A screen recorder is a type of software that allows you to record a software program or your computer screen, on your computer. This allows you to capture what’s happening on a computer (your desktop) as an image file or as a video which you can then upload somewhere to share it online with other people.
Why you need an online screen recording tool? Nowadays, video is becoming more and more popular. And you can see it everywhere, from commercial ads to educational courses. Also, when you want to show your experience on a game or software, you may find yourself stuck in a situation where screen recording could help. And sometimes You need to explain something by showing how certain things work. In these cases, the top best screen recording software is needed for sure.
Screen recording software is a really handy way to record your screen activities, and you might be wondering whether you need it. Whether you’re a developer, designer or marketer, having a free tool on hand to help you demonstrate problems or share your own strategies is extremely useful. You don’t necessarily have to purchase screencasting software when some of the best screen recording software is freely available. There are many benefits of using screen recording software along with the challenges and drawbacks that accompany the technology.
If you are looking for a good software to record your screen and make a video tutorial, we’ve got great news for you. There are many screen recording programs that you can use, but before downloading one of them and spending money on it, remember this: the best screen capture tool is the one you like most.
What makes for great screen recording software?
The best screen capture software makes it really easy to show how things work—or, if you’re filing a support ticket, how they don’t work. But different people are going to be looking for different things. In our research, we tested around 30 apps, ranging from minimalistic three-button windows to complex apps overflowing with tools. The options are priced from free all the way up to several hundreds of dollars. Each of our picks for best screen recorder app offers a unique feature, but they all meet some basic criteria:
- The ability to record your whole screen, one window, or a specific area
- The option to superimpose a webcam feed over the screen capture
- Simultaneous microphone and system audio recording
- Built-in video sharing and/or convenient exporting tools
- An intuitive, friendly user interface
Of course, the process doesn’t end with the screen recording. The quality of the final product can make or break user engagement, so we also considered the post-capture editing features. Here’s what we found.
iSpring Suite
A perfect solution for creating video courses, how-to videos, and software tutorials
OS: Windows
iSpring Suite is a fully stocked authoring toolkit designed for creating eLearning content. It includes a professional video studio, as well as a set of other tools for online training: a course authoring tool, a quiz maker, a conversation simulator, and an interaction editor. The video studio allows you to make screencasts with voiceovers, instructional videos with annotations, and screencasts complemented with a presenter video. After a screencast is recorded, you can easily edit it: remove noise, insert media objects and annotations, delete unwanted fragments, and add transition effects.
Pros
- Can record two videos at the same time: a screencast and a webcam video
- Records a narration
- Has a multi-track timeline for video editing
- Adds images, visual hints, infographics, and captions
- Creates smooth scene transitions
- No time limits for recording
Cons
- Only mp4 video format is available
- Few interactive and animation features
Price: $970/year for the entire toolkit. Free 30-day trial → (no credit card required)
Camtasia
A robust screen recorder with quizzes and interactivity options
OS: Windows and Mac
Camtasia is a feature-packed tool for detail-oriented enthusiasts. It allows you to record video and audio one after another, combining the results afterward. Camtasia is quite flexible in terms of using animations and video effects and adding overlays. The best thing is that the tool is constantly being updated and receives new features on a regular basis.
Pros
- Incorporates a webcam
- Audio, video, and cursor tracks can be edited separately
- Imports existing videos, music, photos, and PowerPoint slides
- Adds captions, callouts, and quizzes to your videos
- Frame-by-frame editing
- Has a library of royalty-free music and sound effects
Cons
- One of the most expensive screen recorders
- Reported to slow down on large and heavy projects
- Busy multi-track interface
Price: $249. Free 30-day trial.
Filmora Scrn
The best video capturing software for streaming and game recording
OS: Windows and Mac
Filmora Scrn is a trustworthy video recording software that is especially loved by gamers. It allows you to capture fast-paced scenes (up to 60 fps for Mac) while simultaneously recording a webcam video. It also has a basic video editor that allows you to improve the look of the video and tutorial features, which can help direct attention to the main items on the screen.
Pros
- Can record from your computer and webcam simultaneously
- Imports over 50 file formats and exports in multiple formats
- Picture-шn-picture mode
- Frame rate from 15 to 120 FPS
- Supports HD and even 4k recording
Cons
- Lacks advanced editing features
- Noticeable performance impact in games
- Reported to lag and freeze when editing
Price: $19.99 for 1 year or $29.99 for a lifetime license. Free trial.
