10 Best Screen Recording Software for Windows and Mac Users

List of the Best Free Screen Recording Software Apps That are Useful for Capturing Your Screen Effectively:

A lot of people ask us about the best screen recording software online. The answer is not that straightforward.

While there are many apps online that lets you capture the desktop screen, not all of them offer value for money in terms of features. Selecting the best one requires you to thoroughly research online. You shouldn’t just look at the features and prices, but also the online reviews.

If you are pressed for time, then this article is just for you.

In this article, we have answered some common questions regarding screen recording application. In addition, we have also reviewed the apps that you can buy online. Reading the reviews will save a ton of time when it comes to researching the best screen recording tool online.

What is Screen Recording Software?

A screen recorder lets you record and stream from your PC or mobile screen. With this software, you can capture any part of the screen and save it as an image or a video. The best screen recording app will allow you to create videos and images in HD quality.

Using the app, you capture videos, games, webinars, and Skype sessions. You can also use the software to record videos from external devices such as IPTV, smartphone, webcam, and PlayStation/Xbox.

What are the uses of Screen Recording Software?

Most people use screen capture software tools for streaming game videos on sites such as Twitch. In addition, users can use the app for creating educational materials and business presentations.

The other uses of a screen capturing app include creating a storyboard, drafting a technical manual, or collaborating on a project.

What are the General Features the Software Should Have?

A screen record application should have editing tools that will let you annotate and highlight captured images and videos. In addition, it should support screen capture in the popular image and video formats such as Jpg, Avi, and MPEG-4.

The other common features of screen capturing apps include audio recording, the ability to record a specific area, one window, or the entire screen, image or audio sharing options, and hardware acceleration for screen capturing.

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.

For recording from your game console, IPTV, or another external device, you should look for the one that supports recording from external devices.

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Now you know what a screen capturing app is, let’s review some of the best recording tools that you can check online.

You can find a lot of free and open-source recording software.

A few examples of the free screen capturing apps include:

• Camstudio
• Microsoft Expression Encoder
• Filmora Scrn
• Hypercam
• Aiseesoft Screen Recorder
• Screen Recorder
• BB FlashBack Express
• Jing
• ezvid
• Screencast-O-Matic
• MSI Afterburner (Game Recording)
• Screen2Avi
• Screenpresso
• SMRecorder
• SmartPixel
• Screenr
• TinyTake
• Taksi
• Webinaria
• VSDC Free Screen Recorder

Let’s review some of the best free and paid screen recording tools!

Best for Presentation recordings and interactive quizzes.
Price: $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.

Best for High-quality screen recording, record video gaming.
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.

Best for Education, Live Streaming, Business Meeting, Video Produce, and Other Fields.
Price: $9.99

HitPaw Screen Recorder is the best screen recorder for Windows PC to help capture screen, record game, webcam and PIP videos.

HitPaw Screen Recorder is a user-friendly screen recorder. This screen recorder has a hardware acceleration function that can make your computer work faster and export much quicker when using it. If you are worried about unexpected situations which may result in your video loss, you can enable its segment recording.

It will save your videos at the duration you set. You can add screens, windows, webcams, games, iOS devices, pre-recorded videos, pictures, or texts to record at the same time, switch from content only, presenter only, or content + presenter, etc.

Features:

• Capture and record your websites, lectures, video calls, and anything on screen.
• Record your gameplay highlights to share with friends.
• Stream on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, etc. like a Pro.
• Bring magic virtual webcam to live streams and video chats.

Best for Recording Computer and Mobile Screens.

Price:

• Monthly Plan: $19.99
• Annual Plan: $39.99
• Perpetual Plan: $69.99
• Family Plan: $149.99

Eassiy is a fantastic screen recording software that is ideal for capturing a computer, mobile, and video game screen. You get over 10 intuitive tools to customize your recorded screen. You can annotate the recorded screen in real-time.

You also benefit from some advanced features. For instance, you can lock a gameplay window to make your video game recording is taking place without any lags. You want to take a full page screen shot on PC or Mac, you can do so with Eassiy by simply scrolling down while recording is on.

