What is the best screen recording software? Every computer user needs to know how to record his or her PC screen at least once, even if it’s simply in order to demonstrate something to someone else. For some people, though, the need goes beyond simple demonstration: They want to be able to create videos of their gameplay and post them on the web — or perhaps capture video of a game glitch in order to file a support ticket with the game developer. Some may use screen recording for administrative purposes, like recording meetings so they can go back and reference points that were made later on. And, of course, there are those who just want to make video montages of their favorite song, or introduce friends and family online.
Screen recording is a software used to capture the activities taking place on computer screen. You can use screen recording software for various tasks like making your video blogs, tutorials, teaching lessons, creating gaming video etc. But before you can record the screen activity, you need to install a best screen recording software on your computer to record the activity for future use. As you know that are many screen recorders available in the market. So it’s bit confusing for users to select one from them. I have used various screen recorders and here I have listed top screen recording software which are very popular among PC users.
Some people think that screen recording is difficult, but it is not. You just need the best screen recorder to get started. As a matter of fact, there are many different types of desktop recording software available and they differ a lot when it comes to features and price. So, if you want to be sure that you are getting one of the best free screen capture software options in the market, keep reading this article.
Some people think that screen recording is difficult, but it is not. You just need the best screen recorder to get started. As a matter of fact, there are many different types of desktop recording software available and they differ a lot when it comes to features and price. So, if you want to be sure that you are getting one of the best free screen capture software options in the market, keep reading this article.
Screen recording tools can be a useful, powerful piece of software to use while training non-technical and technical users, creating high-quality how-to videos and more. If you’re looking for the best screen recorder, look no further than our carefully curated list that’ll help you find the perfect fit.
What is screen recording?
Screen recording, also known as screen capture, refers to recording anything that’s happening on your screen. It can be used for different purposes. For example, learning professionals can demonstrate to their employees how to use the software they need to perform their job. Software development companies can record videos on how to use their tool for their customers, and gamers can share their gameplay with the whole world.
How to record your screen in Windows 10
If you are using the Windows 10 operating system, you already have a built-in screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar. It has quite limited capabilities; more specifically, it doesn’t allow you to record the entire desktop or File Manager. However, you can use it with any desktop app or program downloaded from the Windows Store. Let’s see how to do this:
- Open the program you wish to record.
2. Press the Windows key and G at the same time.
3. You’ll now see the Xbox Game Bar menu. Click on Start Recording at the upper left-hand corner of your screen. You can also capture your voice by clicking on the Microphone button.
4. Once you’ve finished recording, open the Xbox Game Bar menu and click on Stop Recording.
Congratulations! You’ve made your screen recording. You can find it in the Captures subfolder of the Videos folder.
Finding the Best Screen Recording Software
Both free and paid tools from the best screen recording software can be effective methods of capturing the work-related or entertainment activities on your PC.
Whether you should spend money on one of the products outlined above depends on the nature of your tasks. Professionals working on eLearning video projects may benefit the most from the iSpring Cam Pro screen recorder. Experienced users with keen technical skills might opt for the free ShareX screen recording tool. Those looking for a simple and reliable screen recorder for simpler tasks should be pleased with Free Cam.
Recording a screen used to be a real challenge.
You had to either use complicated tools or pay a software expert to get it done, which wasn’t always feasible.
Fortunately, the user-friendliness of screen recording software has significantly improved over the years. Nowadays, you can create professional-looking tutorials with minimal effort.
Besides tutorials, there are several other reasons why you might want to record your screen.
If you do any kind of product demonstrations, need or offer tech support, or use video calling, using the default screen capture of your computer won’t be good enough to capture high-quality footage.
Whether you want a more precise way to record the entire screen or if you want to capture a specific portion, a high-quality screen recorder will serve the purpose.
In this article, you’ll learn about:
- What screen recording software is
- The features you should look for in screen recording software
- The difference between desktop and online screen recorder
- The 10 best screen recording tools in existence
Let’s go.
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What Is Screen Recording Software?
Screen recording software can record the entirety (or portions) of your computer or mobile screen.
The recording can include everything from your taps and cursor movements to typing a URL into your browser to help people learn what to do and how to do it.
Audio narration is available, and sometimes annotation is also offered as part of a tool’s package.
However, no two screen recording tools are alike. Some screen recording tools can’t save the recorded footage for various formats or export it to popular video platforms like YouTube directly.
Others may have the capability to do all of that, but might be missing a feature or two. For example, not every screen recording application comes with an HD screen recorder.
As such, you should pay attention to its capabilities before downloading or installing screen recording software on your device.
It’s also crucial to evaluate your own recording needs. Perhaps you don’t need to record in HD. Maybe you’ve recently purchased video hosting and can do without a YouTube export option. The best screen recorder for you will be the one that meets your specific needs.
What Is a Good Screen Recorder?
