The Bottom Line
Guidemaker is a Chrome extension from Tettra that generates step-by-step text guides as you work through tasks. The free Basic tier gives you unlimited guides but with limited features. If you want advanced exports, blur/redaction, or video generation, you’ll need the Plus tier at $8/user/month. Here’s the catch though: it only works in Chrome. No desktop apps, no mobile, no other browsers. Glitter AI takes a different approach, supporting Chromium browsers, desktop apps on Mac and Windows, and mobile video uploads. You get both video and written documentation from a single recording, with automatic AI formatting and redaction on paid plans.
If Chrome workflows are all you document and you don’t care about video output, Guidemaker’s free Basic tier might be enough for simple internal docs. But once you need to cover desktop applications, want video alongside written guides, need automatic redaction, or want something polished enough for customers to see, Glitter AI at $16-20/mo starts making a lot more sense. Even stacked against Guidemaker’s Plus tier at $8/user/month, the cross-platform support and dual output formats tip the scales toward Glitter AI.
What it really comes down to is scope and output. Guidemaker captures Chrome browser workflows and produces functional text guides that typically need manual cleanup. Glitter AI records across Chromium browsers and desktop applications, then transforms those recordings into documentation packages with both video and written formats, plus automatic redaction and AI formatting that’s ready to publish.
Teams documenting Chrome-only workflows on a shoestring budget can start with Guidemaker’s free Basic tier, though professional exports and redaction will push you to the Plus tier at $8/user/month. If desktop recording, video output, automatic redaction, or multi-platform support matter to you, Glitter AI’s broader capabilities are likely worth the investment.
Platform Overview
Both platforms help you document processes, but they take fundamentally different approaches.
Glitter AI helps you create publish-ready SOPs about 11x faster than doing it all by hand.
Hit record on your screen (works in browser, desktop, or mobile video), and the AI puts together a complete documentation package for you. You'll get step-by-step written guides with annotated screenshots plus video walkthroughs. It's meant for teams who need polished documentation that works both for internal knowledge sharing and customer-facing support.
The platform runs on Chromium browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Brave, along with desktop apps on Mac and Windows. Mobile video uploads work too. When you're done, export to PDF, HTML, Markdown, or MP4, or just embed directly into your knowledge base. The AI handles titles, descriptions, and formatting automatically, so there's less cleanup work on your end.
Best for: Teams who document workflows across multiple platforms, customer success folks building out help center content, and organizations that want video and written documentation from a single recording session.
Guidemaker is a Chrome extension from Tettra that focuses on browser-based documentation.
Flip the extension on, run through your task in Chrome, and it captures screenshots while generating step-by-step guides with AI. The tool is geared toward internal knowledge sharing and hooks into Tettra's knowledge base. The free Basic tier lets you create unlimited guides but limits exports. Upgrade to Plus at $8/user/month and you get PDF, Markdown, HTML exports, plus blur/redaction and video generation.
The downside? Chrome only. No desktop app recording, no mobile support, no other browsers. One G2 reviewer put it this way: "Editing options are a bit lacking. If you want to make complicated edits and want to control every aspect of the guide it might be a bit limited."
Best for: Smaller teams documenting browser-only workflows, Tettra users looking for basic documentation tools, and anyone with simple needs who can live within the Chrome-only constraints.
At a Glance
Quick comparison of the key differences.
Pro pricing
Desktop app recording
Browser recording
Mobile recording
Video + written guides
Free plan
Export formats
Image blur/redaction
Custom branding
Embed options
Team collaboration
Platform Support: Chrome-Only vs Cross-Platform
This is where the two tools go in completely different directions. Guidemaker sticks to Chrome browser workflows. Glitter AI works across browsers, desktop apps, and mobile platforms.
Guidemaker’s Chrome-only approach means you’re limited to processes that happen entirely in Chrome. Want to show someone how to use Photoshop, Excel, or the Slack desktop app? That’s not happening. Mobile app workflows? Also off the table. This isn’t something they can easily fix. It’s a browser extension by design, not a desktop application.
