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

Edited by Ben Stockton
24,707

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.

  1. For creating e-learning materials: ActivePresenter

  2. 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.

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Here’s what Movavi’s team does to provide you with verified information:

  • 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

Windows Report review

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

  • Capture video in Full HD and 4K
  • Draw shapes and lines on recordings
  • Grab webcam and audio at the same time or separately to create video instructions or podcasts
  • Schedule recording of important live events you can’t attend to watch them later
  • Edit screenshots by adding text, arrows, or frames

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

  • Capterra review

    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

Download ActivePresenter

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

  • TechRadar review

    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

Download OBS Studio

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

  • TechRadar review

    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

Download ShareX

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

  • TechRadar review

    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

Go to the Apowersoft website

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

ActivePresenter
Editor's choice

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

  • Capterra review

    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:

  • Simple interface for screen recording
  • Offers video conversion functionality (in pro version)
  • Able to customize recording area

Download Icecream Screen Recorder

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

  • TechRadar review

    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

Download FlashBack Express

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

  • CNET review

    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

Download Free Cam

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

  • TechRadar review

    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

Download Debut Video Capture Software

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

Download Free Screen Video Recorder

Pros:

  • Simple to use

  • Highlights on-screen mouse actions

Cons:

  • Basic functionality

  • Only supports MP4s

ActivePresenter
Editor's choice

Ezvid

  • Best for

    Creating screen recordings with computer generated narration

  • OS

    Windows

  • Price

    Free

  • TechRadar review

    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

Download Ezvid

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

  • TechRadar review

    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

Download TinyTake

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

  • PCMag review

    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

Download Screencast-o-Matic

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

  • Trustpilot review

    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

Go to the Acethinker website

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

  • G2 review

    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

Download Screencastify

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

ActivePresenter
Editor's choice

Loom

  • Best for

    Creating shareable web recordings for business use

  • OS

    macOS, Windows, iOS, Android

  • Price

    Free version, $8/month for the Business version

  • GetApp review

    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

Download Loom

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

  • Software Advice review

    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

Download Bandicam

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

Download PassFab Screen Recorder

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

  • G2 review

    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

Download AnyMP4

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

Download iTop Screen Recorder

Pros:

  • Modern and easy-to-use

  • Lots of premium features for free

  • Supports all major formats

Cons:

  • Lacks some customization settings

ActivePresenter
Editor's choice

ApowerRec

  • Best for

    Recording on-screen demonstrations

  • OS

    macOS, Windows, Android, iOS

  • Price

    Free version, $39.95/year, $69.95/lifetime

  • TechRadar review

    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

Download ApowerRec

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

  • G2 review

    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

Download Soapbox

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

Program

Best for

OS

Download

Professionals who create e-learning materials

macOS, Windows

Recording gameplay or live streams

macOS, Windows, Linux

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:

  • Ease of use: make sure the app is right for your experience and skill level.
  • Features: look for a good screen recorder that offers the features you need. E.g. does it record system audio, can you upload to video sharing sites, etc.
  • Recording quality and formats: any screen recorders you use should support your screen’s display resolution and allow you to save in major file formats like MP4.
  • User reviews: before you try a screen recording tool, check the reviews and user feedback to see how well it performs.
  • Support: check what customer support options are available to you if you need help, such as live chat or email support.

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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The perfect way to record anything from your screen

An easy way to record from your screen in HD. Make video footage of any application, record online streaming video, webinars, even Skype calls, and save clips in all popular formats.

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