ingest information. Be sure that the tool you choose offers these features.
- Collaboration tools: Learning is best when communicating with fellow learners and training leaders is easy. Look for tools with built-in communication and commenting capabilities.
- Individual and group video options: Organizations must offer teaching options for single users, groups, and teams. Select a tool with the flexibility to handle all of them.
- Centralized video storage: Learners often refer to videos and materials as they learn and apply new skills in the workplace. Opt for a tool with centralized video hosting and permissions features.
- High-resolution options: Instructional videos look more professional when delivered in high resolution, so be sure that the solution you choose offers high resolutions—4K is best.
- Annotation and drawing: The ability to highlight priority information in a video makes it easier for learners to see and understand the content. Look for a tool with annotating and highlighting capabilities.
- Security and privacy features: Video training assets often contain sensitive and proprietary information, and some may only pertain to specific roles or departments. A tool with security and permissions features makes organizing and protecting assets easier.
- Pro video editor features: Employees respond to video training materials that look and feel professional, with features like music, transitions, animations, green screens, and backgrounds. In-platform video editing software—especially one with AI enhancement—improves training presentations and keeps learners more engaged.
1. Loom
Loom offers the best free screen recorders and advanced features on the market. The platform focuses on providing a seamless user experience for recording and sharing engaging videos. The free version is a robust entry-level tool that makes enjoying the platform’s capabilities easy. It offers editing tools, enhanced collaboration and annotation features, and cloud storage for video training content.
Key features
- A professional suite of editing tools and enhancements
- Multi-device support for Mac, Windows, Chrome, and mobile devices
- AI enhancements and automation tools for faster creation
Pros
- Loom has the most free-tier options of any platform, with ample video storage and advanced features like transcription that cost more than other options.
- Loom offers Live Rewind, which lets you edit mistakes as you record. While recording, hit the “Rewind” button from the recording controls to cut out mistakes, then resume recording.
- The app offers password protection features (in the premium version) and security access controls for proprietary training information.
- Loom is device- and OS-agnostic. It works with Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chrome through a browser extension that interfaces with Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Brave.
- The Loom AI add-on ($4 per month with the Business and Enterprise plans) helps users record better, faster video messages with automated titles, summaries, chaptering, filler word removal (“umms” and “ahhs” be gone!), and silence removal. Transcription is free on every tier.
Cons
- Loom needs a stable internet connection to perform as intended. Some users report slightly slower video creation and export if internet access becomes unstable.
Pricing
Loom offers three plans, including a free option. These plans include:
- Free: This plan allows for up to 25 videos per person, with a runtime of up to five minutes per video. It offers screen capture with a picture-in-picture “bubble cam” for simultaneously capturing screen footage and direct-to-camera webcam footage. It also includes unlimited transcriptions and viewer insights and a team workspace.
- Business: This $12.50/creator/month plan (billed annually) adds unlimited videos, unlimited recording length, the Loom AI add-on (for $4/creator/month annually), white-labeling (no Loom branding), import and download features, and password protection.
- Enterprise: In addition to previous features, this tier offers custom pricing and advanced features such as single sign-on (SSO), advanced content privacy, and customized data retention.
2. ClickUp
ClickUp is a project management and communications tool that offers screen capture features to help leaders share skills and training with teams. Trainers can create, host, and share learning content like walkthroughs, feature tutorials, and other resources using voice, webcam, and screen capture.
Key features:
- Customizable recording settings with no time restrictions
- Chrome and Firefox extensions
- Interactive whiteboards and editing capabilities
Pros:
- Task management features allow trainers to track training progress, set due dates, assign tasks to team members, and more.
- The platform offers watermark-free screen capture and voice recording for a professional, in-house look.
- ClickUp has a vast library of integrations like Zoom, Gmail, HubSpot, and other popular communication options.
Cons:
- ClickUp has a steep learning curve that makes it hard for new users to pick up and start using right away.
- This platform doesn’t offer full mobile or tablet versions.
- Although ClickUp offers integrations, users experience compatibility and data-sharing difficulties with some applications.
3. ScreenRec
ScreenRec is a screen recording and screenshot tool for small businesses and the mid-market. Its use cases focus on developers, designers, customer support teams, and employee education. It also offers content management features to create organization in e-learning content. ScreenRec works on Mac, Windows, and Linux devices.
Key features:
- One-click screen capturing
- Annotated screenshots
- Content management
Pros:
- This platform allows users to create instant screenshots from recorded videos and annotate them to highlight key features or important information.
- ScreenRec offers a lightweight app architecture that works on any OS.
