11 Best HD Screen Recorders in 2023 [Updated]
All of the different types of HD recorders have their own features, quirks, and compatibility. We’ve reviewed a wide selection of the best HD screen recorders for a PC and mobile devices to suit different users, ensuring you can get a program that suits your unique requirements.
Quick summary
Editor’s choice for high-quality desktop recording: Movavi Screen Recorder
For easily recording on your iPhone: Screen Recorder for iPhone
For recording HD videos on your Android device: AZ Recorder
At Movavi, we’re committed to providing you with verified information only. Here’s what we do to ensure this:
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 high-quality screen recorder software
The following are some of the best high-quality screen recorders for PCs and Macs that are worth the download. We aren't ranking these in any particular order, as each can give you the results you want based on your preferences. They're all effective at capturing Full HD (1920 × 1080) videos with some additional features that make them stand apart.
Movavi Screen Recorder
Best for:
recording high-quality videos and streams on computers
OS:
Windows, macOS
4.8 out of 5
Price:
free trial, full version for $59.95
Movavi Screen Recorder is one of the best screen recorders in HD with a free trial that makes it easy to capture nearly any video. It features a simple, easy-to-use interface that enables you to capture either the full screen or a specific region. You can also trim the video file once done and easily share it on multiple platforms. If you're looking for something simple and intuitive, this HD screen capture tool is a great choice.
Features
Pros:
Customize footage and create videos on the go with the help of the program’s intuitive interface
Take screenshots of a single window, a full page, or just part of it
Grab webcam footage or just the audio stream to create training videos, instructions, and engaging podcasts
Easy to share videos on multiple platforms, including YouTube and Google Drive
Cons:
Subscription removes software limitations and unlocks even more possibilities
Bandicam
Best for:
4K UHD recording
OS:
Windows
3.4 out of 5, 25 reviews
Price:
$39.95
If you want something even more powerful than a conventional 1080p screen recorder, Bandicam can capture 4K UHD video at a high FPS. You can use it for gaming, videos, or even external devices, and it works with many encoding and codec options depending on your preferences. You'll get some of the best quality of recordings with this high quality video recorder for a PC.
Features
Pros:
Includes H.264 encoder
Records high-quality 4K video
Can use with screens or external devices
Comes with many options for encoding
Great performance with small files
Cons:
Incompatible with live streaming
No video-editing features
Icecream Screen Recorder
Best for:
easy control panel switching
OS:
Windows, macOS
4.1 out of 5, 21 reviews
Price:
free version, pro version for $29.95
Icecream Screen Recorder is a good quality screen recorder free to use for easy capturing. You can also capture screenshots in addition to video, and you can record external devices, including your webcam. It also records audio from your computer or microphone.
Features
Pros:
Easy to pick up and use
Immediate editing capabilities after recording
Supports many video and audio file formats
Easily switch between your desktop and the control panel
Cons:
Can only record up to 10 minutes using the free version
AceThinker Screen Grabber Premium
Best for:
taking quick snapshots
OS:
Windows, macOS
Price:
$42.95
AceThinker Screen Grabber Premium is another top-rated HD screen recorder to capture whatever activity on your computer, including desktop screen, streaming video, music, calls, presentations, mouse movement, and more. You can record the full screen, capture only a selected region, record webcam, or even record only audio. The screencast can be captured and saved in the 1080p video quality and even 4K for the best viewing experience. Whenever you want to screen-record an HD video, Screen Grabber Premium is a nice option.
Features
Record screen along with audio in high quality
Record gameplay on PC with webcam
Record audio from system and microphone
Take snapshots and edit them afterward
Export in multiple output video and audio formats
Pros:
User-friendly interface, comprehensive even for novices
Multiple recording modes for different capture needs
Annotate recordings in real-time to make the video attractive
Directly share the screencast to social platforms
Schedule a recording task to save your time
Cons:
Very limited video editing features after the recording
The recording is limited to 3 minutes in the free trial version
liteCam HD
Best for:
Windows gamers
OS:
Windows
4 out of 5
Price:
$19.99, pro version for $29.99
If you're a gamer in need of a great HD video recorder for a PC that can capture videos in the best quality, with the ability to export compressed files without any loss of quality, liteCam HD is a good tool. You can easily capture and edit videos using this game recorder, and you can extract audio and edit it separately.
Features
Ability to trim files using the preview option
Can extract audio to edit it on its own
File compression capabilities without compromising quality
Pros:
Can edit videos after recording
Ability to edit audio separately
Captures high-quality video with consistent quality after compression
Cons:
Only available for Windows
OBS Studio
Best for:
best Linux support
OS:
macOS, Linux, Windows
4 out of 5
Price:
free
OBS Studio is an HD screen recorder with many features that can help fully customize your recording experience. You can add transitions to your videos for more seamless editing, apply filters, choose from different themes, and use real-time video and audio mixing, all with consistent quality while recording and editing. This is a completely free HD screen recorder for Windows 10, macOS, and Linux.
