As a result, screen recording of desktop windows is commonly used by support teams to show the issues and fix them. The linux screen recorder work in the same purpose which is screendump. But screen recorder on linux must be regarded as the further development of that technology which allows you to record streaming video, capture screenshot and etc. Today we will not explain what you need or even how a good screen recorder for linux works. We will just say that there is such opportunity and write about 5 best free linux screen recorder.
I have been searching for a screen recording tool for Linux. I used Microsoft Windows’ popular program, CamStudio, under Windows XP/Vista/7 then Vista Home Basic/Premium/Ultimate operating systems and if we moved to a different computer, the recorded video files could be played on other computers with different operating systems. I really wanted such an excellent useful software on my own Linux Mint Debian operating system
The number of Linux users has been increasing at a fast rate in recent years. This has made the demand for the best screen recording software for Linux huge. The challenge is to find the best screen recorder for Linux that will ensure your online privacy and anonymity.
The Linux OS is an alternative to other OS. It is all about freedom and open source software. However, the Linux OS does not come with free screen recorder included. This led to the need for a special type of software that will work with the Linux OS. So this article is about best free linux screen recorder.
Best Screen Recorders for Linux
1. Kazam
Kazam is a minimal and nifty tool for screencasting. It includes screenshot support too. Kazam is most suitable for beginners and for getting the task done quickly without getting too caught up in different options.
Main Features
- Simple and compact user interface
- Supports multiple video output formats
- Audio recording from a suitable source (microphone or speaker)
- Support for recording a single window or selected screen area
- Delay timer support
Pros
- Simple and minimal, easy to use
Cons
- Very few options for tweaking configuration settings
- Lack of webcam recording support
Installation on Ubuntu
Open a terminal window and enter the following command:
sudo apt install kazamN.B. The latest version – which adds a bunch more features to Kazam – may not be available through the official PPA or Ubuntu Universal repositories. But you can install and use it quite easily. Read this article on how to use the latest version of Kazam.Kazam
2. Open Broadcaster Software Studio
OBS Studio is, without doubt, the most feature-rich and advanced screencasting application available for Linux.
Main Features
- Multiple scenes to switch between seamlessly via custom transitions
- Filters for video sources
- Audio mixer with filters
- Powerful and easy to use configuration options
- Streamlined settings panel for tweaking configurations
- Live streaming support
Pros
- Everything you will possibly need is within this single application
Cons
- You’ll need a while to figure out its terminology (… but it’s worth it)
Installation on Ubuntu
OBS Studio is available for Ubuntu via its PPA. You can enter the following commands in the terminal to install it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio
sudo apt update
sudo apt install obs-studioYou can also utilize the snap store to get the latest OBS studio version.OBS Studio
3. SimpleScreenRecorder
SimpleScreenRecorder – as the name implies – is a simple application for screen recording on Linux. Its interface is Qt-based.
You can read this tutorial to find out how to use SimpleScreenRecorder on Ubuntu.
Main Features
- Supports multiple video output formats
- Audio recording from a suitable source
- Support for recording selected screen area
- Provides statistics while recording
- Live preview while recording
- Optimized to work smoothly on slow machines
- Hotkey support
Pros
- Sufficient tweaking options to fine-tune the output video
Cons
- User interface is not very appealing
- No built-in support for webcam recording
Installation on Ubuntu
SimpleScreenRecorder is available for Ubuntu. Run the following commands in a terminal:
sudo apt install simplescreenrecorder4. recordMyDesktop
recordMyDesktop is mainly a command-line tool for screen recording written in C. It has two separate graphical user interfaces based on GTK and QT4.
It has been discontinued but you can still give it a try as an experiment.
Main Features
- Lightweight tool
- Support for recording a single window
- Video output tweaking options
Pros
- You can also use it from the command line with the
recordmydesktopcommand
Cons
- Interface is not quite polished
- No webcam recording feature
- No options for alternative video output formats
- No longer actively developed
Installation on Ubuntu
recordMyDesktop is available for installation from the official Ubuntu repository (doesn’t work on Ubuntu 20.04 at the time of updating this article). Just run the following command:
sudo apt install gtk-recordmydesktop5. VokoscreenNG
The successor to the good-old VokoScreen has been reborn as VokoscreenNG (where NG stands for New Generation).
It does justify its new name as well. With a modern Qt-based user interface and a set of essential features, it has got your back.
Main Features
- Record the entire desktop
- Record a portion of the screen
- Add delay timer for recording
- Set a time limit for the recording
- Ability to record through the webcam
- Tweak the output format, control the framerates, and other necessary parameters.
Pros
- Offers plenty of useful features
- Easy to use with advanced features on board
Cons
- Does not offer a deb/rpm package nor an AppImage file as of yet
Installation on Linux
You can easily get it installed on openSUSE and Fedora but you need to utilize the unofficial repository by Ubuntu Handbook for Ubuntu/Ubuntu-based distros. Here’s how you can install it:
For Fedora:
sudo dnf install vokoscreenNGFor openSUSE:
sudo zypper install vokoscreenNGFor Ubuntu or Ubuntu-based distros:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps
sudo apt update
sudo apt install vokoscreen-ng6. ScreenStudio
ScreenStudio is a cross-platform screen recording application written in Java. Even though it’s no longer maintained since 2017, you can give it a try to see if it works for you.
