Vidyard vs. Zight (CloudApp): Pricing & Feature Comparison 2026
42% of revenue teams overpay for video tools by selecting sales-focused platforms for general internal communication needs, according to 2025 software utilization data.
Vidyard is a powerhouse for sales teams needing deep CRM integrations and analytics, starting at $59/user/mo. Zight (formerly CloudApp) is a budget-friendly ($8/mo) all-rounder for quick screenshots and async updates. However, for creating persistent, editable how-to documentation that lasts, Guidde offers a superior AI-powered solution.
The choice between Vidyard and Zight represents a strategic decision between revenue generation (external sales) and operational efficiency (internal productivity). Choosing the wrong one results in either wasted budget on unused features or frustrated teams lacking critical capabilities.
The Async Video Landscape in 2026
In 2026, the distinction between 'video for sales' and 'video for work' has never been sharper. While Vidyard continues to dominate the sales prospecting workflow with its deep HubSpot and Salesforce integrations, Zight (formerly CloudApp) remains the go-to utility belt for product and engineering teams needing quick screenshots and bug reports.
This guide breaks down their pricing models, hidden limitations, and best-fit scenarios to help you stop overpaying for features you don’t need.
What is Vidyard?
Vidyard is a video platform purpose-built for virtual selling. It focuses heavily on outbound prospecting, allowing sales reps to record personalized video messages that integrate directly into sales sequences. Its strength lies in its analytics—telling you exactly who watched your video and for how long—and its ability to trigger automation in your CRM.
What is Zight?
Zight (formerly CloudApp) is a visual communication platform designed for speed. It combines screen recording, screenshot capture, and GIF creation into a single lightweight app. Unlike Vidyard’s sales focus, Zight is built for internal collaboration—helping support agents close tickets faster and engineers report bugs with visual context.
| Feature | Vidyard | Zight (CloudApp) |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Limited to 15 videos/mo 30-min recording limit | Limited to 5 min/video Last 50 items only |
| Entry Paid Plan | $59/user/mo (Starter) Billed annually | $8.00/user/mo (Pro) Billed annually |
| Team Plan | Custom Pricing (Teams) Requires Sales Contact | $11.00/user/mo (Team) Min 2 users |
| Core Focus | Sales Prospecting & Hosting | Screenshots & Quick Clips |
| Analytics | Advanced (Viewer ID, Heatmaps) | Basic (View counts) |
| Integrations | Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo | Slack, Jira, Trello, Asana |
Deep Dive: Sales Power vs. Productivity Speed
The pricing disparity—$59 vs. $8—tells the whole story. Vidyard charges a premium because it positions itself as a revenue-generating tool. If a video helps close a $50k deal, the $59 monthly fee is negligible. Features like AI Avatars and Video Agent allow reps to scale personalized outreach without recording manually.
Zight, conversely, acts as digital duct tape for workflows. It’s significantly cheaper because it solves 'micro-problems'—showing a developer a bug or showing a customer where to click. However, Zight’s free plan is restrictive on history (only 50 items), forcing active users to upgrade quickly.
Best Scenarios for Each
- Choose Vidyard if: You are a Sales Development Rep (SDR) or Account Executive. You need to know exactly when a prospect watches your proposal to call them immediately. You live inside Salesforce or HubSpot.
- Choose Zight if: You work in Product, Support, or Engineering. You need to take a screenshot, annotate it with an arrow, and drop it into Slack in under 10 seconds. You need a mix of GIFs and video.
Pricing Breakdown 2026
Vidyard's Cost Structure:
Vidyard's pricing is steep for non-sales users. The Starter plan is $59/month, which provides the essential analytics and unlimited recording. The Teams plan is now custom pricing (often starting significantly higher) and is required for CRM integrations. Adding the 'Video Agent' AI features costs an additional ~$24/month per user.
Zight's Cost Structure:
Zight is volume-based. The Pro plan is accessible at ~$8/month (annually), unlocking unlimited recording time and storage. The Team plan at ~$11/user adds centralized billing and team workspaces. Enterprise plans with SSO and HIPAA compliance are custom but generally more affordable than Vidyard's enterprise tier.
Vidyard Pros
- Best-in-class analytics (viewer identification).
- Seamless CRM integration (Salesforce/HubSpot).
- AI Avatars for scaling outreach.
- Professional video hosting capabilities.
Vidyard Cons
Zight Pros
- Extremely fast workflow (capture to link in seconds).
- Includes Screenshots and GIFs (Vidyard does not).
- Affordable for whole-company deployment.
- Great for technical bug reporting.
Zight Cons
If you are equipping a sales team to drive revenue, Vidyard is the investment you need to make. For everyone else—engineers, support, and internal ops—Zight is the logical, budget-friendly choice.
Why Consider Alternatives? (The Hidden Third Option)
Both Vidyard and Zight share a critical limitation: Video is hard to update and slow to consume.
When you record a 5-minute process video in either tool:
- It becomes obsolete the moment your software interface changes.
- Users can't search the content; they have to watch the whole video to find one specific step.
- Re-recording is painful and time-consuming.
Guidde offers a superior, AI-first approach:
Instead of just a video file, Guidde captures your workflow and automatically turns it into a step-by-step guide complete with text, screenshots, and a video voiceover.
- 11x Faster Creation: Click record, do the task, and Guidde generates the documentation instantly.
- Magical Updates: Interface changed? Just edit the specific step in Guidde. No need to re-record the entire video.
- AI Voiceovers: Professional narration in multiple languages without needing a microphone.
- Searchable & Embeddable: Users can read the steps or watch the video, making it perfect for knowledge bases.
For training, onboarding, and SOPs, Guidde solves the 'rotting video' problem that plagues both Vidyard and Zight libraries.
Try Guidde for free and see how magical AI documentation can be.
FAQs
What is the best alternative to both platforms for training?
Guidde is the best alternative for training and documentation because it creates editable, step-by-step guides automatically, rather than static video files that are hard to maintain.
Is Vidyard free really free?
Vidyard's free plan is usable but restrictive, limiting you to 15 videos per month, which makes it difficult to use for daily communication.
Does Zight work for sales?
Zight can be used for sales, but it lacks the 'viewer identification' features of Vidyard. You won't know who watched your video, only that it was viewed.