Screen recorder, screen recording software, screencasting software, and screen capture software are different names for the same tool that lets you to record a computer screen’s output. While screen capture tools differ in price and functionality, most share several features, such as: Show
Which screen recording tool should you use to make an effective video tutorial, create an online course, market your business to online customers, or even record a new maneuver in your favorite game? We researched and compared the 16 best screen recorders for Windows (both free and paid) and present them for you here. We hope this article will help you choose the screen recorder for capturing video on your computer that will be the best fit for your specific needs. If you don’t have much time for reading and want to avoid the lengthy process of choosing software, just download iSpring Suite. It will let you create videos like a pro — even if you’ve never done it before. Free Screen Recorders that Save MoneyWhether you’ve paid for numerous software after using trial versions and received nowhere close to the bang for your buck that was anticipated, or you’re looking to save some money, there are plenty of free screen recorders that can get the job done with satisfying results without emptying your pocket. A word of caution though: some vendors may require you to buy a paid version after you download their “free” software so you can get full access to its functionality. We compiled the eight best free screen recorders in 2022 that successfully compete with the best paid screen recording tools. 1. Free CamIdeal screen capturing software for making WMV screen capturesOS: Windows Free Cam is a very simple free screen recorder with a built-in audio/video editor. The attractive and intuitive interface lets you to record both the entire screen and a portion of your screen — you can adjust the size of the area you need to capture. Even though this software is free, it doesn’t place any watermark and is ad free. Besides, it has no time limits — you can record videos that are as long as desired. Pros
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Watch this demo to see what you can do with Free Cam: Download Free Cam now → 2. DVDVideoSoft’s Free Screen Video RecorderThe best screen capture software for recording Skype video callsOS: Windows Free Screen Video Recorder is a full-featured but lightweight free screen recorder from a developer known for its free conversion software. It can record Skype conversations with no limitations and is therefore useful for Skype meetings and online conference calls. Also, different Windows applications can be singled out and captured as discrete elements. Included is a basic user-friendly image editor that is surprisingly helpful for attaining a polished look. Pros
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Here’s a video on how to capture your screen with Free Screen Video Recorder: 3. ShareXThe best screen recorder for PC for those who need to share screen captures onlineOS: Windows ShareX is an open-source ad-free tool that boasts almost as many advanced features as some paid screen recorders. ShareX is mostly targeted toward developers and power users, so an average customer might get lost in the many advanced tools and editors. Pros
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Learn more about ShareX from this video: 4. CamStudioThe best free screen recorder for creating AVI video filesOS: Windows CamStudio is a good choice for one-time or occasional users with minimal editing needs. This lightweight, open-source screen recording software creates videos in AVI format that can later be converted to SWF. While its compactness appeals to some, others call for further development and increased technical support. The tool also has minimal editing functionalities, so you might need to have additional video editing software. Pros
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To explore how to use CamStudio, watch this video: 5. EzvidA perfect screen recording tool for making quick video clips and sharing them on YouTubeOS: Windows Ezvid is a free screen recording program that claims to be the world’s tool, and that may not be too far from the truth. Ezvid’s clarity is enhanced by the product’s speed: specifically designed to save users’ time, it will help you produce and upload videos directly to the YouTube platform in a matter of minutes. And that’s why this tool enjoys notoriety among gamers and movie fans who are interested in making YouTube videos frequently and as quickly as possible. Pros
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6. TinyTakeA screen recorder with a native cloud-based gallery for storing and sharing videosOS: Windows and Mac TinyTake by MangoApps is a sophisticated desktop screen recorder for Windows and Mac that lets you to capture images and videos from your computer screen, add comments, and share them with others within minutes. TinyTake comes with an online cloud-based gallery where you can store all your screen captures and recorded videos. Pros
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Here’s a video on how to use TinyTake for recording videos: 7. OBS (Open Broadcaster Software)The best free screen recorder for capturing gameplaysOS: Windows, Mac, Linux OBS Studio is a top open-source software for live streaming. You can create scenes composed with multiple sources: images, texts, window captures, browser windows, webcams, capture cards, and more, and then switch between them seamlessly via custom transitions. Unlike many other free competitors, it is an advanced screen recorder that packs a lot of features and settings. But all this can seem overkill for those who are looking for the quickest and easiest way to shoot a video. Pros
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Watch this video on OBS Studio and how to use it: 8. Debut Video CaptureGreat video recording software for creating demonstrations and streaming video gamesOS: Windows Debut is among the best free screen recorders for Windows and lets you to make videos for almost any task. It has a slightly odd and old-fashioned interface but offers advanced functionality. For example, you can make mouse highlighting spotlights, show keystrokes, replace the background with images, video, or color, add a logo or watermark to your video capture, and even schedule a recording. Pros
