Screen recording is really a hidden gem of tech. And, if you are looking for the top screen recording software, you are at the right place. Having a great software (or apps), you can manage to record everything happening on your screen and make tutorials and tricks video for others.
Video marketing is more important than ever. Video is easier to create on your computer then it has ever been. If you are looking for the best screen recording software you have come to the right place. We have gone out of our way to bring you the top screen recording software around.
Knowing what is the best screen recording software to use when you want to record your computer screen can be confusing.That’s why we are writing this article — to help you find the best screen recording software that meets your needs and requirements. Our screen recorder reviews will guide you in choosing the right software for capturing your screen and allow you to decide whether it is worth installing the application on your computer, tablet or mobile phone.
Before we discuss different screen recording software, let’s first get clear on what exactly screencasting is. As the name suggests, screencasting refers to making recordings of computer displays. This kind of technology has gone beyond the scope of simple demonstrations, and has become quite a viable way to capture things that might be hard to describe using plain text or screen recordings. It simply records whatever happens on your monitor by capturing its actions.
Honorable Mention: Zappy
Zappy is a new product of Zapier that they developed to help improve communication within their company, especially since they have a large, fully remote team that works in many different time zones. For the time being, their screen recording software is available only on macOS and is free for all paid Zapier users. As this product is still in the early access phase, we have included it on this list as an honorable mention. When their product is more fully accessible and there are more users to report, we will update our review.
Pros of Zappy:
- Free for all paid Zapier users
- Targeted towards remote workers
Cons of Zappy:
- Only available on macOS
- In early access phase
#1) Camtasia (Windows & Mac OS)
Best for Presentation recordings and interactive quizzes.
Camtasia Pricing: $249.
For presentations and training videos, you should look no further than Camtasia. You can edit videos with built-in themes and templates.
You can also add quizzes to the videos to make the video interactive. In addition, you can add annotations, call-outs, text, and shapes to videos. The software also lets you add music and audio captured from system and microphone.
Features
- Record HD quality videos.
- Built-in themes and templates.
- Add annotations, call-outs, text, shapes, etc.
- Supports 16 file formats including Avi, MP4, MP3, MPEG, JPG, BMP, and GIF.
#2) PassFab Screen Recorder (Windows)
Best for High-quality screen recording, record video gaming.
PassFab Screen Recorder Price: $14.99
PassFab for Screen Recorder is a powerful, multi-featured software that empowers you to instantly record your computer’s screen in HD. Using this tool, users can capture the whole screen or just a specific part.
Its intuitive and easy-to-use interface makes it an ideal choice for both newbies and professionals to record anything on the screen, be it photos, videos, music, lectures, and so on as well as record webcam.
Features
- HD screen recording
- Game recording
- Screen and webcam overlay recording.
- Real-time drawing while recording.
- Schedule recording for businesses.
- Record screen and webcam in high resolution.
- A built-in video editor to refine the final product.
- Supports multiple output formats such as MP4, MKV, etc.
#3) Snagit (Windows & Mac OS)
Best for Screencasting, and technical documentation.
Snagit Pricing: $49.95
Snagit is a useful screen capturing tool that can instantly capture images or videos. Using the software, you can capture screenshots from different sources.
The software boasts advanced editing features. You can quickly explain processes and add visuals to your documentation. The software also allows you to edit and annotate screenshots easily using test, custom graphics, and highlights.
Features
- Capture screenshots and videos.
- Record audio from microphone or system.
- Record webcam
- Supports MPEG-4 and animated GIF.
#4) Filmora Scrn (Windows & Mac OS)
Best for screen recording.
Filmora Scrn Pricing: Filmora Scrn is available with two plans i.e. 1 Year License ($19.99 per year per PC) and a Lifetime License ($29.99 for Lifetime per PC). It can be tried for free. It offers a 30-days money-back guarantee.
Filmora Scrn is a Screen Recorder that has a powerful screen recording and editing functionality. You can record and edit your gameplay videos, tutorials, online courses, etc. It will allow you to import over 50 file formats. It has a custom recording field and so you can record all or select the part of your computer screen.
Filmora Scrn offers various features and functionalities like Picture In Picture, Custom Recording Field, Annotations, Tutorial Features, and export to MP4, MOV, GIF, etc. It has an intuitive design. It supports Windows and Mac platforms.
Features:
- Filmora Scrn can record fast-paced games (Up to 60 fps for Mac).
- You can record from 2 devices like your screen and webcam simultaneously.
- It provides a full editing suite. You will be able to edit your clips quickly and easily through a wide range of professional tools.
- Filmora Scrn’s Effect Tools will help you to communicate ideas clearly with changeable cursors and annotations.
5. Ezvid
A perfect screen recording tool for making quick video clips and sharing them on YouTube
OS: Windows
Ezvid is free screen recording software that claims to be the world’s tool, and that may not be too far from the truth. Ezvid’s clarity is enhanced by the product’s speed: specifically designed to save users’ time, it will help you produce and upload videos directly to YouTube in a matter of minutes. And that’s why this tool enjoys notoriety among gamers and movie fans who are interested in making YouTube videos frequently and as quickly as possible.
