17 Best Screen Recording Software in 2024
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Looking for the best screen recording software to capture your desktop masterfully? Here’s a breakdown of the top programs to record your computer screen – free and paid.
Quick summary
For screen recording and editing
OBS Studio
For streaming and recording
iSpring Suite
For creating online courses
Special pick: Movavi Screen Recorder
Movavi Screen Recorder allows users to record video and audio from their PC, Mac, laptop, or webcam in just a few clicks. It’s easy-to-use, with a simple interface and straightforward controls.
With Movavi Screen Recorder, you can capture anything that appears on your computer screen, including streaming video, online presentations, webinars, and more. The software also allows users to record audio from their computer or microphone, making it a useful tool for tutorials, capturing gameplay and presentations, or recording audio notes.
After capture, you can implement simple edits to create the perfect recording and save it to your device in a wide range of formats. It’s truly one of the best recording and editing screen capture program on the market.
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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.
When testing, we aim to highlight the best features of a product and what it’s best suited for.
We study user reviews from popular review platforms and make use of this information when writing our product reviews.
We collect feedback from our users and analyze their opinions of Movavi software as well as products from other companies.
Best free screen recording software
OBS Studio
free
Key features
Custom transitions
Audio mixer and loads of configuration options
Modular Dock UI
OBS Studio provides you with the ability to capture audio, video, or desktop activities from your Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. This free screen recorder for any software offers an intuitive platform and powerful features, like multi-source capture support for webcams and gaming consoles. Users can easily transmit livestream content directly to YouTube Live, Twitch TV, Facebook Live, and more[1]. All these features and tools make OBS Studio one of the best screen recording software that’s free.
Pros:
Completely free screen recording software
Customizable interface layout
Gold standard software for video game livestreaming
Cons:
Complex interface
Learning curve
ScreenRec
free
Key features
Encrypts saved files
Offers viewing analytics
Provides quick capture and annotation
ScreenRec falls in the top 10 of any ‘best free software for screen recording’ list. The program allows you to capture what’s happening on your desktop quickly through high-quality videos with audio, annotations, and screenshots.
With ScreenRec, you can record online meetings, tutorials, presentations, and more with no hassle or technical knowledge. You also have the option to password-protect any of your recordings for added security. ScreenRec makes it easy to create professional-looking videos with just a few clicks. It’s one of the best screen recording software values on the market.
Pros:
Provides an encrypted link for fast sharing
Has direct publishing to the web
Completely free to use
Cons:
No video-editing capabilities
Annotations function is difficult to use
Zappy
free
Key features
Excellent annotation tools
Superfast, high-quality recording and capture
Precision selection tool
Zappy is part of Zapier's automation solution service for businesses and was an internal-only application for subscribers originally. But with so many people working from home, the company released it as a free screen recording software. But there are two caveats: It’s only available for Mac, and you must sign up for a Zapier account – there’s a free tier.
Once you gain access, the program makes it easy to capture, annotate, and save in a breeze. It’s a brilliant solution for small businesses who may want to leverage Zapier’s other enterprise applications.
Pros:
Intuitive interface
Efficient tool that anyone can learn
Cons:
Forces you to sign up for Zapier
Can’t tell Zappy where to store recordings
Free Cam
free
Key features
Noise reduction tool
Cursor highlighter
System sounds and a microphone recording
This free video recorder is one of the best PC screen recording software values on the market. With Free Cam's incredible screen recording software, you can capture whatever is happening on your computer.
Not only do they offer the ability to record parts or all of a display, but also voice-over and system sound recordings with noise reduction options and video-trimming capabilities. It also includes direct uploads to YouTube. Despite this powerful feature set, some individuals report occasional issues when trying to upload videos from Free Cam for free – as opposed to opting for the pro version.
Pros:
No time limits or watermark
Direct sharing to YouTube
Includes editing features
Cons:
Free version only outputs in WMV and 760p
Free version also won’t record the webcam
ShareX
free
Key features
Includes scrolling page capture
Allows recording and capture
Offers tons of options to share – hence the name
ShareX provides a range of helpful screen capture options, including full screen, window, and region captures. You also have the option to add your cursor in screenshots, set up time delays on capture operations, and perform text OCR[2] if needed. More advanced features, like recording activity as an animated GIF or video, are also available.
The program truly stands out because of the wealth of sharing options it provides. You can upload your screenshots and recordings directly to a variety of cloud services, image hosting, general online storage, and even social media platforms. Plus, ShareX comes with a good image editor, so you can customize your screen captures before using them.
Pros:
Again, there are a lot of options to share files quickly
Customizable workflow
Will save you time
Cons:
Doesn’t do game capture
Interface isn’t user-friendly
CamStudio
free
Key features
Captioning tool
Solid codec output that will help compress files
No file size or length constraints
CamStudio is a remarkably versatile screen recorder that seems misleading when you first open it. You may not be aware of the possibilities with this small program before taking time to explore its settings.