- Drag-and-drop functionality makes it easy to upload content into the account library.
Cons:
- ScreenRec does not offer a mobile app for content creation on the go.
- The platform has no video editing options to refine and improve recordings after capturing them.
- The Free and Pro tiers offer only low-resolution recording options (SD and HD). 4K recording is limited to the Premium plan.
Pricing:
ScreenCap offers three pricing options, including a “no credit card required” free tier. These options include:
- Free: The free plan offers 2GB of cloud storage, recording resolution up to 720p, no record limits, and no ScreenRec watermarks. This tier is designated for personal use only and offers basic self-service knowledge base support.
- Pro: This tier costs $4.99/person/month (billed annually). Upgrading to Pro yields 50GB storage, recording resolution up to 1080p, commercial use licensing, and enhanced support through email and chat.
- Premium: This final tier is $49/person/month (billed annually). The Premium plan increases storage to 200GB, introduces 4K recording resolution, offers five user seats, and provides priority phone, email, and chat support.
4. Vimeo
Vimeo is a small business and mid-market–focused app with a simple create-and-share interface, cinematic video maker capabilities (with resolutions up to 8K), and a customized video player. It offers training-focused options like interactive touch points to provide links to related lessons, quizzes, and polls.
Key features:
- A stock assets library of music and video footage
- Public and private streaming and presentations
- Automation and AI enhancements
Pros:
- The platform allows you to replace a video asset without changing its associated URL.
- Vimeo offers 24/7 customer support to help users with questions or concerns.
- It provides ease-of-use features, such as drag-and-drop uploads and clickable videos.
Cons:
- Although the main platform’s functions are intuitive, finding some of the advanced features within its navigation is challenging.
- Its web-based video production tool is not as user-friendly as the app.
- Uploading content to the library could be faster.
Pricing:
Vimeo offers five service tiers, including a very limited free video recording option. These tiers include:
- Free: The free tier allows users to create and store, as well as share and embed, up to three videos.
- Starter: This plan is $12/person/month (billed annually). It allows storage for 60 videos and offers privacy controls, a custom video player, custom URL creation, review and collaboration tools, and automatic closed captioning.
- Standard: The next tier costs $20/person/month (billed annually). The Standard plan increases storage to 120 videos and adds access to a brand kit, a teleprompter feature, text-based video editing tools, AI script generation, and engagement analytics.
- Advanced: This next plan costs $85/person/month (billed annually). It increases storage to 500 videos and adds access to virtual events and webinars, simulcasting, attendee registrations, live Q&A, interactive polls, and event chat.
- Enterprise: This custom-priced tier provides unlimited storage, custom permissions, SSO access, moderated live Q&A features, backup streams, and dedicated customer support.
5. LearnWorlds
LearnWorlds is an LMS that uses video and sharing features to provide individual creators and corporate teams with full e-learning and collaborative education tools. Its training-focused use cases have applications for internal corporate communications, ecommerce course sales, and customizable individual and team training experiences.
Key features:
- SCORM compliance
- Interactive authoring
- Surveys, quizzes, and exam tools
Pros:
- LearnWorlds allows corporate course content builders to create individual training paths and flexible online courses to meet individual and team learning needs.
- The platform features robust integrations and security protections to integrate with education tech stacks.
- Its analytics and reporting tools allow leaders to refine course content based on data and insights from user behavior.
Cons:
- LearnWorlds is a traditional course-building platform that doesn’t offer ad hoc video creation to deliver short training courses, helpful video clips, or feedback.
- The platform offers limited personalization options. It’s not customizable for different learning applications or needs.
- Some users report slow loading times for hosted content, which hinders the flow and efficiency of learning.
Pricing:
LearnWorlds doesn’t offer a free plan. Its four pricing tiers include:
- Starter: LearnWorlds starts at $24/user/month. The base plan offers exams and quizzes, 1:1 and group teaching features, and drip-feed course structures.
- Pro Trainer: This next plan costs $79/user/month. It provides free and paid course options, customized course tools, advanced assessment features, and live streaming options.
- Learning Center: This tier is $249/user/month. It introduces interactive video features, auto transcriptions and subscriptions, advanced assessment features, and Zoom and Webex multi-accounts.
- High Volume & Corporate: This custom-priced tier offers advanced data safety and custom service-level agreements in addition to the previously mentioned features.
6. Camtasia
Camtasia is an online video capture and editing software tool that allows users to record their screen and create interactive elements within video clips. The full-featured editing tool kit and interactive scenario-building allow users to incorporate many different file formats into a presentation.