Glitter AI’s cross-platform support covers Chromium browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave), plus there are native desktop apps for Mac and Windows that can record whatever’s on your screen. Desktop software, mobile apps through video-to-guide upload, workflows that jump between multiple applications. You could start recording in your browser, switch to a desktop app, and come back to the browser, all in one session.
If your team exclusively uses web-based SaaS tools, Guidemaker’s limitation might not bother you. But most companies need to document a mix of browser and desktop workflows. That’s when Glitter AI’s platform flexibility really matters.
Core Features
See how Glitter AI and Guidemaker compare on core features.
How does screen recording work?
Glitter AI records browser, desktop, and accepts mobile video.
Get the browser extension or desktop app installed, hit record, and do your thing. It captures workflows across Chromium browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave), Windows apps, Mac apps, and turns mobile video uploads into guides. Whole workflows that hop between multiple applications? No problem.
Guidemaker only records Chrome browser workflows.
Install the Chrome extension, turn it on, and work through your task in Chrome. It grabs screenshots and interactions as you go. Desktop applications, mobile workflows, Safari, Firefox? None of those are supported.
What output formats do you get?
Video walkthrough + step-by-step written guide from one recording.
Record once, get both. Glitter AI produces a video and a written guide with annotated screenshots from the same session. Works well for teams with different learning preferences.
Written guides on free tier, video on Plus ($8/mo).
The free Basic tier gives you text-based guides with screenshots. Want video and slides? You'll need the Plus plan at $8/user/month. And even then, you're still stuck with Chrome browser workflows only.
How much editing is required after recording?
Minimal editing, guides are publish-ready.
The AI generates clean titles, descriptions, and formatting on its own. Most guides can go out right away, though you can always fine-tune for branding or specific messaging.
Basic AI requires more manual editing.
Guidemaker uses OpenAI for step descriptions, but users often end up editing text, swapping out screenshots, and adding context. One reviewer said: "Editing options are a bit lacking. If you want to make complicated edits and want to control every aspect of the guide it might be a bit limited." It handles basic workflows fine but can misread complex interactions.
Can you blur sensitive information?
Built-in blur and redaction tools on any paid plan.
Glitter AI can automatically detect and blur things like emails and phone numbers, plus you get manual blur tools for anything else. Available on Pro plans and up. Works in both video and screenshots.
Blur/redaction requires Plus plan ($8/mo).
Guidemaker's blur mode for protecting sensitive info in screenshots is locked behind the Plus tier at $8/user/month. On the free Basic tier? No redaction at all. And even with Plus, it's all manual work. There's no automatic detection of sensitive data.
How do sharing and embedding work?
Multiple sharing options with advanced controls.
You can share via unique links, embed as iFrame widgets, export to PDF/HTML/Markdown/MP4, or publish straight to knowledge bases. Access controls, analytics tracking, and custom branding are all included.
Basic sharing with automatic sync, all free.
Share using unique links or embed as iFrame/slideshow. Edits to a guide update the shared links automatically. Access controls are pretty basic though. You can toggle between private and public, but granular team permissions and advanced collaboration are still on the roadmap.
What integrations are available?
Integrates with major knowledge bases and CMS platforms.
Glitter AI connects with Notion, Confluence, Zendesk, WordPress, and more. Guides can embed into pretty much any platform, including Shopify and Webflow.
Designed for Tettra, works with common platforms.
Guidemaker has native integration with Tettra (same parent company), plus WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, Confluence, and Notion. The integration options are decent but clearly built with Tettra users in mind first.
Try Glitter AI for Free
Create up to 10 guides for free - no credit card required. Turn any workflow into searchable, step-by-step documentation. Fast, accurate, and yours to try today.
Video vs Text-Only Documentation
A major difference between these tools comes down to what you actually get at the end. Guidemaker’s free Basic tier produces text-based step-by-step guides with screenshots. Pay for Plus at $8/user/month and you unlock video generation. Glitter AI gives you both video walkthroughs and written guides from the same recording on all plans.