Our compilation of screen recording tools ranges from browser-based software to minimalistic desktop apps. Each of the picks meets the following basic criteria:
- Is easy-to-use
- Records the entire screen, a particular area, or one window
- Lets users annotate the recorded footage
- Includes system and microphone audio
- Captures footage from external sources
- Has built-in export options
It’s also worth mentioning that many of the software options come with HD recording capabilities. However, it’s important to know that HD files take a lot of time to upload. If you’re looking to quickly uploaded standard-quality videos on the web, HD is not a must-have.
Desktop Screen Recorder vs. Online Screen Recorder
Offline functionality is the key difference between the two types.
While desktop screen recorders can work without an active connection, online screen recorders require you to have stable internet.
This is why an online screen recorder isn’t the best of options when it comes to capturing gameplay. However, if you’re only looking to make a tutorial, they should work just fine.
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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.
5. ScreenFlow
If you’ve been searching for a Mac screen recorder with audio capabilities, then you’d love ScreenFlow.
Its range of features includes the options to record your Mac at retina resolution, group video components and settings, and add background audio to the recorded footage.
You’d also love the “Styles” and “Templates” tools that come as part of the software.
Styles lets you save visual/audio settings for certain elements like drop shadows or color filters for a recorded segment.
Templates, on the other hand, lets users arrange, insert and configure groups of annotations in advance, such as text placeholders and outro segments.
Those who subscribe to the Super Pak version of ScreenFlow (a more expensive plan) also get access to over 500,000 pieces of unique images and audio clips to use in all of their videos.
So if you’re looking to make the most of your screen recordings, ScreenFlow is unlikely to disappoint.
Price: $129
Supported OS: Mac, iOS
Best for: Making high-quality retina videos
6. Screencastify
Screencastify is another screen recording application that works via Google Chrome.
Whether you’re a seasoned or a novice video creator, you’ll find that Screencastify offers all of the important options.
You can use it to capture your webcam, entire screen or tab only, as well as narrate to your microphone.
It also presents you with annotation tools that help keep your viewers focus on what’s critical. Click highlighting, drawing pen tool, and mouse spotlight are all included.
And once you’re recorded the screen, Screencastify will do the heavy lifting for you by autosaving the video to your Google Drive.
Like many of the best screen recording software options, Screencastify gives you the option to upload to YouTube, as well as export the recording as an animated GIF, MP3, or MP4.
Price: Free
Supported OS: Mac, Windows, Linux
Best for: Recording software demos and creating solution videos
7. Bandicam
Bandicam is a robust screen recording application that supports screen and gameplay capturing.
It utilizes a high compression ratio without compromising video quality. Bandicam makes it possible to capture 4K ultra-high-definition videos at 120 frames per second.
Another noteworthy feature is Bandicam’s device recording capability. By getting a separate capture card, you can record videos from IPTV, HDTV, APPLE TV, smartphone, PlayStation and Xbox.
In addition, Bandicam lets users capture screenshots in JPEG, PNG and BMP formats.
Essentially, you can use Bandicam to record just about anything, including your entire computer screen, Excel spreadsheets, web browser, Powerpoint presentations, and more.
Its free version places a watermark on the videos, so you need to become a paid user to utilize its full potential.
Price: Free or $39.99
Supported OS: Windows
Best for: Balancing the depth of video recordings
8. Filmora Scrn
Filmora Scrn lets you capture gameplay, webcam, computer screen and audio simultaneously without placing any limits on the duration of the video.
It gives you the option to record in 15-120 frames per second. Higher FPS is ideal for recording gameplay with loads of action.
The software also lets you add annotations like text to improve the viewing experience for your audience. Also, you can modify the size, color and shape of your cursor to make it look unique.
With Filmora Scrn, you don’t need a separate video editing tool because the screen recording software itself boasts a wide range of editing tools to help refine your video recordings.
It can import from over 50 file formats, and you also get the option to export your recordings in multiple formats as per your requirement.
Price: Free or $29.99
Supported OS: Windows, Mac
Best for: Recording screen from two devices simultaneously
9. Camtasia
TechSmith’s Camtasia makes it simple to capture and make professional-looking videos on your PC.
You can record both audio and video from a desktop or iOS device, and also capture your webcam to infuse a personal element to your recording.
Its built-in video editing tool is where Camtasia shines. A good selection of stock images along with click-and-drag effects is offered in the sidebar of the tool. Users can create outro and intro segments by dropping them into their recordings in a matter of seconds.
You can also insert zoom out, zoom in, and pan animations into your footage, and use transitions between slides and scenes to enhance the flow of your videos.
The screen recording software also lets you import or record PowerPoint pages directly into its environment. Grab attention in your presentations by adding eye-catching recordings, titles, and more.
Price: Free or $249
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, iOS
Best for: Adding a professional touch to captured videos
10. 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
Here’s a brief overview of Camtasia:
Price: $249. Free 30-day trial.
11. 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
Watch this video tutorial on how to use Filmora Scrn:
Price: $19.99 for 1 year or $29.99 for a lifetime license. Free trial.