With an array of features, it's an excellent screen recording software for Windows for creating detailed tutorials or presentations. And users have the flexibility to determine the perfect harmony between image quality and file size. Plus, unlike most free screen recorders, CamStudio has no limit on recording length. It also supports a wide array of export formats so that your recordings are always ready-to-go when you're finished capturing.
Pros:
Incredibly easy to use
Customizable platform
Cons:
Installer has some added programs
Only puts out AVI and SWF files
Ezvid
free
Key features
Has a built-in editor
Auto-adds multiple recordings together
Widget works very well
Ezvid is an excellent free screen recorder that produces high-quality footage with no watermarks. Yet, it's only able to export recordings directly to YouTube, and the maximum recording length for Ezvid is 45 minutes. If this isn't enough time, then you should use alternative tools such as OBS Studio or Movavi Screen Recorder.
If you have no reservations, Ezvid is certainly a great software to record your screen and audio. It's incredibly straightforward to use and comes with everything you need; from built-in editing tools to text-to-speech options and even voice-recording capabilities. And there's no requirement for additional programs.
Pros:
Doesn’t add watermarks
Offers a clean interface
Has a text-side creator
Cons:
Only allows YouTube uploading; no file save
Impossible to hide the recording widget
TinyTake
free
Key features
Out-of-box functionality
Simple interface
TinyTake is a straightforward screen recorder for both Windows and macOS. The program contains only the essential features you need without the frills. It also stands out as one of the best tools to share videos, photos, and direct screen share with others.
Getting started is easy. Once you sign up, just quickly map out the area of your screen you want to record, click the button to start, and let TinyTake take it from there. It’s a suitable tool if you're looking to record on limited hardware.
The free version offers five-minute recordings with no annotations. But if you want more sophisticated features, the paid-for version has you covered. All in all, TinyTake provides quick and easy screen recording for when time is of the essence.
Pros:
Easy for anyone to use
Straightforward interface
Sharing videos is quick and painless
Cons:
Free plan only offers 5 minutes of recording time
No annotations on free tier
Debut Video Capture
free
Key features
External cameras recording
Ability to schedule recording
Output in a variety of popular formats
Debut Video Capture from NCH Software is totally free for personal use and encompasses all you need to shoot video footage from your display device, webcam, or other connected devices, like security cameras. And it includes features that typically belong in paid programs only.
Pros:
Lots of customization features
Free for personal use
Clear interface
Cons:
Only free for personal use
No editing tools
Best paid screen recording software
Movavi Screen Recorder
free trial, full version for $69.95
Key features
Movavi Screen Recorder is an all-encompassing program to record your computer in a matter of minutes. The simple interface makes it highly accessible and perfect for any user, no matter their tech acumen. From instructional video tutorials to webinars, this software has you covered with multiple recording formats so that whatever the need may be, there's sure to be one suitable format available!
The program is a great choice for Windows and macOS users with its range of features. It takes full advantage of hardware acceleration through supporting Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA GPUs, which significantly boosts performance all while reducing CPU load. With hardware acceleration in play, the overall experience becomes much smoother, allowing improved quality during recording sessions.
Pros:
Make simple, lightweight recordings of the on-screen activity for maximum efficiency
Easy 4K capture without confusing and complicated settings
Draw on your videos and add shapes, lines, and arrows
Use noise reduction to get crisp, clear sound in your videos
Cons:
The full version provides maximum efficiency without any restrictions
iSpring Suite
$770/year for Suite, $990/year for Suite Max
Key features
Full suite of tools to create video lectures and presentations
Ability to create quizzes and tests within your videos
Text-to-speech conversion
iSpring Suite provides users with a comprehensive toolkit that simplifies the process for creating interactive, mobile-friendly courses. By integrating with PowerPoint, content creation is incredibly intuitive and requires no prior technical knowledge or training. With iSpring Suite, you can create robust online courses complete with video lectures, role-play simulations, assessments that work on any device – all in an easy-to-use PowerPoint interface.
Pros:
Huge content library
Lots of collaborative tools
Excellent customer support
Cons:
Highly niche and expensive product
Editing interface could use an update
FlashBack Screen Recorder
$49/lifetime, 1 PC
Key features
Specific settings for games
PiP effects
Frame-by-frame editing
FlashBack Screen Recorder, created by Blueberry Software, is a superb screen recorder that allows you to capture attractive footage from your desktop and upload it online. This tool does not leave watermarks on the videos nor impose time limits – allowing you more freedom than other recording software out there.
It also offers audio recordings of both sound and desktops or a webcam with a microphone – making it ideal for vlogs, tutorials, let’s play guides, and demonstrations.
Pros:
Simple interface
Perfect for game capture
Excellent annotation system
Cons:
Less expensive programs offer more
Could use more editing features for the price
Screencast-O-Matic
$4/month – Deluxe, $6/month – Premium, $10/month – Max (all paid annually)
Key features
Auto-captioning feature
Ability to do scripted recordings
Zoom, add text, and draw while recording
Screencast-O-Matic offers an exceptional online screen recorder and video editor, allowing both webcam and screen capture. It doesn't allow HD recording, but with the option to record in 800 × 600 or 640 × 480 resolution, it's perfect for those wanting a quick way of creating videos that can be easily uploaded.