ScreenRec
The screen recording can’t get simpler than this. The interface that ScreenRec is offering you will be very intuitive, and you will get to understand all of it without any problem easily. It is also free software, and you will not need to pay a single penny to access all the features.
There will be no ads or restricted access, and you will get to record the screen quite easily. If you are looking for a recorder for your professional needs, i.e., to host business meetings, this one offers that functionality as well. You should note one thing that ScreenRec doesn’t offer you any editing tools whatsoever.
The recorder will also allow you to add separate audio input so that you can add crisp voice-overs for the tutorial or presentation that you are recording. ScreenRec will be available for all the operating systems, including Linux. Apart from not providing any editing tools, you will also not be able to record your webcam footage.
Features
- The video that will be recorded will be in full HD, providing you with all the details intact.
- You will also be able to take the screenshots and annotate them to clear what you are saying.
- The format will be MP4, and it will allow you to play the footage on any device.
- System sounds will also be recorded along with the mic.
- The application will also allow you to share the video with your team by creating a link. You will also get 2GB of cloud storage included.
- The recorder is free, and you will also not get any ads using any feature.
Ezvid
It is also one of the applications that come with a very user-friendly interface, and all the features are easily accessible. If you are wondering if it’s supported on your operating system, we are sorry to disappoint you, but it’s supported only on Windows. The features that are offered here will allow you to record & upload videos in no time, and it’s the reason that Ezvid is quite popular among gamers and YouTube creators.
The feature set this application has to offer will allow you to draw while you are recording. It will be a very helpful feature for all the teachers out there.
The final video will be exported in the WMV format, which will be a bit bulkier, but you will get to maintain the original quality that you have recorded. Before you ask, yes, this one is also absolutely free, and you will not need to spend a single penny to access all the features.
Features
- The video can be captured up to 1080p.
- The interface is designed in a very sleek design that you will be able to understand quite easily.
- The application also includes a wide range of audio tracks.
- You can increase or decrease the speed of the recorded footage.
- The editor will also allow you to add videos & pictures from your device to the recorded video.
- There will be no watermark or ads, and you will also get to record the webcam footage.
Atomi ActivePresenter
Atomi ActivePresenter is a powerful software that can capture all or part of your computer screen with superb video quality. Although it lacks various features (in its free edition) that are provided by its competitors, it’s a perfect minimalistic screen recorder for anyone looking forward to create high-resolution long-time screencasts.
Pros:
- No watermark and recording time limits — even for free users.
- Offers decorating the screencasts with styles, shadows and color effects.
- Allows adding transition effects like photo slides and annotations to your videos.
- Offers a range of post-recording editing options like video overlays, cutting and cropping videos, adjusting volume levels, adding blur and few more.
- Allows exporting recordings to MP4, FLV, AVI, WMV, WebM and MKV formats.
Cons:
- Can’t upload the recorded videos directly online.
- Its free version lacks various useful features available in its premium versions.
Screenpresso
Screenpresso captures your desktop (as screenshots) and records the same to create HD videos. With all its advanced features, it’s one of the best premium screen recorders though it doesn’t offer much to free users. Nevertheless, you can capture the entire screen or specific areas and even manage your captures easily using its management features.
Pros:
- Allows recording audio and webcam along with the screen.
- Allows using captures and recordings for commercial use — even in its free edition.
- Records the screen in lightweight MP4 format and allows changing the format to WMV, WebM and OGG.
- Offers ‘Quick Access‘ to your previous screenshots and recordings.
- Allows labeling, sorting and editing captures into custom folders and manages workspaces and libraries of your captures (photos & videos).
- Offers sharing features for numerous services including Email, FTP, Evernote, Google Drive, OneDrive, Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox and more.
Cons:
- No support for Android with its free edition.
- Recordings’ max. duration is just 3 minutes.
- Limits image editing features and mandates updates for the free users.
- Can’t remove watermarks from images, videos or documents in its free version.
Finding the best screen recording software
The best screen recording app is the one that saves you the most time and produces the most worthwhile content for your audience. Make sure you know your target audience and use case before selecting an app. All the options we’ve listed are either free or come with trial versions, so give your top contenders a whirl, and see which you like best.
Conclusion
A screen recorder is a type of software that allows you to record a software program or your computer screen, on your computer. This allows you to capture what’s happening on a computer (your desktop) as an image file or as a video which you can then upload somewhere to share it online with other people.
With technological developments providing more opportunities in using computers, many people prefer to use computers to create video editing. To record the video, you need to find a good video recording software or video recording software tool.