Features
A wide variety of recording options including filters and audio mixing
Enables live streaming in addition to recording
Over 20 plugins
Pros:
Allows for recording along with streaming
Ideal for recording gaming sessions in good quality
Free to download and compatible with most platforms
Comes with many features to optimize recording and editing
Cons:
Lack of video-editing tools
Ezvid
Best for:
text-to-speech feature
OS:
Windows
3 out of 5
Price:
free
This HD screen recorder is easy to use and comes complete with an editing tool. You can use it to capture both video and voice recordings through your microphone, or you can add narration via the text-to-speech option. If you want to make instructional or informational videos, this HD screen capture software is ideal.
Features
A built-in editor that comes with several features
Slideshow features
Ability to record audio with a mic or through text-to-speech
Pros:
Comes with an editor with multiple features
Audio recording makes it great for adding narration and commentary
Easy to use with a simple interface
Cons:
No ability to save and only exports to YouTube
FlashBack Express
Best for:
webcam capture
OS:
Windows
4,3 out of 5, 3 reviews
Price:
free
Flashback Express is a reliable HD screen recorder if you're in need of a quick solution. Its simplicity makes it a great screen recorder if you need to make a video in a snap.
Features
Can add webcam footage and voice-over to recordings
Includes sharing option
Pros:
Can capture webcam
Captures videos without watermarks
Video length is not limited
Cons:
Minimal video-editing tools
CamStudio
Best for:
VoIP capture
OS:
Windows
3 out of 5, 242 reviews
Price:
free
If you need a comprehensive HD screen-recording software, CamStudio has everything you need. It started as a simple open-source product but grew into one of the most widely used. It allows for full-screen video recording along with adjustable regions, live streaming to PIP, and audio recording through your computer or microphone.
Features
Full-screen or adjustable capture area
Live streaming capabilities
VoIP and audio recording
Basic video editing tools
Pros:
Unlimited amount of recording time
Various basic editing tools
Easy to use
Adjustable recording with audio
Cons:
Reports that the program spreads malware and viruses when downloaded
Can only export AVI video files
No advanced video-editing features
No scheduled recording option
XSplit Broadcaster
Best for:
chroma key feature
OS:
Windows, macOS
4.1 out of 5, 48 reviews
Price:
free version, pro lifetime version for $200
For a screen recording software with many editing features in addition to high-quality recording, XSplit Broadcaster is a good choice. This powerful live streaming software includes various advanced editing features, enables you to edit videos before streaming, and it allows for adjustable recording areas.
Features
Provides a projector mode
Advanced video-editing features
Green screen option
Pros:
Adjustability when recording, including the recording space and timing
Ability to add transitions
Supports various capture cards and webcams
Can upload directly to YouTube
Cons:
Lack of customization options
ScreenPal
Best for:
browser-based capture
OS:
Windows, macOS
4.3 out of 5, 44 reviews
Price:
free version, pro monthly subscription for $4
If you would rather use web-based software for screen recording, ScreenPal can give you what you need from your browser. You can also download the application if you purchase the paid version. Although the free version is limited, you can still use it to record high-quality videos up to 15 minutes long and access basic editing and publishing features.
Features
Video-editing tools
Offline application and web-based options
Can record audio with the paid version
Pros:
Variety of editing tools
Can use both online and offline with the paid version
Sharing and video-hosting capabilities
Cons:
Free version is very limited compared to the paid version
Best screen recorders for HD capture on smartphones
Best for:
HD screen recording on iOS
OS:
iOS
4.6 out of 5, 4.2K reviews
Price:
$2.99/month or $9.99 lifetime membership
Screen Recorder for iPhone is a powerful and user-friendly application that allows you to effortlessly record high-definition videos of your iPhone's screen. Whether you want to capture gameplay, create tutorials, record video calls, or demonstrate app features, this app provides a seamless recording experience. Enhance your screen recordings by enabling the facecam feature, which overlays your front-facing camera's feed onto the video. You can also record system audio and microphone audio simultaneously, allowing you to narrate your recordings or include external audio sources.
