• Requires a browser plugin to run which may slow your browser down. There is a “Download desktop version” button on the website but this is actually the Pro version, not the free one.
• No cloud recording option. If you want to share your screencast, you will have to wait for the video to render and, then, you will have to wait for it to upload.
• Time limits and watermarks (removed when you create a free account)
• Not suitable for game recording because you can’t hide the recording widget
• Users report that it takes quite a lot of time to view the replay
• You must be online to use it

Available for:

• You must be online to use it

6. Screencast-O-Matic

The free version of Screencast-O-Matic is another browser-based screen recording tool. It should work for you if you don’t need to record computer audio and you only want to make very short videos.

Pros:

• Narrate the video (record your computer microphone)
• Record your webcam
• After recording the video, you can upload it to YouTube or the Screencast-o-matic hosting service
• Highlight your mouse

Cons:

• 15-minute recording limit
• There is a watermark
• You can’t record computer audio in the free version
• No screenshot tool
• The free version can only run in the browser which can slow your computer down
• Ads on your screencasts
• Requires Java to run
• Some users report that it crashes their browsers and slows down their computers
• No cloud recording option. If you want to share your screencast, you will have to wait for the video to render and, then, you will have to wait for it to upload.

Available for:

• Windows and Mac

7. Ezvid

Ezvid is on our best screen recording software list because it has some cool features like the ability to draw while recording or synthesize human speech from text. Like iSpring Free Cam, it only works on Windows and saves screencasts in the bulky WMV format.

Pros:

• HD video capture
• Include computer narration with your video
• Trim videos
• Insert images and videos in your screencast
• Draw while recording
• Facecam recording
• No watermarks
• No ads

Cons:

• Works on Windows only
• Recording limit — depends on how much free space you have on your hard drive
• Delayed replay — you have to wait until your video is rendered
• Some users report that it slows down their computers
• Screen captures are saved in .WMV format (OK if you’re using a Windows PC but the video might not play on other platforms)

Available for:

• Windows

8. Prezi Video

Prezi Video gives you the opportunity to record a presentation from your Prezi slideshow using the desktop app. This app lets you record, edit, and download your presentations and even stream them to conference apps.

Pros:

• Connects with Prezi or other Powerpoint presentations.
• Powerful editing right within the app
• Offers templates to customize videos
• Have the option to show either webcam with presentation in background or just the presentation content
• Downloads in mp4 format
• Can live stream to Zoom, Webex, and GoToWebinar
• Can pause and resume recording

Cons:

• 15 minute recording limit
• Only records up to 720p

Available for:

• Windows, Mac and Chrom

9. Veed

Veed is an online screen recorder and video editor. If you can’t install new apps on your computer, this may be a good solution. Works on Windows and Mac, no software download or plugin required.

Pros:

• Screen capture with a click
• Unique layout options
• Fast and simple review
• Full video editing
• Auto-generated subtitles
• 2 GB of free storage
• No need for downloading

Cons:

• Has watermark
• 10-minute recording limit
• No customer support

Available for:

• Windows and Mac

10. Movavi Screen Recorder

Screen recorder by Movavi is a simple but functional program. It will work perfectly if you need to record a screencast with the sound, webcam, and highlighting of your mouse and keyboard clicks, or make a screenshot. The program is suitable for Windows and Mac users, and it does not require an internet connection.

Pros:

• Record both the system sound and the microphone. Disable one or both of them if you do not need to record it
• Record your screen and your webcam
• Highlight the cursor and keystrokes
• Make screenshots
• Save recordings to the hard drive or the Google Drive
• Save videos in MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, WEBM, GIF, or MP3 formats
• Instant sharing: you can share a video on a cloud, on WhatsApp, YouTube, Telegram, or via email directly from the program
• No time limitations for recordings
• No ads

Cons:

• There are no opportunities to edit a recording; you can only cut extra fragments
• No support for Linux

Available for:

• Windows and Mac

What Is a Good Screen Recorder?

