22 Best Free Screen Recorders [2024]
Try Movavi Screen Recorder:
Make high-quality screen recordings
Record microphone and/or system audio
Edit and share your footage
Among the programs that support recording video from the screen, not many stand out from the competition with some special function. Most offer a standard set of options: record, save, compress, upload, less often – start a live broadcast or process the finished video. We have studied some of the most popular and safe recording software and prepared an overview for you.
For beginners and professionals: Movavi Screen Recorder
For creating e-learning materials: ActivePresenter
For game recording: OBS Studio
If you need to take a recording of your PC or Mac screen, you’ll need a screen recording app. To help you find the best free screen recorder for your PC or Mac, we’ve put together a definitive list of the top 22 screen recorders below.
Special pick: Movavi Screen Recorder
Our special pick from this shortlist of the best free screen recorders is Movavi Screen Recorder. Built with beginners in mind, but with plenty of advanced features, Movavi Screen Recorder lets you create high-resolution recordings with ease.
It supports timed recordings, keyboard and mouse controls, and some essential video editing features, such as on-screen drawing.
When selecting products to include in our reviews, we research both demand and popularity.
All products mentioned in this article have been tested by Movavi Content Team.
When testing, we aim to highlight the best features of a product and what it’s best suited for.
We study user reviews from popular review platforms and make use of this information when writing our product reviews.
We collect feedback from our users and analyze their opinions of Movavi software as well as products from other companies.
Best screen recorders with free download for PC
Best for: beginners and professionals
OS: macOS, Windows
Price: free trial, $44.95 for a 1-year license, $69.95 for a lifetime license
Movavi Screen Recorder is the ultimate all-rounder for users who are looking for a top quality screen recording tool on Windows and Mac. At a basic level, it will record your screen (with microphone and system audio) and save it in a high-quality file format of your choice.
You can use the built-in tools to edit the recording, capture your webcam alongside the recording, or annotate it with on-screen drawing tools. It also allows you to set up a scheduled recording, automating the process entirely. Movavi Screen Recorder is free to try, but to remove the watermark and other limitations, you’ll need to upgrade.
Key features:
Capture every detail, even keystrokes and button clicks
Pros:
Record screen without hassle using the program’s simple interface
Runs smoothly on both Windows and Mac
Share and upload your videos to social media and Google Drive
Cons:
Full version of the program doesn’t limit your productivity
ActivePresenter
Best for
Professionals who create e-learning materials
OS
macOS, Windows
Price
Free version, $199 for a Standard license, $399 for a Pro license
4.7 stars out of 5, 27 reviews
While ActivePresenter is a powerful desktop recorder for all users, it’s aimed squarely at the professional e-learning market.
It allows you to create interactive materials around your screen recordings, letting you annotate, customize, and export your recordings in a number of video formats, including MP4 and WebM, as well as the web-friendly HTML5.
Key features:
Allows you to import non-video content (e.g. PowerPoint presentations)
Able to interactive features to recordings
Exports to web-friendly formats
Powerful annotation and editing features
Pros:
Great e-learning creation tool
Includes video editing
Supports recordings up to 1080p
Cons:
Difficult to master
OBS Studio
Best for
Recording gameplay or live streams
OS
macOS, Windows, Linux
Price
Free
4 out of 5 stars
OBS Studio is one of the best free screen recorders for live streamers and HD gameplay recordings. You can record video and audio streams from a number of different sources, whether it’s a browser window, full-screen gameplay, or from your webcam. You can also use professional capture cards to record gameplay from consoles.
You can customize OBS Studio extensively, adding overlays, hotkeys, and sound effects to your recordings.
