Tella caught my attention in late 2023 with its beautiful interface and inline editing. Record your screen, trim clips, add text overlays, and position your camera bubble anywhere: all before sharing. It felt like someone finally built screen recording for people who care about polish.
But after using it for several months, some friction points emerged. The pricing is steep at $19/month for individuals (or $228 annually), which is more expensive than Loom or most screen recording alternatives. That might be fine if you're creating customer-facing content regularly, but for quick team updates, it's hard to justify.
Platform support is limited too. Tella works on Mac, Windows, and has mobile apps, but the mobile experience feels less polished than desktop. iOS works okay, Android exists but lags behind. If you're heavily mobile-first, Tella isn't optimized for that workflow.
The free tier gives you unlimited videos with a Tella watermark. That's more generous than Loom's 25-video cap, and the watermark is small. But the paid features (remove watermark, custom branding, unlimited exports) are where Tella really shines, so most serious users end up paying.
Performance is generally good, though editing complex videos with lots of cuts and overlays can slow down on older machines. The final export quality is excellent: sharp, smooth, professional-looking. If visual quality matters, Tella delivers.
That said, Tella absolutely nails what it set out to do: make screen recordings that don't look amateurish. The camera positioning, transitions, and text overlays help you create polished demos or tutorials without exporting to a separate editor. For product demos, onboarding videos, or anything customer-facing, Tella is hard to beat.
If you're looking at alternatives, it's usually because of pricing, platform needs, or you just want simpler quick-capture without the editing features. Let's dig into what else exists.
Why Look Beyond Tella?
Tella is great at what it does, but it's not the right fit for everyone. Here's what pushes people toward alternatives.
Pricing Adds Up
Tella costs $19/month for individuals or $228/year. That's higher than Loom ($12.50/month), ScreenPal ($8/month), or CleanShot's one-time purchase ($29). If you're recording frequently, maybe the editing features justify the cost. If you're making quick async updates a few times a week, it feels expensive.
For teams, the pricing scales linearly: more users, more monthly fees. Tools with one-time purchases (CleanShot, Screen Studio) or cheaper per-user costs (Loom) become more attractive at scale.
Editing Might Be Overkill
Tella's inline editing is its signature feature. But honestly? Most internal team videos don't need polished editing. Quick bug reports, async updates, or explaining a concept: these work fine with basic trim-only editing like Loom offers. If you're not using Tella's editing features, you're paying for capabilities you don't need.
The flip side: if you are creating polished content, Tella might not be powerful enough. It's great for light editing (trim, text, zoom), but serious production work requires tools like Camtasia or even Premiere. Tella sits in this middle ground that's perfect for some use cases but awkward for others.
Sharing and Hosting
Tella uploads videos to their servers and gives you a shareable link. The player is clean and works well. But you don't get advanced analytics (who watched, how long, engagement heatmaps) like Loom or Vidyard offer. For casual sharing, that's fine. For sales or marketing videos where analytics matter, it's limiting.
Also, there's no integration with platforms beyond basic embed codes. Loom has deep Slack, Notion, and CRM integrations. Tella is more standalone.
Mobile Recording Experience
The mobile apps exist, but they're clearly secondary to the desktop experience. The editing interface is cramped on phone screens, and performance isn't as smooth. If you record a lot from mobile (demos on the go, quick screen captures from your phone), Tella's mobile experience is weaker than Loom's.
Team Collaboration Features
Tella is built for individuals creating videos. There's no team workspace, no shared video library, no comment threads or approval workflows. If you need collaboration features (like Loom's team plans or Vidyard's sales workflows), Tella doesn't support that.
What Makes a Good Alternative?
Switching screen recorders is relatively painless since most tools do the same core job. Here's what to prioritize.
Recording Quality and Performance
Tella records at high quality with smooth playback. Your alternative needs to match this, or your videos will look worse. Check frame rates (60fps support matters for demos with motion), resolution options (1080p minimum), and compression quality.
