Comparison · developer tools
A free, open-source Loom alternative for pull requests
Loom uploads a single take to the cloud and hands you a link. PR Preview records a before/after of your actual UI change, keeps everything on your machine, and gives you a small MP4 that drops straight into the pull request — free and MIT-licensed.
npm i -D @qwertybit/pr-previewSide by side
PR Preview vs Loom vs screen recorders
For code review specifically — local vs cloud, before/after vs single take, and what actually ends up in the PR.
| Capability | PR Preview | Loom | QuickTime / OBS | Kap / LICEcap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runs locally, nothing uploaded | Yes — records on your machine | No — clips upload to Loom's cloud | Yes | Yes |
| Before / after of a code change | Built in — records both branches | Manual, single take | Manual, single take | Manual, single take |
| Agent-driven (describe it in English) | Yes — via Claude Code MCP | No | No | No |
| Output drops into a GitHub PR | Small MP4/GIF, ready to drag in | A link to loom.com | Large file, needs trimming | GIF only |
| Price | Free, MIT open source | Freemium, paid tiers | Free / free | Free |
| Account required | No | Yes | No | No |
Honest take
When Loom is the better choice
If you want a talking-head walkthrough with your voice and webcam — async team updates, customer demos, onboarding — Loom is genuinely great and PR Preview isn't trying to replace it.
PR Preview is narrow on purpose: silent, reproducible before/after product clips for code review, generated locally and committed alongside the change. Different jobs — pick the one that fits.
Loom alternative — questions
Is PR Preview really a free Loom alternative?
Yes. The CLI is MIT-licensed and free forever, including commercial use. There's no account and no cloud — you run it locally and the clips are yours. A hosted add-on (PR Preview for Teams) is coming for shared review, but the recorder stays free.
How is it different from Loom for code review?
Loom is a general screen recorder that uploads a single take to its cloud and gives you a link. PR Preview is purpose-built for pull requests: it records a before/after of your actual UI change, keeps everything local, and produces a small MP4 you drag straight into the PR so the video lives with the code.
Does anything get uploaded to a third party?
No. Recording happens on your machine and the video is written to your project. Nothing is sent to us or any cloud — the opposite of the Loom model.
When is Loom actually the better choice?
If you want a talking-head walkthrough with your voice and webcam for async team updates or customer demos, Loom is great. PR Preview is focused on silent, reproducible before/after product clips for code review — pick the tool that matches the job.
Can I share a clip with a link like Loom?
The free CLI produces files you attach to a PR or share yourself. Hosted clips with a shareable review player and comments are part of the upcoming PR Preview for Teams.
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The CLI is free today. Join the list to get hosted clips, team reviews, and sharing the moment they ship — and help shape what we build.
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