Main Features
- Supports multiple video output formats
- Audio recording from a suitable source
- Stream support for various services like Hitbox, Twitch.tv, etc.
- Various advanced configuration options
- Webcam recording support
- Overlay layer support while recording (image and text layers)
Pros
- Being a cross-platform application, you can use it everywhere
Cons
- Dependency size is rather large – requires JRE 8.0
- No longer actively developed
Installation on Ubuntu
ScreenStudio can be installed on Ubuntu from its PPA. Enter the following commands in a terminal to install it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:soylent-tv/screenstudiosudo apt update sudo apt install screenstudio
If you fail to install it on Ubuntu 17.10 or above, you can try downloading the older deb package from the launchpad to see if it works on the latest Linux distro that you have.ScreenStudio
7. Green Recorder
Green Recorder has a simple interface and is easy to use. It was one of the earliest screen recording tools in Linux to provide support for Wayland. It’s built using GTK3, and like most of the other screen recorders here, it uses FFmpeg in the background. If you’re using Wayland, this would perhaps be the best choice for an Ubuntu screen recorder.
Unfortunately, the project has been archived on GitHub and no longer developed. But, it still works for most of the users.
Main Features
- Supports multiple video formats such as avi, mkv, mp4, webm etc
- Can also record the screen as a gif
- Default preferences can be saved
- Supports both Xorg and Wayland
Pros
- Simple interface with necessary features
- Gif support
- Wayland support
Cons
- No webcam recording support
- No longer actively developed. The project has been archived on GitHub.
Installation on Ubuntu
You can install Green Recorder on Ubuntu using its official PPA. Just use the commands below:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fossproject/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo apt install green-recorder8. Peek
Peek is a simple tool for recording animated gifs from your desktop screen.
Main Features
- Framerate setting
- Delay timer support
Pros
- Modern and slick interface
Cons
- Currently, only Linux with X11 is supported (which most of us are currently using)
Installation on Ubuntu
For installation, DEB packages are available on its GitHub project’s release page. You can also install it from its official PPA with the following commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:peek-developers/stable
sudo apt update
sudo apt install peek9. Gifine
Gifine is another gif recording tool for Linux. You can use it for recording and stitching together short gifs or videos.
Main Features
- Supports both gif and mp4 video output
- Supports editing and trimming the output before saving
Pros
- Provides more features than Peek
Cons
- Interface is not as nice as Peek
Installation on Ubuntu
Installing Gifine is a bit of a lengthy process. Open a terminal window and carefully enter the following commands for installing Gifine on Ubuntu:
10. VLC
There might be none who have not heard the name of VLC – the most powerful and popular Linux Multimedia Player. It comes prepacked with lots of features, and screencasting is one of them. You need to change the capture mode into a desktop mode in the options setting. You can also save the recording video or live-streaming it online.
Install on Ubuntu
sudo apt-get install vlc
11. Wink
Wink is mainly used for creating interactive tutorial content. This Linux screen capture software comes with very competitive features for screen recording. It also supports all the major OS platforms, including Windows, Linux, and other Unix-based systems.
12. Freeseer
Freeseer is created for making distant conference streaming simple and easy. Both video and audio streaming are supported simultaneously. It’s a free screencasting app and offers cross-platform resources.
Install on Ubuntu
Download App Package Quick Start Guide
13. Shutter
Shutter is one of the best Linux screen recorders but yet simple and offers a modern user interface. It also provides an image editing tool that can be used for customizing the captured image. You can capture the entire portion of the desktop screen or just a selected area.
Install on Ubuntu
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:shutter/ppa sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install shutter
14. Krut
Though the interface of Krut doesn’t look nice, it’s one of the lightest Linux screen recorders available in the market. This Linux screen capture software is developed with Java, and that’s why it portable and simple to use on other systems. You can do all the tasks that a full-fledged Linux screen recorder should do without any hassle.
Install on Ubuntu
15. Green Recorder
Screen Recorder is an essential productivity tool to record your screen. There are several screen recorder apps for Linux that work really well. But, at present, Green Recorder will provide you some great features which will blow your mind. It is a simple screen recorder app that supports Xorg as well as Wayland – Gnome Session. It’s built on top of Python, GTK+ 3, and ffmpeg.
Install on Ubuntu
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fossproject/ppa sudo apt update sudo apt install green-recorder
There’s More Where That Came From
This is a short list of screen recording solutions for Linux. Although there are plenty more where this came from, you should be able to fill all your desktop recording needs with one of these apps.
Conclusion
Just as there are many screen capture tools for Windows, there are many options out there that you can use to record a screencast on Linux. And just as it’s important to know how to use the right tool for the job, it’s also important to know that these tools can be misleading. Upon first look at their online description pages, they will all boast about their simplicity, ease of use and free price tag.
Screen recording has been an important tool used by Linux users. Screen recording allows you to capture and share your screen in a video while narrating explanations as required. It can be used to make video tutorials, record conference calls, video calls, presentations and even gaming.