The demand for a top-notch, free screen recorder is high, as many need to record online meetings, capture live streaming audio/video, create tutorial videos, and more. However, choosing the right screen recording program can be confusing due to the various free, paid, and complex options. Fortunately, we have tested and selected the top 10 open-source screen recorders to simplify your decision. Our evaluation criteria included user interface ease, recording options, output settings, performance, and additional features like editing tools and format support. These open-source options offer robust functionalities without the cost, making them ideal for beginners and advanced users. Below, you'll find detailed testing statistics and feature comparisons to help you choose the best free screen recorders for your needs! After that, you may proceed to the next section to start analyzing each of the recommended screen recorders.
Number of tools we tested | 10 open source screen recorders |
Devices used in testing | Tested on HP computer and iMac |
Total recording hours | 80 hours |
Standards to review | User interface, output settings, recording options, compatibility, and performance |
What we recorded | On-screen videos, webinars, gameplay, presentations, audio, and webcam |
Now that we've outlined our testing process and criteria, let's dive into the detailed analysis of each recommended screen recorder. We'll explore their features, usability, and performance to help you make an informed decision. Starting with the first option, let's take a closer look at what it offers.
App Name | Brief Function | Learn More |
---|---|---|
Aqua Demo | Trim video, webcam overlay, area selection, and more | Learn More |
OBS Studio | Filters, background effects, customizable recording area, and others | Learn More |
CamStudio | Annotations, webcam recording, audio recording, and more | Learn More |
ShareX | Screenshot, basic editing features, annotations, and more | Learn More |
AceThinker Free Online Screen Recorder | Video share, pre-built screen ratio, system sound recording, and others | Learn More |
Freeseer | Webcam recording, mouse click customization, area selection, etc. | Learn More |
UltraVNC Screen Recorder | Webcam and screen recording, game recording, annotations, and more | Learn More |
SimpleScreenRecorder | Frame rate adjustment, follow cursor, record fixed rectangle, and others | Learn More |
Kap | GIF maker, record any screen area, adjust resolution, and more | Learn More |
recordMyDesktop | Record audio only, sound quality adjustment, and others | Learn More |
Aqua Demo
Are you seeking a powerful and user-friendly screen recorder for Windows and Mac? Look no further than the Aqua Demo. With its intuitive interface, you can start recording your screen in just a few clicks. You can also set the recording mode to video, audio, or gameplay. Additionally, it supports saving videos in various formats, such as MP4, AVI, and MOV. What makes it more interesting is you can schedule a recording to initiate and end the recording automatically. AceThinker Aqua Demo is the perfect choice for recording live meetings, gameplay, video calls, online conferences, and more.
Key Features:
- Aqua Demo supports high-quality video recording at up to 60 fps.
- You can directly add annotations to your recordings, including lines, text, and drawings.
- Users can connect a microphone to use as the audio source and capture it with the screen at the same time.
- It supports high-resolution recording, including 720p, 1080p, and 4K, for a crystal clear recording.
Extra Tip: Record Computer Screen
- First, use the buttons above to download the Aqua Demo to your computer or laptop. Ensure you select the compatible version for your system. Then, follow the prompts to install the program on your device.
- On the tool's interface, click the drop-down menu beside the settings to access the recording software settings. Next, adjust configurations according to your preference. Under "Output," you can change the video quality, frame rate, and format. After that, click "OK" to save your changes.
- Next, Select the recording area and hit "REC" to start recording. While recording, use the drawing tool to add shapes, text, arrows, and more. Then, click "Stop" if you want to finish the recording.
- Afterward, a preview window will appear. The recorded video is automatically saved in the output folder. To check the playback, go to "Recording History" and click the play button on your recording.
OBS Studio
One of the most renowned open source screencast application options is OBS Studio, which stands for Open Broadcaster Software. This tool provides essential solutions for both screen recording and streaming in UHD quality that you can save in MP4, MKV, FLV, and other formats. OBS Studio integrates with Twitch, allowing you to record gameplay, videos, online meetings, and more. Also, its different recording options, like gameplay, screen, and audio, make it more convenient. However, new users might find it challenging due to its complex functions and extensive feature set.
Key Features:
- There are no time limits or watermarks on your recorded videos.
- The software can be downloaded on different computers that run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- It has an audio mixer to maximize the audio of your recording.
CamStudio
Camstudio is another best open source screen recorder that can record and export all your screen activities in 4K quality. Furthermore, the tool allows you to choose the full screen, a specific window, or a fixed region as the target area. Additionally, it lets you record demonstrations or product information videos directly from your Windows or Mac computer. Besides that, you can adjust the fps, playback rate, and compression of the tool. CamStudio is an excellent choice if you need high-quality video with a small file size.
Key Features:
- Allows you to add text and overlay your webcam video while recording the screen.
- You can export recordings in various formats, including AVI and SWF.
- It features an intuitive and minimalist interface. To start, select the screen area to capture and hit the "Rec" button.
ShareX
ShareX is one of the recommended free screen recording software that lets you capture your screen area, including the full screen, a locked window, or a specific region. The software has a beginner-friendly interface with few navigations and setups. You can also record videos in various shapes, such as rectangles and squares. After recording, you can keep your video in GIF, MP4, or AVI format with HD quality and share it with a single click. What is more, ShareX supports Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Key Features:
- Recorded videos don't have time restrictions and watermarks, ensuring seamless and pristine content.
- Share your recorded videos effortlessly on social media platforms like YouTube and others.
