How to Record Streaming Video for Free

Why I picked it: I liked how lightweight it was – perfect for snagging clips without slowing my computer to a crawl.

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, you can easily use it as an Internet video recorder. 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. I was impressed that it barely slowed down my laptop, even when I pushed it with higher-res recordings. 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 analytics felt like a bonus, though I wasn’t crazy about relying on a cloud setup for sensitive recordings. The app has over 700,000 active users.

How to record a streaming video with ScreenRac

1. Launch ScreenRec and press Alt + S to start capturing.
2. Select the screen area or full screen.
3. Enable microphone, webcam, or system audio if desired and press the Video Camera button.
4. Press Stop when finished; the recording uploads to the cloud.
5. Copy the share link or download the file to your computer.

Why I picked it: Sharing recordings instantly made my workflow feel less like work and more like magic.

Zight 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. Zight 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 Zight's streaming video capture software to record the meeting for you, then go back later to check context and look for more information. When I tried it, it struck me as more of a work tool than a casual recorder, but I liked how seamless it was to send clips around afterward. Its AI features are also impressive: Zight can automatically convert video transcripts into meeting notes, step-by-step guides, and more.

How to record a streaming video with Zight

1. Open Zight and click Record.
2. Choose to capture your screen only, screen + camera, or a specific window.
3. Start recording and stop when you’re done.
4. Trim the video if necessary and share the link with others.
   

Why I picked it: Once I got past the steep setup curve, it gave me pro-level control I didn’t expect from a free tool.

If you're looking for freeware that will allow you to capture an online 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. The first time I opened OBS, I was a little overwhelmed, but once I got into it, I liked how professional the whole setup felt. You can seamlessly switch with no limit between 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. After a few sessions, it clicked for me, and I could see why streamers swear by it – it’s incredibly powerful for something free. This open-source program is free, convenient, and makes it easy to record your screen.

How to record a streaming video with OBS Studio

1. Open OBS Studio, create a Scene and add Sources like Display Capture or Window Capture.
2. Check the Output settings for file path and quality.
3. Click Start Recording, perform your activity, and then click Stop Recording.
4. Open the recorded file from the output folder for editing or playback.

Why I picked it: It’s the Swiss Army knife I already had installed, and the fact it doubled as a recorder was a nice surprise.

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 it for recording your streaming video. I liked that I could use a program I already trusted instead of downloading something new. 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. That said, the recording feature felt buried – I had to dig through menus and watch a tutorial before I figured it out. Users do note that the VLC media player has a very basic interface and does not have the visual appeal of newer design apps.

How to record a streaming video with VLC

1. Open VLC, go to Media → Open Capture Device or Convert / Save → Capture Device.
2. Set Capture mode to Desktop and choose a frame rate (e.g., 30 fps).
3. Click Convert / Save, choose a profile like MP4/H.264, and set a destination file.
4. Press Start, and stop conversion when finished. Your recording is saved in the chosen location.

Why I picked it: No downloads, no fuss – just open the site and hit record.

Screencapture.com is a free online streaming video 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. What I liked here was the sheer convenience – two clicks and I was already recording, no installs needed. 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. The watermark bugged me a little, but for a quick one-off recording, it felt like a fair trade.

How to record a streaming video with Screencapture.com

1. Open Screencapture.com in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
2. Allow the site to access your screen, mic, and camera.
3. Choose whether to capture your screen only or include a webcam, then press Record.
4. Press Stop, then download the file or copy the shareable link.

Why I picked it: It was the easiest way I found to record quick clips online without cluttering my computer.

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. I found it refreshingly no-nonsense – just hit record and go. This platform also makes it easy to quickly save streaming video to your computer, as well as rip streaming video. 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 45 minutes. That cap tripped me up fast – great for quick clips, but I couldn’t record a full long lecture with it.

How to record a streaming video with Screenapp.io

1. Visit Screenapp.io and click Record Screen.
2. Allow screen and microphone access, then select the screen or window to capture.
3. Start recording, then stop when finished.
4. Download the video to your device.

Why I picked it: The Chrome extension was dead simple, and I liked how fast I could edit and share a recording.

Screencastify bills itself as a user-friendly tool. It offers a simple, intuitive platform that functions as a Chrome extension. The first thing I noticed was how little effort it took – one click in Chrome and I was already recording. 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. Despite its simplicity, the software has AI features that help make video recording even easier. The catch for me was its narrow focus – anything outside the browser felt clunky, like I’d outgrown it the moment I wanted more.

How to record a streaming video with Screencastify

1. Click the Screencastify icon in Chrome and sign in.
2. Select This Tab, Full Screen, or Webcam Only, and toggle mic/webcam.
3. Press Record, then stop when finished.
4. Trim in the editor if needed and save to Google Drive or your computer.
   

Why I picked it: It handled mobile game recording better than anything else I tested.
Record it! has the best rating in the App Store, and with good reason. Out of more than 422 thousand 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. When I fired it up during a gaming session, I was impressed at how smooth the captures looked, and the option to add commentary later gave the videos some real polish. You can add commentary as you go or put it in later in your app to make a cohesive, easy-to-follow video. It felt like one of those rare apps that delivers exactly what you expect without any fuss.

How to record a streaming video with Record it!

1. Open Record it! and grant screen and mic permissions.
2. Tap the red Record button and include face-cam if desired.
3. Tap Start broadcast to start recording your screen.
4. Perform your activity and tap Stop recording to finish.
5. Add commentary if needed, then save to Photos or share directly.

Why I picked it: I liked being able to record my reactions at the same time without extra apps.

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. What I appreciated was being able to grab both my screen and my reactions at once – it shaved off an extra step when I was in a rush. 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. To me, it felt like a no-frills option – not flashy, but it did the job without confusing me.

How to record a streaming video with Go Record

1. Open Go Record and allow permissions.
2. Choose screen + camera or screen only, then tap Start Recording.
3. Stop the recording using the overlay when finished.
4. Trim or add reaction footage, then export to Photos or share.
   

Why I picked it: It gave me high-quality videos on mobile with almost no effort.

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. What impressed me was the instant start – one tap and I was recording, no fumbling with menus. 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. When I tried it, the video was razor sharp, but the audio picked up everything – from my keyboard clicks to the neighbor’s lawn mower. 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. The ads got a little tiresome, but considering the features packed in for free, I understood why so many people stick with it.

How to record a streaming video with AZ Screen Recorder

1. Open AZ Screen Recorder and tap the floating camera icon.
2. Press Record and grant permissions.
3. Capture your activity and tap Stop when finished.
4. Use the editor to trim or add text, then export or share the video.