Pros
- Offers computer-generated speech for narrative purposes
- Automatic high-quality resolution (1280 x 720p HD)
- Speed control over output videos
- Sleek and modern interface
- Instantaneous upload to YouTube
- Selection of popular music tracks included
Cons
- Reviewers report extraneous noise
- Minor bugs and inconsistencies
- Fullscreen game is not available
6. TinyTake
A screen recorder with a native cloud-based gallery for storing and sharing videos
OS: Windows and Mac
TinyTake by MangoApps is a sophisticated free screen recorder for Windows and Mac that allows you to capture images and videos from your computer screen, add comments, and share them with others within minutes. TinyTake comes with an online cloud-based gallery where you can store all your screen captures and recorded videos.
Pros
- Bulk file sharing
- Public URL available for sharing
- Built-in online file viewer for images, videos, and documents
- Ability to create custom shortcut keys
- Video player is compatible with mobile devices
Cons
- Free version has a 5-minute limit for video recording
- Video files are saved as MP4 only
- Limited editing features
Here’s a video on how to use TinyTake for recording videos:
7. OBS (Open Broadcaster Software)
The best free screen recorder for capturing gameplays
OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
OBS Studio is a top open-source software for live streaming. You can create scenes composed with multiple sources: images, texts, window captures, browser windows, webcams, capture cards, and more, and then switch between them seamlessly via custom transitions. Unlike many other free competitors, OBS Studio packs a lot of features and settings. But all this can seem overkill for those who are looking for the quickest and easiest way to shoot a video.
Pros
- Allows you to set up multiple scenes and use various sources
- Includes built-in audio mixer with per-source filters
- Provides advanced configuration options
- Does not add watermarks
- Has no recording limit
- Supports multiple streaming services
Cons
- Some users find the interface quite clunky
- Learning curve is steep for non-techs
- Reported to crash quite often
- Not suited for quick screen recording
Watch this video on OBS Studio and how to use it:
8. Debut Video Capture
Great video recording software for creating demonstrations and streaming video games
OS: Windows
Debut is among the best free screen recorders for Windows and allows you to make videos for almost any task. It has a slightly odd and old-fashioned interface but boasts advanced functionality. For example, you can make mouse highlighting spotlights, show keystrokes, replace the background with images, video, or color, add a logo or watermark to your video capture, and even schedule a recording.
Pros
- Can capture from a network IP camera and other devices
- Records screen, webcam, and audio
- Unlimited recording time
- Robust editing options
- A variety of output formats
- Green Screen tool
- Time-lapse video recording
Cons
- Limited editing features
- Outdated interface
- No interactive or animation features
- Reported to slow down when uploading videos
Here’s a video on how to record your screen with Debut:
Comparison Chart of Free Screen Recorders
| Product name | Webcam recording | Audio recording | Video editing | Output |
| 1. Free Cam | No | Yes | Yes | WMV |
| 2. DVDVideoSoft’s Free Screen Video Recorder | No | Yes | No | MP4, BMP, JPEG, PNG |
| 3. ShareX | No | Yes | No | AVI, MP4, GIF |
| 4. CamStudio | No | Yes | No | AVI, SWF |
| 5. Ezvid | No | Yes | Yes | WMV |
| 6. TinyTake | Yes | Yes | No | MP4 |
| 7. OBS | No | Yes | No | LV, MP4, MOV, MKV, TS, HLS |
| 8. Debut | Yes | Yes | Yes | AVI, WMV, FLV, MPG, MP4, MOV |
Paid Screen Recording Software That We Love
The Internet’s bountiful supply of screen recording products means that one is sure to find free and low-cost options. However, when searching for high-quality performance, elaborate presentation, and expert technical support, many users are ready to invest their money in paid software. Here are seven paid screen recorders that have gained customers’ and reviewers’ trust and continue to expand their eminent presence in the market.
9. 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
To get a complete sense of iSpring Suite and its options, watch this video:
Price: $970/year for the entire toolkit. Free 30-day trial → (no credit card required)
What Factors Should be Considered While Buying a Screen Capturing App?
Before buying a screen capturing tool, you should assess your needs.
If you want to record a video for a business or educational presentation, then you should select software that allows you to mix up scenes and edit audio in videos. Also, you should ensure that the software has image editing feature for adding annotations in the videos or images.
In case you want to stream a gaming video, you should make sure that the app supports system audio and microphone recording.
An app with HD recording is important if you want to create the best quality videos. However, do remember that these videos take a lot of time to upload. The feature is not required if you want to upload standard quality files quickly online.
You should also look at the file formats supported by the online screen capturing tool. Make sure that the software supports at least AVI and MPEG4 movie recording. In addition, it should also support recording movie at 60 fps.
Conclusion
Screen Recording is about capturing the performance or behavior of one’s computer screen, most popularly through the use of a software application. Screen Recording, also known as screencasting, is software simulation of computer screen, i.e., audio-visuals of users’ actions are recorded and shown to their end-users, either in real time (current events) or pre-recorded by an interactive media player.
Screen recording software is an invaluable part of a web designer or developer’s toolkit. It allows them to create a video tutorial for their clients and helps them increase their commercial value. There are several ways to record what’s on your monitor, but only some of these ways also record your mouse clicks, audio and computer microphone sounds as you’re doing your work. There are a few screencast software tools, but only the best ones make it into our list.