17 Best Screen Recording Software in 2024

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  • Capture a tab, window, area, or your whole screen

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  • Use quick editing tools for smooth recordings

Edited by Ben Jacklin
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Looking for the best screen recording software to capture your desktop masterfully? Here’s a breakdown of the top programs to record your computer screen – free and paid.

Special pick: Movavi Screen Recorder

Movavi Screen Recorder allows users to record video and audio from their PC, Mac, laptop, or webcam in just a few clicks. It’s easy-to-use, with a simple interface and straightforward controls.

With Movavi Screen Recorder, you can capture anything that appears on your computer screen, including streaming video, online presentations, webinars, and more. The software also allows users to record audio from their computer or microphone, making it a useful tool for tutorials, capturing gameplay and presentations, or recording audio notes.

After capture, you can implement simple edits to create the perfect recording and save it to your device in a wide range of formats. It’s truly one of the best recording and editing screen capture program on the market.

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.

Program

Best for

Download

Basic and advanced screen recording needs

Creating online courses

Best free screen recording software

Best for: livestreaming

OBS Studio

Key features

  • Custom transitions

  • Audio mixer and loads of configuration options

  • Modular Dock UI

OBS Studio provides you with the ability to capture audio, video, or desktop activities from your Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. This free screen recorder for any software offers an intuitive platform and powerful features, like multi-source capture support for webcams and gaming consoles. Users can easily transmit livestream content directly to YouTube Live, Twitch TV, Facebook Live, and more[1]. All these features and tools make OBS Studio one of the best screen recording software that’s free.

Pros:

  • Completely free screen recording software

  • Customizable interface layout

  • Gold standard software for video game livestreaming

Cons:

  • Complex interface

  • Learning curve

Best for: secure sharing

ScreenRec

Key features

  • Encrypts saved files

  • Offers viewing analytics

  • Provides quick capture and annotation

ScreenRec falls in the top 10 of any ‘best free software for screen recording’ list.  The program allows you to capture what’s happening on your desktop quickly through high-quality videos with audio, annotations, and screenshots. 

With ScreenRec, you can record online meetings, tutorials, presentations, and more with no hassle or technical knowledge. You also have the option to password-protect any of your recordings for added security. ScreenRec makes it easy to create professional-looking videos with just a few clicks. It’s one of the best screen recording software values on the market.

Pros:

  • Provides an encrypted link for fast sharing

  • Has direct publishing to the web

  • Completely free to use

Cons:

  • No video-editing capabilities

  • Annotations function is difficult to use

Best for: small businesses

Zappy

  • Price:

    free

Key features

  • Excellent annotation tools

  • Superfast, high-quality recording and capture

  • Precision selection tool

Zappy is part of Zapier's automation solution service for businesses and was an internal-only application for subscribers originally. But with so many people working from home, the company released it as a free screen recording software. But there are two caveats: It’s only available for Mac, and you must sign up for a Zapier account – there’s a free tier.

Once you gain access, the program makes it easy to capture, annotate, and save in a breeze. It’s a brilliant solution for small businesses who may want to leverage Zapier’s other enterprise applications.

Pros:

  • Intuitive interface

  • Efficient tool that anyone can learn

Cons:

  • Forces you to sign up for Zapier

  • Can’t tell Zappy where to store recordings

Best for: free noise removal tool

Free Cam

Key features

  • Noise reduction tool

  • Cursor highlighter

  • System sounds and a microphone recording

This free video recorder is one of the best PC screen recording software values on the market. With Free Cam's incredible screen recording software, you can capture whatever is happening on your computer. 

Not only do they offer the ability to record parts or all of a display, but also voice-over and system sound recordings with noise reduction options and video-trimming capabilities. It also includes direct uploads to YouTube. Despite this powerful feature set, some individuals report occasional issues when trying to upload videos from Free Cam for free – as opposed to opting for the pro version.

Pros:

  • No time limits or watermark

  • Direct sharing to YouTube

  • Includes editing features

Cons:

  • Free version only outputs in WMV and 760p

  • Free version also won’t record the webcam

Best for: file sharing

ShareX

Key features

  • Includes scrolling page capture

  • Allows recording and capture

  • Offers tons of options to share – hence the name

ShareX provides a range of helpful screen capture options, including full screen, window, and region captures. You also have the option to add your cursor in screenshots, set up time delays on capture operations, and perform text OCR[2] if needed. More advanced features, like recording activity as an animated GIF or video, are also available.