Key features:
- Drag and drop functionality
- Green screen effects and enhancements
- Avatars, text, and interactive elements
Pros:
- The screen audio recorder allows screen, camera, microphone, and internal system audio capture, plus cursor capture and cursor effects for highlighting important points in video training.
- Camtasia offers theme and template options to simplify video creation and build a consistent look across assets.
- The platform’s royalty-free asset library contains videos, effects, music, images, and other assets to enhance videos during the editing process.
Cons:
- Some features in the Mac version of the platform, including mic quality and uploads, don’t hold up to the Windows version. Many users report that the Mac version is “buggy.”
- Users across both versions mention performance issues with system crashes, glitches, upload lag, and other issues with the upgraded (2022) version of the platform.
- Camtasia runs on a perpetual license model versus a SaaS model, so you’ll have to buy a license for each user at a much heftier price than subscription-based models.
Pricing:
Camtasia offers three platform tiers. It provides a free trial, but as it’s not a SaaS tool, there is no free subscription tier. It has one annual subscription tier and two perpetual license tiers. Each tier offers discounts for education, governments, and non-profit users. These tiers include:
- Individual: Camtasia starts at $179.88/user (billed annually). Thai tier offers one non-transferable, account-based subscription with all available features.
- Perpetual for Individuals and Small Teams: This plan costs $299.99 per transferable, single-user perpetual license. It offers all standard features with an optional maintenance upgrade in the second year. Maintenance provides a free upgrade to new versions and features, access to live support, and a training resource library with an optional certification.
- Perpetual for Business: This plan offers a transferable multi-key license at $286.85/user (up to 9 licenses). Graduated discounts apply at 15, 25, and 50 user license seats. This tier provides all standard features, as well as an optional maintenance upgrade in the second year.
7. ScreenPal
ScreenPal, formerly known as Screencast-O-Matic, is a video screen capture tool that is easy to use for new users but offers advanced features for seasoned editors. Users can easily capture screen content (with or without a web camera) and add advanced elements like overlays, text, shapes, and outside assets like images and imported videos.
Key features:
- Webcam-free screen capture
- Library of media assets
- Shareable links for completed videos
Pros:
- ScreenPal offers advanced editing features, such as background removal, image blurring, image overlays, and AI-based image-to-text, for more polish in webcam content.
- The platform allows you to screen capture and edit on any device from a secure, cloud-based platform.
- Its asset library offers free videos, effects, music, images, and other assets for improving videos.
Cons:
- Users must use a paid tier to remove ScreenPal watermarks.
- Video analytics are only available with the Solo Max and Team Business versions of the platform.
- The platform only offers one tier with collaboration features, team management, and SSO.
Pricing:
ScreenPal offers a free trial with limited functionality. Its four paid tiers include:
- Solo Deluxe: For $3/month (billed annually), users have access to screenshots, screen and webcam recording, save and share features, video storyboards and scripting, image creation and editing, and automated captions.
- Solo Premier: For $6/month (billed annually), this tier adds standard stock media access, secure cloud backup, custom branding, call to action (CTA) buttons, and priority support.
- Solo Max: For $10/month (billed annually), the Solo Max plan adds features like video quizzes and polls, advanced analytics, video heatmaps, premium Shutterstock access, and a full stock music library.
- Team Business: For $8/user/month (billed annually), teams of three or more users gain access to collaboration tools, team management features, advanced integrations, ownership transfers, and SSO security.
8. Hippo Video
This multi-team video creation tool offers an interactive video platform to help teams of all sizes make and send videos. Although the platform’s main demographic is go-to-market teams, its sales enablement use case includes sales training videos for employee onboarding and enrichment.
Key features:
- Teleprompter feature
- Video flows for pre-built presentations
- Mobile and desktop apps
Pros:
- Video embeds allow you to email training resources to recipients, no link required, and measure engagement with individual assets.
- The platform lets users screen record and apply basic editing from their desktop or mobile device.
- All tiers of Hippo Video offer integrations for Gmail, Outlook, and other business tools.
Cons:
- Users report slow upload times, periodic bugs, and glitches as the development team improves the tool.
- Hippo Video’s video editing suite is limited compared to other tools on the market, making professional presentation and the integration of advanced elements challenging or impossible.
- The platform’s website doesn’t share information on security features, although the Enterprise plan does include role-based permissions and SSO support.
Pricing:
ScreenPal offers five platform tiers. It also offers a free trial with limited functionality. Its plans include:
- Free: The free tier gives users access to screen capture with two video flows, 10 minutes of closed captioning, an AI script editor for up to five videos, and basic editing and analytics tools. Users can create 50 videos per month.