12. Movavi Screen Recorder
The best Windows screen recorder for capturing video calls, webinars, and other online events
OS: Windows and Mac
Movavi Screen Recorder is an easy-to-use screen capture tool that allows you to perform desktop recording, capture webcam and audio, save recordings as high-quality videos and GIFs, and take screenshots. You can upload your final video to Google Drive or YouTube and share them with your audience via social media.
Pros
- Incorporates webcam
- Can record screen and audio simultaneously or separately
- Saves video in HD and supports multiple formats: AVI, MP4, MOV, and MKV
- Takes screenshots and edits them
- Allows scheduled recording
- Mouse display in the recording
Cons
- Very few editing tools
- Trial version limits recording time to 5 minutes
- Reported to have periodic crash issues
See how to use Movavi Screen Recorder in this video:
Price: $39.95 for 1 PC. Free 7-day trial.
13. My Screen Recorder Pro
Good screen recording software for those who need to distribute videos to their website
OS: Windows
My Screen Recorder Pro is a feature-packed screen capturing tool that records anything on the computer screen, including the entire desktop, menus, cursors, and video with sound. It also lets you record your webcam or mobile screen in high-definition quality simultaneously with the desktop screen. Besides industry-standard AVI, WMV, and MP4, the screen recorder can save video in WebM, perfect for distribution or uploading to your website or blog.
Pros
- Can record webcam or mobile screen, along with desktop screen recording
- Video output to AVI, WMV, MP4, and WebM formats
- Allows scheduled recording
- Auto-upload recordings to any FTP account
- Can securely monitor the screen in hide mode
Cons
- Has limited editing options
- No animations and transitions
To learn more about My Screen Recorder options and settings, watch this video:
Price: $129.95. Free feature limited trial.
14. FlashBack
A simple screen recorder with basic editing features
OS: Windows
FlashBack is a full-motion-based screen recorder with a simple, handy interface. You can capture your screen, along with webcam and mic, and then make the recording better with a built-in video editor by adding captions, arrows, images, and highlights.
Pros
- Records multiple monitors
- Incorporates webcam
- Allows you to add distinctive and custom watermarks
- Quick upload to Youtube, FlashBack Connect or export as MP4, GIF, WMV, QuickTime, AVI, and Flash
- Offers zooming and panning options
Cons
- Difficult to modify existing demos
- Allows you to import files only in FBR format
- Does not track the movement of windows in use
Price: $49 for 1 PC. Free 30-day trial.
15. Screencast-O-Matic
A reliable screen recording software with a built-in stock library and secure video hosting
OS: Windows, Mac and iOS, Android, and Chromebook
Screencast-O-Matic is considered one of the best screen recorders for PC and mobile devices. It’s fast, fairly easy to use, and comes with a video editor that allows you to personalize recordings and make them more attractive and entertaining. Unlike its many competitors, Screencast-O-Matic comes with a built-in stock library full of videos, images, and music tracks, cloud hosting for storing and sharing videos, and even collaboration and team management tools. However, this advanced functionality is available only for premium plans users. It allows you to upload your videos to YouTube, Google Drive, Vimeo, and Dropbox. There’s also a mobile app for Android and iOS.
Pros
- Does webcam and audio narration recordings
- Comprehensive video-editing options
- Automated Speech-to-Text option
- Built-in stock library
- Secure and private online backup
- Collaborative video management tools
Cons
- The free version embeds a watermark in videos
- The free version limits screen recording time to 15 minutes
Get more details about Screencast-O-Matic from this video:
Price: Starts from $4.00/month. There’s also a free version with limited functionality.
Comparison Chart of Paid Screen Recorders
| Product name | Webcam recording | Audio recording | Video editing | Output |
| 9. iSpring Suite | Yes | Yes | Yes | MP4, HTML5 |
| 10. Camtasia | Yes | Yes | Yes | MP4, HTML5, WMV, AVI, PNG, JPEG, GIF, BMP, WAV, MP3, MP4 |
| 11. Filmora Scrn | Yes | Yes | Yes | MP4, WMV, AVI, MOV, MP3, GIF, etc. |
| 12. My Screen Recorder Pro | Yes | Yes | Yes | AVI, WMV, and WebM |
| 13. FlashBack | Yes | Yes | Yes | MP4, AVI, GIF, etc. |
| 14. Screencast-O-Matic | Yes | Yes | Yes | MP4, AVI, FLV |
What is Screen Recording Software?
A Screen Recording software is an application or a tool that helps you to record your Computer and Laptop screen and save the recorded video file in different formats like MOV, MP4, GIF, etc. Some Screen Recording software also allow you to record audio while recording the screen.
CONCLUSION
Screenshots are an important feature of desktop screen recording software. They let you discuss parts of your screen in detail before or after you record a video. You can edit a recording or create a new one just by taking a screenshot. You can also insert one or several screenshots directly into your video footage.
Free Screen Video Recorder is a compact, yet full-featured screen video recorder and screenshot capture tool that allows you to easily record screen activities and capture anything on the screen including windows, objects, menus, full screen and rectangular regions. You can choose the audio input (system audio and microphone audio), take simple screenshots, and annotate, add lines and arrows, and more.