The program truly stands out because of the wealth of sharing options it provides. You can upload your screenshots and recordings directly to a variety of cloud services, image hosting, general online storage, and even social media platforms. Plus, ShareX comes with a good image editor, so you can customize your screen captures before using them.

Pros:

  • Again, there are a lot of options to share files quickly

  • Customizable workflow

  • Will save you time

Cons:

  • Doesn’t do game capture

  • Interface isn’t user-friendly

Best for: adding captions

CamStudio

Key features

  • Captioning tool

  • Solid codec output that will help compress files

  • No file size or length constraints

CamStudio is a remarkably versatile screen recorder that seems misleading when you first open it. You may not be aware of the possibilities with this small program before taking time to explore its settings.

With an array of features, it's an excellent screen recording software for Windows for creating detailed tutorials or presentations. And users have the flexibility to determine the perfect harmony between image quality and file size. Plus, unlike most free screen recorders, CamStudio has no limit on recording length. It also supports a wide array of export formats so that your recordings are always ready-to-go when you're finished capturing.

Pros:

  • Incredibly easy to use

  • Customizable platform

Cons:

  • Installer has some added programs

  • Only puts out AVI and SWF files

Best for: YouTubers

Ezvid

Key features

  • Has a built-in editor

  • Auto-adds multiple recordings together

  • Widget works very well

Ezvid is an excellent free screen recorder that produces high-quality footage with no watermarks. Yet, it's only able to export recordings directly to YouTube, and the maximum recording length for Ezvid is 45 minutes. If this isn't enough time, then you should use alternative tools such as OBS Studio or Movavi Screen Recorder.

If you have no reservations, Ezvid is certainly a great software to record your screen and audio. It's incredibly straightforward to use and comes with everything you need; from built-in editing tools to text-to-speech options and even voice-recording capabilities. And there's no requirement for additional programs.

Pros:

  • Doesn’t add watermarks

  • Offers a clean interface

  • Has a text-side creator

Cons:

  • Only allows YouTube uploading; no file save

  • Impossible to hide the recording widget

Best for: simple video capture

TinyTake

Key features

  • Out-of-box functionality

  • Simple interface

TinyTake is a straightforward screen recorder for both Windows and macOS. The program contains only the essential features you need without the frills. It also stands out as one of the best tools to share videos, photos, and direct screen share with others.

Getting started is easy. Once you sign up, just quickly map out the area of your screen you want to record, click the button to start, and let TinyTake take it from there. It’s a suitable tool if you're looking to record on limited hardware.

The free version offers five-minute recordings with no annotations. But if you want more sophisticated features, the paid-for version has you covered. All in all, TinyTake provides quick and easy screen recording for when time is of the essence.

Pros:

  • Easy for anyone to use

  • Straightforward interface

  • Sharing videos is quick and painless

Cons:

  • Free plan only offers 5 minutes of recording time

  • No annotations on free tier

Best for: home security

Debut Video Capture

Key features

  • External cameras recording

  • Ability to schedule recording

  • Output in a variety of popular formats

Debut Video Capture from NCH Software is totally free for personal use and encompasses all you need to shoot video footage from your display device, webcam, or other connected devices, like security cameras. And it includes features that typically belong in paid programs only.

Pros:

  • Lots of customization features

  • Free for personal use

  • Clear interface

Cons:

  • Only free for personal use

  • No editing tools

Good video compression

Bandicam
Bestseller

Simple screen recording and editing

Movavi Screen Recorder

Quick file sharing

ShareX

Best paid screen recording software

Best for: basic and advanced screen recording needs

Movavi Screen Recorder

Key features

  • Capture on-screen activity with keystrokes and mouse movement to improve efficiency for gaming, business, and educational purposes
  • Use hardware acceleration for faster results and superior capture quality
  • Save the videos in all popular formats or share them to YouTube, Google Drive or a messenger of your choice

Movavi Screen Recorder is an all-encompassing program to record your computer in a matter of minutes. The simple interface makes it highly accessible and perfect for any user, no matter their tech acumen. From instructional video tutorials to webinars, this software has you covered with multiple recording formats so that whatever the need may be, there's sure to be one suitable format available!