Not only does Screencast-O-Matic enable you to magnify, sketch, and add overlays on video clips, it also permits sharing the recording directly to many social media platforms with no need for a desktop application. This dynamic platform contains extra features, including editing computer audio as well as coordinating recordings with attached videos.
Pros:
Offers social media buttons for quick sharing
Has secure online backup storage
Premium tier includes a stock footage library
Cons:
Free version doesn't offer much to test the features
Must avoid recording the editing window
Riverside FM
$15/month – Standard, $24/month – Pro (both billed annually)
Key features
Excellent mobile application
Speaker editor that auto-edits multiple channels
No installation necessary
Riverside FM is a screen recording tool tailored for podcasters. In fact, they built all features on the platform around podcasting, so you may not want to go this route if that’s not your focus.
With that in mind, the platform is easy to learn and offers everything you need to record audio and video for a professional podcast – anywhere in the world. The platform records in 4K, allows users to ‘call-in’ to the podcast, and offers editing and sharing features to help you churn out podcasts and post them online.
Pros:
Editing features
4K HD recording
Seamless social media sharing
Cons:
UX is a little complex
Has issues uploading at time
ScreenFlow
$169
Key features
Includes a video editor
Offers multi-source recording
Has an intuitive UI for Mac users
Apple's macOS already includes some great screen recording tools, but ScreenFlow takes it to the next level by adding numerous features and advanced video-editing capabilities. With ScreenFlow, you can take your Mac’s built-in screen recording software and unlock its full potential.
ScreenFlow perfectly combines a user-friendly video editor and an efficient screen recording app. With its powerful capabilities, you can freely crop, pan, zoom around your footage while adding annotations and call-outs for even more clarity.
Capturing video footage is straightforward. Just choose your audio and video sources, and hit the button to start recording. Adding webcam clips to your main video feed takes no time at all – it's a quick and smooth process anyone can master.
Pros:
High-quality recordings on any display
Templates for faster video creation
Easy to learn and use
Cons:
Expensive
Other options offer more features
Bandicam
$39.95/annual, $49.95/lifetime
Key features
Can record individual devices
Records Ultra HD videos
Capture screenshots in a variety of formats
Bandicam brings videos to life with real-time audio- and video recording capabilities. The application makes it simple for users to save laptop or desktop computer sessions, game streams, and other services.
Featuring a selection of adjustable video quality settings, Bandicam enables you to produce stunning HD recordings – even up to 4K. Audio and voice recording is also supported, allowing users to narrate their videos for extra convenience. Ideal for gaming sessions and streaming services alike, the software eliminates the need for complex hardware setups and provides an effortless way to create HD-quality footage with ease.
Pros:
High compression ratio
Device recording is nice
Insert logos on screen capture
Cons:
Limited capture options
No video editor
Icecream Screen Recorder
$10.75/annual license, $43/lifetime, $59.85/lifetime for PRO (video editor and slideshow maker)
Key features
Recording scheduler
Ability to hide cursor and icons while recording
Trimming feature
Icecream Screen Recorder is a great pick if you're in search of an uncomplicated screen recorder with simple editing capabilities. Available for a Windows PC and a Mac, it’s an extremely user-friendly screen recording software that works well with systems that have low-end capabilities.
Simply select a recording area and click to record, and the system autosaves it. From there, you can upload it to the cloud storage offered in the paid package. The free download for Icecream isn’t very useful as it doesn’t let you try the paid features. But hey, if you want to click around the interface, go for it! The paid version is cheap and removes the watermark.
Pros:
Insert your logo on screen captures
Can zoom and draw when recording
Includes 10 GB of cloud storage
Cons:
No webcam-only recording
Can’t really test the paid features on the free trial
What is computer screen recording software?
Computer screen recording software allows you to capture and record your desktop screen. The core function captures your entire screen, but most screen recording programs also include features that can capture windows, tabs, a webcam, or even a selected capture area – typically in HD.
What is screen recording software used for?
Screen- and audio-recording software has a wide range of usability for both content creators or business professionals. It’s possible to capture and create multimedia presentations, educational materials, video game streams, and more. We’re all connected by what’s on our screens, so you’ll probably find even more uses as you research which software is best for your needs.
Differences between desktop and online screen recorders
The key difference is the ability to capture your desktop offline. Desktop screen recorders don’t require a connection to the internet to access the software and record your screen.
Online screen recorders require an active connection. Therefore, they’re not ideal for video game capture as they take up bandwidth needed for gameplay.
Tips on choosing the best screen recording software for a PC or Mac
Nearly all paid screen recorders offer a free trial. Take advantage before purchasing a program.
When testing screen recorders, observe the software’s user-friendliness. It shouldn’t require a complex tutorial or guide to master the program.
Read customer reviews with your potential use-cases in mind.
Carefully review all the features available for any screen recorder to determine the best program for your needs.
Summary
With this list of the best screen recording software – free and paid – you’re equipped to begin your search. No matter your budget, there are solid options available. Test these programs and see what works best for your needs.
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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