• Recording your screen activities

• Taking screenshots

• Recording sound via a microphone

Why I picked it: Built into every Mac, it’s the fastest way to start a clean screen capture with zero setup. This native tool doubles as simple video capture on Mac.

QuickTime Player comes preinstalled on almost every Mac, so I didn’t have to hunt it down. Starting a screen or window recording is instant, and saving or trimming clips is just as easy. But there’s a catch: this recording software for Mac still can’t grab internal system audio. I can only capture what the mic hears, which makes it less useful for gameplay or music. For quick how-to videos or everyday screen grabs, though, it remains a dependable freebie.

• Recording screen with webcam and overlays
• Streaming to Twitch, YouTube, and other websites
• Powerful integrations and plug-ins

Why I picked it: Offers pro-level control and now multitrack video on macOS. A strong choice when you need advanced video recording software for Mac.

I ran OBS Studio 31.1 on an Apple-Silicon Mac, and the upgrade is obvious. The headline change is multitrack video recording now fully supported on macOS, which makes editing separate camera and screen feeds far easier. The new preview-zoom and streamlined interface also help when juggling complex scenes. All the classic strengths remain: flexible overlays, advanced audio mixing, and a deep plug-in library. It’s still open-source and free, which means endless custom tweaks if you like to tinker. The trade-off? OBS can be intimidating at firstwith the complex settings². Getting a show-ready stream or recording requires a bit of learning, but the payoff in control and quality is worth it.

• Recording screen and webcam online and offline

• Simple sharing to the cloud

• Comprehensive recording history

Why I picked it: Instant recording and link sharing save time when I have to show something to teammates right away. It’s also handy for screen recording on Mac for quick demos.

ScreenRec screen recording software for Mac is built for anyone who needs to show, not tell. It’s a free lightweight recorder that skips long setups so you can capture a screen snippet or short video the moment an idea strikes. I tested the current version 5.0.13 on macOS. This release fixes a handful of crash bugs and smooths out cloud uploads, making the app more stable than earlier builds. Recording is instant: I pick the area, press record, and within seconds get a private share link. The improved recording history keeps every clip neatly organized, which is handy when I have to resend a demo. Editing options remain basic, but that minimalism is the appeal. For quick tutorials, bug reports, or any situation where a picture explains things faster than an email, ScreenRec gets the job done.

• Editing the recordings in-app

• Using built-in stock content

• Taking and editing screenshots

Why I picked it: Simple editing plus direct cloud uploads make it great for quick how-tos and team feedback. Good pick if you want the best screen recording software for Mac with easy uploads.

ScreenPal is one of the better known screen recording + editing tools available on Mac. It lets me capture my screen, grab screenshots, annotate with arrows or text, and use built-in assets without juggling separate apps. In the latest versions (3.19.0 and 3.20.0 for Mac desktop) ScreenPal added support for AirPods and other lower sample-rate microphones. It introduced an “Active Window” recording size option so I can pick a specific app’s window easily. Some webcam-capture bugs in Storyboard on macOS were fixed, and image import rotation problems got patched. I appreciate the cloud hosting – uploads are ad-free, backups are automatic – but many of the more powerful features (interactive quizzes, long uploads, higher-resolution webcam capture, etc.) remain behind the paywall. For personal use, tutorials, or casual business messaging, it’s solid.

• Upgrading your screen recordings to a fully-fledged teaching tool

• Converting existing presentations into online courses

• Creating interactive assignments for boosting student engagement

Why I picked it: Its interactive quizzes and HTML exports turn basic recordings into full e-learning modules. This option doubles as video capture software for Mac for educational content.

ActivePresenter has long been built for people like me who teach or build courses. Beyond just recording screen and webcam, I can embed quizzes, make guides, or export courses as HTML5. The latest version 10.0.0 supports macOS 15 through older versions too. Version 9.2.1 earlier fixed issues like webcam recording failures on certain Macs and misaligned subtitles when exporting only selected slides. Also, the 9.3 update smoothed the editing experience significantly, adding offline one-click AI noise removal and proxy video workflows so editing large clips doesn’t choke my Mac. The interface still feels geared toward educational workflows – some will find it less “sleek,” but if you want control and interactivity, it does more than many simple recorders.

• Recording screen and webcam

• Schedule your recordings

• Add logos and watermarks

Why I picked it: Straightforward controls and the ability to brand videos with a logo keep quick captures polished. Excellent for making a clear screenshot video on Mac.

Icecream Screen Recorder has an easy-to-use interface with only a few buttons, so you won’t get confused by obscure settings. It has all the features you need in a simple MacBook screen recorder. I tested version 1.0.8 for Mac and found it intuitive. You can pick full screen or a custom area, enable webcam overlay, schedule recordings, add text/graphics, and inject watermarks. The latest build fixed translation issues and minor bugs. The free version lets me do most basics, but long recordings, advanced editing, or cloud integrations require upgrading. It’s great when I need quick, branded recordings without fuss.

• Watching movies, TV shows, and other videos on a Mac

• Capturing your screen

• Recording streaming videos

Why I picked it: Free and versatile, it’s my fallback for one-off screen grabs when I don’t need extra editing. It’s a solid option as lightweight screen capture software for Mac.

VLC remains a versatile all-in-one media player, and it can also capture your screen or streaming video without costing a cent. I used it for occasional simple screencasts, which it handles well. Recent 3.0.21 updates improved subtitle rendering and audio layout on macOS and refreshed codec support, but the core recording workflow is unchanged. Downsides persist: no built-in tools for trimming or editing beyond basic clips, limited internal system-audio capture that still needs workarounds, and output files that can grow very large. For quick, no-frills grabs it works fine; for polished videos, I look elsewhere.

