Wondering how to record a streaming video of your own? There are several options that will allow you to record a streaming video for free: desktop screen recorders, online tools, browser extensions, iOS apps, and Android apps.
Look at the table below to get more information on different live stream recorders: their main purpose and the OS they’re operating on. Whether you want to record streams from your PC, smartphone, or online, you can find the appropriate software here.
Best desktop live stream recorders
Desktop software offers you some of the best streaming video recorders. If you're looking for ways to save a streaming video of your own, desktop software can offer the features needed to take your content from the Internet directly to your PC.
Movavi Video Suite
OS: Windows 7/8/10/11, Mac OS Х 10.13 or higher
Best for: Making screencasts
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, 47 reviews
Price: free trial version, $99.95 for a lifetime license, $94.95 for a 1-year subscription
Movavi Video Suite offers the ability to easily set up recording parameters, grab audio and video, and edit the recording and save the file. By setting up recording parameters, you can choose the specific capture error, which means you'll capture only the area you actually want to keep from your screen.
Movavi’s live stream recorder does not require clunky hardware or cumbersome add-ons. Instead, it makes it simple to capture screen activity and save it to popular video formats.
Main features:
Audio-only recordings
Captures video and audio streams separately or simultaneously
The program can take screenshots and edit them
Shows keystrokes and mouse use
Easy sharing to YouTube or Google Drive
Pros:
Create screencasts
Schedule recording
Capture webcam output
Cons:
It takes up a lot of space
ScreenRec
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10, Linux
Best for: Boosting productivity
Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars, 40 reviews
Price: Free
ScreenRec is a free app for capturing any screen activity on Windows 10 or lower, as well as on Linux. Although it was mainly designed as a productivity app, capturing a video with it is also entirely possible. With its small size and simple interface, it’s a great choice even for those who have weak PCs or are not that savvy in stream recording software. For a more demanding user, ScreenRec provides recording videos in 4K and analytics to see how your videos are watched. It also promises complete privacy, which is important for a cloud-based service. The app has over 90,000 active users.
Main features:
Taking informative screenshots by adding arrows, shapes, and bubbles
Recording your screen activity with system sound, microphone, and webcam
Sharing your screenshots and recordings via a cloud service
Hosting your materials in an online gallery
Pros:
No watermarks or time limits
Lightweight screen recorder
Absolutely free
Cons:
If you don’t create an account, cloud sharing and recording for more than 5 minutes are unavailable
Follow the link below to download ScreenRec:
CloudApp
OS: Windows, macOS, Linux
Best for: Creating GIFs and demo videos
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars, 1,097 reviews
Price: Free plan, Pro plan starting at $9.95 per month, and Team plan starting at $8 monthly per user
CloudApp makes it easy to instantly capture and share material directly from your screen. With this software, recording a live stream on your PC is easy. CloudApp is screen recording software for Mac, Windows, Chrome, and iOS. It focuses on making meetings easier and more streamlined: instead of sitting through the whole video, you can use CloudApp's streaming video capture software to record the meeting for you, then go back later to check context and look for more information.
Main features:
Capture or record your webcast
Share pictures, GIFs, and videos through a convenient link
Create GIFs based on your captured content
Pros:
Convenient hotkeys
Some features are specifically designed to solve business issues
The app enables users to create call-to-action buttons
Cons:
The free plan doesn’t include some of the advanced features
Follow the link below to download CloudApp:
OBS Studio
OS: Windows 8.1/10/11, macOS 10.13 and above, Linux
Best for: Video recording and live streaming
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Price: Free
If you're looking for a platform that will allow you to rip a streaming video of your own, OBS Studio provides you with an easy solution. The platform provides high-performance, real-time video and audio capturing and mixing, which makes it easy to make scenes made up of information from multiple sources. You can seamlessly switch between an unlimited number of scenes.
OBS supports multiple streaming platforms, which makes it ideal for users who may want to integrate those platforms as they create professional-quality productions. This open-source program is free, convenient, and makes it easy to record your screen.