There are two important points to consider when looking for the best free screen recorder in 2021.

1. File Format & Compression

A file format is a particular way of organizing the data within the file. There are many video file formats and some screen recording tools support more than one. However, most of the time, it goes down to MP4 vs. WMV.

MP4 or WMV for screen capture?

The WMV format is a product of Microsoft. Back in the day, it was created to allow professional videos to be recorded in high quality, e.g. on DVD, Bluray. The biggest issue here is that Mac users often have trouble viewing WMV files.

MP4, on the other hand, helps you produce video files that can be opened on any platform. And, when it comes to video quality, MP4 is actually better than WMV.

So,MP4 is more suitable for publishing your screen captures on the web and sharing them with others. The best free video capture software allows you to save your videos in MP4.

2. Video Hosting & Uploading

When looking for a screen capture software, you’d probably look at the recording features like — recording time, ability to record the computer audio, and so on.

But what happens after you record your screencast?

Most of the time, video files are very big and can’t be attached to emails. This means that, to share a video, you have to upload it somewhere in the cloud. In other words, you need video hosting.

This is a book-worthy topic but here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Hosting on YouTube. Some screen recorders allow you to post your videos on YouTube. That’s great when you want to share your videos publicly but not recommended if the screencast contains sensitive information.
• Proprietary video hosting. Some screen recorders like Screenrec, Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder and Screencast-O-Matic come with video hosting. When storing your videos on these platforms, it would be wise to research if the platform is free and what level of security it offers.
• Cloud Recording. If there is no Cloud Recording option, you will have to wait for the video to upload until you can share it. The best free screen capture tools come with this option.

Conclusion

Even the best free screen recording software has advantages and disadvantages. At the end of the day, the recording features — what you can do with the tool, are just as important as the effectiveness — how quickly you can record your computer screen and share it with others.

So, before you set your mind on a free screen recording software, it’s best to evaluate your own recording needs. Maybe you don’t need to upload your videos to social media or maybe you don’t need to record in HD.

Based on this criteria, the top screen recording software for us is the free screen recorder by ScreenRec. The final decision is, of course, yours to make.

As the names suggest, the biggest difference is that a desktop screen recorder can capture your screen while you're offline or on a poor internet connection. An online screen recorder requires stable Internet. For this reason, an online screen recorder isn't the best option when it comes to game capture. It may be a viable option when you're recording a tutorial, though.

Screencast-O-Matic is a popular screencasting tool. Many people use it to record tutorials, training videos and other educational content. The biggest advantage of Screencast-O-Matic is, perhaps, the ability to share the recording to a number of platforms like Vimeo, YouTube and Screencast-o-Matic's own video hosting platform. One downside, however, is the fact that you have to wait for the recording to upload and, if you've been recording for, say, 1 hour, this can be a huge pain. That's why, as an alternative, we'll suggest ScreenRec. It's quick and lightweight, allows you to capture both your computer audio and microphone audio and, finally, it's got instant private sharing--your screen recordings are uploaded in real time which means that you never have to wait. You get a sharing link as soon as you press 'Stop'.

It depends on the screen capture tool you're using and your platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc). With ScreenRec, for example, you have to press Alt + S to start recording your desktop. This works on all platforms.

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Record Your Computer Screen And Audio (For Free)

There are many reasons why you need to record a video. For example, to make a video tutorial for a better and more intuitive presentation, record a video that you can't download, record a real-time video so that you can share fun things with your friends on the social platform. All the work can be done with the best free screen recorder.

On the Internet, you can find plenty of video capture software, but they vary in functionalities. It's essential to choose the right free video recording software depending on what you intend to do. This post covers the top 12 best free video capture software. Now take a look to find the most appropriate one.