Test on your actual hardware. Some recorders struggle on older machines or with multiple monitors. Tella handles this well: make sure your alternative does too.
Editing Needs
What level of editing do you actually use? If you just trim the start and end (like Loom), you don't need Tella's full editing suite. If you add text overlays, zoom effects, and cut sections throughout, you need something with similar capabilities.
Be honest about this. Don't pay for editing features you never use, but don't choose a tool that can't handle the edits you actually need.
Sharing Workflow
Tella gives you a shareable link instantly. Does your alternative do the same? Some tools make you manually export and upload videos elsewhere, which adds friction. For async communication, instant sharing matters.
Also check the viewer experience. Does the player work well? Do viewers need accounts? Are there ads or branding? Tella's player is clean: your alternative's should be too.
Pricing Model
Tella is subscription-based. Some alternatives are one-time purchases (CleanShot, Screen Studio), others are cheaper subscriptions (Loom, ScreenPal), and a few are completely free (Cap for now). Run the 3-year cost to compare fairly.
One-time purchases save money long-term but you might miss out on ongoing updates and new features. Subscriptions keep evolving but cost more over time. Pick your trade-off.
Platform and Device Support
Tella works on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android. Does your alternative support the platforms you actually use? If you're Mac-only, tools like CleanShot or Screen Studio are options. If you need cross-platform, Loom or ScreenPal work everywhere.
Loom
Loom is the obvious comparison point since it basically created the async video category. It's simpler than Tella but way more established.
The core workflow is identical: record screen, camera, or both, then get an instant shareable link. Where Loom differs is editing: you can only trim the start and end. There's AI filler word removal (cuts "um" and "uh"), but you can't add text overlays, zoom effects, or cut middle sections like Tella allows. For quick updates, that's fine. For polished demos, Tella's editing wins.
Loom's advantage is the ecosystem. Deep integrations with Slack, Notion, Gmail, and tons of other tools. The Chrome extension makes recording frictionless. The mobile apps are more polished than Tella's. And the viewer analytics show who watched and for how long, which helps with accountability.
The free tier caps you at 25 videos total (not per month, total). Tella gives unlimited with a watermark, which is more generous. Loom's Creator plan costs $12.50/month, cheaper than Tella but with fewer editing features. Business is $12.50/user/month with team features.
Where Loom falls short: the videos look more basic than Tella's. The camera bubble is stuck in the corner with limited customization. No text overlays, no zoom effects, no polish beyond basic recording. If your videos are customer-facing or need to look professional, Tella's output is noticeably better. Check our Loom vs Tella comparison.
Bottom line: use Loom for quick internal async communication and ecosystem integrations. Use Tella for polished, professional-looking videos with editing flexibility.
Cap
Cap is the newcomer trying to rethink screen recording with automatic editing. It's Mac-only for now, open-source, and honestly pretty impressive for an early product.
The killer feature is automatic zooming. Cap detects your mouse clicks and important actions, then applies smooth zoom and pan effects during playback. Your recording feels professionally edited without any manual work. Tella requires you to manually add zoom effects; Cap does it automatically. This is genuinely clever.
The instant sharing works like Tella and Loom: record, stop, get a link. The viewer experience is clean with a simple player. No analytics or advanced features, just the video.
Because Cap is open-source, you can self-host if you want full control over your videos. Tella and Loom lock you into their hosting. For privacy-conscious teams or enterprises, this flexibility matters.
Free tier gives you unlimited recordings with a small Cap watermark. Paid features (remove watermark, custom branding) are coming but pricing isn't finalized yet since Cap is still in early development.
Where Cap struggles: it's Mac-only. Windows, web, and mobile versions are on the roadmap but not ready. If you need cross-platform, Cap doesn't work yet. Also, the editing features beyond automatic zoom are limited. You can't manually add text overlays or do complex edits like Tella supports.
The project is actively developed, so bugs and missing features are expected. It's improving fast, but it's not as polished as Tella or Loom.
Use Cap if you're on Mac and want automatic editing for free. Wait for platform expansion if you need Windows, mobile, or web support.
