12 Best Free Screen Recorders with No Time Limit [2025]

Try Movavi Screen Recorder:

  • Capture your screen without any time limits

  • Record your webcam and screen together

  • Edit recorded videos

Edited by
Ben Jacklin
33660

Key takeaways

  • Movavi Screen Recorder tops my list with outstanding recording quality for both video and audio captures. Plus, it’s straightforward to start using instantly.
  • OBS provides professional video creators with free tools alongside the wider editing studio, while Screen Capture provides fast, free recording without leaving your browser.
  • Beware that ‘free’ often means you can’t remove the watermark, only get lower quality recordings, or that the number of recordings is limited.
  • Check your system compatibility, particularly for which web browsers or operating systems the platform is designed for.

You know what I hate? Watching the clock tick down on my screen recording software mid-presentation. Or worse, realizing the app stopped recording and missed the crucial part.

I've almost eradicated long meetings. Instead, I shoot screen recordings for people to watch in their own time. However, I need reliability, and I'm reluctant to pay for such a basic app.

So I set out to find the best screen recorder for a PC. Think March Madness, the Big Dance, the Super Bowl Playoffs… which one deserves a championship ring?

My top picks

Best overall: Movavi Screen Recorder

A perfect balance of power and simplicity with excellent quality.

Best free online option: Screen Capture

Lightning-fast start with no installation needed, runs from your browser.

Best for video professionals: OBS Studio

Full studio power for serious video production and streaming.

Best for business documentation: Scribe

Purpose-built for workflows and standard operating procedures.

Best for mobile users: ScreenPal

Works on any device, including iPhones and Androids.

Comparison table of the best free screen recorders for a PC

Program

Main advantages

OS

Download

Super clear quality with real-time drawing features

Windows, macOS, Web-based

Free unlimited screen recorder

with cloud storage

Windows, Linux, macOS

Lightning-fast free screen recorder without watermark

Web-based

Best free unlimited screen recorders

  • Why I picked it

    You don't need any training or technical knowledge.

It just works, completely hassle-free as a screen capture tool.

My overall experience with Movavi Screen Recorder is pretty amazing. Both the video and audio quality come out super clear and vivid, and it's so simple to use.

You can even export your recordings in the most common formats like MP4 and AVI. Adding to this, I found it really useful for anything from webinars to tutorials, especially as you can select full screen or a custom area to make sure you're recording exactly what you need.

The added improvements of things like real-time animation, so you can draw on the screen, mean this is firmly my top pick.

Ratings

Pros:

  • Easy to use

  • Super clear video and audio quality

  • Export in standard formats like MP4 and AVI

  • Select full screen or custom recording area

  • Real-time animation and drawing features

Cons:

  • Not totally free for all features eventually

disclaimer_person

Our goal is to provide you with only verified information. To ensure this, Movavi Content Team does the following:

  • When selecting products to include in our reviews, we research both demand and popularity.

  • The team tests all the products mentioned in this article.

  • When testing, we compare the key characteristics of the products, which include selecting capture area, schedule recording, showing keystrokes and mouse, and other significant features.

  • 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.

  • Why I picked it

    ScreenRec is a useful screen recording software that I found fast, simple, and provides an alternative to typing in meetings.

Its cloud recording tech means screenshots and videos are uploaded to a secure platform while you're recording, so there's never any worry about losing uploads or waiting.

It sits high on the list as it's a free screen recorder with no watermarks, and if you register for an account, you get unlimited recording time. Honestly, it's so easy a child could use it. And regular improvements, like being able to highlight the mouse cursor during recordings, make for a really well-rounded free screen recorder.

Ratings

4.7

Pros:

  • Fast and simple

  • No watermarks

  • Unlimited recording time with a free account

  • Cloud recording means no worries about losing files

  • Secure platform

  • You can check if your video has been viewed

  • Highlight the mouse cursor during recordings

Cons:

  • No real editing functions

  • Why I picked it

    OBS Studio is an entirely free, open-source platform that has tremendous power for professional video production, including screen shares and video recording

It's beneficial if you want to record marketing or YouTube videos, where you can record your screen and edit it later. It's really a one-stop shop for streamers who want a full studio.

On the downside, this free screen recorder for a PC can be complicated to set up and has a steep learning curve. Plus, it's probably overkill for simple screen recording jobs. New integrations like YouTube chat features and filters are cool, but not always that useful for screen recorders for people who need free screen recorders.

