12 Best Video Recording Software for All Devices in 2023

Our guide will cover just that! We’ll share how to find the right platform, and we’ll review 12 of the best video recording software to try.

Content creators, podcasters, and business owners alike are waking up to the power of video content. Being able to produce studio-quality HD videos from anywhere is invaluable. This is where your choice of video recording software comes in. While there are many options available, not all are equal. This is why you need to know what to consider and what factors to look out for.

Video is the reigning medium online, and if you’re looking to create your own, you’ll want to use top-quality video recording software.

What is video recording software?

Video recording software is exactly what it sounds like: software for capturing video footage. Using video recording software, like Riverside, you can create HD visual content that does you justice. You can record multiple sources simultaneously and include content from your screen. 

Benefits of video recording software

1. Speed up your workflow

Integrating video recording software into your setup will streamline your recording process and save you time. If you currently record directly onto your camera’s SD card then upload the footage to your computer for editing, you could cut several steps out of your process by using software like Riverside. 

2. Compliment your audio with visual content

Diversifying your content by including visual elements will strengthen your production value and offer more to your audience. Video recording software like Riverside make the transition to full-on audiovisual content seamless, so you can enjoy all the benefits of video without added effort. 

3. Connect with your audience 

Visual content will help you to engage with your audience more effectively. You’ll be able to offer a more ‘human’ side to your content, add more context using visual prompts, and generally make your content more exciting. 

4. Record multiple sources 

Most video recording software will enable you to record multiple sources at one time. That means, for example, you’ll be able to record yourself speaking whilst sharing your screen. Riverside takes this one step further, enabling you to record with up to 7 remote guests – always in HD. 

What to consider when choosing video recording software

While there are many video recording software options available out there, many even free, it’s important to consider what features to look out for. Some features to consider include:

High-quality resolution

First and foremost, you want to make sure that your video recorder captures high-quality video. Even if you connect a top-class camera to your recorder, the software itself needs to be capable of recording in a good resolution. For the best results, we recommend a minimum of 720p HD, but it’s better to go for 1080p Full HD or higher.  

Local recording

Most online video recorders rely on the internet to record. Unfortunately, this means that if your internet is unstable you may encounter blurry or lagged video recordings. This is why we suggest trying software that offers local recording. Local recording-based software captures and stores everything directly on your device, so even if your internet connection glitches, your recordings won’t be affected. 

Multitrack recording

Multi-track recording is the ability to capture and download separate video and audio tracks for each participant. This is important because it gives you more flexibility with editing. You can choose exactly who and what you want to display as you have separate content for each person. 

Screen recording

Most video recordings also operate as screen recording software. It’s useful to have the two together as you won’t have to worry about downloading additional programs and this makes it easy to record your screen, video, and audio at the same time. We suggest looking at what screen recording capabilities your software has. You may want to look at resolution and screen recording layout options to begin with. 

Additional features

While your software’s main purpose should be recording, it’s also useful to look out for additional features such as editing tools, video transcription, and even the ability to live stream or host remote recording sessions with guests. These can save you time and help streamline your recording process as well as make things easier for you. 

Ease of use

Lastly, it doesn’t matter how fancy your video capture software is, it must be easy to use. It won’t help if you have many tools, but aren’t able to understand how to use any of them. For beginners easy software is super important, and for advanced users this generally saves time.

12 Best video recording software (Free & Paid)

As we mentioned, there are a number of different video recording software available, all with different features on offer. Here’s a quick intro to some other good options: 

1. Riverside

Price: Free or paid plans starting at $15 per month.

Riverside is designed to make your life easier. You can record remotely in up to 4K resolution and invite up to 7 guests to join you no matter where they are. The platform is completely browser-based, so you don’t need to download anything to get started. It also means Riverside is compatible with all operating systems. It offers an easy setup. Only the host needs to make an account and guests simply need to follow the invite link to arrive in your online recording studio. 

When it comes to recording, Riverside doesn’t only offer high-quality resolution. You can record separate tracks for each participant, and best of all Riverside operates with local recordings. With separate video, audio, and screen recording tracks you’ll have more editing control and with local recording, you won’t have to worry about internet issues ruining your recording quality. Screen recordings are also captured in HD and it’s easy to screen share a window, online tab, or your whole desktop screen.