ScreenPal
ScreenPal (formerly Screencast-O-Matic) has been around forever and offers a solid middle ground between Loom's simplicity and Tella's editing power.
The recording experience is straightforward: screen, webcam, or both, with decent quality. The interface isn't as pretty as Tella's, but it's functional and stable. Performance is good even on older hardware.
Editing capabilities sit between Loom and Tella. You can trim clips, add text and captions, zoom in on sections, and include overlays. It's not as polished or intuitive as Tella's editor, but you can achieve similar results with more effort. For people who occasionally need editing but don't want to pay Tella's premium, ScreenPal works.
The stock media library is actually useful. Background music, sound effects, and some graphics are included. Tella doesn't have this. For creating tutorial videos or training content, having royalty-free assets saves time.
Hosting and sharing are included. Upload videos to ScreenPal's servers, get shareable links, and the player is fine (not beautiful like Tella's, but functional). You can also export files to upload elsewhere.
Pricing is cheaper than Tella: free tier with 15 minutes per video and a watermark, Deluxe is $3/month (annual billing), Premier is $6/month, and Max is $8/month. Way more affordable for individuals or small teams. The paid tiers remove watermarks and add editing features.
Where ScreenPal feels dated: the UI looks like it's from 2015. It works, but compared to Tella's modern design, it feels clunky. Also, the automatic features (like Cap's auto-zoom) don't exist. Everything is manual.
Use ScreenPal if you want editing capabilities cheaper than Tella and don't care about UI polish. Use Tella if design and user experience matter.
CleanShot X
CleanShot X is Mac-only and focuses on screenshots with screen recording as a secondary feature. It's the opposite philosophy from Tella: local-first, no cloud hosting, one-time purchase.
The screen recording is solid: capture full screen, windows, or areas, with high quality. The camera overlay positioning is flexible like Tella. You can add text annotations after recording, though the editing is simpler than Tella's full timeline editor.
The killer feature is screenshot capabilities. Scrolling captures, window captures with automatic background removal, instant annotations, OCR text extraction. If you need screenshots and videos in one tool, CleanShot is incredible. Tella only does video.
Everything saves locally to your Mac. No cloud uploads, no accounts, no monthly hosting fees. Share videos manually via Dropbox, Slack, email, whatever you want. This gives you full control but adds friction compared to Tella's instant shareable links.
CleanShot Cloud is an optional add-on ($10/year) that uploads recordings and generates shareable links. Even with Cloud, the total cost is way less than Tella's $228/year.
Pricing is one-time purchase: $29 for the basic version or $59 for the SetApp bundle. No subscriptions (except the optional Cloud). For long-term use, this destroys Tella's ongoing costs. After two years, you've saved over $400.
Where CleanShot doesn't compete: the editing features are basic. Trim, annotate, that's mostly it. Tella's timeline editor with text overlays, zoom effects, and transitions is way more powerful. Also, Mac-only means no Windows, iOS, or Android support.
Use CleanShot if you're Mac-only, want screenshots plus video, and prefer one-time purchases over subscriptions. Use Tella for cross-platform needs and advanced editing.
Screen Studio
Screen Studio makes screen recordings that look like they belong in Apple keynote videos. It's Mac-only, expensive, and absolutely worth it if visual quality is your top priority.
The automatic camera motion is what sets Screen Studio apart. It tracks your cursor and actions, then applies smooth cinematic zoom, pan, and focus effects. The result looks hand-animated but requires zero keyframing. Tella's zoom effects are manual; Screen Studio does it automatically and looks better. Cap has similar features but Screen Studio's polish is next level.
The backgrounds and device frames are gorgeous. Replace your messy desktop with a clean gradient, add a MacBook frame around your screen recording, position your camera bubble with precision. The customization options create videos that look professionally produced. Tella has camera positioning but not the motion graphics polish.
Exporting is straightforward: high-quality video files ready for YouTube, Twitter, landing pages, wherever. Screen Studio doesn't do hosting or shareable links like Tella. You record, export, and upload the file yourself. Different workflow, more manual but you control distribution.
