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When comparing ScreenFlow vs OBS, the Slant community recommends OBS for most people. In the question“What are the best screencasting apps for OS X?” OBS is ranked 1st while ScreenFlow is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose OBS is:
You can record videos in formats such as mp4, flv, mkv, and more. You also have control over the bitrate used.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Can export to animated GIFs
Pro Non-expiring trial available
The free trial never expires, however it will place a sizable "Demo Mode' watermark over the middle of the screen which makes the content unusable for anything other than trying it out.
Pro Suitable for novices and experts alike
Start creating vanilla screencasts. Continue exploring a plethora of presentation and editing features. You won't ever grow out of this "shirt".
Pro Records your iOS device too
You can plug your iOS device into your Mac, and record the screen through your Mac. You can find details on how to do this here.
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.
Pro Free and open source
No subscriptions or payments or licenses.
Pro Available for Linux, Mac, Windows
Pro Live streams
Can be used to stream.
Pro Fast
From the website: "GPU-based game capture for high performance game streaming."
Pro Extendable
OBS has an API allowing developers to create their own unique plugins, giving them and others complete control of their streaming experience.
Pro Encoding using H264 (x264) and AAC and file output to MP4 or FLV
Pro Unlimited number of scenes and sources
Cons
Con Creates large (e.g. mp4) files
Work-around: Export using lossless codec, then use Handbrake to create your production mp4.
Con Free version produces virtually unusable content
The free trial adds a large watermark to the middle of the screen which makes the video virtually unusable. Most trials expire after a week or two, however the content you create with them can still be used.
Con Recording a window will not record the menu bar, popup menus or child dialogs
Con Overkill for simple projects
Plus the interface is a bit intimidating.
Con Needs tutorial to get started
Otherwise it's hard to find out how to record a screen or window.