‍And that’s not all. You can share media during your recording session using the fully integrated Media Board, and it’ll be automatically recorded as a separate track. This media board has preloaded sound effects, but you can also add your own media. 

Pros

• High-quality resolution at up to 4K video and 48kHz WAV audio.
• All-in-one video and screen recording software
• Offers great additional features including Ai transcription, and live streaming  
• Multi-track recording 
• Remote recording with up to 7 guests
• Mobile app available for recording on the go 
• Custom branding which is great for companies recording
• Easy distribution to platforms like YouTube and Riverside
• Text-based video editing so trimming your recording is as easy as editing a text transcript

Cons

• Doesn’t offer advanced editing tools 

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2. QuickTime X

Price: Free

QuickTime is inbuilt on all Apple devices and enables you to record through your device’s camera or record your device screen. Unfortunately, QuickTime is not itself capable of recording with remote guests. If you do want to record with others, you’ll need to ask each of your participants to record themselves locally using QuickTime whilst you’re on a Zoom or Skype call. Then they’ll each need to send you their recording file. A bit of a hassle, if you ask us. 

Pros

• No need to download anything new 
• Video and screen recorder
• Offers editing tools
• Doesn’t rely on the internet for recording resolution

Cons

• Optimized only for Mac users
• No option for remote recording with guests

3. Ecamm Call Recorder

Price: Free 14-day trial or plans starting at $16 per month.

Ecamm Call Recorder is designed to make recording Skype calls easier. Your Skype video and audio calls are recorded directly to your Mac so you can use them later. If you ask us, this is a great solution to an old problem. 

Pros

• High-quality recording resolution
• Live streaming options
• Screen recording and video recording software
• Comes with additional features such as widgets and green screens.

Cons

• Watermark on trial
• Available only on Mac

4. Vidyard

Price: Free or paid plans start at $19 per month.

Vidyard targets remote salespeople so that they can amp up their sales pitches with a visual element. Vidyard enables you to create video messages that convey a personal touch. Vidyard is free to use and easy to get started with. You can record a video or your screen and share it instantly with your clients. Only thing is, Vidyard isn’t currently able to accommodate remote recording, so you won’t be able to work with remote participants using Vidyard. 

Pros

• All-in-one screen and video recorder
• Easy sharing
• Video analytics and hosting with paid plans

Cons

• Can only have up to 5 users with the Business plan which is $1250 per month. 
• Can only record up to 25 videos on the free plan
• Can only record 30-minute long videos on the free plan and 1 hour on the Pro plan. 

5. Zoom

Price: Free or plans starting at $149.90 per year

Zoom is a household name and extremely familiar to most people. That makes it appealing to content creators who don’t want any hassle. Unfortunately, Zoom’s video recording capabilities are hindered by a reliance on a strong and stable internet connection. Plus, your whole recording will be recorded onto a single track meaning you have diminished editing capabilities in post.

Pros

• Familiar for guests to use
• Video and screen recorder
• Whiteboard tool with editable boards
• Good for webinar recordings
• Remote recording available

Cons

• Relies on internet connection for recording quality
• You have to pay to record with more than 2 participants for more than 40 minutes
• Zoom doesn’t offer separate video track recording, only audio.

6. Loom

Price: Free plan or paid plans starting at $8 per month. 

Loom’s video and screen recording tool is designed for quick communication, rather than extensive video content. It’s marketed at remote teams where video messaging is a far more personal means of communication. Loom is able to record video conferences (such as Zoom, Google Hangouts). 

Pros

• Can record on desktop and mobile devices
• Recording resolution at up to 4K 
• Video editing capabilities
• Can screen record as well
• Up to 25 participants in one video

Cons

• Recording is internet-based so resolution is vulnerable to your connection
• You can only record 5-minute videos on the free Starter plan.
• You can only record up to 25 videos per person on the free plan. 

7. Camtasia

Price: Starts at $299.99 per user once-off and then a $50 yearly payment to renew. 

Camtasia is a screen recorder and video editor that’s compatible with both Mac and Windows. This is a straightforward application, designed for recording simple video tutorials and content. It’s not really set up for recording with remote guests, though it could be if you recorded your screen whilst on a Zoom call, for example. 