Features:
HD screen recording
Facecam and audio capture
Livestreaming to multiple platforms
Pros:
Easy for novice and advanced users to navigate and operate
Recording videos with the high resolution
Audio recording
No time limit and watermarks
Cons:
Not working on all apps
Battery-draining
May take up a lot of storage space
Best for:
high-quality screen recording on Android devices
OS:
Android
4.5 out of 5, 1.67M reviews
Price:
free limited functionality, or $2.99/month to unlock all features
AZ Recorder is a screen-recording app that allows you to record everything that happens on your Android device's screen without having the device rooted. Create captivating vlogs or record presentations by incorporating the front-facing camera. AZ Recorder lets you record yourself simultaneously with the screen, making it perfect for video reactions, reactions, or video tutorials. After capturing your videos, AZ Recorder provides a built-in video editor with various tools for basic editing tasks. Trim, crop, merge, and add text or audio to your recordings directly within the app, allowing you to refine your content without additional software. The app requires Android 5.0 or higher to work.
Features:
Floating window feature to record without interrupting your workflow
Front-facing camera recording
Editing tools, including trimming, cropping, and merging
Pros:
No watermarks, frame loss, or video limit
Very easy to use
Has built-in video-editing tools
Reliable and high-quality screen recording with audio
Cons:
Contains ads
In-app purchases
Some users report that the app crashes frequently
How to record a high-quality screen recording with Movavi Screen Recorder
Here’s a simple guide on how to record your screen in HD using Movavi Screen Recorder:
Step 1. Download and install the program
Download the .exe file and follow the installation instructions.
Step 2. Tweak your recording options
Click the Cogwheel icon and adjust your recording parameters.
Step 3. Start the recording process
Click Screen recording, then select the part of the screen you want to record, and click REC.
Step 4. Stop and save your video
Click Stop to finish the process, then Export, where you can change the video quality. After you’ve finished, click Save.
How to choose the best HD screen recorder
Hopefully, you now feel like you have a lot of options for picking the ideal HD screen recorder for your needs. Here are some of the most important things to consider when choosing the highest quality screen recorder:
Usability: ensure that the app or software you choose is easy to use and compatible with the way you wish to record, such as taking video from your browser. A lot of features can make it harder to get to grips with the software. A free trial means you can check out the usability.
HD recording support: make sure that the program supports recording and exporting videos in the HD quality.
Recording settings: settings may include adjustable frame rates, resolution, and audio quality. Being able to fine-tune these settings ensures that your recorded videos are optimized for different purposes, such as online streaming, presentations, or high-quality video production.
Features: you need to ensure that the software has all of the features and can capture video from your desktop as well as other sources such as your browser, plus editing features you may need.
Supported files: which files are produced by the software, and can you export them in the format you want to?
User reviews: always check user reviews to see if there are any common issues, as well as how much people enjoy the software in general.
Support: it’s a good idea to check if support is available – for example, live chat or email support.
Conclusion
We hope this article has been helpful in your choice of an HD screen recorder. Everyone needs slightly different features, so feel free to check out the programs from our article and choose a Full HD screen recorder that suits you best.
Movavi Screen Recorder
Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.
Frequently asked questions
Using Movavi Screen Recorder, you can capture high-quality HD video with ease. All you need to do is install it and use the simple interface to capture, edit, and share your videos.
Take the following steps to use Movavi Screen Recorder to capture nearly any video:
Movavi Screen Recorder makes it easy to record high-quality HD video in 1080p resolution. All you need to do is download the application and adjust the recording area. You can also edit your videos once you've finished recording, with the ability to trim clips if needed. You can then save your videos or upload them to various platforms, including YouTube and Google Drive.
HD video recording entails capturing videos in a higher resolution and quality than what you would get with standard-definition recordings. Specifically, a high-definition video, as defined in North America, is one with over 480 vertical scan lines. Also, high-quality digital videos contain more pixels than low-resolution videos, which makes for a crisp image. Top-quality full HD videos will have a resolution of 1080p, which means they have 1,920 pixels horizontally and 1,080 pixels vertically, while 4K and other Ultra HD resolutions have a vertical resolution of 1440p.
Screen recording can capture in 1080p resolution if the screen being recorded is set to that resolution and the recording software supports it.
HD recording typically refers to a resolution of 720p (1280 × 720 pixels) or higher. It provides a higher level of detail and clarity than standard definition (SD) recording, typically 480p (640 × 480 pixels).
Yes, a screen recording can be HD. For your recorded videos to be in high definition, you need two things. First, the screen recording software must support the HD quality. Second, your monitor must support 1280x720 or 1920x1080 resolutions. These two types of resolution correspond to HD video quality.
There are a lot of screen recorders on the market for every platform imaginable, desktop and mobile alike. To record your screen in 4K or any other resolution, try out Movavi Screen Recorder. Its built-in editing functions let you record and do basic editing in one program.
Different screen recorders specialize in different aspects, so there’s no best quality screen recorder. Some programs are more feature heavy and complicated than others. For an all-around HD screen recorder that you can use to capture your screen and edit the result right away, try out Movavi Screen Recorder.
Movavi Screen Recorder
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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