The program is a great choice for Windows and macOS users with its range of features. It takes full advantage of hardware acceleration through supporting Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA GPUs, which significantly boosts performance all while reducing CPU load. With hardware acceleration in play, the overall experience becomes much smoother, allowing improved quality during recording sessions.

Pros:

  • Make simple, lightweight recordings of the on-screen activity for maximum efficiency

  • Easy 4K capture without confusing and complicated settings

  • Draw on your videos and add shapes, lines, and arrows

  • Use noise reduction to get crisp, clear sound in your videos

Cons:

  • The full version provides maximum efficiency without any restrictions

Best for: creating online courses

iSpring Suite

Key features

  • Full suite of tools to create video lectures and presentations

  • Ability to create quizzes and tests within your videos

  • Text-to-speech conversion

iSpring Suite provides users with a comprehensive toolkit that simplifies the process for creating interactive, mobile-friendly courses. By integrating with PowerPoint, content creation is incredibly intuitive and requires no prior technical knowledge or training. With iSpring Suite, you can create robust online courses complete with video lectures, role-play simulations, assessments that work on any device – all in an easy-to-use PowerPoint interface.

Pros:

  • Huge content library

  • Lots of collaborative tools

  • Excellent customer support

Cons:

  • Highly niche and expensive product

  • Editing interface could use an update

Best for: recording short videos of a PC screen

FlashBack Screen Recorder

Key features

  • Specific settings for games

  • PiP effects

  • Frame-by-frame editing

FlashBack Screen Recorder, created by Blueberry Software, is a superb screen recorder that allows you to capture attractive footage from your desktop and upload it online. This tool does not leave watermarks on the videos nor impose time limits – allowing you more freedom than other recording software out there. 

It also offers audio recordings of both sound and desktops or a webcam with a microphone – making it ideal for vlogs, tutorials, let’s play guides, and demonstrations.

Pros:

  • Simple interface

  • Perfect for game capture

  • Excellent annotation system

Cons:

  • Less expensive programs offer more

  • Could use more editing features for the price

Best for: tutorial video creation

Screencast-O-Matic

  • Price:

    $4/month – Deluxe, $6/month – Premium, $10/month – Max (all paid annually)

  • G2 rating:

Key features

  • Auto-captioning feature

  • Ability to do scripted recordings

  • Zoom, add text, and draw while recording

Screencast-O-Matic offers an exceptional online screen recorder and video editor, allowing both webcam and screen capture. It doesn't allow HD recording, but with the option to record in 800 × 600 or 640 × 480 resolution, it's perfect for those wanting a quick way of creating videos that can be easily uploaded.

Not only does Screencast-O-Matic enable you to magnify, sketch, and add overlays on video clips, it also permits sharing the recording directly to many social media platforms with no need for a desktop application. This dynamic platform contains extra features, including editing computer audio as well as coordinating recordings with attached videos.

Pros:

  • Offers social media buttons for quick sharing

  • Has secure online backup storage

  • Premium tier includes a stock footage library

Cons:

  • Free version doesn't offer much to test the features

  • Must avoid recording the editing window

Best for: podcasting

Riverside FM

Key features

  • Excellent mobile application

  • Speaker editor that auto-edits multiple channels

  • No installation necessary

Riverside FM is a screen recording tool tailored for podcasters. In fact, they built all features on the platform around podcasting, so you may not want to go this route if that’s not your focus. 

With that in mind, the platform is easy to learn and offers everything you need to record audio and video for a professional podcast – anywhere in the world. The platform records in 4K, allows users to ‘call-in’ to the podcast, and offers editing and sharing features to help you churn out podcasts and post them online.

Pros:

  • Editing features

  • 4K HD recording

  • Seamless social media sharing

Cons:

  • UX is a little complex

  • Has issues uploading at time

Best for: Mac users looking for an upgrade

ScreenFlow

Key features

  • Includes a video editor

  • Offers multi-source recording

  • Has an intuitive UI for Mac users

Apple's macOS already includes some great screen recording tools, but ScreenFlow takes it to the next level by adding numerous features and advanced video-editing capabilities. With ScreenFlow, you can take your Mac’s built-in screen recording software and unlock its full potential.

ScreenFlow perfectly combines a user-friendly video editor and an efficient screen recording app. With its powerful capabilities, you can freely crop, pan, zoom around your footage while adding annotations and call-outs for even more clarity.