Why should you care? People learn differently. Some want to watch a quick video. Others prefer reading instructions at their own pace. Most documentation tools make you pick one format or build both separately. Glitter AI handles both automatically from a single recording session.
When documentation is customer-facing, having video tends to boost engagement and make things easier to understand. For internal knowledge sharing, your team can pick whatever format works for them. The dual-format approach means one recording does double duty.
Guidemaker’s free Basic tier only produces text guides with screenshots. Plus at $8/user/month adds Video & Slides, though users report the AI can misinterpret complex workflows and spit out generic text that needs cleanup. If your documentation needs to include both video and written output from a single recording, automatic formatting, or desktop application capture, Glitter AI is the stronger option.
User Experience & Workflow
Compare the day-to-day experience of using each tool.
How easy is it to get started?
Quick setup across all platforms.
Install the browser extension or desktop app, takes just a few minutes. No complicated configuration. Just record and publish. Built for people who aren't necessarily technical.
Extremely simple Chrome extension.
Grab it from the Chrome Web Store and you can start recording right away. Users consistently mention how easy setup is. Practically no learning curve.
Can you customize branding?
Full branding customization.
Add your logo, pick your colors, adjust fonts, control the whole visual look. Your guides end up looking like they came from your company, not some third-party tool.
Basic logo and color customization.
Guidemaker lets you add a company logo and tweak color schemes. The branding options work but feel limited next to enterprise-focused documentation tools.
How reliable is the recording?
Stable recording across platforms.
Glitter AI captures browser and desktop workflows consistently without missing steps. The recording has proven pretty reliable.
Generally reliable with occasional quirks.
Guidemaker handles standard workflows well, though users say it can miss actions if you move too fast. The AI sometimes gets confused by complex workflows, which means manual editing. Reliable enough for basic browser tasks if you pace yourself.
Security & Privacy
How each platform handles sensitive data and security.
Where are recordings stored?
Enterprise-grade cloud storage with SOC 2 compliance.
All your recordings and guides sit on secure cloud infrastructure, encrypted both at rest and in transit. SOC 2 Type II certified.
Stored on AWS S3 with encryption, GDPR compliant.
Guides and images live on AWS S3 through Guidemaker's infrastructure. Data gets encrypted at rest and in transit. Database is on Planetscale. GDPR compliant with EU data rights. That said, there's no self-hosting option or custom data residency, which might be a sticking point for enterprises with strict compliance needs.
What permissions does it require?
Standard screen recording permissions.
Browser extensions need tab access and screen recording permissions. Desktop apps ask for screen recording authorization from your OS. Everything gets explained during installation.
Requires broad Chrome permissions.
Guidemaker needs fairly extensive Chrome permissions to monitor DOM interactions and capture screenshots across all tabs. That's standard for recording extensions, but it does give the tool wide access to your browsing activity.
Can you control who sees your guides?
Granular access controls.
Set guides as private, team-only, or public. Control viewing permissions by email, domain, or team role. Track who's looking at your guides with analytics.
Basic privacy controls, enterprise features require custom pricing.
Right now you get a private/public toggle and unique sharing links. SSO (SAML) and SCIM? Those are only on the Enterprise plan with custom pricing. Advanced team governance is limited compared to more established competitors.
Pricing & Plans
See how pricing plans stack up.
Glitter AI – Pricing Takeaways:
- Free plan gives you 10 guides with full feature access to try things out
- Pro plan at $16-20/mo gets you unlimited guides, video plus written output, and cross-platform recording
- Team and Enterprise plans bring in collaboration features, SSO, custom branding, and volume discounts
Glitter AI has a limited free tier for testing (10 guides total), then paid plans that unlock unlimited guides and advanced features. The Pro plan at $16-20/mo is solid value considering you get both video and written output plus cross-platform support.