Top 12 Best Free Video Recording Software:

• 1. EaseUS RecExperts (Windows 10/8.1/7)
• 2. Xbox Game bar (Windows 10)
• 3. Flashback Express (Windows)
• 4. CamStudio (Windows)
• 5. ShareX (Windows 10/8.1/7)
• 6. Screencast-O-Matic (Windows/Mac)
• 7. EaseUS RecExperts (macOS 10.10 or later)
• 8. OBS Studio (Windows/Mac)
• 9. QuickTime Player (macOS X 10.5 or later)
• 10. Monosnap (Windows/Mac)
• 11. Jing (Windows/Mac)
• 12. VLC Media Player (Windows/Mac)

1. EaseUS RecExperts for Windows

Compatibility: Windows 10/8.1/7

If you are looking for free video capture software on Windows 10, you cannot miss EaseUS RecExperts. This Windows 10 video capture software can be regarded as the best screen recording software available for both novice and pro. It allows you to capture your screen area according to your needs, such as capture the full screen or a specific part of your screen.

With this software, you also can record streaming video, record audio from the computer, and record webcam easily and quickly. Besides, this screen recorder offers you a basic video editing tool that can help you trim the recordings.

Key Features:

• Friendly to both beginners and professionals
• Record part of screen and record full screen on Windows 10
• Allows you to record streaming audio
• Record screen and Webcam simultaneously
• Offer many different output formats, like MP4, MOV, AVI, and more

If you want to download this useful tool to capture what you need, click on the button below to get it for free.

How to Record with Free Video Capture Software Windows 10:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS RecExperts on your computer. The first option, 'Full Screen', can help you capture everything on your screen. If you play the streaming video in full-screen mode, this is suitable for you.

Step 2. If you play the streaming video in a window, it would be better to select the 'Region' option to record only the specific area.

Step 3. Make sure that you are in 'Region' mode. Then, click on the button in the bottom right-hand corner to select a suitable soundsource and adjust the volume. After that, you can click on the 'REC' button to start recording.

Step 4. There will be a floating toolbar on your screen when you are recording the video. The two buttons on it can help you pause or stop the recording.

Step 5. If you click on the red stop button, the recording will be ended, and the captured video will be saved on your computer. When the built-in media player pops up, you can view the recording and use tools to trim it, extract audio from it, or add an opening and ending part.

2. Xbox Game bar

Compatibility: Windows 10

Windows 10 has a pre-installed free video recorder named Game Bar for anyone who wants to capture their game clips and screenshots. You can use Game Bar to record apps, especially for gaming capture.

This software is a good choice if you want to record your wonderful moments of playing games or record a teaching video of playing games.

Pros:

• User-friendly, convenient to use
• Record video with audio
• No time limit for recording video, ad-free
• Record LOL gameplay or other popular games
• Edit the video after recording

Cons:

• Record apps only, not available for recording full screen or a specific region
• No pause function when recording the video
• Limited video editing features

3. Flashback Express

Compatibility: Windows

Flashback Express, released by Blueberry Software, is a free video capture software that can record screens, webcam, and sounds. It's packed with the same video recording features as the pro version.

You can use this free video recorder to capture your whole screen, a window, a selected area, or a webcam. Once the recording finishes, you can trim and crop your video with a simple editor, then export it to YouTube, an FTP server, or your PC.

Pros:

• Well designed interface
• Free video recording software without watermark
• No time limit on recording
• Record audio while capturing video

Cons:

• The free version doesn't include any video editing features
• Limited video output formats: MP4, AVI, WMV

4. CamStudio

Compatibility: Windows

CamStudio is one of the best free video capture tools to record screen objects and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard AVI video files.

You can choose to use custom cursors to record the entire screen or just a part of it. CamStudio can also add high-quality, anti-aliased (non-aliased) screen descriptions to your video recordings quickly. After recording, you can have 'best quality' ones for burning onto CD/DVD.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use
• Provides unique video annotation feature
• Record computer audio and user's voice
• 100% free for personal and commercial projects

Cons:

• No editing feature in this application
• Not available for macOS devices

5. ShareX

Compatibility: Windows 10/8.1/7

ShareX is a free open source screen recorder for capturing still screen grabs and recording videos. This free recording software can record an entire scrolling webpage, identify text via OCR, and even capture your screen according to a schedule.