Capturing video footage is straightforward. Just choose your audio and video sources, and hit the button to start recording. Adding webcam clips to your main video feed takes no time at all – it's a quick and smooth process anyone can master. 

Pros:

  • High-quality recordings on any display

  • Templates for faster video creation

  • Easy to learn and use

Cons:

  • Expensive

  • Other options offer more features

Best for: video compression

Bandicam

Key features

  • Can record individual devices

  • Records Ultra HD videos

  • Capture screenshots in a variety of formats

Bandicam brings videos to life with real-time audio- and video recording capabilities. The application makes it simple for users to save laptop or desktop computer sessions, game streams, and other services.

Featuring a selection of adjustable video quality settings, Bandicam enables you to produce stunning HD recordings – even up to 4K. Audio and voice recording is also supported, allowing users to narrate their videos for extra convenience. Ideal for gaming sessions and streaming services alike, the software eliminates the need for complex hardware setups and provides an effortless way to create HD-quality footage with ease.

Pros:

  • High compression ratio

  • Device recording is nice

  • Insert logos on screen capture

Cons:

  • Limited capture options

  • No video editor

Best for: basic interface

Icecream Screen Recorder

  • Price:

    $10.75/annual license, $43/lifetime, $59.85/lifetime for PRO (video editor and slideshow maker)

  • Capterra rating:

Key features

  • Recording scheduler

  • Ability to hide cursor and icons while recording

  • Trimming feature

Icecream Screen Recorder is a great pick if you're in search of an uncomplicated screen recorder with simple editing capabilities. Available for a Windows PC and a Mac, it’s an extremely user-friendly screen recording software that works well with systems that have low-end capabilities.

Simply select a recording area and click to record, and the system autosaves it. From there, you can upload it to the cloud storage offered in the paid package. The free download for Icecream isn’t very useful as it doesn’t let you try the paid features. But hey, if you want to click around the interface, go for it! The paid version is cheap and removes the watermark.

Pros:

  • Insert your logo on screen captures

  • Can zoom and draw when recording

  • Includes 10 GB of cloud storage

Cons:

  • No webcam-only recording

  • Can’t really test the paid features on the free trial

What is computer screen recording software?

Computer screen recording software allows you to capture and record your desktop screen. The core function captures your entire screen, but most screen recording programs also include features that can capture windows, tabs, a webcam, or even a selected capture area – typically in HD.

What is screen recording software used for?

Screen- and audio-recording software has a wide range of usability for both content creators or business professionals. It’s possible to capture and create multimedia presentations, educational materials, video game streams, and more. We’re all connected by what’s on our screens, so you’ll probably find even more uses as you research which software is best for your needs.

Differences between desktop and online screen recorders

The key difference is the ability to capture your desktop offline. Desktop screen recorders don’t require a connection to the internet to access the software and record your screen.

Online screen recorders require an active connection. Therefore, they’re not ideal for video game capture as they take up bandwidth needed for gameplay.

Tips on choosing the best screen recording software for a PC or Mac

  • Nearly all paid screen recorders offer a free trial. Take advantage before purchasing a program.

  • When testing screen recorders, observe the software’s user-friendliness. It shouldn’t require a complex tutorial or guide to master the program.

  • Read customer reviews with your potential use-cases in mind.

  • Carefully review all the features available for any screen recorder to determine the best program for your needs.

Summary

With this list of the best screen recording software – free and paid – you’re equipped to begin your search. No matter your budget, there are solid options available. Test these programs and see what works best for your needs.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best screen recording software for Windows 10?

If you’re looking for the best screen recording software for Windows 10, check out these options:

  • Movavi Screen Recorder

  • OBS Studio

  • Screencast-O-Matic

  • Icecream Screen Recorder

  • Bandicam

For more options, read the full guide.

Check out the best screen recorders for Windows 10

What is the best screen recording software for a Mac?

For the best screen recording software for a Mac, you can try these recorders:

  • Movavi Screen Recorder

  • ScreenFlow

  • Screencast-O-Matic

  • Icecream Screen Recorder

  • OBS Studio

Check out the best screen recorders for a Mac

What is the best way to screen-record on a PC?

Movavi Screen Recorder is one of the best screen recording software for a PC. With features like a recording scheduler, keystroke display, and more, you’re equipped with solid tools to create professional recordings. It's the fastest, easiest way to capture your screen.

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.

4.6 20,293 reviews
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