Guidemaker – Pricing Takeaways:
- Free Basic tier gives unlimited guides but limits exports and leaves out blur/redaction
- Plus at $8/user/mo unlocks PDF/Markdown/HTML exports, blur tools, and video generation
- Chrome-only limitation means no desktop app recording no matter what tier you pick
Guidemaker's free Basic tier handles simple Chrome-based documentation, but exports, redaction, and video require Plus at $8/user/month. The free tier looks attractive at first glance, though you'll probably need Plus for professional work. And even then, you're stuck with Chrome-only capture and no desktop recording.
Glitter AI – Pricing Takeaways:
- Free plan gives you 10 guides with full feature access to try things out
- Pro plan at $16-20/mo gets you unlimited guides, video plus written output, and cross-platform recording
- Team and Enterprise plans bring in collaboration features, SSO, custom branding, and volume discounts
Glitter AI has a limited free tier for testing (10 guides total), then paid plans that unlock unlimited guides and advanced features. The Pro plan at $16-20/mo is solid value considering you get both video and written output plus cross-platform support.
Guidemaker – Pricing Takeaways:
- Free Basic tier gives unlimited guides but limits exports and leaves out blur/redaction
- Plus at $8/user/mo unlocks PDF/Markdown/HTML exports, blur tools, and video generation
- Chrome-only limitation means no desktop app recording no matter what tier you pick
Guidemaker's free Basic tier handles simple Chrome-based documentation, but exports, redaction, and video require Plus at $8/user/month. The free tier looks attractive at first glance, though you'll probably need Plus for professional work. And even then, you're stuck with Chrome-only capture and no desktop recording.
The Free vs Paid Trade-Off
Guidemaker’s free Basic tier advertises unlimited guides, which sounds great until you look at what’s missing. Advanced exports (PDF, Markdown, HTML), blur/redaction tools, and video generation are all locked behind the Plus tier at $8/user/month. For teams that need professional-quality documentation, “free” starts looking pretty limited pretty fast.
The hidden cost of “free”: Guidemaker’s free Basic tier functions more like a lead generator for Tettra’s paid knowledge base product. Unlimited guides sounds appealing, but for real work you’ll probably end up needing Plus at $8/user/month. One user commented about the broader ecosystem: “The pricing is a huge pain point, as even the cheapest tier [of Tettra] is nothing to scoff at.” And here’s the thing: even on Plus, Guidemaker can’t record desktop applications. That’s a hard limitation that money can’t fix.
Even the paid tier has its constraints. Guidemaker works only in Chrome (no Firefox, Safari, or anything else) and desktop apps are off the table at any price. Small teams documenting simple browser workflows who just need basic exports might get by with the free Basic tier. But for growing teams or organizations with varied documentation needs, these limitations become real problems.
Glitter AI’s paid model at $16-20/mo for Pro brings more to the table: cross-platform recording (Chromium browsers plus desktop apps), video and written output from a single recording, advanced AI processing, automatic redaction, and enterprise features. The free tier gives you 10 guides total to test things out, but serious documentation work means paying for a plan.
The honest comparison here is Guidemaker Plus ($8/user/month) vs Glitter Pro ($16-20/month). For roughly twice the price, Glitter AI gets you desktop recording, dual video plus written output, automatic redaction, and multi-platform support. Those are capabilities Guidemaker just doesn’t offer at any tier. If Chrome browser documentation with basic features is enough, Guidemaker’s free tier can be a starting point. For professional documentation that spans all platforms, Glitter AI is the smarter investment.
Try Glitter AI for Free
Create up to 10 guides for free, with full access to video and written documentation, cross-platform recording, and AI-powered formatting.
So... which one should you choose?
Both tools are solid. They're just built for different situations.
Choose Glitter AI if you...
Go with Glitter AI if you need cross-platform documentation (Chromium browsers, desktop, mobile video), video and written guides from one recording, automatic sensitive data redaction, or polished output for customer-facing content. Works well for customer success teams, product documentation, training programs, and organizations that want professional documentation quality.