- Pro: For $20/user/month (billed annually), the service upgrades to five video flows, 30 minutes of closed captioning, 10 AI scripted videos, chapter features, and unlimited HD video recordings. This tier also unlocks advanced editing and analytics, virtual backgrounds, interactive CTAs, and custom branding and URLs.
- Teams: For $60/user/month (billed annually), the service adds 15+ video flows, 200 minutes of closed captioning, 50 AI-scripted videos, and automated video personalization for up to 50 videos. It also offers increased integrations, team reports, folder tagging, and document-to-video creation.
- Enterprise: For $80/user/month (billed annually), users can access unlimited custom video flows, closed captions, AI-edited videos, and AI-generated chaptering. This tier also unlocks 50 AI avatar–based Humanize AI videos. At this level, advanced security like role-based access, SSO, and dedicated account services become available.
9. BombBomb
BombBomb is a video messaging tool that offers a full range of internal and external video messaging options, including training and employee support. It also offers interactive video features to deliver training and feedback individually or create centralized training content for common questions, onboarding, and feature updates.
Key features:
- A robust library of 65+ integrations
- Easy sharing features
- Mobile and desktop apps
Pros:
- The platform is simple for users who want a non-technical, basic way to record and send videos.
- BombBomb offers read and watch receipts as a simple way to rate engagement on shared content.
- Its unlimited video libraries provide centralized knowledge hubs for teams.
Cons:
- The video editing features are limited, although they may be suitable for delivering informal training and feedback between team members.
- The resource library is somewhat outdated, which makes it difficult to learn newer features due to inconsistent documentation.
- Pricing for BombBomb is much higher than other options on the market with similar capabilities.
Pricing:
BombBomb offers three platform tiers but no free tier. It instead offers a 14-day trial for new users. Its paid tiers include:
- Essentials: This plan, at $33/user/month, gives users access to unlimited camera and screen recording, unlimited videos with no length limits, custom branding, video editing features, and privacy protection for data.
- Plus: For $49/user/month, the Plus tier adds video analytics insights, advanced interactions, and automation, which includes mass emailing, email scheduling, advanced editing capabilities, and admin and team controls.
- Teams: This is a custom-priced tier for teams with advanced needs. It offers advanced admin controls, security and compliance features, customer relationship management–embedded features with premium integrations, SSO, and custom support.
10. Screencastify
This video capture and screencasting tool offers educators and trainers ways to create personalized, custom training content for teams and individuals. The simple capture tool saves videos directly to Google Drive for easy centralization and file sharing. Screencastify also offers a Chrome extension for easy capture directly from a browser. Its education-focused offering is geared toward schools, but its features are also applicable to corporate training.
Key features:
- Custom branding features
- Education-focused tools
- Mobile and desktop apps
Pros:
- Screencastify provides easy video creation with recording resolutions up to 1080p.
- The platform offers communication features for responding to shared videos and user analytics for paid plans.
- It offers export and sharing options, including video and audio exports, YouTube posts, and centralized video assets in Google Drive.
Cons:
- Most education-focused features are only available on the Teams and EDU plan.
- The free tier adds watermarks to exported YouTube videos.
- Captioning and unlimited video lengths require a paid plan. The free plan allows users to create only 10 free videos with 10GB of storage.
Pricing:
Screencastify offers four platform tiers, including its limited free tier. These plans include:
- Free: The free tier requires no credit card and allows users to create up to 10 free videos with a 30-minute time limit per video and 10GB of total video storage. It also offers one assignment per user.
- Starter: For $7/user/month (billed annually), the platform adds unlimited video creation and video length, 25GB of data storage, and unlimited length exports.
- Pro: For $10/user/month (billed annually), storage increases to 100GB. This tier also unlocks unlimited assignments per user.
- Teams and EDU: This custom-priced tier unlocks all available features, including education-focused features like professional development, license management, and usage reporting.
Upgrade your video training with Loom
Video is the gold standard for delivering fast, impactful learning material to individuals and teams. The knowledge retention benefits, as well as centralization and personalization features, available through video training platforms make it easy for organizations of every size to deliver consistent, professional video content that engages and informs.
While there are many options on the market, only a few deliver the capabilities and features needed to build successful, scalable educational and employee training videos within your organization.
Loom offers the best training video software in a lightweight, platform-agnostic design. It helps trainers incorporate fun and collaboration into learning while offering robust storage, security, and permissions features.
The best way to see all that Loom offers is to try it out. Download the Loom app and create your first training materials for free today.
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