Screen recording software is used to create videos out of the display of a computer, smartphone or other devices. It is aptly named as ‘screen recorder’ because it captures the video and sound from the display of your device which can be either on-screen activity or webcam/microphone conversations. When comes to choose best screen recorder for you, there are some very considerable factors you need to keep in mind. Starting from quality and compatibility, the foremost thing that you will require from your best screen recording software is how easy it will be to use. Will be able to take advantage of this software at once? It might be able to capture your sound if you want it for YouTube or Twitch but if you need more control over things like custom audio input sources like an external microphone, or cleaner audio through compression and noise reduction then look elsewhere!
However good your gaming skills are, the best screen recording tools can ensure that you’ll be able to share your best performance with friends and followers. No matter whether you want to share a short clip of gameplay or stream a marathon session on Twitch, there are plenty of options available.
A screen recorder is a computer application with which you can record your screen. This can be useful for creating video tutorials or presentations. There are some free tools, you can use to record your screen.
Screen recording software is one of the best ways you can analyze your screen, show tutorials and how-to’s to other people and even create video tutorials of your software. In this article, I will review the top recommended screen recorders for Windows that can help you customize their output settings and export them to other common video formats such as MPEG.
What is screen recording software?
In simplest terms, a screen recording software takes a video of what happens on your screen. You can record the entire display of your monitor, a specific area of the screen, or a particular window. Screen recording generally includes your microphone and computer audio, too.
So, aside from just what happens on your display, the recording software will also capture the sound of your programs or microphone.
What mainly separates screen recorders from each other are the watermarks, features, and quality. Most programs generally need to be paid to work optimally, but there are a ton of options that provide exceptional value for free.
Some programs limit a 720p resolution recording, others allow up to 1080p but add watermarks. There’s a pro and con to every product here, but that only means these free screen recorders are diverse. The programs below are the best screen recording software for PCs like Windows and Mac.
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
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
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
ShareX
This open-source screen recording software is ideal for capturing videos.
It doesn’t place watermarks or duration limits on your recordings, and you also get the option to save your file as a GIF instead of a video.
The video file sharing features are ShareX’s biggest advantage, because it’s easy to upload recordings directly to YouTube and other platforms.
Enhancing screenshots you capture with this tool doesn’t require much effort either. A built-in photo editor lets you freely customize still photos in any way you want.
Not only is it a brilliant screenshot and screen capture tool, but it can also capture and reveal text via OCR, record a whole scrolling webpage, and even record your screen according to a schedule.
Price: Free
Supported OS: Linux, Windows
Best for: Recording screens of Linux devices
Debut Video Capture
Capable of recording from screens, IP cameras and webcams
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: WindowsTODAY’S BEST DEALSPro Edition Quarterly PlanUS$3.33/mthHome EditionUS$34.99Pro EditionUS$39.95VISIT SITEat NCH Software
REASONS TO BUY
+Scheduled recordings+Can record from webcams+Can record from IP cameras
REASONS TO AVOID
-Looks a little datedAdvertisement
Debut Video Capture is a new addition to our roundup of free screen recorders, and although its slightly dated design does it few favors, it’s an extremely powerful program that can do much more than just capture what’s happening on your PC monitor.
In addition to basic screen recording (with no time limits or watermarks), Debut Video Capture can also record footage from external devices, including webcams and security cameras. It can even record on a regular schedule, which means it can become the main hub of a home security system. Not too shabby for a program that’s totally free for personal use.
There are no post-production editing tools, but you can apply filters and add your own captions and watermarks before you begin recording. There’s no option for exporting videos directly to YouTube or Facebook, but they can be saved in all the main formats, including MP4, MOV and AVI (to name just three).
Debut Video Capture is currently in public beta, so we look forward to seeing the final release version with a lick of extra polish soon.
Screencast-O-Matic
A browser-based free screen recorder with a lot to offer
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows, macOS, ChromeOS (in browser)TODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Supports captions+Can zoom while recording
REASONS TO AVOID
-Videos are watermarked-Maximum length 15 minutes
Screencast-O-Matic is another browser-based free screen recorder, and a very capable one at that. Recordings are limited to 15 minutes in length, but you can record as many clips as you like, zoom while recording, trim your recorded clips, add captions, save them to your desktop, YouTube or the cloud, share a video link, or add one of 30 royalty-free music tracks
Hit ‘Start recording for free’, followed by ‘Launch free recorder’. As with Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder, you’ll be prompted to download and install a small web launcher, after which the screen recorder will launch. Prepare your screen and adjust the size of the recording window to suit your needs (it can record the whole screen or just a selected area), then hit the red button. You can capture audio from your PC or a microphone, and record footage from your screen, a webcam or both.
Upgrading to a Deluxe account gives you extra features including scripted recordings, drawing and annotations, a video editor, and (perhaps most usefully) the ability to generate captions automatically with text-to-speech. That’s an impressive set of tools for $1.65 (about £1, AU$2.50) per month, but the free version of Screencast-O-Matic has a lot to offer as well.
The only real downside is that your recordings will be watermarked unless you upgrade, but if that’s not an issue then this free screen recorder is well worth a look.
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
What features to look for based on your needs
Before we recommend you anything, here’s a short breakdown of every key feature you need in your video recording software.
Simplicity
Recording your screen is surprisingly intimidating. There’s pressure to record efficiently. That means no spacing out, losing track of what you’re doing, or having a cursor that’s wandering around the screen aimlessly. A video recording with lots of filler content and pauses need to be trimmed with a video editor, which is its own challenge (not a problem with VEED though!).
A simple video editor should just record and save. Done. Worrying about how to use your screen capture software is the last thing you need.
Export High-Quality Videos
The export quality is where most free screen recorders limit their features. You shouldn’t need anything more than a 1080p recording, especially if your monitor doesn’t natively support a higher resolution. Most free screen recorders add watermarks when exporting at 1080p quality, so watch out for that.
Multiple Recording
Advanced screen recorders also offer the option of recording through your webcam, microphone, and computer audio. By computer audio, I’m talking about recording the sound from your speakers too. Recording all of these at the same time is a powerful way to increase the quality of your video clips, especially if you’re making YouTube videos.
Live Streaming
Having the best screen recording software is definitely a must for live streamers reading this. You’ll want to look for programs that let you adjust your volume on the fly, switch between recording screens or apps, and efficiently stream 1080p content.
Live streaming programs need to record multiple things at once, so a powerful desktop recorder is better. This doesn’t tax too much on the internet as well, if you don’t count the live video that’s being streamed.
Conclusion
In today’s digital age, you can capture a few steps captured through the screenshot of your desktop, for example, if you need to show something to your colleague or manager. If you can’t take a picture of the mobile phone or a record shop or do not have time to make a video, then try screen recording software.
Screen recording software is used by people who are trying to record audio, video, or their entire desktop in real-time. In many cases, the program that they choose depends on their level of skill with computers and/or technology. For beginners, it’s best to choose a lightweight or simplistic product that won’t be difficult to get accustomed to. More advanced users can be more selective based on what they are able to use and how easy it is to start using.