Key features:
Includes live streaming and on-screen recording features
Customizable interface with hotkeys and layers
Built-in video and audio editing
Special effects and transitions
Pros:
Free-to-use and open-source
Optimized for gameplay and streaming platforms
Customizable interface
No watermarks or limitations
Cons:
Difficult for beginners
ShareX
Best for
Beginners who don’t need to edit their recordings
OS
Windows
Price
Free
4.5 out of 5 stars
ShareX is one of the best free screen recorders for Windows 10. It’s not as feature-filled as OBS or Movavi Screen Recorder, but it’s a good entry-level app for recording your PC or laptop screen. You can customize the recording area, allowing you to capture individual windows or the whole screen.
It supports a number of common video formats, but you can also export recordings as web-friendly GIFs.
Key features:
Offers full screen and active window recordings
Includes automatic capture functionality
Allows you to export to social media and video platforms
Pros:
Free and open-source
Simple interface
Supports video format conversion
Exports in all major web formats
Cons:
Doesn’t support video editing
Quite basic
Some difficult-to-understand features and settings
Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder
Best for
One-click screen recordings
OS
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Price
Free
4.5 out of 5
Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder is a great, cross platform free video recorder that allows you to capture your browser or PC window with just one click.
There are no time limits, no limitations, and no watermarks in Apowersoft recordings. You can record audio from a mic or on-screen, capture your webcam, export to video sharing sites, or save locally as an MP4, AVI, and other major formats.
Key features:
Records from multiple sources
Includes real-time editing and annotation
Supports watermarks and video trimming
Offers scheduled and timed recording
Pros:
Supports all major file formats
Allows direct exporting to social media and cloud storage
Includes powerful editing features
Cons:
Requires additional download for desktop users
Dated user interface
Lack of app customization
Icecream Screen Recorder
Best for
Simple recordings
OS
macOS, Windows, Android, iOS
Price
Free version, $59.95 for a lifetime license, $29.95 for a 1-year license
4.4 out of 5 stars, 18 reviews
Icecream Screen Recorder is a minimalist screen capture tool for Windows, Mac, and mobile users. It’s aimed at recording on-screen apps and games while keeping system resource usage low.
The free version has some limitations, including a five minute video limit and a watermark.
Key features:
Pros:
Very simple to use
Low system resource usage
Supports up to 720p resolution
Cons:
Restricted free version with watermark and five minute video limits
Some features aren’t available on Mac and mobile
FlashBack Express
Best for
Screen recording without watermarks
OS
Windows
Price
Free version, $49 for a Pro version
5 out of 5 stars
FlashBack Express has all of the functionality you’ll need to record your screen, allowing you to customize the area, select individual app windows, and add your camera feed.
It isn’t time-limited like Icecream Screen Recorder, and it doesn’t include watermarks. If you need more functionality, you’ll need to upgrade.
Key features:
Record from multiple sources
Add external audio commentary
Export to video sharing sites directly
Pros:
No time limits to recordings
No watermarks
Allows multiple capture sources
Cons:
Limited free version, with advanced features requiring upgrade
Restricted file output without upgrading
Free Cam
Best for
Beginners who want to edit recordings quickly
OS
Windows
Price
Free version, $227/year for a Pro version
5 out of 5 stars, 1 review
Free Cam is a free Windows screen recorder that makes screen recording simple. It’s free to use, has no time limitations, and doesn’t apply a watermark to videos.
You can customize the recording area, add voice overs, highlight on-screen interactions, and more. If you need to edit the recording, you can trim and cut your video and customize the audio feed.
Key features:
Able to customize the recording area
Supports microphone input capture
Allows for basic video editing
Up to 720p quality recordings
Pros:
No watermarks or limitations
Supports social media sharing
Easy-to-use and beginner-friendly
Cons:
Only supports the WMV file format in free version
Doesn’t support webcam capture
Debut Video Capture Software
Best for
Free and basic screen recording from multiple sources
OS
macOS
Price
Free version, $19.99 for Home Edition, $24.99 for Pro Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars
Debut Video Capture Software isn’t the most modern-looking screen recording program, but it offers a number of useful features.
