Edited by Nataly Bogorad

February 20, 2021

12 Best YouTube Recording Software

Though there are many YouTube downloaders, they only allow you to download the whole video. In most cases, you only want a specific portion of the video. In this case, a YouTube recorder is the ideal option. The key, however, is choosing the best recording software for YouTube. So if you’re wondering what software YouTubers use to record their screen, check out our recommended screen recorders.

Best Recording Software for YouTube

Though there are free YouTube recorders, you should consider a paid option if you want decent results. Here are the top picks to help you choose the best option. Each program offers spicific features, so it should be easy to pick the best software according to your needs.

Movavi Screen Recorder

OS: Windows, macOS.

Price: free version with some limitations, $39.95 for the full version.

Best for fast and easy screen recording.

Whether you want to record your online calls, webinars, or a YouTube video, Movavi Screen Recorder is the perfect screen capture tool. With a few clicks, you can record your video without missing a second. The software allows you to draw on the video during the recording process. After the recording is done, you can trim the video or cut out unwanted fragments. The program also has a free version, which is available with a few restrictions: a watermark on output videos and the inability to add description or tags to your videos before sharing them on YouTube.

Features

• Webcam capture
• Record audio
• Draw on videos
• Grab separate streams
• Schedule recordings
• Quick share
• Add mouse movements and keystrokes
• Conversion ability

Pros

• The option to draw on videos
• Easy-to-use
• Unlimited recording time

Cons

• Only basic video-editing tools

Our rating: 10/10

Movavi Screen Recorder

The perfect way to record from your screen

• 
  Capture video from your computer screen
• 
  Grab sound from multiple sources
• 
  Save recordings without quality loss
• 
  Export videos in any popular format

Download for Free Buy Now More about the Windows version

Download for Free Buy Now More about the Mac version

Bandicam

OS: Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10.

Price: $39.95

Best for capturing gaming videos.

If you need a screen capture software that allows you to record specific parts of the computer screen, try Bandicam. You'll also be able to capture any game that uses the DirectX/OpenGL/Vulkan graphics technologies. To use this software, you'll only need to pay a one-time fee of $39.95. However, for use with multiple PCs, there are separate packages priced differently.

Features

• Real-time drawing
• Schedule recording
• Add webcam overlay
• Add mouse effects
• Audio feature

Pros

• Allows you to capture specific parts of the screen
• Unlimited recording time

Cons

• Not compatible with macOS

Our rating: 8/10

ScreenFlow

OS: Mac.

Price: $129 per year.

Best for presentation videos.

If you download ScreenFlow, you'll not only be able to record videos but also edit them. The interface is quite simple, so you won’t spend much time mastering the program. If you want to access stock videos, images, and music, you can buy an additional subscription to Stock Media Library integrated with ScreenFlow.

Features

• Device recording
• Animations and motion graphics
• Closed caption support
• Video-editing tools

Pros

• Easy to use
• Editing features available

Cons

• Only available for Mac users

Our rating: 6/10

EaseUS RecExperts

OS: Mac and Windows.

Price: $19.95 per month, $39.95 per year.

Best for screen capturing and video editing.

If you want a screen capture tool that works on both Mac and Windows, try EaseUS RecExperts. With this paid app, you'll get an intuitive tool that is simple to use. Subscriptions are priced at $19.95 and $39.95 per month and year, respectively. A trial version with limited features is also available.

Features

• Capture audio and video simultaneously
• Record webcam
• Flexible screen capture
• Game recording mode
• Task scheduler
• Editing tools

Pros

• Unlimited recording time
• Zoom function
• Game recording mode

Cons

• The trial version has a watermark

Our rating: 9/10

TinyTake

OS: Mac and Windows.

Price: free version with limited features, packages for $29.95, $59.95, and $99.95 per year.

Best for adding annotations to videos.

TinyTake is a screen recording tool with various features. Its packages cater to both personal and commercial-use clients. With the free personal-use package, you'll have limited features, e.g., the recording time is limited to 5 minutes.