Ratings

Pros:

  • Completely free and open source

  • Amazing power for professional video production

  • Record in up to 4K+

Cons:

  • Complicated to set up

  • Steep learning curve

  • Probably overkill for simple screen recording jobs

  • Not intuitive for screen captures

  • CPU-intensive

Quick summary: Best screen recording software

  1. Best for users who want a screen recorder with no time limit: Movavi Screen Recorder

  2. Best for non-techie users who want a screen recorder without installation: Screen Capture

  3. For a free unlimited screen recorder with studio-level editing, choose: OBS Studio

4. Loom

  • Why I picked it

    Loom is one of the most well-known screen recorders that allows you to get started quickly and enjoy transcription and screen sharing

I do find it slightly trips up if you don't get the Chrome extension settings perfect, and the free recordings are limited to five minutes apiece, which can get frustrating and won't work for long meetings. Plus, the free version does restrict recordings to up to 720p quality.

Two useful features they've added in recent times are the live rewind, which means you can quickly pause and rewind to a point in your video to re-record, plus edit by transcription is a handy bonus to cut out the superfluous chatter quickly.

Ratings

Pros:

  • Quick to get started

  • Automatic transcription

  • Live rewind feature

  • Edit by transcription to cut out unnecessary parts

Cons:

  • Won't work for long meetings

  • Trips up if Chrome extension settings aren't perfect

  • Free version restricts recordings to 720p quality

  • Why I picked it

    If you're someone who uses ClickUp for your project management, then you'll be delighted to know it's got a screen recorder, which can even be used on the free tiers of the platform.

That's handy if you manage your clients or work and want to show quick screenshots or record your whiteboard sessions. It'll integrate with your tasks and notes.

Although I do find it frustrating that while you can screen share, you can't have a video of your talking head simultaneously.

ClickUp has also added the Brain functionality, which links to auto transcription, summaries, and action items from your video recordings.

Ratings

Pros:

  • Available on free tiers of ClickUp

  • Integrates with your tasks and notes

  • Good for quick screenshots

  • Record whiteboard sessions

  • Brain functionality with auto transcription, summaries, and action items

Cons:

  • Can't have webcam video with screen share

  • Only useful if you already use ClickUp for project management

  • Why I picked it

    I love the support across file types and how it links in with the platform's conversions and metadata features

ShareX is another free screen recorder with no time limit and completely free. It's really built for power users who need support across various types of video and screen encoding, combined with customizable workflows.

Having said that, it is quick to start using as a screen capture tool, and it links in with their other suite of tools like image editing, video conversion, and metadata alterations. The metadata tool is a recent addition that allows users to view and strip non-essential data from their media files.

Ratings

Pros:

  • Completely free and open source

  • Quick to start using

  • Support for various types of video and screen encoding

  • Customizable workflows

  • Links with other tools, like image editing and video conversion

  • Metadata tool to strip non-essential data

Cons:

  • Only works on Windows

  • Steeper learning curve for advanced features

  • Why I picked it

    Free Cam gives you a full set of features for screencasts and professionally edited video lessons

It's really a no-frills capture app that has all the vital features. I'm always a fan of an app that allows you to select a particular recording area and even upload directly to YouTube.

The only downside is that it does seem to stop short at 720p quality and is restricted to WMV video, which is why this sits further down the list, although you can export to MP4 with a paid account.

Ratings

4.1

Pros:

  • Full set of features for screencasts

  • No-frills with all the vital features

  • Select a particular recording area

  • Upload direct to YouTube

  • Simple interface, especially for editing

  • Can record your microphone and other sources

Cons:

  • Stops short at 720p quality on free version

  • Restricts to WMV video on free plan

  • Upgrade to Premium plan is expensive

Best online free screen recorders with unlimited time

  • Why I picked it

    This desktop screen recorder is lightning fast to get started with, no need to install or add a Chrome extension

You can literally log on and hit start recording, then you just select the screen you want to capture, hit record, and save the file when you're done. What’s interesting is the unrestricted time limit and no watermarks, which is remarkable for a free tool to get sharing instantly/

Easy, simple, and straightforward to use from the word go. Perfect if you're a non-techie or feel like the least techy person in the world.

Pros:

  • Lightning fast to get started

  • No need to install or add a Chrome extension

  • Easy, simple, and clear to use

  • Perfect for non-techies

  • Excellent privacy settings

  • Fast HD video saving

Cons:

  • No clear pause feature without stopping completely

  • Why I picked it

    If you want a tool specifically to screen capture your workflows and standard operating procedures, then Scribe is a go-to tool

I find myself recommending it a lot to businesses that are looking to document their processes. It's actually the main reason they've grown to over 4 million users and are even used by many Fortune 500 companies.