Debut is customizable, allowing you to control the recording area, video resolution, brightness and color settings, timings, and more. You can also export videos to video sharing sites directly.
Key features:
Supports multiple recording sources
Allows you to schedule recordings
Real-time video editing
Supports video-sharing sites
Pros:
Records and combines videos from multiple sources
Extensive customization
Supports scheduled and time lapse recordings
Cons:
Interface looks old
Some difficult features
Free Screen Video Recorder (DVDVideoSoft)
Best for
Basic screen recording
OS
Windows
Price
Free
If you’re interested in screen recording without excessive features, Free Screen Video Recorder from DVDVideoSoft is the tool for you. It’s simple to use, with the ability to determine the record area on-screen, and it’s a free PC screen recorder.
Video recordings are only available as MP4 files, but you can save screenshot images.
Key features:
Customizable recording area
Records PC audio and microphone input
Takes screenshots
Pros:
Simple to use
Highlights on-screen mouse actions
Cons:
Basic functionality
Only supports MP4s
Ezvid
Best for
Creating screen recordings with computer generated narration
OS
Windows
Price
Free
3 out of 5 stars
It’s difficult for completely free video recording software to stand out, but Ezvid is an intriguing option for users. It offers one-click screen recordings on Windows PCs, with camera and microphone capture built-in.
Ezvid is able to create computer generated speech from a text file for narration, or you can add your own audio using your microphone.
Key features:
Supports webcam and microphone recording
Includes picture-in-picture mode
Computer generated narration
Supports uploads to video sharing sites
Pros:
Few limitations
Easy-to-use
Text-to-speech computer generated narration
Cons:
Media files aren’t easily accessible
Maximum 45 minute video length
TinyTake
Best for
Saving screen recordings to cloud storage
OS
macOS, Windows
Price
Free version, $29.95 for a Standard version, $59.95 for a Plus version, $99.95 for a Jumbo version
4.5 out of 5 stars
TinyTake is a beginner-friendly screen recording tool that lets you capture an area, window, or your entire screen. It supports webcam capture, allows you to use various keyboard shortcuts, and includes 2GB of free cloud storage for your video files.
You can also export videos directly to video sharing sites, as well as view your captures on-the-go using TinyTake’s web gallery. There are some limitations in the free version of TinyTake, however, including a five minute recording limit.
Key features:
Customizable capture area
Supports webcams
Cloud storage included with online gallery
Pros:
Easy-to-use
Includes 2 GB of free cloud storage
Allows you to edit and annotate recordings
Cons:
Recording limited to five minutes with the free version
No commercial use in the free version
Screencast-o-Matic
Best for
Professionals
OS
macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Chromebooks
Price
Free version, $4/month for the Deluxe version, $6/month for the Premier version, $10/month for the Max version
4 out of 5 stars
Screencast-o-Matic is a hugely popular screen recording tool for all major platforms, including Chromebook users. It allows you to customize your capture area, add a webcam feed, and include narration to your screen recordings.
Screencast-o-Matic includes a simple-to-use video editing tool that allows you to add text and shapes, trim your videos, add music and sound effects, and more. The free version doesn’t allow you to annotate your videos or record system audio, however.
Key features:
Supports multiple platforms and file formats
Customizable recording area
Supports direct sharing to social media and video sharing sites
Pros:
Easy-to-use
Supports webcam capturing
Cloud storage included
Cons:
Many features require a subscription
Unable to record system audio in free version
Uploads to Screencast-o-Matic are limited to 15 minutes in length
Acethinker
Best for
Web-friendly screen recordings
OS
Windows, Mac
Price
Free
4.3 out of 5 stars, 18 reviews
Acethinker is a one-click freeware recording tool (once you’ve installed the background recording app) that lets you record your screen, include or exclude system audio, and capture the input from your microphone.
Acethinker supports all the major formats, including MP4 and WMV, and allows you to export directly to video sharing sites and cloud storage.
