12 Best Linux Screen Recorders in 2024 [Updated]
Here, we provide you with:
- Reviews & ratings
- Detailed overviews
- Tips for choosing the right program for you
For Windows and Mac, try Movavi Screen Recorder.
You want to record your video tutorials or gaming sessions to share? Then you may need to know how to choose the most suitable screen recording tool. We have summarized here the best Linux screen recorders that can be used for either business or personal purposes. All of them are free and open-source.
There are many different options if you are looking for the best screen recorder for Linux. Read on to explore the features of the Ubuntu screen recorders available. Browse our research and tips to decide which tool fits your needs better.
Special pick: Movavi Screen Recorder
If you’re considering options for other OSes, get the ultimate screen capture and video recording on Windows and Mac with Movavi Screen Recorder. The program lets you capture screen, webcam, system sounds, and microphone. Useful features include scheduled recordings, drawing on videos, keystrokes, and mouse cursor highlights. You can also cut out unnecessary parts from your recording.
Features
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When selecting products to include in our reviews, we research both demand and popularity.
All products mentioned in this article have been tested by Movavi Content Team.
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OBS Studio
Best for: layering vocal tracks
OS:
all Linux distributions, Windows, Mac
4.0/5 stars
This free, cross-platform, open-source Linux screen recording software is easy-to-use and packed full of features. Use it to record online conferences, host online tutorials, and stream/broadcast your content across various platforms. Easily arrange and configure it to suit your personal and professional needs, record and edit, or live stream your video. Post-production tools include filters for video sources and audio mixer filters. Easy to download, install, and operate, it is considered to be the most advanced screencasting software for Linux.
Key features:
Pros:
Lots of features
Simple but powerful interface
Easy keyboard shortcuts
Easily switch between sources when recording
No watermark
Free
Cons:
Steep learning curve when getting to know the software
No dedicated customer support team
Sometimes uses a lot of memory and creates lag
Filters are basic and not very effective
No “undo” function
SimpleScreenRecorder
Best for: streaming and recording games
OS:
all Linux distributions
4.4/5 stars
Available on Ubuntu 20.04, as well as other systems, this free screen recording software for Linux is recommended for gamers to record their experience. It is still under development, with some issues to iron out, but overall, it is a promising option for Linux gamers. With only three windows, this app is easy to use, and the default options are usually the best ones to use.
Key features:
Pros:
Easy-to-install
Users can store profiles with their created settings
Choose the file format for export
Easily records desktop – full screen or selection
Scale the resolution rate of the screen recording
Record with or without audio
Provides statistics while recording
Free
Cons:
Still under development
Some issues when trying to record in OpenGL window/apps
No webcam recording support
recordMyDesktop
Best for: making screenshots on Ubuntu
OS:
all Linux distributions
4.0/5 stars
This free open-source Ubuntu screen recording and screenshot software is easy to use. Its intuitive interface provides full control as it records your desktop audio and video activity. While it has now been discontinued, it is still available from the official Ubuntu repository.
Key features:
Pros:
User-friendly interface
Simple audio/video recorder
Free
Low use of computer resources
Cons:
Recording a single window is not possible, only fullscreen
Only produces files in open formats
No webcam recording support
Audio recording must go through ALSA, OSS, or the JACK audio server
VokoscreenNG
Best for: recording a webcam
OS:
all Linux distributions, Windows
4.6/5 stars
Previously known as Vokoscreen, the new and improved VokoscreenNG is free, open-source Linux video capture software ideal for easy screencasting projects. You can record your desktop, a specific area, or window, and even record directly from the webcam.
Key features:
Pros:
User-friendly
Excellent customer support
Free
Choose your output video format
Cons:
No ‘easy install’ packages yet available
Still in development
ScreenStudio
Best for: editing video recordings
OS:
Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Windows, Mac
This free and open-source, cross-platform video recorder for Linux allows you to record or stream your desktop audio and video activity. You can also record directly from your webcam. Take advantage of the many features to enhance your recording with text overlays, video fades, and even background music before sharing your video file online. While it is no longer being developed, it is still available for use.
Key features:
Pros:
Easy to install on Ubuntu 16.04 and Linux Mint 18 from PPA
Simple to use
Several options for file and streaming support
Free
Cons:
No longer being developed
Large dependency required
Green Recorder
Best for: HD sound recording
OS:
all Linux distributions
This is a simple Linux screen recording tool, and it supports simultaneously recording audio and video on almost all Linux interfaces. With one of the smoothest approaches to recording high-quality audio and video, this application is intuitive and user-friendly. While it is no longer being developed, it is still available for use.
Key features:
Pros:
Easy to install on Ubuntu
A light option
Simple
Intuitive
Free
Cons:
Cannot select an area to record
No webcam recording option
Operates with Python 2 but not Python 3
No longer being developed
Peek
Best for: making short, silent screencasts
OS:
all Linux distributions
4.0/5 stars
Peek is a Linux screen capture and video recording app that lets you capture your desktop session to an animated GIF. Recordings are created from a user-defined screen area. The app is optimized for generating animated GIF files, but also can record to MP4 or WebM.
Peek is not an advanced tool with plenty of extended features, but rather software that focuses on the single task of making small, silent screencasts of a custom area of the screen.