Main features:
The ability to use window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, and capture cards
An intuitive audio mixer with multiple options
Multiple, easy-to-use configuration options
Easy layout rearranging
Pros:
OBS supports recording from multiple sources
The program supports streaming and recording in HD
Video-editing tools are included
Highly customizable
Cons:
Can be a bit confusing for beginners
Follow the link below to download OBS Studio:
VLC
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10, Mac OS X 10.7.5, Linux
Best for: Recording the entire screen without audio
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars, 496 reviews
Price: Free
VLC offers a free, open-source platform that is billed as being simple, fast, and powerful. It is primarily a media player, but you can also use for recording your streaming video. This platform runs on all platforms, from Windows and Linux to Mac OS X and Android: in short, a variety of options. It's completely free: it contains no spyware, no ads, and no user tracking. It also plays files, discs, webcams, devices, and streams and makes it easy to download and use the platform. Users do note that the VLC media player has a very basic interface and does not have the visual appeal of newer design apps.
Main features:
A video player with a lot of additional functions
Pros:
Free-to-use
Supports many video formats
Cons:
No microphone recording
No screenshotting function
No customization of the capture area size
Follow the link below to download VLC:
How to capture streaming videos online
In many cases, you may find yourself wondering how to capture streaming video online. You may not want to record the meeting on your PC, or you might simply want to store it on the web. If you want to grab screen videos using an online tool, try some of these programs.
Screencapture.com
OS: web-based, supported by Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera
Best for: Making fast recordings online
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars, 353 reviews
Price: free version, premium from $9.95/month or $39.95/year
Screencapture.com is a free online screen recorder that works on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. It offers the advantage of easy recording direct to the Internet, where you can easily copy your files or share them with others. Screencapture.com makes it easy to capture your browser activity or your computer desktop, record sound, or include your face in a recording via webcam. This new, free tool does add a small watermark to the recording, which some users do not like.
Main features:
Doesn't require a download
Offers a high degree of privacy and security
Saves video fast, in HD
Pros:
Simple interface
Multifunctionality
No lengthy or complex prerecording settings
Cons:
A single output format – MP4
No video-editing tools
The free version watermarks the recordings
Follow the link below to access this online recorder:
Screenapp.io
OS: web-based, supported by Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera
Best for: Easy and quick recordings
Rating: N/A
Price: free Basic plan, Standard plan for $1.99 per month, Premium plan for $4.99 per month
Screenapp.io is an online video stream recorder with a large number of five-star reviews and an average of 60,000 successful recordings every month. It's 100% free, with no registration or payment required, and allows for instant live video recording: no software downloads, no extensions, and nothing to clutter up your PC or make your usual tasks more difficult than usual. This platform also makes it easy to quickly download your recordings to your computer. While this ripper does make it easy to record your web stream online, it might not be the best way to handle longer recordings: its recording time is limited to about 15 minutes.
Main features:
Free and quick recordings
Allows its users to record multiple windows
Pros:
Easy screen record
Simple trimming features
Cons:
Overpriced compared to the features offered
Follow the link below to access this online live video recorder:
Best streaming video recorders for a web browser
Do you use Google Chrome as your web browser? If so, you might find that the best video recorder for your needs is a Chrome extension.
Loom
OS: web-based, supported by Google Chrome
Best for: Creating video messages
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars, 10,049 reviews
Price: free version, premium from $8/month
Loom provides extensive recording options that are compatible with your device and the platform you already use. It bills itself as being perfect for onboarding new employees, troubleshooting customer issues, or managing code reviews. It lets you record your screen, voice, and face, then instantly share your video in less time than it typically takes to put together an email: the ideal way to share content straight from your device to someone else's. Loom is a great solution for modern workers, many of whom are looking for new ways to communicate while working from home. It's free to use and easy to get started with.
Customer service for Loom is, according to reviewers, somewhat lacking compared to other platforms. However, Loom has a huge number of monthly users and downloads being one of the most popular streaming video recorders on Chrome.