Pros

• Screen and video recording software
• Has extra video effects and editing tools
• Easy sharing to social media platforms
• Templates and themes available

Cons

• Doesn’t offer built-in remote recording
• Have to pay per user

8. CamStudio

Price: Free

CamStudio can record your screen and any audio activity. Again, it’s not set up to accommodate remote guests. It’s more for people wanting to record themselves and their screens simultaneously. 

Pros

• Completely free video capture software
• Additional features such as custom cursors, screen captions and video annotations features which are great for tutorials

Cons

• Doesn’t offer remote recording
• Not as reliable and might pose safety risks because it’s free and openware software.

9. OBS Studio

Price: Free

OBS is a popular video capture software that offers many tools, all for free. It integrates with various online streaming platforms and is ideal for gamers who want to capture their game screen and video at the same time. Overall, the platform has a bit of a learning curve but it offers many features that help you create professional video recordings.

Pros

• Free and available on Windows and Mac
• Ability to record separate audio tracks
• Features especially for gaming and live streaming
• Integrations with platforms such as Twitch and YouTube

Cons

• A little difficult to navigate and use at first
• Might have too many tools for a beginner just needing the basics
• Has a support forum but no direct customer support

10. Ezvid

Price: Free

Ezvid enables you to record your screen and audio. It has some additional features like voice recording, face cam, voice synthesis, and screen drawing. Unlike Riverside, it’s not optimized for recording remote calls, so you won’t easily be able to record with international participants. 

Pros

• Free music you can add to videos
• Offers editing tools
• Video recorder and screen recorder 
• Speech synthesis for easy video narrations
• Completely free recording software

Cons

• Only available on Windows
• Doesn’t record locally
• Doesn’t offer remote recording options

11. Bandicam

Price: Free or paid plans starting at $39.95 once off.

Bandicam is particularly good for recording video from external devices such as webcams or smartphones. The online-based video recorder is also ideal for gamers who want to record from their gaming devices. Additional features that come with Bandicam include live recording capabilities and webcam overlays.

Pros

• Great additional tools for live streamers and gamers
• Can record from various device screens
• Only a once-off payment

Cons

• Watermark on the free version
• Doesn’t offer many editing tools
• No option for remote recording with guests

12. Movavi

Price: Free or paid plans starting at $44.95 per month. 

Movavi is known more for its video editing software, but the platform does have a recorder too. This recorder is marketed as a screen recording, but it’s possible to capture your video as well. The software is basic but comes with some extra tools and effects. 

Pros

• Extra tools for screen annotations
• Screen and video recorder
• Option to set a recording timer
• Up to 4K video resolution

Cons

• Watermark on free version
• Doesn’t offer in-house remote meeting recording studios

Best video recording software

Although it depends on your recording needs, Riverside is your best video recording software choice for high-quality video recordings. It offers a wide-ranging suite of features combined with its in-built ability to record each participant in HD regardless of their internet connection makes it an all-around winner.

Riverside features

Local recording with no reliance on internet connection

Riverside records each participant locally in full HD. Local recording means that however weak or however intermittent you or your participant’s internet connection is, your final recording will be unaffected. 

Learn how to record an impeccable video using Riverside with our video tutorial:

Record from anywhere in the world

Riverside is built for remote recording. You can record with up to 7 remote guests anywhere in the world, always in full HD. 

Affordable

Riverside’s whole suite of features is available in different plans, including a free option and paid plans starting at $15/month, because high-quality recording shouldn’t break the bank. 

Transcriptions

Riverside automatically generates transcriptions of your recording, meaning you can make the most out of your content. Transcriptions are invaluable for making your content more accessible and diversifying its applications. You can use transcriptions to easily create captions or subtitles, or you can repurpose transcripts into a blog post and other written text formats.

Screen recording

With Riverside you can record your screen at up to 1080p Full HD resolution. The screen share button is simple to use and you can record your screen separately to maximize your post-production editing control. 

Editing tools

If you’re looking to streamline your video recording process all the way through to editing, then Riverside’s Editor is the tool for you. You can customize your recording, create quick shareable clips and also fine-tune audio as you want.

For all these benefits and more, there’s no reason not to start recording videos with Riverside.

Best free video recording software 

There is no single answer to this question because it depends on what you’re looking for. If you need to record with remote guests and would don’t need to worry too much about recording resolution, chances are Zoom is the best option for you. It’s familiar, easy to use, and records your call onto a single track. If you want software with local recording capabilities, we suggest Riverside. 

