5 Best Screen Recording Software: Ranked and Reviewed
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Featured In
- When to Use Screen Recording Software
- Best Screen Recording Software for Windows: OBS Studio
- Best Screen Recording Software for Mac: Movavi Screen Recorder
- Best Free Screen Recording Software: Screencast-o-matic
- Best Online Screencast Software: Loom
- Screen Recording Apps for Your Phone: ShareX
- Tools to Improve Your Screen Recordings: Speechify
- FAQs
Screen recording software is a powerful tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, from creating video tutorials and webinars to capturing gameplay...
Screen recording software is a powerful tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, from creating video tutorials and webinars to capturing gameplay for Twitch streams. With the right screen recording tool, you can easily record videos of your computer screen, add voiceovers, and even incorporate webcam footage. In this article, we will explore the best screen recording software available for different platforms and needs.
When to Use Screen Recording Software
Screen recording software is a versatile tool that can be used in a variety of scenarios. It's perfect for creating video editing and content creation, demonstrating software functionality, recording webinars, and capturing gameplay. It's also useful for creating product demos, recording online meetings, and creating interactive quizzes. With the ability to capture video and audio in real-time, screen recording software is a must-have tool for anyone who needs to create high-quality digital content. Once you’ve captured footage, you’ll need another program as a video editor, and maybe for audio recordings. Think of this screen capture tool is just one of the many video editing tools you’ll need in your arsenal. Where others are used to add animations, you can use a screen capture for webcam recordings or just to add scenes through your desktop screen. The recording feature allows people to capture recordings on different file formats and then
Best Screen Recording Software for Windows: OBS Studio
OBS Studio is a standout choice for the best screen recording software for Windows. This free and open-source software is packed with features that make it a powerful tool for recording and live streaming video content.
OBS Studio supports a wide range of sources, allowing you to incorporate window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, and more into your recordings. This functionality makes it an excellent tool for creating tutorials, webinars, and live streams.
One of the standout features of OBS Studio is its high-quality recording capability. It supports full-screen, windowed, and partial-screen recording, ensuring that you can capture exactly what you need. Additionally, OBS Studio supports multiple audio tracks, allowing you to easily incorporate voiceovers or background music into your recordings.
For those interested in live streaming, OBS Studio offers seamless integration with platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Live. It also includes features like a chroma key (green screen), transitions, and a robust audio mixer, making it a top choice for professional streamers and content creators.
Best Screen Recording Software for Mac: Movavi Screen Recorder
For Mac users, Movavi Screen Recorder is a top choice. This software is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for anyone to record videos, capture screenshots, and record audio from their Mac.
Movavi Screen Recorder offers intuitive controls, allowing you to start recording with just a few clicks. It also supports a variety of export formats, including MP4, MOV, AVI, and more, ensuring that your recordings are compatible with a wide range of devices and platforms.
One of the standout features of Movavi Screen Recorder is its scheduling function. This allows you to set up recordings to start and stop at specific times, making it a great tool for recording webinars or live streams.
Best Free Screen Recording Software: Screencast-o-matic
Screencast-o-matic is a fantastic free screen recording software that offers a wide range of features. It allows you to record your screen, webcam, or both, and offers editing tools like overlays, annotations, and transitions. This might be the best option for beginners looking to explore the trial version of a screen capture software.
Screencast-o-matic also provides options for sharing your recordings directly to social media, Google Drive, or Dropbox, making it easy to distribute your content. The free version has a time limit of 15 minutes per recording, but upgrading to the paid version removes this limit and adds more advanced features like zoom functionality, scripted recordings, and the ability to draw and zoom while recording.
Best Online Screencast Software: Loom
Loom is a free online screen recorder that's perfect for quick and easy screen captures. It allows you to record your screen, voice, and face to create engaging videos that can be shared instantly.
Loom offers high-definition screen capture up to 4K, custom recording dimensions, and a drawing tool for emphasis. It's available as a Chrome extension and has apps for iOS and Android, making it a versatile tool for screen recording on various platforms.
One of the standout features of Loom is its instant sharing capability. As soon as you finish recording, a sharable video link is ready, making it easy to distribute your content.
Screen Recording Apps for Your Phone: ShareX
ShareX is a free and open-source screen recording and screen casting program for Windows, but it also offers functionality for Android andiOS devices. It allows you to create full screen or partial screen captures and record audio. ShareX also offers a variety of export formats and advanced features like customizable hotkeys, automatic file naming, and a built-in editor for adding annotations, watermarks, and more.
ShareX is particularly useful for those who need to capture video or screenshots on their phone. It supports multiple screen capture methods, including fullscreen, active window, and rectangle captures, making it a versatile tool for mobile screen recording.
For video recording, ShareX offers screen recording with FFmpeg, allowing users to record a selected area on their screen or the entire screen. It also supports GIF creation, making it easy to create engaging, shareable content.
One of the standout features of ShareX is its integration with various online services. It allows you to upload your captures to over 80 different destinations, including Imgur, FTP, Dropbox, Google Drive, and more. This makes it easy to share your recordings or keep them backed up in the cloud.
Tools to Improve Your Screen Recordings: Speechify
When it comes to enhancing your screen recordings, audio quality is just as important as video quality. This is where Speechify comes in. Speechify is an advanced text-to-speech AI voice reader that can significantly improve the audio component of your screen recordings.
Speechify is designed to convert text into natural-sounding speech, making it an excellent tool for adding voiceovers to your screen recordings. Whether you're creating a tutorial, a product demo, or a presentation, you can use Speechify to generate clear, engaging voiceovers that enhance your content and make it more accessible to your audience.
One of the standout features of Speechify is its ability to handle long-form text. This makes it perfect for lengthy presentations or tutorials where a human voiceover might be impractical or time-consuming to produce. With Speechify, you can simply input your script, and it will generate a high-quality voiceover in no time.
Another advantage of Speechify is its multilingual capabilities. It supports a wide range of languages, making it a versatile tool for creating content for international audiences. Whether you're creating content in English, Spanish, French, German, or any other supported language, Speechify can help you produce high-quality voiceovers with ease.
In addition to its text-to-speech capabilities, Speechify also offers a range of customization options. You can adjust the speed, pitch, and volume of the speech to suit your needs, and you can even choose from a variety of voices to find the one that best fits your content.
In conclusion, whether you're using Windows, Mac, or need to record on your phone, there's a screen recording tool that's perfect for you. From OBS Studio's advanced features to Loom's intuitive online interface, these tools make screen recording accessible and easy for everyone.
FAQs
What program is good for screen recording?
There are several excellent programs for screen recording, including OBS Studio, Movavi Screen Recorder, Screencast-o-matic, Loom, and ShareX. The best one for you depends on your specific needs and the platform you're using.
What do most YouTubers use to record their screen?
Many YouTubers use OBS Studio because it's free, open-source, and offers a wide range of advanced features. It's also compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Is OBS the best recording software?
OBS is certainly one of the best recording software options available, particularly for live streaming and gaming. It's free, open-source, and offers a wide range of customizable features.
Why are there so many screen recording softwares?
There are many screen recording software options because different users have different needs. Some people need advanced features for professional use, while others need simple, user-friendly software for occasional use. The variety of software ensures that there's a tool for everyone.
Cliff Weitzman
Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.