Main features:
A free, easy-to-use platform trusted by millions of users
A free-to-use platform that includes up to 25 collaborators
Integration with various business services
Pros:
Helps to organize and simplify work processes
Free-to-use
Cons:
Lacks customer support or guidance
It might be choppy at times
Follow the link below to install this extension:
Screencastify
OS: web-based, supported by Google Chrome
Best for: Educational purposes
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars, 11,693 reviews
Price: Limited free version; unlimited recording length and unlimited export cost $49 per year each
Screencastify bills itself as a user-friendly tool. It offers a simple, intuitive platform that functions as a Chrome extension. Millions of users engage with Screencastify to record, edit, and share videos – and it's easy to get started. In fact, the platform is so simple that it takes no time at all to get started using it.
Screencastify is a simple way to deliver a simple, more effective message. Rather than having to type up long emails, you can capture your screen and easily share that information with other users. It does not, however, work as well on recordings that aren't in web browsers, according to some reviewers.
Main features:
Basic editing allows trimming of videos
Export as MP4, GIF, or MP3
Share recordings via the Google Drive link
Pros:
Simple and easy to use
Easy trimming
No registration for storing or downloading videos
Cons:
Not great for high-resolution recording
Follow the link below to install this extension:
Best apps for recording a streaming video on iOS
Are you using iOS to record your screen? Using a phone or tablet is a little different from using a desktop device. You may not want as many features, or you might want to streamline use when you're tapping rather than clicking or using your keyboard. Fortunately, there are screen recorders that you can easily use directly from your iOS device.
Record it!
OS: iOS 12.0 or later
Best for: MP4 recording on iPhone
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars, 264,4K reviews
Price: free version, Pro version costs $4.99
Record it! has the best rating in the App Store, and with good reason. Out of more than 1.7 million reviews, it holds a whopping 4.6 stars. Record it! is ideal for recording games and apps for tutorials, game walkthroughs, video demos, and training demonstrations. You can add commentary as you go or put it in later in your app to make a cohesive, easy-to-follow video.
Main features:
Face Cam reactions
Keep recordings organized in the app
Pros:
Records entire screen
Includes a powerful video editor
Easy sharing
Cons:
The file-saving process is slow on some devices
Some users report issues with audio quality
Follow the link below to install this app:
Go Record
OS: iOS 11.0 or later
Best for: Recording videos for YouTube
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, 56,6K reviews
Price: free version, Pro version costs $4.99
While not as high as Record it!, Go Record does offer a high average rating, with 4.5 stars out of 39.6 K reviews.
This simple platform makes it easy to put together screen recordings and capture reactions all at the same time. As a result, you can streamline your digital video recordings and easily figure out how to capture a video. This program is simple, intuitive, and easy to put together on your iOS device.
Main features:
One tap screen recording, making it easy to start the process
Face Cam addition so you can put in your reactions
Pros:
Easy-to-add audio commentary
Easy uploading to YouTube
Cons:
Features of the free version are limited
Follow the link below to install this app:
How to save a streaming video on Android devices
Don't worry, Android users: there are streaming video capture software options available for you, too. If you want to save your stream to an Android device, these platforms are simple, highly rated, and offer the high-quality recording you need.
Mobizen
OS: Android 4.4 or later
Best for: Making recordings with intros and outros
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars, 3,235,446 reviews
Price: free version, pro version costs $2 per month billed annually
While Mobizen does offer an option that will allow you to record videos for free, the app does contain in-app purchases and ads, which can prove clunky and distracting for some users.
While Mobizen is a highly popular screen capture software, it does come with some clunky features. Sometimes, the in-app ads start along with the video recorder, which can disrupt the recording experience. Sometimes, that may mean losing some of the content, which can't always be retrieved. The screen recorder also takes up a number of assets on your Android device, which means that it may cause frustrating lags in videos and games. Nevertheless, it does remain an easy, fun way to quickly record videos, especially if you're looking into it for personal or leisure purposes.