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Here’s a video on how to screen record with Debut: 9. LoomThe best screen recorder for video messagingOS: Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android Loom presents itself as a screen and webcam recorder that helps people record quick video messages that they can send to their team. Thus, it’s a great alternative to emails, instant messaging, and web meetings. However, the free version has some limitations. For example, it allows the creation of a maximum of 25 videos per person and restricts the duration to five minutes. Besides, it has limited editing capabilities, which means you need to use other apps to edit and share recorded messages. Pros
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Take a look at this brief video tutorial on how to use LOOM: Comparison Chart of Free Screen Recorders
Free screen recorder feature comparison
The Internet’s bountiful supply of screen recording products means that one is sure to find free and low-cost options. However, when searching for high-quality performance, elaborate presentation, and expert technical support, many users are ready to invest their money in paid software. Here are seven paid screen recorders that have gained customers’ and reviewers’ trust and continue to expand their eminent presence in the market. 10. iSpring SuiteA perfect solution for creating screencasts, software tutorials, and complete video coursesOS: Windows iSpring Suite is an extremely easy-to-use tool that lets you to make screencasts with voiceovers, instructional videos with annotations, and screencasts complemented with a presenter video. After a screen capture is recorded, you can edit it effortlessly: remove noise, trim a clip, insert media objects and annotations, and add transition effects. The tool is also perfectly suited for those who want to create software tutorials as you can set it to automatically capture keystrokes and clicks and add hints for the actions. Pros
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More than just a screen recorder!With iSpring Suite, you can also create online courses, quizzes, role-plays, interactions, and other eLearning content. No experience or tech skills are required. Take a feature tour → To get a complete sense of iSpring Suite and its options, watch this video: Price: $970/year for the entire toolkit. Free 14-day trial → (no credit card required) 11. CamtasiaA robust screen recorder with quizzes and interactivity optionsOS: Windows and Mac Camtasia is a feature-packed tool for detail-oriented enthusiasts. It allows you to record video and audio one after another, combining the results afterward. Camtasia is quite flexible in terms of using animations and video effects and adding overlays. The best thing is that this tool constantly releases updates and receives new features on a regular basis. Pros
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Here’s a brief overview of Camtasia: Price: $299. Free 30-day trial. 12. Filmora ScrnThe best video capture software for streaming and game recordingOS: Windows and Mac Filmora Scrn is a trustworthy video recording software that is especially loved by gamers. It lets you to capture fast-paced scenes (up to 60 fps for Mac) while simultaneously recording a webcam video. It also has a basic video editor that allows you to improve the look of the video and tutorial features, which can help direct attention to the main items on the screen. Pros
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Watch this video tutorial on how to use Filmora Scrn: Price: $49.99 for 1 year or $79.99 for a lifetime license. Free trial. 13. Movavi Screen RecorderThe best screen recorder for capturing video calls, webinars, and other online eventsOS: Windows and Mac Movavi Screen Recorder is an easy-to-use screen capture tool that allows you to perform desktop recording, record the webcam, capture audio, save recordings as high-quality videos and GIFs, and take screenshots. You can upload your final video to YouTube or Google Drive and share them with your audience via social media. Pros
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See how to use Movavi Screen Recorder in this video: Price: $42.95 for 1 PC. Free 7-day trial. 14. My Screen Recorder ProGood screencasting software for those who need to distribute videos to their websiteOS: Windows My Screen Recorder Pro is a feature-packed screen capturing tool that enables you to record a specific area of the computer screen, including the entire desktop, menus, cursors, and video with sound. It also lets you record your webcam or mobile screen in high-definition quality simultaneously with the desktop screen. Besides industry-standard AVI, WMV, and MP4, the screen recorder can save video in WebM, perfect for distribution or uploading to your website or blog. Pros
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To learn more about My Screen Recorder options and settings, watch this video: Price: $129.95. Free feature limited trial. 15. FlashBackA simple screen recorder with basic editing featuresOS: Windows FlashBack is a full-motion-based screen recorder with a simple, handy interface. You can record your computer screen, along with webcam and mic, and then improve the recording with a built-in video editor by adding captions, arrows, images, and highlights. Pros
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Price: $49 for 1 PC. Free 30-day trial. 16. Screencast-O-MaticA reliable video capture tool with a built-in stock library and secure video hostingOS: Windows, Mac and iOS, Android, and Chromebook Screencast-O-Matic is considered one of the best screen recorders that can be installed on different devices, including PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. It’s fast, fairly easy to use, and comes with a video editor that lets you to personalize screen recordings and make them more attractive and entertaining. Unlike its many competitors, Screencast-O-Matic comes with a built-in stock library full of videos, images, and music tracks, cloud hosting for storing and sharing videos, and even collaboration and team management tools. However, this advanced functionality is available only for premium plan users. It lets you to upload your videos to YouTube, Google Drive, Vimeo, and Dropbox. There’s also a mobile app for Android and iOS. Pros
