Screen recording software allow you to record computer screen. They work by recording the data of your screen and turning it into a video file. Screen recorder software can be used for creating unique video lessons, tutorials, or demo presentations. The recorded video can be used in various ways. On this post, I’m going to present top best software for screen recording. Based on popularity, user reviews and my own experience with these tools.
Video and audio recorders are no longer exclusive features of the advanced laptop models. Nowadays, there are tons of mobile applications that can help you make a video or an audio recording of your computer as well as help you in editing it to make it more visually appealing respectively. The question is, how can you choose the best application for your needs?
What are the top programs for screen recording? What is the best tool to record my screen? These questions have puzzled a lot of people. Fortunately, we have worked around it and make sure that you get an answer of your question! In this post we have discussed about the best tools that are used for screen recording.
The best screen recording software can be used to record computer screen activities, especially high-definition videos. So, if you want to demonstrate how to use or install software, or simply to show how a program works on your Mac, it is the best tool to use. Regardless of the operating system (OS) you use, there are plenty of screen recorders you can turn to. However, not all of them are good enough for the task so it’s important you find one that is reliable and convenient. Fortunately, here I will show you some of my favorite choices for the job today and add new ones if found any in future.
What To Look For In The Best Screen Recorder Software For Windows 11, 10, 8, 7?
The market has tons of options when it comes to choosing an ideal screen recording software for Windows PC. But choosing the one suitable program can be a tricky business. Hence, we recommend you consider the following factors:
- Simple & Straightforward User Interface
Make sure you choose a screen-grabbing tool that is convenient to use & has a user-friendly dashboard, making it easy to use for both novice & advanced users.
- Affordable Pricing Models
Although there are a variety of free screen recording tools, they come with a catch. You only get limited functionalities or have restrictions in duration.
- Editing Capabilities
Consider using the right screen recording tool which comes with a wide range of editing tools that can help you fine-tune the final output file with options to trim, crop, rotate, annotate, etc.
- Range of Screen Recording Options
Select a screen recorder for Windows PC that provides tons of options for grabbing specific regions, entire webpage, scrolling screenshots, record screen with on-screen activities and sound.
- Sharing Options
Last but not the least, choose a screen recording program that helps you in sharing your final output via cloud storage platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, and more.
That’s all! These are some of the significant features that you need to ensure are included in the Top 11 Screen Recorder for Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 PC.
OBS Studio
OBS or Open Broadcaster Software is a free screen video recorder that offers both recording and streaming in high definition, with no limits on the length of your videos.
The desktop software allows you to choose the part of the screen you want to capture, but it also gives an option to record the entire screen.
Customizable hotkeys help control the recording, and an audio mixer allows you to produce videos with smoothly recorded sound.
Apart from the intuitive screencasting features, OBS is equipped with live-streaming capabilities that you won’t find in the default screen recorders of major operating systems.
You can stream live on YouTube Gaming and Twitch, save projects, and convert your footage in FLV format.
All of this makes OBS one of the best free screen recording software options to try in 2021.
Price: Free
Supported OS: Linux, Mac, Windows
Best for: Professional live streaming to Mixer, YouTube or Twitch
Apowersoft Unlimited
This is a suite of software applications that includes screen recorders for Android, iOS, Mac and Windows.
It allows you to wirelessly cast an Android device or iPhone to your PC’s screen and use the desktop recorder to capture your PC audio, mobile device, microphone, and computer’s webcam simultaneously.
The desktop screen recorder offers multiple recording modes, including full screen, custom area, and more, and it also lets users annotate on the recording in real-time. You can apply callouts, lines, text, and more without needing to pause.
With the help of its intuitive, mobile-specific apps, you just have to set your computer and smartphone under the same WiFi network and begin casting.
Mac and Windows users can directly use the desktop screen recorder to record all kinds of on-screen activities.
Price: $59.95 per year
Supported OS: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac
Best for: Demonstrating how to use software that has both a desktop and a mobile version
Screencast-O-Matic
Screencast-O-Matic is an online screen recorder and video editor that supports both webcam and screen recordings.
While the application doesn’t let you record in HD, it does have options to record in 800×600, 640×480 and other standard definitions, which makes it ideal for recording and uploading quick videos.
It also assists users in zooming, drawing, and adding overlays on the video files.
Plus, you can share the recording to YouTube without having to download any desktop app.
Screencast-O-Matic also has additional features including options for editing computer audio and synchronization of recording with video footage.
Keep in mind that most of the editing features are offered in the paid version of the app. However, you can use the free version to upload content to YouTube.
Price: Free or $1.50 per month
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iOS
Best for: Making quick tutorials to share with friends, customers or online communities
AceThinker
AceThinker is a web-based laptop screen recorder that is easy to set up and use.
You can use it to record a specific screen portion or the whole screen, create real-time edits for an attention-worthy recording, and capture audio from your mic and computer simultaneously.
The software lets you convert and save your recordings in all renowned video formats, including MP4, MOV and API.
And you can also use AceThinker to directly upload your recordings to Dropbox, Google Drive, or YouTube.
All of these features are available in the free version of the app, but you can also install the PRO version to gain access to additional capabilities.
A standout feature of the PRO version is that it lets you create scheduled tasks for screen recordings.
If you want to record an ongoing live stream in the afternoon, but you don’t have the internet at work, you can install this screen capture tool on your home computer, create a schedule and let it record the screen automatically.
