Sopycat and the cloud SOP tools
Most step-by-step guide makers are browser extensions that upload every screenshot to their cloud and charge for every seat. Sopycat does the same job on your own PC, records any program on your computer, and includes the PDF editor.
| Question | Sopycat | A typical cloud guide tool |
|---|---|---|
| Where your screenshots go | On your PC, or the shared folder your office picks. Sopycat never uploads them | Uploaded to the vendor's servers as you capture |
| What you can record | Anything on your screen: desktop programs, websites, remote desktops | Often the browser only, with desktop capture on higher plans |
| Account | None. Download and start. | An account for everyone who makes a guide, and often for readers too |
| Where the guides live | Ordinary files in a folder you choose, shared through your own drive | The vendor's workspace, shared by link |
| Working offline | Recording, writing, editing and PDF tools all work offline. Only the key check, every few days, needs a connection | Needs a connection |
| Step names | Named from what the computer reports about each click; names read from the screen are checked against a dictionary | Varies; often read from the page |
| Follow-along and training records | Follow-along in every plan. Training records and onboarding by role on the Office plan, with a spreadsheet export | Often an enterprise feature |
| PDF editor | Included: edit words, sign, fill, redact, merge, OCR | Not included |
| Word, Excel and PowerPoint | Open and change them in the app: type on a Word page or right on a slide, move what is on a slide, fill a spreadsheet | Not included |
| If you stop paying | Every manual still opens, reads and searches. Nothing is deleted | Access to the workspace usually ends |
Cloud tools differ from one another and change their plans often. This compares Sopycat with the common pattern, not with any one product, so check each vendor's current terms.
Side by side with one tool
The same questions for a named product, from its own pricing, security and terms pages, with the day they were checked.
Sopycat vs Scribe
Scribe keeps guides in its cloud and puts desktop capture on Pro. Sopycat keeps them on your PC, records any program, and has no five-seat minimum.
Sopycat vs Tango
Tango keeps guides on AWS and puts Guide Me on Enterprise. Sopycat keeps them on your PC, with follow-along on every plan.
Replacing Steps Recorder
Windows' own step recorder is deprecated. Sopycat records the same clicks on your PC and writes the manual.
When a cloud tool is the better fit
If your team works entirely in the browser, needs guides embedded inside a web app, or uses Macs and Chromebooks, a cloud tool may suit you better for now. Sopycat is for offices that want their procedures, and the screens they show, to stay in the office.
Moving from a cloud tool
Keep your old guides where they are and record new ones as tasks come up. Most offices can re-record their ten most-used procedures in an afternoon, because recording takes as long as doing the task.
See the difference on your own screen
Record one real task. 14 days free, no account, no card. Your recordings stay on your PC.