Although it won't work as a purely screen recording video app, it does have its use cases, and with new generative AI features and translations, it's certainly one to watch for specific business use cases.

Ratings

Pros:

  • Specifically designed for workflows and standard operating procedures

  • Great for documenting business processes

  • Used by over 4 million users

  • Trusted by Fortune 500 companies

  • New generative AI features

Cons:

  • Won't work as a purely screen recording video app

  • Limited use cases outside of documentation

The only downside is you do need to create a free account before you get going, but other than that, it's almost too easy. Whether you're a content creator, teacher, student, or another type of business, you can start recording insanely fast.

Now, the major drawback is its free tier usage restriction, which is limited to one-minute recording time, and you'll also probably reach your cloud storage limit very quickly, meaning you'll need to delete existing videos. But if you want to use this alongside wider AI tools, then it might be a good bet for you.

Ratings

Pros:

  • Super simple to use

  • Cloud-based recording

  • Easy to use

  • Great for private content with password protection

  • Can create collaborative playlists

Cons:

  • Need to create a free account before recording

  • Cloud storage limit reached very quickly

  • Need to delete existing videos frequently

  • Why I picked it

    Riverside positions itself as a podcasting tool with video recording. This includes its free screen recorder, which delivers HD video and audio for both screen and webcam

Select your settings, hit record, and share your video instantly. Additionally, you can save the recording in various formats, including MP4, AVI, and MKV.

If you want to build screen recording into your podcast, then Riverside is a great starting point. Plus, its newly introduced auto-generated magic clips mean you can transfer into social media posting effortlessly.

Ratings

4.8

Pros:

  • Delivers HD video and audio

  • Screen and webcam recording

  • Save in multiple formats (MP4, AVI, MKV)

  • Auto-generated magic clips for social media

  • Great for podcasting

Cons:

  • Only works on desktop computers

  • Editing, wider features require paid account

Best unlimited screen recorders: Free extensions

  • Why I picked it

    I found ScreenPal to be a handy all-in-one platform for screen capture mixed with video creation and hosting

You don't even need to sign up for the always-free screen recorder, which works on any device, including iPhones and Androids, as well as computers. Even without an account, you don't have to deal with watermarks or limits on the number of screen recordings, which are saved locally on your computer.

You can draw, annotate, blur backgrounds, and zoom in while recording. I like that you can even export into a GIF file when you’re feeling jovial! It's easy, intuitive, and its newer AI audio descriptions and transcriptions are an added bonus.

Ratings

Pros:

  • All-in-one platform for screen capture, video creation, and hosting

  • Don't need to sign up for free recorder

  • Works on any device, including mobile

  • No watermarks or recording limits

  • Draw, annotate, blur backgrounds, and zoom in while recording

  • Export into GIF file

  • AI audio descriptions and transcriptions

Cons:

  • Editing tools only available on desktop

How to choose the best free screen recorder for a PC

The competition for the crown of the best free screen recorder is hot. So how do you make your final pick? Well, it comes down to picking the one that matches your required workflow and features.

  • For everyday use, you should start with Movavi Screen Recorder. It’s just so simple to use and delivers pro-level quality whether it’s for tutorials, meetings, or webinars. Crystal clear and intuitive to use.
  • Free screen recording direct from your browser is easy to achieve with platforms like Screen Capture and Screen Rec. You’ll avoid wasting time installing software, and you can share recordings without time limits and watermarks.
  • If you’re a professional video creator or gamer who needs screen recording with deep editing functionality, then OBS is a winner. Yes, it has a learning curve, but for open-source studio power, it’s this season's MVP.
  • Digitally documenting business processes is crucial with the rise of remote work. Scribe gets you started on this path for free to capture step-by-step SOPs.
  • Multi-platform screen recording is a strength of ScreenPal; the platform boasts capabilities across computers, tablets, and phones for excellent flexibility.

Movavi Screen Recorder

The perfect way to record anything from your screen

Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.

Movavi Screen Recorder

Frequently asked questions

Which screen recorder has no time limit?

Here are some of the options available:

  • Movavi Screen Recorder – best for recording and editing

  • ScreenRec – best for quick sharing

  • TinyTake – best for simple annotation

  • OBS Studio – best for livestreaming

  • CamStudio – best for making lossless recordings

What is the best free screen recorder with no watermark and no time limit?

Try some of these programs:

  • EaseUS RecExperts

  • ClickUp Clip

  • OBS Studio

  • Screencast-O-Matic

For more options, read the full guide by following the link below.

Read about the best free screen recorders with no watermark

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