Features

• Webcam capture
• Cloud storage
• Assign custom short-cut keys

Pros

• Relatively cheap
• Annotation tools

Cons

• Limited recording time

Our rating: 6/10

Best Free YouTube Screen Recorders

If paid programs seem expensive, there are great free apps with good features. Here's a list of the best recording software for YouTube that you do not have to pay for.

OBS Studio

OS: Linux, Mac, and Windows.

Price: free.

Best for adding audio effects.

OBS is a free and open-source tool that allows you to record videos on YouTube and other platforms. It offers intuitive and high-performance screen capturing features accompanied by audio mixing capabilities.

Features

• Capture multiple sources
• Intuitive audio mixer

Pros

• Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux
• Easy to use

Cons

• The layout can be overwhelming for novice users

Our rating: 8/10

VLC Media Player

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Price: free.

Best for quick use.

Other than being a popular media player, VLC is also a top screen capture tool. It's open-source software that's free to download.

Features

• Offers full-screen recording
• Includes sharing option

Pros

• It runs on all platforms
• No ads, spyware, and user tracking

Cons

• Limited features

Our rating: 5/10

Ezvid

OS: Windows.

Price: free.

Best for adding visual effects to your video.

Ezvid is a free screen recorder with various effects and features. It lets you record screen and voice, control your video’s speed, and draw on video recordings. The program allows you to record whatever appears on your computer screen – web pages, games, applications, etc.

With Ezvid, you can edit your video and then save it or upload it directly to YouTube.

Features

• Speed control
• Instant slideshow maker
• Free music included
• Drawing on the screen
• Speech synthesis

Pros

• Convenient timeline for editing
• Simple interface
• Many editing tools

Cons

• The recording time is limited to 45 minutes
• Not available for macOS

Our rating: 9/10

Screencast-o-Matic

OS: Android, Chromebook, Windows, Mac, and iOS.

Price: free basic plan, $1.65/month for Deluxe, $4.00/month for Premier.

Best for students and educators.

If you have no prior experience with screen recording tools, Screencast-o-Matic is one of the best YouTube recording software for you. It can be used with a wide range of videos, including gameplay.

Features

• Editing tools
• Host and share contents

Pros

• The intuitive design enhances the user experience

Cons

• Building a content library takes time

Our rating: 7/10

FlashBack Express

OS: Windows.

Price: free basic version, $49 for the Pro version.

Best for adding features such as captions.

From recording your screen to making engaging videos, FlashBack has it all. Better yet, it allows you to add commentary and music and enhance your recordings with images, arrows, and captions.

Features

• Webcam capture
• Editing tools
• Add music and commentary

Pros

• Wide range of features
• No watermarks

Cons

• Only available to Windows users

Our rating: 9/10

ShareX

OS: Windows.

Price: free.

Best for taking screenshots.

As the name suggests, ShareX is a screen capture tool that allows easy sharing to other platforms. It's a lightweight open-source tool that also has editing features.

Features

• Customizable workflows
• Annotation tools
• Over 80 destinations to share with

Pros

• Lots of sharing options
• Wide range of features

Cons

• The interface is not appealing

Our rating: 8/10

QuickTime Player

OS: Mac and Windows 10.

Price: free.

Best for basic screen-capturing needs.

Developed by Apple as the official media player for macOS, QuickTime can also serve as a screen capture tool. Though it has not been designed primarily for this function, it offers reliable functions. You can record the entire screen or a specific portion as well as games. The process is easy to follow, making the tool convenient for all users.

Features

• Record an entire screen or a part of the screen
• Include the pointer or clicks in the screen recording

Pros

• Easy to use
• You can add audio to the videos

Cons

• Limited features

Our rating: 6/10

Choosing the Best Recording Software for YouTube

Whereas there are many options from paid to free screen capturing options, not all are suitable for your unique needs. Therefore, you should choose a tool with the features and capabilities you need that's reliable. In this regard, Movavi Screen Recorder is an ideal option as it offers a wide range of features, is easy to use, and, more importantly, functional.