Features:

• Schedule Screen Recording
• Lock Gameplay Window
• Customize Screen Recording Area
• Record High-Quality Audio
• Annotate in real-time on-screen recordings

Best for Screencasting, and technical documentation.
Price: $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.

Best for screen recording.

Price: 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.

Suggested reading =>> Wondershare Filmora X Review

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.

Best for Gameplay, streaming, Tutorial, and podcasting recording.

Price: VideoProc is available in three editions for Windows as well as Mac, One Year License ($29.95), Lifetime License ($42.95), and Family License ($57.95). You can download a free trial of VideoProc and record screen for free.

VideoProc contains a recorder that will let you capture the videos from your computer’s screen or webcam. While recording a screen, you can draw, type, highlight, or add voiceover. You can set the recording quality, format, etc. It is also a video editing software that provides the functionalities like cut, merge, rotate, etc.

Features:

• 3 recording modes: capture desktop/iOS screen; record video with a webcam; make a picture-in-picture video.
• Apply Green Screen / Chroma Key effect; crop to select an area you’d like to record; Draw, highlight, add text, etc.
• Powerful video editing features: Cut, merge, crop, and rotate footages; add effect, denoise, stabilize Shaky video footage from GoPro, iPhone, etc
• High-quality focused media converter: Convert any video audio DVD to any format and devices, over 420 output profiles.
• Download video music from 1000+ sites. It provides many more features like making GIFs, adding Watermark, Making MKV, creating M3U8, etc.

Best for high-quality recording.

Price: Aiseesoft Screen Recorder offers three licensing options, 1-Month License ($25), 1-Year License ($31.20), and Lifetime License ($55.20).

Aiseesoft Screen Recorder is an easy-to-use tool for recording the screen and taking snapshots. It can record any activity on Windows and Mac platforms including a video game, Skype call, YouTube videos, etc. It has functionalities to edit the screen recordings.

Aiseesoft Screen Recorder can be used for various use cases such as capturing online videos, recording games to share, recording lectures, taking snapshots, recording music, making video tutorials, etc. It is a feature-rich platform that offers features like area selection, high-quality recording, locking window, mouse recording, etc.

Features:

• Blue-light” real-time HD video encoding technology for a good image and sound quality.
• The lock window capture feature provides the facility to record activity on a certain window.
• Multiple formats are supported to save the captured videos such as MP4, MOV, WMV, etc.
• It can record only the internal audio of the computer.
• Supports multiple formats to save captured snapshots png, jpeg, bmp, gif, tiff, etc.

Best for online screen recording.

Price: Screen Recorder is available for $34.99. You can upgrade it for $23.99. It is available to download for free.

CyberLink Screen Recorder 4 is a robust platform for capturing desktop and video streaming. It offers the functionalities for game streaming, screen recording, and video editing.

It makes use of high-quality screen capturing technology. It contains the easy to use editing features of PowerDirector. It uses responsive and high-quality screen casting and capturing technology.

Screen Recorder is an all-in-one solution to record gameplan, vlogging, and share screen. It can be used by gamers, streamers, YouTubers, vloggers, and for work & business. Its real-time Webcam & Mic Preview will help you with the quick adjustment of resolution and settings.

Features:

• Webcam & Mic Preview in real-time.
• User-friendly editing tools.
• Recording & editing presentations
• Live Streaming

#10) Movavi Screen Recorder Studio (Windows & Mac OS)

Best for: Live Streaming, presentations, digitization of VHS tapes, and screencasting.
Price: $59.95

You can use Movavi Studio to capture and edit videos. The software has one of the best editing tools that allow adding an artistic flair to videos. It lets you add special effects such as blur, mosaic, filters, stickers, etc.

This software supports pan/zoom, stabilization, and frame-by-frame editing. In addition, you can optimize the videos for viewing in both TV and smartphone. You can share the created videos online to various channels.

Features

• No time limit on the video length.
• Core editing tools – Optimize clips for TV and smartphone.
• Records sound from microphone.
• Supports over 180 formats including AVI, MOV, MP3, MP4, MKV, AAC, and much more.

