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UtilitiesDesignScreen Recorder

What are the best free screen recording software tools?

18

Options
Considered

69

User
Recs.

Dec 26, 2020

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

10 Options Considered

Best free screen recording software tools	Price	Platforms	Video Formats
-- OBS	Free	Windows, Linux, Mac	MP4, FLV, MKV
-- ShareX	Free	Windows	GIF
-- FastStone Capture	Free / paid	Windows	-
-- ScreenToGif	Free	Windows	-
-- Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder	Free / paid	Windows, Android, Web	MP4, WMV, AVI, FLV, MPEG, VOB, ASF, GIF

OBS

Add Video or Image

Top Con

Needs tutorial to get started

Otherwise it's hard to find out how to record a screen or window. See More

Top Pro

Records to many popular formats

You can record videos in formats such as mp4, flv, mkv, and more. You also have control over the bitrate used. See More

Specs

Platforms:Windows, Linux, Mac

Video Formats:MP4, FLV, MKV

Top Con

Overkill for simple projects

Plus the interface is a bit intimidating. See More

Top Pro

Free and open source

No subscriptions or payments or licenses. See More

Top Con

Recording a window will not record the menu bar, popup menus or child dialogs

Top Pro

Fast

From the website: "GPU-based game capture for high performance game streaming." See More

Top Pro

Extendable

OBS has an API allowing developers to create their own unique plugins, giving them and others complete control of their streaming experience. See More

Top Pro

Available for Linux, Mac, Windows

Top Pro

Encoding using H264 (x264) and AAC and file output to MP4 or FLV

Top Pro

Unlimited number of scenes and sources

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FastStone Capture

Add Video or Image

Top Pro

Unobtrusive

Always available via hotkey, doesn't interfere with any programs or operations. See More

Specs

Platforms:Windows

Top Pro

Hotkeys

You can assign hotkeys for everything. Current setup is: F5 - Fixed rectangle capture F6 - Custom (drag a square) rectangle capture F7 - Video capture 30fps F8 - Fullscreen capture F9 - Scroll fullscreen capture F10 - Summon FS to appear if hidden. See More

Top Pro

Onboard editing, or output to external programs

Top Pro

The most lightweight, full featured snapshot for Windows.

This responsive, lightweight screenshot will probably be your favorite if you really run it through the test, A scrolling window capture that works, integrated image joining, scanner support, good magnified preview when setting boundaries, support for video capture and editing. Free upgrades for paid version with option for portable. Closest alternatives to feature set are Snagit and Shared, but this one feels much snappier with just the right features for the majority of people. Try it, you will not regret. See More

Top Pro

Great capture flexibility, from full screen to freehand region

Top Pro

Output to clipboard or any of a dozen formats

Such as saving images in BMP, GIF, JPEG, PCX, PNG, TGA, TIFF and PDF formats as well as the screen recorder saving videos in the WMV (Windows Media Video) format. See More

ScreenToGif

Add Video or Image

Top Pro

Best for Animated GIFs

Create lightweight GIFs with excellent quality, also including tons of possibilities, like automatically reduce duplicated frames, progress bar, free drawing, transitions, etc. See More

Top Con

Only available for Windows

Specs

Platforms:Windows

Top Pro

Open Source

https://github.com/NickeManarin/ScreenToGif/ See More

Top Pro

Very Easy to use

The interface is very intuitive, no need to read documentation or tutorials See More

Top Pro

Available as portable bundle

No need to install. See More

Top Pro

Good support

The author gives a good attentions for doubts and issues See More

Top Pro

Very lightweight

Extremely fast to load (about 1 second) See More

QuickTime

Add Video or Image

Top Pro

Elegant look and comfortable interface

QuickTime is developed by Apple, which is known for its plain, but gorgeous and user-friendly design. QuickTime is included in the list of default programs on macOS systems, so it is a good free option for beginners and users who love style and comfort. See More

Top Con

Some common video file formats are not supported

QuickTime does not have native support for some common formats such as DivX, .wmv, and .mkvs. See More

liweihua's Experience

Yes, Quick Time is also the screen recording software I want to recommend. It comes with the MacOS system, there is no need to download and install, and it is free See More

Top Pro

Screen recording is a easy

Top Con

Only for MacOS

Top Pro

Recording and editing is possible

Unlike other video players, QuickTime offers recording and editing opportunity. To unlock this features QuickTime Pro 7 is required, which is a fee-based software (29.99$). Program features include possibility to record video and audio directly from microphone, FireWire camcorder and iSight camera. Speaking of video editing, cutting, deleting, resizing, flipping, or rotating a movie is possible. See More

AceThinker Free Screen Recorder Online

Add Video or Image

Specs

Platforms:Windows, Mac, Web

Fluvid

Add Video or Image

Camtasia

UkeySoft Screen Recorder

UkeySoft Screen Recorder Software

Record It - Screen Recorder

Filmage Screen

UkeySoft Screen Recorder for Windows

Screenflick

RecordIt

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