Price: Free or $39.95
Supported OS: Mac, Windows
Best for: Recording soccer matches, stock trends, etc.
Free Cam
Ideal screen recording software for making WMV screen captures
OS: Windows
Free Cam is a very simple free screen recorder with a built-in audio/video editor. The attractive and intuitive interface allows you to record both the whole screen and a portion of your screen. Even though this software is free, it doesn’t place any watermark and is ad free.
Pros
- No watermark, time limits, or ads
- Records voice-overs and computer sounds
- High-quality resolution
- Users can save videos as WMV or upload them directly to YouTube
- Easily deletes unwanted video fragments
- Removes background noise
- Wide selection of audio effects
Cons
- Saves recordings to WMV only
- No webcam recording
DVDVideoSoft’s Free Screen Video Recorder
The best screen capture software for recording Skype video calls
OS: Windows
Free Screen Video Recorder is a full-featured but lightweight free screen recorder from a developer known for its free conversion software. It can record Skype conversations with no limitations and is therefore useful for Skype interviews and online conference calls. Also, different Windows applications can be singled out and captured as discrete elements. Included is a basic user-friendly image editor that is surprisingly helpful for attaining a polished look.
Pros
- Offers a convenient screenshot feature
- Different modes for recording screen and video
- Suitable for recording Skype conversations
- Step-by-step instructions provided on the site
- Available in 10 languages
- Output formats include MP4, BMP, TGA, JPEG, PNG, and GIF
Cons
- Microphone sound recording only
- Excessive ads may interrupt your work
- Lacks coherent interface and built-in media player
- May install unwanted software during download
- Does not notify users if disconnection occurs
ShareX
The best screen recorder for PC for those who need to share screen captures online
OS: Windows
ShareX is an open-source ad-free tool that boasts almost as many custom features as some paid software screen recorders. ShareX is mostly targeted toward developers and power users, so an average customer might get lost in the many advanced tools and editors.
Pros
- Records full screen, window, monitor, region, freehand, or scrolling
- Incorporates hotkeys for easier and quicker navigation
- Supports many URL sharing services
- Imports existing videos, music, or photos
- Allows custom watermarks and color effects
- A variety of export options
Cons
- Low quality of game recording
- Complicated for the average user
- No webcam recording
- Reported to fail while uploading large files
- No video editor
FlashBack Express
Ideal for recording games and capturing footage from a webcam
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: WindowsTODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Well designed interface+Choice of output formats+Record from screen or webcam
REASONS TO AVOID
-Some tools are paid-only
OBS Studio is our favorite free screen recorder, but Flashback Express comes an extremely close second. Despite being a free version of a paid program, FlashBack Express won’t put ugly watermarks over your recordings or impose time limits, and it’s packed with features and tools that rival many premium programs. Its interface is less intimidating than OBS Studio, so if you’ve never used a screen recorder before, it’s an excellent choice.
You can record from your whole screen, a window, a selected area, or a webcam. Once you’ve finished, your recording will appear in a simple editor, where you can crop and trim it to suit your needs, then export it to YouTube, an FTP server, or your PC.
That’s all fairly standard fare for a free screen recorder, but take a minute to dive into Flashback’s advanced options and you’ll find a wealth of thoughtfully designed settings that will make your desktop recordings look truly professional. The recorder can automatically obscure passwords entered on screen, replace your silly wallpaper with a plain one, hide messy desktop icons, and highlight your mouse pointer to make it easier to follow. There’s also a dedicated gaming mode that lets you define the number of frames recorded per second.
There’s no limit on the length of your recordings unless you choose to set one, which can be useful if there’s a chance you might accidentally leave the recorder running. You can also choose to break long recordings up into chunks – a brilliant touch that helps you avoid creating huge, unwieldy files. Your recordings won’t be watermarked, either.Advertisement
Following a recent update, Flashback Express can export in WMV, AVI and MP4 formats, eliminating the need for a separate video converter, and it no longer requires a free license key for activation – just install the software and you’re ready to start recording.
Developer Blueberry Software has also released a free screen recorder designed specifically for games – FBX. This recorder captures HD in-game footage, with hardware acceleration for AMD and Nvidia cards, and Intel CPUs.
If you’re thinking about upgrading to FlashBack Pro, Blueberry software is offering TechRadar readers an exclusive 25% discount.
How to choose the best screen recording tool based on your need?
- If you are a software tester, you will often have to submit screen recordings with your bug reports. For this, you have to choose a tool that allows you to annotate, edit and gives a shareable link. Bonus points for tools that can upload technical logs automatically along with the recording!
- If you are a teacher/ content creator, you will have to record yourself and the screen at times. For this, you can opt for a basic screen recording with a few editing features.
- There are screen recording tools made exclusively for gamers! If you are a gamer, you can choose a tool that allows you to host live gaming videos.
It might get overwhelming to choose among the available tools. After all, a video is worth a thousand words and a good screen recording software can save you from typing 1000 words!
Conclusion
Screen recording is not a recent phenomenon, it has been with us for many years. However, it turned into a widespread and popular technology only recently. It’s not just ordinary people who use screen recording but also business entities and private individuals.
If you have determined that it is time to start creating videos for your business, you may be wondering what video recorder you should be using. This will all depend on the type of device you are using.