Website: Movavi

Further Reading => Simple Ways to Screen Record on Windows

#11) Bandicam (Windows Only)

Best for Game recording, webcams, and all types of screencasting.
Price: $39.

Bandicam is a versatile screen capturing application that supports game and screen capturing. The best thing about the software is 4 HD Ultra UHD game videos. The software can record up to 144 FPS game video.

Another highlight of the software is its device recording feature. The software supports recording from Xbox/PS, smartphone, IPTV, Apple TV, and HDTV. However, you need to buy a separate capture card to record videos from the devices.

Features

• Record sound from system and microphone.
• Hardware acceleration supported.
• Records HD game and videos.
• Supports Avi, MP4, and image formats.

Website: Bandicam

#12) Screencast-O-Matic (Windows, Mac OS, Chromebook)

Best for: Presentations, tutorials, and screencasting.
Price: Subscription Plans – Free, $1.5/mon, and $4/mon.

Screencast-o-Matic is an online application that lets you create top quality videos. You will love the ease and simplicity of recording videos using this software.

You can add narration to the captured videos. Also, you can customize the videos using animations, overlays, and much more. The software lets you zoom in and out and highlight the parts of the screen. You can also import images, audio, and videos from external sources.

Features

• Record system audio.
• Speech to text captioning.
• Easily share videos on social video channels including Facebook and YouTube.
• Cloud hosting services.

Website: Screen-O-Matic

#13) CamStudio (Windows, Linux)

Best for: Tutorial & promotional videos and streaming.
Price: Free

Camstudio is an open source, free software that is best for streaming videos online. The software can convert videos into small size Flash files. The inbuilt codec creates quality videos that are bandwidth friendly.

The software allows you to capture the entire or parts of the screen. In addition, you can add cursor controls and texts to the captured videos. The software is easy to use and configure thereby allowing you to record and save files easily.

Features

• Automatic panning
• Add Comments
• Highlight cursor path
• Supports AVI and Flash (SWF)

Website: CamStudio

#14) Open Broadcaster Software (Windows, Mac OS, and Linux)

Best for: Gaming, streaming, and instructional videos.
Price: Free.

The Open Broadcaster Software tool is one of the best feature-packed free video recording software. The software is best for capturing game videos and live streamlining. Moreover, it’s also best for creating instructional videos.

The software can also upload the videos to your YouTube and Twitch accounts.

You can capture video and audio from multiple sources including mic, system audio, and video capture device. You can also add transitions to videos using the intuitive audio mixer.

Features

• Real-time audio and video editing.
• Intuitive audio mixer.
• Monitor multiple scenes at a time.
• HD Game recording

Website: Open Broadcaster Software

#15) ShareX (Windows Only)

Best for: Basic screen capture features
Price: Free.

ShareX software lets you record and captures any area of the screen using a single key. You can also upload text and images and other files to the captured file.

You can add visual effects and text to the captured files. The recorded file can be uploaded to a host of different online services including Google Drive, DropBox, OneDrive Amazon S3, and a lot more.

Features

• Share files online.
• Annotate image and video recordings.
• Lots of productivity tools.

Website: ShareX

#16) Adobe Presenter (Windows Only)

Best for Webinars and online tutorials.
Price: Full License: $499, Subscription: $14.99/month.

Adobe Presenter is expensive, but it comes with advanced features that are not present elsewhere. You can generate SRT files with subtitles. This is great for creating regional videos.

You can also save videos on the cloud using the Adobe Connect Server. This allows you to stream the videos online. In addition, there are a lot of video editing tools to customize the video. The software also supports trimming, panning, and zooming of video files.

Features

• Create interactive quizzes with HTML5.
• Embed YouTube videos.
• Select predefined images.

Website: Adobe Presenter

#17) Flashback Express (Windows Only)

Best for: Gaming videos, instructional videos, and webcam recordings.
Price: Free.

Flashback Express is another great online tool for capturing videos. The online software comes with a lot of useful features. The software is ideal for making instructional online videos.

You can add audio commentary to the files. There are no watermarks and file length limits with this free screen capturing application. If you want advanced video editing and annotation features, then you can go for the Pro version that costs $59.