• Easy access through the Mac menu bar

• Voice volume regulation

• Simple cloud sharing

Why I picked it: Fast, menu-bar access makes it ideal for short, silent screencasts on the fly. It’s one of the best free screen recorder for Mac options for very short clips.

Peek 360 (Articulate’s app) lives in the menu bar, which makes it pop up fast when I have something to show. I can drag to pick the capture area, select my mic, check voice levels, and share via link or push into Articulate’s ecosystem. There haven’t been many updates recently for this Mac video recorder – feature development is said to be frozen beyond compatibility fixes. So while it remains great for quick demos, don’t expect new bells and whistles any time soon.

• No software installation required
• Can record webcam and microphone
• Works with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera

Why I picked it: No downloads and a start-recording button that works instantly in any major browser.

Screen Capture is for anyone who wants to record quickly without installs or setups. I open a browser, hit Start Recording, and it captures the screen immediately. The interface is minimal – record video and/or audio, include webcam if I want. Flaws creep in when I need flexibility: the output formats are limited, so I often convert videos later using another tool. Also, free recordings include a watermark. To remove it, I must pay a modest subscription, which is fair if I use this kind of tool often.

• Versions for Android and iOS

• Simple screen capturing

• Saving videos to the local disk, website (including YouTube), or cloud storage

Why I picked it: Broad format support and live editing give me more flexibility than most web-based tools.

I regularly turn to Apowersoft when I want robust browser-based screen captures. It records screen and mic, and supports both system-audio and webcam. Apowersoft supports many formats for exporting files that even desktop programs do not always have. I can export to cloud storage (YouTube, Dropbox, Google Drive) or save locally. The web recorder also offers picture-in-picture mode. Recent updates improved synchronization when you record screen and audio on Mac, making it more reliable for video calls or online classes. But one catch: to use the recorder I still need to run a small launcher — it’s safe, but it adds an extra step.

• Built-in recordings editor
• Storing and sharing videos via a teamspace
• Auto-transcribing

Why I picked it: Smooth browser capture with built-in annotation and instant team sharing.

Zight is a web-and-desktop hybrid I’ve used when I need fast sharing plus small edits. It lets me capture a region or full screen, include audio, annotate, and share via link. The recording automatically uploads to my Zight workspace. Auto-transcription is a standout feature – it produces a text version of whatever was spoken in the video, saving time when I want to reference or share excerpts. Collaboration tools (teamspaces) mean others on my team can view or comment. The free plan has some limits: recording time, number of clips stored, and some advanced export features are behind a paywall.

• One-click screen capture

• In-cloud access control system

• Notifications and statistics on views, reacts, and comments on your videos

Why I picked it: Seamless team integration and instant share links make it perfect for work messaging and feedback.

I use Loom when I want to send a quick screen message to colleagues. It lets me record my screen (and webcam bubble), share via link instantly, and colleagues can comment or react without me uploading a file. Recent updates to Loom’s Starter (free) plan include a 5-minute per-video limit, up to 25 videos & screenshots stored in the workspace, and standard features like viewer insights, emoji reactions, and transcription in 50+ languages. Its collaboration tools – especially for teams – are strong, since it's embedded into Slack, Gmail, Notion, and others. The downside: with the free plan I’m stopped by time limits, number of recordings, and fewer editing tools. To get rid of Loom’s branding and unlock advanced AI features, I’d need to upgrade.

• Trimming and merging recorded videos
• Adding interactive questions for better user engagement
• Saving videos to GIF and other formats

Why I picked it: Quick tab or desktop capture with real-time drawing is ideal for tutorials and student projects.

I tested Screencastify when I needed to record from a browser tab, narrate, or include the webcam. It supports real-time drawing and annotations so I can highlight key elements. Exports include MP4, GIF, and MP3, and there’s integration with Google Drive and YouTube. In June 2025, Screencastify introduced an improved editor, AI chaptering (which automatically suggests split points in longer videos), and a built-in teleprompter. The free version of this video recorder for Mac now allows videos up to 10 minutes long, but limits the number of active videos in your library (10 videos stored) and retains watermarking in some contexts. The trade-offs are still there: library storage caps, fewer export options on free plans, and more advanced features like branching quizzes or premium sharing require upgrading.

• Recording screen, webcam, and sound

• No time limit on the recordings

• Unlimited number of recordings

Why I picked it: Unlimited free recordings and clear system-sound capture right inside the browser.

I added the Movavi Screen Recorder for Chrome extension to try recording directly from Safari’s cousin (Chrome) on my Mac. It lets me capture browser tabs or full desktop views, include my mic, record any tab audio, and even show my face with a webcam overlay. What I like most: no time limits on free recordings, unlimited clips, easy downloads. The interface is clean and simple, which means I can start recording without fumbling through settings. The trade-off is the watermark on all free videos unless I upgrade.

• Recording videos in up to 4K resolution

• Instant cloud sharing

• Annotating and editing your recordings

Why I picked it: Up to 4K video with flexible annotation tools covers everything from bug reports to high-quality demos.

Whenever I need quick browser-level demos or feedback loops on Mac, I reach for Awesome Screenshot & Screen Recorder. It records either a tab, the whole desktop, or just the webcam, lets me choose video resolution up to 4K, and includes annotation tools – arrows, shapes, highlights, whatever I need. The recent updates tightened up the workflow: now I can use a shortcut like Alt+T to begin recording the active tab immediately. I enabled global shortcuts so I don’t even have to have Chrome in front of me to stop or pause. The free version works well for basic stuff, though full cloud storage, advanced editing, or removing watermarks requires upgrading.