On the other hand, if you want to record yourself and your screen for marketing, tutorial, or communication purposes, Loom’s Starter plan is free and a good option

Best video recording software for PC

If you’re looking for the best desktop video recording software you can use any of the options listed above. If you’re interested in a browser-based platform you can try Riverside, but if you’d like software to download we’ll cover some of the best computer video recording software for Windows and Mac.

Best free and paid video recording software for Windows 10

Whether you’re looking for free video recording software for Windows or a paid option, our list above covers both. You can always use Windows Game Bar screen recorder for free. This is a built-in free video recording app for Windows 10 PCs. Although note that this might not have all the features you need and is more focused on in-game screen recording.

Some more of the best free video recording software for Windows 10 include:

• OBS Studio
• Riverside Free Plan
• Ezvid

If you’re looking for paid options from the best video recorders for Windows you can try the following:

• Movavi
• Riverside
• Camtasia
• Bandicam 

Best free and paid video recording software for Mac PCs

If you’re a Mac user then you can always use QuickTime which is Mac’s built-in free screen recorder software. This is a pretty basic recording app and you may want to try other Mac video recording software including:

• OBS Studio
• Movavi
• Loom
• Camtasia
• Riverside

Best video recording software for YouTube

This is the age-old content creator’s question and we have the answer: Riverside. Riverside is browser-based, so it’s compatible with all operating systems. It’s the best video recording software for YouTube because it always records in full HD, so you always look and sound your best. Plus, it won’t break the bank, starting at only $7.5/month. 

The best video recording app for iPhone and Android

If you’re looking for good video recording software that is also compatible with phones, then there are a few great options you can try. From our list, the best iPhone and Android video recording apps are Riverside or Zoom. 

Check out our guides, if you’re specifically looking for a live streaming app or a video editing app for your mobile phone.

How to record online video and your screen in full HD with Riverside

1. Create a new studio in your Riverside dashboard.
2. Select your recording type. Choose ‘Audio and Video’  for a video recording. 
3. Invite guests to your studio by selecting the ‘Invite People’ button.
4. Enter your recording studio and wait for your guests to join your session using the invite link. 
5. When you are ready, press ‘Record’. 
6. To record your screen as well, press the screen icon.
7. Choose whether to share your entire screen, or an individual application window or a chrome tab
8. Once you’re done recording, press the Stop button. 
9. You can then access all your recordings as separate tracks in your Riverside Studio Recordings. 

Video recording software FAQ

What do most YouTubers use to record their videos?

Different YouTubers will have their own recording setup and process. So there’s no single recommendation we can give. Many YouTubers will record using a camera and external microphone. They’ll later plug their SD card into their computer and edit the footage using software such as Final Cut Pro. ‍

Other YouTubers will opt to use video recording software such as Riverside because of the ability to share their screen, record with remote guests, and live stream. 

What is the best video recording software for beginners?

Riverside is designed to be easy and intuitive to use. There’s no learning curve, so you can focus on doing what you do best – recording and creating. Riverside will take care of the rest. 

What screen recorder do most YouTubers use?

This is a subjective question because it’ll come down to what the Youtubers are looking for and what they like using. Some YouTubers will use the in-built screen recorder such as QuickTime or Windows Game Bar. Others will use software like Riverside that enables them to record their screen, live stream, and include remote guests. 

Can I record a live stream on my laptop? 

Absolutely. Using Riverside, live-streaming is extremely easy. You can stream to YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Twitch, and others. 

How can I record a video from the Internet?

It’s simple. Use Riverside. All you need to do is open your browser, create an account, and start recording. We’re not kidding, it’s really that easy. Want the best quality? Read our guide on how to record online video in HD.

Can I record a video I’m watching on my computer?

Absolutely. Although there are multiple long-winded ways to record your screen for inclusion in your recording. You can try one of the many video recorders above, as many include screen recording as well. 

What recording software should I use?

Choosing the best software for video recording is based on what your needs are. If you’re looking for the best video recording software for reliable HD content, we suggest Riverside which offers local recording. With local recording, internet connectivity doesn’t affect your recording quality. 

You’ll also want software with the best video recording tools for your use case. If you’re recording with guests you’ll need software that has remote recording capabilities. On the other hand, you may want editing tools if you’re creating content to publish online.  You should use a audio and video recorder that suits your needs.