Don't choose Glitter AI if you...
Skip Glitter AI if you only document browser workflows in Chrome, never need video output, don't care about automatic redaction, and can't justify $16-20/mo for documentation tooling. Guidemaker's free Basic tier might be fine for basic internal knowledge sharing, though professional exports mean paying for Plus at $8/mo.
Choose Guidemaker if you...
Go with Guidemaker if you only work in Chrome, don't need professional exports or redaction (free Basic tier works), or you're okay paying $8/user/month for Plus features. Could work for small teams, Tettra users, and anyone documenting simple Chrome-based processes who can live with the platform's constraints.
Don't choose Guidemaker if you...
Skip Guidemaker if you need desktop app recording (not happening at any price), want video and written output from one recording, use browsers other than Chrome, need automatic redaction, or want professional export formats on a free tier. The Chrome-only limitation is baked in and there's no workaround.
Choose Glitter AI if you...
Go with Glitter AI if you need cross-platform documentation (Chromium browsers, desktop, mobile video), video and written guides from one recording, automatic sensitive data redaction, or polished output for customer-facing content. Works well for customer success teams, product documentation, training programs, and organizations that want professional documentation quality.
Don't choose Glitter AI if you...
Skip Glitter AI if you only document browser workflows in Chrome, never need video output, don't care about automatic redaction, and can't justify $16-20/mo for documentation tooling. Guidemaker's free Basic tier might be fine for basic internal knowledge sharing, though professional exports mean paying for Plus at $8/mo.
Choose Guidemaker if you...
Go with Guidemaker if you only work in Chrome, don't need professional exports or redaction (free Basic tier works), or you're okay paying $8/user/month for Plus features. Could work for small teams, Tettra users, and anyone documenting simple Chrome-based processes who can live with the platform's constraints.
Don't choose Guidemaker if you...
Skip Guidemaker if you need desktop app recording (not happening at any price), want video and written output from one recording, use browsers other than Chrome, need automatic redaction, or want professional export formats on a free tier. The Chrome-only limitation is baked in and there's no workaround.
Real customer reviews
Genuine feedback from real customers ❤️
“This software is mind-blowing! After 2+ months, it's an invaluable asset to my company. The transcription quality is out of this world, and the new image editing tools are so fluid and better than [competitor name redacted]. ...you've saved me so much time; I'm elated and highly anticipate subscribing for another year!”
Tim M.
May 3, 2025
“Our company has asked each department to use AI tools to increase productivity, and this has made a huge difference. One of our leaders had originally sent a link to check out Glitter AI, and we love it! We're now using it for clients as well as internal staff.”
Kim W.
December 18, 2024
“This is exactly the documentation solution that we've been looking for. Every software system requires operating instructions, and you make them so easy to create! It's perfect for employee training purposes.”
Erez A.
January 9, 2025
“Glitter is really cool! The step-by-step guide it created was exactly what we needed for our corporate Salesforce setup, which was a literal mess. Just having a video isn't great because it's a nightmare to update all the fields for billing. This tool is saving us so much time!”
Dustin R.
March 8, 2025
“This is amazing! I just used the desktop app to make a quick guide for a Photoshop tool that I can use in my class. It would have taken me at least 30 minutes before and I just did it in about 5 minutes. Thanks for such a great tool!”
Sarah
January 28, 2025
“I tested 2 products today to solve the problem of rapidly creating 60+ articles to onboard our customers, and Glitter AI is excellent! It's really easy to use and edit. The output is so easy to import into our CMS for our Knowledge Hub; it's fantastic.”
Emily W.
February 15, 2025
“Really love this product! We use Guru for documentation at our company. With Glitter, I can do a quick walkthrough, and it creates a guide that can be pasted right into Guru, which saves us from undocumented tasks.”
Jens A.
April 12, 2025
“So far, I'm liking Glitter a great deal; it's very intuitive and useful. Our school district has an old method for online help for our student information system. Glitter is a great way to save many, MANY, person-hours of work, and our IT person is excited about it too!”