- You can utilize URL shortening and sharing services for easy dissemination of content.
AceThinker Free Online Screen Recorder
AceThinker Free Online Screen Recorder is the next best free screen recorder for Windows 10. This online tool lets you capture audio and video, facilitating seamless screen recordings. Additionally, it enables webcam usage to record video alongside audio. Moreover, you can customize the recording settings, like mouse styles, audio quality, bitrate, frame rate, codec, and other settings. Even though it is a free online tool, you don't need to register to log in before you can use it.
Key Features:
- This online screen video recorder lets you record the entire screen or a selected portion.
- It allows you to save your recordings in various formats such as AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, and more, facilitating playback and sharing across multiple platforms.
- This tool is accessible on Chrome, Safari, MS Edge, Firefox, and other popular web browsers.
Freeseer
Freeseer stands as a dependable free open-source screen recorder. It's compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, offering versatility. Moreover, it supports recording from external devices such as webcams or other computers. Freeseer saves recordings in OGG and WEBM formats, suitable for uploading to platforms like YouTube. Additionally, it provides controls for adjusting volume, muting audio, and overall audio management during recording sessions. Furthermore, it allows you to capture demonstrations, training materials, lectures, and various other types of videos according to your preferences.
Key Features:
- This online screen video recorder lets you record the entire screen or a selected portion.
- It allows you to save your recordings in various formats such as AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, and more, facilitating playback and sharing across multiple platforms.
- This tool is accessible on Chrome, Safari, MS Edge, Firefox, and other popular web browsers.
UltraVNC Screen Recorder
UltraVNC Screen Recorder, a widely used open source screen recorder for Windows 10, is renowned for its swift screen recording capabilities. This freeware facilitates video capture, audio recording alongside screen activity, and even gameplay and webcam video recording at resolutions of up to 1080p and 4K quality. Additionally, it provides editing options, allowing you to enhance recorded videos by adding video effects and filters post-recording. Plus, you can add and edit subtitles for your recorded files.
Key Features:
- It possesses the capability to access and record screens of other computers remotely.
- Ultra VNC provides the option to save recordings in MP4 format, ensuring compatibility with nearly all devices.
- Ultra VNC is designed to be efficient, even with low CPU processors. It optimizes the recording process by compressing the final output, ensuring smooth performance.
SimpleScreenRecorder
How to record screen open-source? SimpleScreenRecorder might help. It is a straightforward tool for recording screens solely on Ubuntu in HD. It records and effectively synchronizes video and audio, addressing a common requirement in screen recording. SimpleScreenRecorder offers limited but useful features, such as audio notifications and mouse cursor highlighting. Additionally, you can pause and resume recordings, though restarting after a pause creates two separate files: one containing the initial recording and the other containing the remaining recording.
Key Features:
- Once the recording is complete, this freeware allows you to export the file in common video formats, including MP4, OGG, Matroska, and WebM.
- It automatically lowers the video frame rate when your device performs poorly.
- While the recording is in progress, you can monitor the recording time, current file size, and frame rate.
Kap
Kap is an open-source screen video recorder for Mac computers, compatible with macOS 12 or later. It allows you to save recordings in MP4 and WEBM formats and create GIFs from screen recordings. Additionally, Kap supports direct uploads to Streamable and Streamlabs. The tool also lets you take screenshots and save them in PNG format. Although it doesn't have editing tools like the other free open-source screen recorder, it is still a great option because of its 1080p recording resolution.
Key Features:
- It lets you record and highlight the mouse cursor and movements, which is crucial for video tutorials.
- The software features an intuitive interface accessible via the menu bar on your Mac computer.
- Kap allows you to trim audio and video recordings to eliminate unwanted sections.
recordMyDesktop
recordMyDesktop is a free, open-source screen recorder that offers HD video quality. It uses a command-line interface for recording tasks and provides a user-friendly interface to access its functions. The program lets you adjust the video and audio quality to 100% before saving. You can record the full screen, a selected window, or a specific region. Although its supported formats are limited to Theora for video and Vorbis for audio, recordMyDesktop boasts features that make it a standout tool.
Key Features:
- It offers multiple recording modes, allowing you to capture your screen based on specific aspect ratios.
- You can minimize the recording window while capturing your computer screen.
- recordMyDesktop allows you to live stream and sync your recordings with your accounts on Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of open-source screen recorders over proprietary software?
Open-source screen recorders offer several advantages over proprietary software, including cost savings since they are typically free. They often have a strong community of developers and users contributing to frequent updates and bug fixes. Additionally, open-source software provides greater transparency and customization options, allowing you to modify the source code to better suit your specific needs.
Are open-source screen recorders secure to use?
Yes, open-source screen recorders are generally secure to use. The transparency of open-source software allows for public scrutiny of the code, which helps identify and address potential security vulnerabilities more quickly. However, it's essential to download open-source screen recorders from official repositories or trusted sources to avoid compromised software versions.
Can open-source screen recorders handle high-quality video recordings?
Many open-source screen recorders can handle high-quality video recordings, including 1080p and 4K resolutions. Software like OBS Studio, SimpleScreenRecorder, and others are designed to support high-resolution recordings, with adjustable settings for video quality, frame rate, and encoding options to meet various recording needs.
List of Other Best Open Source Screen Recorders
We have provided a list below if you want other open-source recording tool options. Each tool offers unique features like high-quality video recording, real-time streaming, and extensive customization options. Also, they cater to different operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring versatility for users.