Key features:
Customizable recording area
Support for all major video file formats
Includes microphone audio capture
Pros:
Easy-to-use
Includes export to cloud storage and video sharing sites
Cons:
Not strictly web based, as it requires an initial download
Limited features
Screencastify
Best for
Easy screen recording in your web browser
OS
macOS, Windows, Linux (Chrome web browser required)
Price
Free version, $7 for the Starter plan, $10 for the Pro plan
4.5 out of 5 stars, 52 reviews
Screencastify is completely web-based, meaning no install required to use it. This Google Chrome extension lets you record your browser window, capturing individual tabs or the entire browser. You can edit videos, save them to Google Drive, or upload them to social media.
As a web-based recorder, it can’t record outside of the Chrome browser window. It does allow you to capture your audio and webcam feeds and annotate your recordings, however.
Key features:
Powerful web browser screen recording tool
Supports camera and microphone recording
Offers basic video annotation and editing
Supports uploads to cloud storage, social media, and video sharing sites
Pros:
Supports some major formats, including MP4 and GIF
Able to create unlimited number of videos
Supports video editing
Cons:
Recordings limited to five minutes in free version
Limited to Google Chrome browser window
Loom
Best for
Creating shareable web recordings for business use
OS
macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
Price
Free version, $8/month for the Business version
4.6 out of 5 stars, 186 reviews
Loom is a modern, easy-to-use screen recording app for all major platforms. Aimed at the business market, Loom allows you to create collaborative screen recordings that you can share with colleagues. You can use it to record your monitor and make changes to the final video before publishing it.
Loom recordings are stored in the cloud, allowing you to share links to your video. You can control who has access, as well as monitor reactions in real time.
Key features:
Cloud-based screen recording tool
Collaborative features
Able to share videos online with control over permissions
Includes webcam and microphone capture
Pros:
Modern and easy-to-use interface
Free storage for 25 videos
Support for 1080p videos
Cons:
Additional storage costs extra
Limited to five minute videos on free plan
Bandicam
Best for
Recording gameplay on low powered PCs
OS
Windows
Price
Free version, $36.95 for an annual license, $49.95 for a lifetime license
4.33 out of 5 stars, 45 reviews
Bandicam is a powerful screen recording for Windows users. It’s lightweight, with a lower system resource footprint than other screen recording tools. Bandicam offers certain presets for different recording types, such as game recording with a built-in FPS counter. It also allows webcam and microphone capturing.
You can use Bandicam to record up to 10 minutes of footage without upgrading. Free users will see a watermark, but upgrading will remove this.
Key features:
Supports major file formats
Offers different preset settings profiles
Includes webcam and microphone recording
Lightweight app with low memory footprint
Pros:
Requires minimal system resources
Includes an FPS counter and game overlay
Supports 4K screen recording
Cons:
Limited to 10 minutes recording time with the free version
Videos are watermarked in the free version
No editing features
PassFab Screen Recorder
Best for
Quick and simple screen recordings
OS
macOS
Price
Free trial, $14.99/month, $29.99/year, $49.99/lifetime
PassFab Screen Recorder is a simple but powerful screen recording tool. There are no time limits, it supports webcam and microphone capture, and has different scenario presets (such as game recordings).
You can draw on-screen during a recording, schedule a recording, capture your mouse and keystrokes, and more. The only limitation is a watermark in the free version.
Key features:
Unlimited recordings
Advanced picture-in-picture mode
Real-time editing and annotation
Pros:
Lots of feature available for free
Able to customize recording area
Supports 4K video resolution
Cons:
Watermark in free version
AnyMP4
Best for
Recording online meetings
OS
macOS, Windows
Price
Free version, $19.96/month, $49.96/lifetime
5 out of 5 stars, 1 review
AnyMP4 Screen Recorder supports basic video editing in popular formats, including MKV. It’s designed with various scenarios in mind. For instance, you can use it to easily record high-quality gameplay, allowing you to share the recordings on social media.