Key features:
Pros:
Free
Extremely lightweight
No crashing
A modern and straightforward interface
Cons:
No webcam recording option
Only Linux with X11 is supported
Shutter
Best for: recording desktop sessions to GIFs
OS:
all Linux distributions
3.5/5 stars
Shutter is a full-featured screen capture tool that lets you record a screen on Ubuntu and other Linux-based OSes. With Shutter, you can capture the full screen or a specific area on your screen – apply different effects to the recording, add shapes and arrows to highlight important moments, and then upload to a web-based image hosting service, all within a single window.
Key features:
Pros:
Free and open-source
Regular updates
One-click sharing to social media
Cons:
Sometimes lagging
Its session manager seems a bit annoying
Freeseer
Best for: capturing presentations
OS:
all Linux distributions, Windows
3.5/5 stars
Freeseer is a cross-platform FOSS tool that captures or streams your desktop. It was developed for capturing presentations, and has been effectively used at a variety of free-software events to record hundreds of speeches. Though made for capturing presentations, the app can also be used for recording lectures, video recording on Linux, and much more.
Freeseer is based on open standards; it supports royalty-free video and audio codecs.
Key features:
Pros:
An easy-to-understand recordings preview
A smooth and fast experience
Configurable plugins
Cons:
No webcam recording option
A bit outdated UI
Best Ubuntu screen recorders
Kazam
Best for: HD screen recording
OS:
Ubuntu
4.5/5 stars
Kazam is known as a user-friendly option for capturing screenshots and screencasts or video recording on Ubuntu. You can set this software for Ubuntu to record your screen, window, or a specific area, and you can record audio from the computer microphone, speakers, or any sound input device supported by PulseAudio.
Key features:
Pros:
User-friendly interface
Easy autosave option
Option of time delay for screen capture
Free
Cons:
Poor quality screencast playback when recording more than one screen location
Overall, screen captures are better quality than screencasts
Gifine
Best for: trimming tools
OS:
Ubuntu
This free video recorder for Ubuntu allows you to record a selected area on your screen, edit and trim the video, and then export it as a GIF or MP4 video.
Key features:
Pros:
Edit or trim a GIF before exporting it
Quick and intuitive
Free
Cons:
Requires dependencies before installation
Takes a little while for the file to convert to a GIF format
Byzanz
Best for: command-line management
OS:
Ubuntu
Byzanz is screen and video capture software that records your desktop screen activity to an animated GIF. You can capture your entire screen, a specific window, or a selected area. This Ubuntu screen recording software lets you make recordings directly from the command line. In addition, it allows you to record to Byzanz' internal debugging format. This can be useful for benchmarking Byzanz or in case you want to convert videos recorded to multiple formats later.
Key features:
Pros:
Free
Easy to install on Ubuntu
Intuitive
Extremely lightweight
Cons:
No webcam recording option
No longer being developed
Linux screen recording software: How to choose
When choosing the screen recorder with audio that best suits your personal and professional needs, there are a few points to consider. Depending on your computer setup, you may need to make sure the software supports multiple video and audio output formats. What file format do you require? Do your due diligence on the quality of the final recording? Does the Linux screen recording software you are considering record in HD? Are you sure you can capture your desktop activity and also record from your webcam? In terms of audio, check the audio input functionalities and make sure you have the choice between recording via your microphone and through the computer audio.
Are you planning on sharing your video clip online? Streaming or broadcasting it? Or will you edit it and upload it to an online platform? Is your file secure? Are you producing a video as part of a paid, professional project? Are you looking for an encoder and renderer? If so, think of choosing a software option that allows you to create your video without a watermark. These are all important details to take into account when choosing the Linux screen recording software that is the best fit for your projects.
What is the safest Linux screen recording software?
All Linux video recording software options are well-protected by the Linux operating system, which is more secure than other popular operating systems.
A built-in Linux screen recorder
There is a built-in Linux screen recorder available in Ubuntu, integrated into the GNOME Shell desktop. It is a good option for simple screen captures that don’t require audio. To access it, you can use the following keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R. When a red dot appears on the top right-hand side of your screen, you are recording.
Comparing recording software capabilities
Based on your requirements, you will have to select the most appropriate Linux screen recorder software. Do you plan to record just your browser and desktop activity or your webcam video too? Are you planning to stream your video or record and edit it, then share it online by uploading it to a platform? Do you need to simultaneously record audio and video? Do you want to enhance your video with fade in/fade out, background music? Are you looking for a tool that is minimalist and easy to use for quick screen captures on Linux? Or are you creating an animated GIF video?
Screen recording apps vs. online screen recorders
You will have the choice between screen recording apps that you download and install to your computer and online screen recorder software. The apps often offer more features but take up more space and memory, potentially leading to lag. They also allow you to record offline. On the other hand, online screen recorders for Linux are easy to access, always up to date, and can be used on multiple devices.
Summary
Today, the use of technology is deeply ingrained in our daily personal and professional lives. We are constantly seeking to acquire new skills and technical capabilities to create new projects. If you are a Linux fan, and you want to put together an online tutorial, YouTube video, animated GIF clip, or simply record an online meeting or call, you need to choose the best screen recorder for Linux systems. Deciding on the right Linux screen recording software is an important part of successfully recording rendered scenes, webcam visuals, or desktop audio and video activity. Once you have narrowed down your selection, it is a good idea to test drive a few of these free, open-source software options to see which one best meets your requirements. If you are a beginner, start off small and choose the most user-friendly option. As you become more confident, you might find you want to try out a more advanced option with additional post-production features.
Movavi Screen Recorder
Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.
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