Features

• Easy sharing to YouTube.
• No watermarks
• No movie length limit.
• Supports MP4, AVI, and WMV.
• HD Recording

Website: Flashback Express

#18) Setapp

Best for Mac-exclusive apps for Screen recording and video editing.

Price: Mac: $9.99/month, Mac and iOS: $12.49/month, Power User: $14.99/month, 7-day free trial available.

Setapp is a platform that harbors several Mac-exclusive screen recording applications. Simply subscribe to Setapp by paying a small, reasonable fee, and you’ll get access to more than 240 apps, some of which are capable of recording screens.

One of the best apps that serve this purpose on Setapp is CAPTO. With CAPTO, you can record a specific area of your screen, or the whole screen for that matter with just a few clicks. CAPTO also provides you with editing tools, which you can use to cut, crop, and annotate your recorded screen video.

Features:

• Access to a comprehensive suite of screen recording applications for Mac.
• Full and partial screen recording facilitated.
• Tools to edit videos and images.
• Extensive tutorials that explain how to record screens with added voiceovers.
• Simple screenshot maker.
• Share screen recording online on other platforms.

#19) iSpring Cam Pro (Windows)

Best for recording all types of screencasts and creating training videos: software tutorials, how-to videos, video courses, and more.

Pricing: $227 per user/year.

iSpring Cam Pro is a professional screen recorder that, besides capturing screencasts, allows you to record audio narration, webcam, or both webcam and screen simultaneously using a picture-in-picture mode.

iSpring also has a built-in video editor that lets you improve the look and the feel of your videos. You can remove noise, delete unnecessary fragments, slow down or speed up the video, add media and annotations, apply transition effects, and more.

Features:

• Records the screen, along with webcam and audio narration.
• Can edit the output video.
• Adds intro slides, annotations, shapes, and images.
• Can highlight a cursor, add click sounds, and create visual hints.
• Creates smooth scene transitions.
• Has no recording time limits.

Enlisted above are the top screen capture software that we have found after scouring the net. These apps offer the best features in terms of price – in some cases at no cost at all.

=>> Learn to Take Screenshots on Windows 10

Here is an additional list of screen capture tools that you can consider while selecting an app for screen recording. While they don’t offer the best value, they are worth mentioning due to some of their useful features and user-friendly interface.

#20) iSpring Free Cam (Windows Only)

iSpring Free Cam is a free screen capturing app that is ideal for video lessons and instructional presentations. You can save edited movies as WMV or upload to YouTube.

Website: iSpring Free Cam

#21) Ezvid (Windows Only)

Ezvid is free to use. You can use the software for created videos for content websites, Facebook, and YouTube.

Website: Ezvid

#22) Icecream Screen Recorder (Windows and Mac OS)

The free version of Icecream Screen Recorder lets you create 5-minutes HTML5 videos. For unlimited video length and without watermark, you should buy the Pro version that cost $29.95.

Website: Icecream Screen Recorder

#23) Fraps (Windows Only)

Fraps is another Windows-only free screen capture software that lets you capture watermarked game videos. If you want to capture long videos without any watermarks, then you should buy the Pro version that costs $37.

Website: Fraps

#24) SmartPixel

SmartPixel is ideal for creating real estate videos. Using the app, you can create multi-touch 3D promotional content.

Website: SmartPixel

Conclusion

We hope this article would have answered many of the common questions regarding screen capturing application. Here, You learned about what is a screen capturing software, uses of the software, and the general features that you should look for while buying a screen capturing tool.

You learned about some tips to buy the best screen capturing tool including the price and features. Armed with the information about the screen capture tools, you can have an easier time for selecting the best one that suits your requirements.

Based on the reviews provided here, gamers and instructors should use Open Broadcaster Software. The software is not just free but also boasts of a lot of features such as high-quality audio and video recording, audio mixers, filters, and many others that make it a gem of a software tool for both teachers and gaming enthusiasts.

For business presentations, you should use Screem-O-Matic. This software has powerful tools to make professional quality business presentations.

Your imagination is the limit when it comes to using a screen capturing application. You can use a capturing app for many different purposes. Just select the right app and make the creative magic of the software that works for you.

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