You can also use AnyMP4 to create e-learning courses, record meetings and conferences, and more, thanks to audio and webcam capturing. You can also annotate and edit recordings in the app itself.
Key features:
Settings for different scenarios
Supports webcam and microphone capture
Allows annotation and editing
Pros:
Simple to use
Lots of features
Offers various quality settings
Cons:
Highest quality settings and file formats require paid upgrade
iTop Screen Recorder
Best for
Multi-purpose screen recording
OS
Windows
Price
Free version, $3.58/month, $42.99/year
If you want to record your work meeting in the morning, but your gameplay in the evening, iTop Screen Recorder is a good option. This multi-purpose screen recorder is flexible, allowing you to customize the capture area, creating no-lag recordings at the highest resolutions.
It supports multiple file formats, is easily customizable, and allows you to edit your recordings without exporting first. iTop Screen Recorder is available as a free download with no limitations.
Key features:
Multi-purpose screen recorder
Optimized for limited system resources
Includes video-editing features
Pros:
Modern and easy-to-use
Lots of premium features for free
Supports all major formats
Cons:
Lacks some customization settings
ApowerRec
Best for
Recording on-screen demonstrations
OS
macOS, Windows, Android, iOS
Price
Free version, $39.95/year, $69.95/lifetime
5 out of 5 stars
ApowerRec is a cross platform recording tool. You can use it to customize your recording area, capture your microphone and webcam feeds, add annotation in real time, and more.
It also allows you to zoom into a recording area, schedule recordings in advance, place a spotlight in certain areas during recordings, and more. ApowerRec also supports direct uploading to social media and cloud storage services.
Key features:
Customizable recording areas
Real-time annotation
Online uploading
Pros:
Easy-to-use
Includes editing tools
Cons:
Some features require a paid upgrade
Soapbox
Best for
Marketing professionals
OS
macOS, Windows, Linux (Chrome web browser required)
Price
Free version, $19/year for the Plus version, $79/year for the Pro version, $319/year for the Advanced version
4.5 out of 5 stars, 19 reviews
Soapbox is a web-based screencast tool for Google Chrome users. Aimed at the professional market, you can use it to make commercial videos to share on social media and by email.
Soapbox supports webcam and audio recording, offers basic video editing tools, and includes some special effects and transitions. With built-in sharing tools, you can share your recording widely, but downloading the video requires a paid upgrade to full version.
Key features:
Screen recording tool with marketing features
Includes webcam and microphone capture
Offers transitions and special effects
Able to share videos on social media and through its own platform
Pros:
Really easy to use
Lots of good features
Web-based and cross platform
Cons:
Expensive paid plans
Requires Google Chrome
Limited to web browser window only
How to choose the best free screen video recorder
We’ve listed the best screen recording programs for PC and Mac users. It’s a long list to get through, so if you’re struggling to choose, here are some of the most important things to look for before you download a screen recording program:
How we tested the best free screen recording software
To provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information, we installed and tested every piece of software that we mention in our review. Some of them were designed for PCs and Mac devices, while others were also adapted to mobile devices.
Each program’s functionality was tested as well as ease of use, user interface, and array of tools. This way we were able to create a list of the best free screen recording software for you.
Conclusion
This article featured some of the best screen recorders with free download and the paid ones, so you can choose the program most suitable for your needs. We recommend Movavi Screen Recorder, a fast and easy software that offers high-quality screen, webcam, and sound recording as well as the basic editing tools. Download the trial version for free and see for yourself!
Ben Stockton
Ben Stockton is a technology writer from the United Kingdom. He was previously a computing college lecturer in the UK, but since leaving the classroom, he's been a writer, creating how-to articles and in-depth technology tutorials for sites like MakeUseOf, How-To Geek, and Online Tech Tips. He has a degree in History and a postgraduate qualification in Computing.
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