Main features:
Allows you to put in intro or outro videos with a few short taps
Records your reactions freely, including both your face and the sound of your voice, thanks to Face Cam
Pros:
Offers a highly effective screen recording profile
Allows you to edit, trim, and cut your images
Records a clean screen without a watermark
Cons:
Ads appear from time to time
Follow the link below to install this app:
AZ Screen Recorder
OS: Android 5.0 or later
Best for: Creating GIF animations on Android
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars, 1,558,604 reviews
Price: free version, pro version costs $2.99
AZ Screen Recorder offers all the features that many users are looking for in their screen recording software. It makes it simple to start recording: just one tap makes it easy to get started. The app delivers high-quality videos with clear sound, so they're easy to follow, highly professional, and ideal for your needs.
AZ Screen Recorder also includes a powerful image editing tool, which makes it easy for you to customize the appearance of your videos and screenshots and ensure that you're capturing exactly what you need. Share your reactions, put together stunning tutorials, or offer more information about your daily tasks.
Users note that AZ Screen Recorder is an incredibly useful app, filled with great features. It offers high-quality video recording that's highly reliable. Users do, however, note that it doesn't offer the same high-quality audio recording that it does when it comes to video: it tends to record whatever sound is happening around the phone or device, and sounds tend to make it indiscriminately into the video. While that's an excellent testament to the power of your device's microphone, it might not fit your video recording needs. It's also important to note that AZ Screen Recorder does include ads and in-app purchases.
Main features:
Full HD game recording
Screen recording with Facecam
Internal sound recording
Gameplay recording with external sound
Pros:
Advanced video-, audio-, and image-editing options
Video compression option
Cons:
The free version has annoying ads
Follow the link below to install this app:
How to record a streaming video with Movavi Video Suite
Step 1. Download, install, and launch the app
Download the appropriate version of Movavi Video Suite for your OS and follow the installation instructions. Once the app is installed, open the program.
Step 2. Set the recording parameters
Click Screen recording on the sidebar.
Select the area of the screen that you want to capture. Activate System audio and Microphone to capture the sound.
Step 3. Record your video
Hit the REC button. The recording will start after a short countdown. Click Pause when needed. To finish the recording, click Stop.
Step 4. Save the video
You can use the Scissors to cut out unwanted fragments from your recording. Then click the Export button, choose the output format, and hit Save.
That’s how to record a live stream on a PC!
Conclusion
We hope this article has been useful in helping you choose the right screen recorder. The following list has the most important aspects to consider when choosing a recording tool:
Features: Choose a screen recorder according to the result you want to achieve with your screen recordings. If you simply want to record what happens on your screen, any screen capture software will probably meet your needs. If you’re going to do advanced editing or stream live on YouTube, take those features into account as you choose your program.
Ease of use: Some programs are user-friendly and simple. Others are more complicated and have a steeper learning curve. Consider the amount of experience you possess and choose a screen recorder accordingly.
OS: Make sure to choose a screen recorder that works on the system you will be using (Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, etc.)
Support: Try to find a program that offers easily accessible user support if you run into problems during the screen recording process.
Reviews: Check out user reviews and articles of professional blogs or magazines to determine how well the program performs before buying it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best live stream recorder?
Here are some of the best live steam recorders:
Movavi Video Suite
Screencapture.com
Loom
Record it!
Mobizen
To learn more about these and other screen recorders, click the link below.
Can I record streaming video on my computer?
Yes, you can record a streaming video with special screen-capture software. You can use a desktop app, for example, Movavi Video Suite. Alternatively, you can use an online tool – you can search for a screen recording extension in the Chrome Web Store.
Can you record streaming TV?
You can record live TV with the help of a digital video recorder (DVR). Today you can find DVR devices that work without a cable – they’re called over-the-air (OVT) DVRs.
How do I download a streaming video in Chrome?
There are special tools that let you save your own stream in Chrome. For example, you can use the Free Online Video Downloader from Acethinker. This is an online tool that lets you download your videos – you just need to copy the URL of the video you want to save, paste it into the address bar, and click Download.
Can I record a live stream on my laptop?
You can record a live stream using screen capture software. Try Movavi Video Suite – it’s a useful app that lets you record your laptop screen and save the video in any popular format.
Can I record a streaming video to watch it offline?
If you want to save your own video to watch it later, you can do it in a few ways. One way to record a streaming video is to use a desktop screen recorder. If you don’t want to install software on your computer, you can capture a streaming video with online tools.
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