Pricing is $89 one-time purchase (currently). No subscription, you own it forever. Compared to Tella's $228/year ongoing, Screen Studio pays for itself in under six months. Updates are included, though major version upgrades might eventually cost extra.
Where Screen Studio is limited: Mac-only (no Windows, mobile, or web). No hosting or link sharing. No collaboration features. And the editing happens through customization presets rather than a timeline editor. You can't manually cut sections or add text overlays like Tella; you work with the automatic effects.
Use Screen Studio for marketing videos, product demos, social media content where visual quality is critical. Use Tella for cross-platform needs and manual editing control.
How to Switch from Tella
Switching screen recorders is easier than most tool migrations since you're not moving existing data, just changing your recording workflow.
Download Your Existing Videos
Before leaving Tella, download all videos you want to keep. Export them as MP4 files and store locally or upload to your own hosting. Tella hosts your videos on their servers, so canceling your subscription might affect access to old content.
Check if any links are shared in documentation, emails, or wikis. Those links will break if you cancel Tella. Either update them or keep a minimal Tella subscription just for hosting old videos.
Test Recording Workflows
Every screen recorder has different hotkeys, camera positioning, and quality settings. Spend an hour recording test videos in your new tool to build muscle memory. Things like starting/stopping recordings, selecting areas, and positioning your camera bubble vary between tools.
Also test the output quality. Record the same content in Tella and your alternative, then compare. Make sure the quality, file size, and playback smoothness meet your standards.
Adjust Editing Expectations
If you're moving from Tella to Loom or ScreenPal, you'll lose editing power. Tella's timeline editor with text overlays and zoom effects doesn't exist in simpler tools. Decide if you're okay with less polished output or if you need to keep Tella for specific use cases.
Alternatively, if you're moving to Screen Studio or Cap, the automatic editing might be better than Tella's manual approach. Different trade-offs.
Update Sharing Workflows
Tella generates instant shareable links. If your new tool requires manual export and upload (like CleanShot or Screen Studio), build a workflow for that. Set up a Dropbox folder, YouTube unlisted videos, or whatever hosting method works for your team.
If you're moving to Loom, the instant link workflow is identical. If you're moving to local-first tools, expect more manual work.
Communicate Changes to Your Team
If your team is used to receiving Tella videos, let them know you're switching. Share where to find new videos (different hosting, different player) and set expectations on quality or features that might change.
Which Tella Alternative Should You Choose?
The right alternative depends on what you value most: simplicity, cost, editing power, or visual polish.
If you want simpler async video without Tella's editing: Loom. It's the most mature platform with great integrations, mobile apps, and analytics. Cheaper than Tella too. The videos look more basic but work fine for internal communication.
If you're Mac-only and want automatic editing: Cap (free, open-source, automatic zoom effects) or Screen Studio ($89 one-time, cinematic quality). Both produce beautiful videos without manual editing. Cap is still early but improving fast.
If you need editing but want to pay less: ScreenPal. It costs $3-8/month and offers timeline editing with text, zoom, and overlays. The UI is dated but functional. Huge savings compared to Tella's $19/month.
If you're Mac-only and want screenshots plus video: CleanShot X. One-time $29 purchase, local storage, excellent screenshot tools. Basic video editing but good enough for many use cases.
If visual quality is everything: Screen Studio. The automatic camera motion and polished output justify the $89 price if you're creating marketing or customer-facing content. Tella is good, Screen Studio is stunning.
Honestly? Tella still holds up as the best balance of editing power, ease of use, and polish for people creating customer-facing videos regularly. The pricing is steep, but the output quality and workflow efficiency might justify it if recording is a significant part of your job.
For quick internal videos, Tella is probably overkill. Loom or ScreenPal do the job at lower cost. For marketing content, Screen Studio might be better. But Tella sits in a sweet spot that works for a lot of use cases, which is why it's grown so fast despite the premium pricing.