John
January 9, 2025
“This software is mind-blowing! After 2+ months, it's an invaluable asset to my company. The transcription quality is out of this world, and the new image editing tools are so fluid and better than [competitor name redacted]. ...you've saved me so much time; I'm elated and highly anticipate subscribing for another year!”
Tim M.
May 3, 2025
“Our company has asked each department to use AI tools to increase productivity, and this has made a huge difference. One of our leaders had originally sent a link to check out Glitter AI, and we love it! We're now using it for clients as well as internal staff.”
Kim W.
December 18, 2024
“This is exactly the documentation solution that we've been looking for. Every software system requires operating instructions, and you make them so easy to create! It's perfect for employee training purposes.”
Erez A.
January 9, 2025
“Glitter is really cool! The step-by-step guide it created was exactly what we needed for our corporate Salesforce setup, which was a literal mess. Just having a video isn't great because it's a nightmare to update all the fields for billing. This tool is saving us so much time!”
Dustin R.
March 8, 2025
“This is amazing! I just used the desktop app to make a quick guide for a Photoshop tool that I can use in my class. It would have taken me at least 30 minutes before and I just did it in about 5 minutes. Thanks for such a great tool!”
Sarah
January 28, 2025
“I tested 2 products today to solve the problem of rapidly creating 60+ articles to onboard our customers, and Glitter AI is excellent! It's really easy to use and edit. The output is so easy to import into our CMS for our Knowledge Hub; it's fantastic.”
Emily W.
February 15, 2025
“Really love this product! We use Guru for documentation at our company. With Glitter, I can do a quick walkthrough, and it creates a guide that can be pasted right into Guru, which saves us from undocumented tasks.”
Jens A.
April 12, 2025
“So far, I'm liking Glitter a great deal; it's very intuitive and useful. Our school district has an old method for online help for our student information system. Glitter is a great way to save many, MANY, person-hours of work, and our IT person is excited about it too!”
John
January 9, 2025
“This software is mind-blowing! After 2+ months, it's an invaluable asset to my company. The transcription quality is out of this world, and the new image editing tools are so fluid and better than [competitor name redacted]. ...you've saved me so much time; I'm elated and highly anticipate subscribing for another year!”
Tim M.
May 3, 2025
“Our company has asked each department to use AI tools to increase productivity, and this has made a huge difference. One of our leaders had originally sent a link to check out Glitter AI, and we love it! We're now using it for clients as well as internal staff.”
Kim W.
December 18, 2024
“This is exactly the documentation solution that we've been looking for. Every software system requires operating instructions, and you make them so easy to create! It's perfect for employee training purposes.”
Erez A.
January 9, 2025
“Glitter is really cool! The step-by-step guide it created was exactly what we needed for our corporate Salesforce setup, which was a literal mess. Just having a video isn't great because it's a nightmare to update all the fields for billing. This tool is saving us so much time!”
Dustin R.
March 8, 2025
“This is amazing! I just used the desktop app to make a quick guide for a Photoshop tool that I can use in my class. It would have taken me at least 30 minutes before and I just did it in about 5 minutes. Thanks for such a great tool!”
Sarah
January 28, 2025
“I tested 2 products today to solve the problem of rapidly creating 60+ articles to onboard our customers, and Glitter AI is excellent! It's really easy to use and edit. The output is so easy to import into our CMS for our Knowledge Hub; it's fantastic.”
Emily W.
February 15, 2025
“Really love this product! We use Guru for documentation at our company. With Glitter, I can do a quick walkthrough, and it creates a guide that can be pasted right into Guru, which saves us from undocumented tasks.”
Jens A.
April 12, 2025
“So far, I'm liking Glitter a great deal; it's very intuitive and useful. Our school district has an old method for online help for our student information system. Glitter is a great way to save many, MANY, person-hours of work, and our IT person is excited about it too!”
John
January 9, 2025