You can also use this free video recorder to save your screenshot as a GIF instead of a video file, useful for sharing on forums and social media. After video recording, ShareX allows you to send your captured grabs and videos straight to a file-sharing or social media site.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use with a user-friendly interface
• Record a GIF or videos in other formats
• Support exporting videos in various formats
• Free video recording software without watermark

Cons:

• No video editing options
• It doesn't support recordings from games running in full-screen mode

6. Screencast-O-Matic

Compatibility: Windows/Mac

Screencast-O-Matic is a browser-based free video recording software on both Windows and macOS. It offers many features ranging from screen recording, video editing, video hosting, and sharing. You can use this free video recorder to capture full screen, window, region, webcam, microphone, and computer sound.

Besides, multiple video editing features are available while recording, such as zoom, trim your recorded clips, add captions, save them to your desktop, YouTube, or the cloud, or share a video link.

Pros:

• many options for recording a video: full screen, window, or region
• Provide many video editing features, such as trim, cut, change speed, annotations, etc.
• Publish videos directly to YouTube, Vimeo, and other platforms
• Available for multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, ChromeOS (in browser)

Cons:

• Time-limited, recordings are limited to 15 minutes in length
• Watermark added on the recorded video
• The free version offers limited functionality

7. EaseUS RecExperts for Mac

Compatibility: macOS 10.10 or later

As the most recommended software in Mac, it is featured with its Lightweight and rich functionality. You can use it to capture whatever happens on your Mac screen while customizing the recording region according to your preference. You can record the full screen, record part of screen, or a specific application window.

Besides that, you can capture the audio simultaneously. There are several optional audio sources, including system sound, audio in the microphone, and both. If you want to record your voice with more advanced equipment, it's possible to install an external microphone since EaseUS RecExperts can be compatible with external devices like microphones and cameras.

Key Features:

• No watermark
• Support capturing videos in high resolution
• Schedule recording without much effort
• Export the recordings as animated GIFs
• Record a Skype call, a Zoom meeting, and online classes
• Capture the screen of iOS devices

If those features help you, you can click on the button below to download this recording tool for free.

How to Record with Best Video Recording Software on Mac:

Step 1. Download and launch EaseUS RecExperts on your Mac. Click on the 'Screen' button in the Video tab.

Step 2. Click 'Size' to select the recording area. You can capture the full or part of the screen in 'Custom'. Also, you can set the quality of the video in advance or configure basic options, like the shortcut and location.

Step 3. To capture screen and audio simultaneously, click 'Audio Sources' to select an audio source. Besides, you can adjust the volume by hitting the sound icon at the bottom.

Step 4. Once done, click the big red circle button to begin recording. It captures anything displayed on your Mac screen. When you are done, click the stop button. Then you can watch the recorded video in the preview window. If you are satisfied with it, you can export it as an MP4 or GIF file flexibly.

8. OBS Studio

Compatibility: Windows/Mac

OBS Studio is a popular open-source and free video recording software tool that works well for live streaming games on Twitch and recording other information.

It has high performance in real-time video/audio capturing and mixing. It creates scenes made up of multiple sources, including window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, capture cards, and more.

You can immediately start recording from multiple sources at once, with a fairly nice amount of customization in terms of the options you have. What's more, the application streams with various platforms like Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Hitbox, Twitch, and more.

Best Mac Screen Recorder Free

Pros:

• Intuitive audio mixer with per-source filters
• Easy to use configuration option on streamlined Settings panel
• Multiple platforms supported: Windows, Mac, or Linux
• Entirely free, with no limitations

Cons:

• No pause function for recording
• Not easy for beginners to use
• Not much training material included in OBS Studio

9. QuickTime Player

Compatibility: macOS X v10.5 or later

QuickTime Player is the default Mac video player, but it's more than a video player. You could also use QuickTime Player to do video recording for free.