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Get more details about Screencast-O-Matic from this video: Price: Pricing starts at $4.00/month. There’s also a free version with limited functionality. Comparison Chart of Paid Screen RecordersPaid screen recorder feature comparison
Honorable MentionsIn addition to paid and free screen recorders for Windows, there’s a variety of screen capture software for Mac, as well as web-based tools. Here are a few solutions we consider worth mentioning. ZappyThe best screen recorder for Mac designed for remote teamsOS: Mac Zappy is software produced by Zapier, a company that provides workflows to automate the use of web applications together, specifically to improve communication and productivity within the company. It allows employees to create screencasts, screenshots, and GIFs easily, upload files to the cloud, and share each file with colleagues by embedding a link to G-Suite tools, Slack, and other services. The software doesn’t have a video editor, but lets you place colorful text, add arrows, or draw, so you can communicate with your peers visually. Pros
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Watch this 20-second video on how this tool works: Price: Free for paid Zapier users Apowersoft’s Free Online Screen RecorderFree screen recording software that doesn’t require installationThis tool is one of the few online video recorders. It lets you to record your screen and combine it with audio and webcam video. While recording, you can add shapes, notes, colors, and icons to your videos and then export them to various formats. When you’re done with the screencast, you can save the video to a local drive or upload it to RecCloud. Pros
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To learn more about this tool and see how to use it, check out this comprehensive video guide: Price: free How We Tested the Best Screen RecordersTo prepare this detailed review, we installed each screen recorder on the computer and saw how well it performed. We expected to see the best screen recording software run smoothly on the PC and that the videos we created would play perfectly. We also explored the functionality of each tool and compared their capabilities, assessed the user interface and whether the software is easy to use, and evaluated how closely each option meets the needs of its target audience. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) SectionWe’ve put together a list of common questions about screen capture software to take a deeper dive into the topic. What is screen recording?Screen recording, also known as screen capture, refers to recording anything that’s happening on your screen. It can be used for different purposes. For example, learning professionals can demonstrate to their employees how to use the software they need to perform their job. Software development companies can record videos on how to use their tool for their customers, and gamers can share their gameplay with the whole world. How to record your screen in Windows 10If you’re using the Windows 10 operating system, you already have an internal screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar. It has quite limited capabilities; more specifically, it doesn’t allow you to record the entire desktop or File Manager. However, you can use it with any desktop application or program downloaded from the Windows Store. Let’s see how to do this:
2. Press the Windows key and G at the same time. 3. You’ll now see the Xbox Game Bar menu. Click on Start Recording at the upper left-hand corner of your screen. You can also capture your voice by clicking on the Microphone button. 4. Once you’ve finished recording, open the Xbox Game Bar menu and click on Stop Recording. Congratulations! You’ve made your screen recording. You can find it in the Captures subfolder of the Videos folder. Finding the Best Screen Recording SoftwareBoth free and paid tools from the best screen recording software can be effective methods of capturing the work-related or entertainment activities on your PC. Whether you should spend money on one of the products outlined above depends on the nature of your tasks. Professionals working on an eLearning video project might benefit the most from iSpring Suite. Experienced users with advanced technical skills might select the free ShareX screen recording tool. Those looking for a simple and reliable screen recorder for simpler tasks should be satisfied with Free Cam. Did you like this article or have something to add to our review? Feel free to share your personal feedback and ask questions in the comment section. Further ReadingHere are some more articles on this topic that you might find useful:
Does Windows 10 have a screen recorder?Windows has a built-in tool called Game Bar to help you record your screen during PC and Xbox gaming sessions. But this tool can also be used to record non-gaming apps and activity. Taking a screenshot in Windows is fairly quick and simple, but capturing video of your screen activity is more challenging.
How do I record my laptop screen on Windows 10?Record your screen. Go to the game or app you want to record.. Press the Windows logo key+Alt+R to start recording a clip. ... . To toggle the microphone on and off during the recording, press the Windows logo key+Alt+M. ... . Play the game or use the app until you have recorded what you wanted.. How do I record my screen on my laptop?With Android 11 or higher, native screen record is included as an option and can be found in the quick settings area of your device.. Go to Quick Settings (or search for) “Screen recorder”. Tap the app to open it.. Choose your sound and video quality settings and click Done.. How do I record my screen?Record your phone screen. Swipe down twice from the top of your screen.. Tap Screen record . You might need to swipe right to find it. ... . Choose what you want to record and tap Start. The recording begins after the countdown.. To stop recording, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the Screen recorder notification .. |