Vidyard vs. Zight (CloudApp): Feature & Pricing Comparison 2026
72% of sales professionals report that async video messages increase response rates, yet teams waste an average of 4 hours per week managing disparate video files across unintegrated platforms.
Vidyard shines for sales teams needing deep CRM integration and video analytics to track prospect engagement. Zight (formerly CloudApp) is better suited for engineering and support teams needing quick screenshots, GIFs, and annotated bug reports. For a solution that combines video ease with AI-generated step-by-step documentation, Guidde is the superior modern alternative.
Choosing the right visual communication platform can dramatically impact your team's velocity. A sales-focused tool won't help developers squash bugs faster, and a simple screenshot tool won't give sales reps the data they need to close deals.
The Battle for Asynchronous Video
In 2026, the market for asynchronous video tools has matured into distinct niches. While both Vidyard and Zight (formerly CloudApp) allow users to record their screens and share videos, their product roadmaps have diverged significantly.
Vidyard has doubled down on being a sales enablement powerhouse, building features that integrate deeply with marketing automation and CRM platforms. Zight, on the other hand, remains a favorite among technical teams for its robust screenshot annotation and GIF creation capabilities. This guide dissects their features, pricing, and use cases to help you decide—or discover why a third option might be your best bet.
What is Vidyard?
Vidyard is a video platform built primarily for sales and marketing professionals. Its core value proposition revolves around "video selling"—enabling reps to record personalized video messages that integrate with tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Outreach. Beyond simple recording, Vidyard offers enterprise-grade hosting, detailed viewer analytics, and interactive calls-to-action (CTAs) within videos.
Key Focus Areas:
- Sales prospecting and follow-up.
- Marketing video hosting and analytics.
- CRM and MAP (Marketing Automation Platform) integrations.
What is Zight (CloudApp)?
Zight, formerly known as CloudApp, positions itself as an all-in-one visual communication tool. While it records video, its utility extends heavily into capturing screenshots, creating GIFs, and annotating images. It is designed for speed and utility, often living in the workflow of product managers, designers, and support agents who need to "show, not tell" quickly.
Key Focus Areas:
- Bug reporting and technical support.
- Quick visual feedback (screenshots/GIFs).
- Asynchronous team collaboration.
| Feature/Plan | Vidyard (Sales Focus) | Zight (Productivity Focus) |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Limit of 15 videos/month (up to 30 mins each). 15 AI videos. | Limit of 50 total items (rolling). 5-min recording limit. 720p quality. |
| Entry Paid Tier | Starter: ~$59/user/month (billed annually). Unlimited recording, analytics. | Pro: ~$9/user/month. Unlimited recording time & uploads. 4K quality. |
| Team Tier | Teams: Custom Pricing (Requires talk to sales). CRM integrations, advanced branding. | Team: ~$11/user/month. Admin controls, advanced analytics, team workspace. |
| Enterprise | Custom Pricing. Custom permissions, SSO, unlimited integrations. | Custom Pricing. SSO, SCIM, HIPAA compliance, custom retention. |
| Key Differentiator | Video Agent AI, deep HubSpot/Salesforce integration. | Robust screenshot annotation, GIF maker, cheaper entry price. |
Feature Deep Dive: Video vs. Visuals
The core difference lies in the output and intent.
Video Capabilities
Vidyard is the clear winner for pure video capabilities intended for external audiences. It supports 4K hosting, custom thumbnails, and most importantly, in-video CTAs (e.g., "Book a Meeting" buttons inside the video). Its analytics are granular, telling you exactly who watched your video and for how long, which is critical for lead scoring.
Visual Annotation & GIFs
Zight dominates here. Vidyard is strictly video; Zight is a multimedia tool. Zight allows you to snap a screenshot, blur sensitive data (like API keys or PII), add arrows/text, and share it as a link instantly. Its GIF maker is invaluable for showing quick UI interactions where a full video with audio would be overkill.
AI Features (2026 Context)
Vidyard has introduced "Video Agent" and AI Avatars to automate sales prospecting, allowing users to generate personalized videos at scale. Zight uses AI for "Smart Actions," auto-generating titles, summaries, and transcripts to make content searchable. However, neither tool fully bridges the gap between video and process documentation effectively.
Choose Vidyard if:
- You are in Sales or Marketing.
- You need to track individual viewer data in your CRM (e.g., "Did John from Acme Corp watch the proposal?").
- You need to host videos on your website with a professional, ad-free player.
- You rely on tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Marketo.
Choose Zight if:
- You are in Engineering, Product, or Support.
- You frequently share screenshots and GIFs in Slack or Jira.
- You need to blur sensitive information in your visuals easily.
- You want a lightweight, affordable tool for quick internal communication.
Pricing Breakdown
Vidyard commands a premium price, positioning itself as an ROI-generating sales tool. The jump from Free to Starter is significant ($0 to ~$59/mo), and the "Teams" plan hides behind a custom quote, often costing hundreds per user annually for CRM features. It is an enterprise investment.
Zight is priced as a productivity utility. At ~$9-11/mo per user, it is accessible for individual contributors and small teams. However, for large enterprises requiring SSO and HIPAA compliance, the price scales to a custom enterprise tier similar to other SaaS tools.
Vidyard Pros
- Best-in-class integration with sales CRMs.
- Advanced video analytics and viewer identification.
- Professional video player customization.
- AI features tailored specifically for sales automation.
Vidyard Cons
- Expensive for non-sales use cases.
- Lacks screenshot and image annotation features.
- Free plan is restrictive (15 video limit).
Zight Pros
- Versatile: Handles video, GIFs, and screenshots.
- Excellent annotation tools (blur, arrows, text).
- Affordable entry-level pricing.
- Lightweight desktop app tailored for speed.
Zight Cons
- Limited video hosting features (no marketing CTAs).
- Analytics are basic compared to Vidyard.
- Free plan has a restrictive rolling limit (only access last 50 items).
The verdict is driven by your department. Sales teams should buy Vidyard; its ROI tracking capabilities justify the high cost. Product and Engineering teams should buy Zight; its versatility with images and GIFs fits technical workflows better.
However, if you are looking for a tool that creates documentation—not just raw video or images—you are likely looking for a third category entirely.
Why Guidde is the Superior Alternative
Both Vidyard and Zight share a common limitation: Video is hard to edit and hard to consume for learning.
If you record a 5-minute explanation of a process in Vidyard or Zight, your viewer has to watch the whole thing to find the one step they need. If the process changes, you have to re-record the entire video.
Guidde solves this by combining the best of video with AI-powered documentation.
- 11x Faster Creation: Click record, walk through your process, and Guidde automatically generates a step-by-step guide with screenshots, descriptions, and a professional AI voiceover video.
- Editable Like a Doc: Process changed? Just edit the text or swap a screenshot. Guidde re-renders the video instantly. No re-recording required.
- Interactive & Searchable: Unlike a passive Vidyard video or a static Zight screenshot, Guidde guides are interactive. Users can click through steps or watch the AI-narrated video.
- Enterprise Ready: Guidde offers the security, blurring, and permissions of Zight with the enterprise polish of Vidyard.
Don't just record your screen—document the process.
FAQs
Can Zight replace Vidyard?
Only for basic internal communication. Zight lacks the external sales features (CTAs, CRM integration) that Vidyard offers.
Does Vidyard have a screenshot tool?
No, Vidyard is strictly for video. If you need screenshots, you will need a separate tool like Zight or Snagit.
What is the best alternative to both?
Guidde is the best alternative if your goal is training, onboarding, or documentation. It automates the creation of video and text guides, making knowledge easier to consume and maintain than either Vidyard or Zight.