Free Desktop Recording Software For Mac Os

It even has some limited editing capabilities after video captures, such as cut, copies, and pastes, adds a new soundtrack, adds annotations, rotates your video, and more. This free video recording software uses onscreen controls, which are similar to a CD or DVD player.

Pros:

• Record video on Mac
• Convert recorded video to a variety of formats
• Record audio with video simultaneously
• Record Skype videos in full screen
• Ability to save videos from the web
• Provide video editing features to create beautiful video and share it via email

Cons:

• Limited recording and editing functionality
• System audio recording is not possible

10. Monosnap

Compatibility: Windows/Mac

Monosnap is one of the best free video recording software for Mac. You can use this program to record your screen and take a screenshot if you need to use it as a powerful screen recording software. It offers the option of turning on your webcam, mic, and system's audio all before the recording.

After video recording, you can connect the cloud drives such as Dropbox, CloudApp, Yandex. Disk, Box.com, Google Drive, or FTPs upload recorded videos to share with other PCs and smartphones.

Pros:

• Totally free without feature limitation
• Record in 60fps to ensure an ultra-smooth playback
• Ideal for students and professionals with its integration with the cloud
• Highlight important details with pen, text, arrow, and shape

Cons:

• Video editing is not possible
• Cannot record mobile devices

11. Jing

Compatibility: Windows/Mac

Jing is another video recording software for Mac, released by Techsmith. Unlike all other screen-capture software, The captured video can be saved in SWF format or stored in the screencast. Besides screen video recording, you can use this tool to take screenshots and edit them right after capturing.

Pros:

• Very simple and easy to use
• Crosshair capture on the focus area is a must to record screen
• A good option for narrating the steps to solve a problem
• Allow you to suspend while recording
• Come with a movable sun icon that enables you to utilize its function easily

Cons:

• Only record up to 5 minutes

12. VLC Media Player

Compatibility: Windows/Mac

VLC is a free, open-source video capture software available on different platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It's great music and video player of any format, including WMA, AAC, AIF, MP3, and much more on your computer.

What's more, it's also good at video recording, and you can regard it as one of the best music video recorders and use it as a free video capture software with built-in screen recording features.

Pros:

• Simple and clean user interface
• Completely free and open source
• Stream media over the network or internet
• Offer various alluring customized skins

Cons:

• No audio recording options
• Only capture video playing on VLC

To Sum Up

We talked about the top 12 best screen recording software in this post. Every video recorded differs from each others in many aspects, such as the interface design, operating system, and function.

Among all those video capture programs, EaseUS RecExperts is highly recommended because of its functionality and ease of use. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, this video capture software will be appropriate for you just the same.

FAQs About Free Video Recording Software

Those FAQs are useful if you want to know more about the free video capture software on Windows and Mac.

1. What is the best video capture software or the best free screen capture software?

When it comes to free video recording software, I strongly recommend EaseUS RecExperts. This screen recorder has an intuitive workflow that is best for both beginners and professionals. It enables you to record your screen, audio, and webcam with a few simple clicks.

2. How do I record video and sound on my computer?

If you are using a Windows 10 computer, you can record a video from your computer for free with the built-in screen recorder. If you are a Mac user, you can rely on QuickTime Player. These tools have basic screen recording features.

If you need more recording features, you can try some video recording software like EaseUS RecExperts, OBS Studio, ShareX, and many more.

3. How do I record a video on Windows 10 for free?

To record a video on Windows 10 for free, you can use the built-in screen recorder called Game Bar.

Step 1. Press Win + G to open it.

Step 2. When you are ready, you can click the Start recording button to begin your recording. Once done, click Stop recording to save the recordings on your computer.

4. What is the easiest recording software?

The Top 12 Video Recording Software：

• EaseUS RecExperts for Windows
• Windows 10 Game bar
• Flashback Express
• CamStudio
• ShareX
• EaseUS RecExperts for Mac
• Screencast-O-Matic
• OBS Studio
• QuickTime Player
• Monosnap
• Jing
• VLC Media Player