Apowersoft Screen Recorder Is It Safe
The watermark is always a headache when you record the screen to:
Apowersoft is a provider of free multimedia and online business solutions, helping users to record, enrich, convert and deliver multimedia content on computers, web, mobiles, etc. Trustworthiness 77. Screen Recorder Pro by Apowersoft offers you a variety of recording modes that suit your purpose. You can go Full-Screen mode to record all activities that happen on your computer screen or opt for Custom Area mode if you want to record only a specific area of the screen. Apowersoft Recorder free download - Apowersoft Free Audio Recorder, Apowersoft Phone Manager, Screen Recorder, and many more programs.
Is your screen recorder safe to use? As long as you follow the five tips above to use the online screen recorder from secure site with no suspicious thing, or download and install the one with high rank and good reputation, you can enjoy a protected capture on your machine for sure. Most screen recorders are safe. The safety of your PC will be further protected if you buy a screen recorder’s license. The license means your recording software will be inspected and updated every now and then, and bugs will be erased once found by you.
- Make a demonstration video for your software.
- Capture gameplay highlights either for sharing or archiving.
- Present technical issues to a support team.
- Create instructional videos when teaching students in distance.
- Share informative hacks on YouTube and Facebook.
- Save live streaming videos for watching later.
- ..

To dig out a free screen recorder no watermark, you may have tried tons of programs recommended in most articles. But most of them either charge you money to remove watermarks or have video length limits. Since knowing that free screen recorders (no watermark) are in great demand, we've made a well-rounded test on these best screen recorders on the market, and finally found the 15 Best screen recording tools (100% free and no watermark).
TL;DR
1. What is the best screen recorder without watermark for Windows 10, 8, 7?
VideoProc, XBox Game Bar (Windows 10 only), CamStudio, ShareX, ScreenRec, FonePaw.
2. What is the best free screen recorder with no water mark on Mac?
QuickTime Player, OBS (macOS 10.13 +), VideoProc, Panopto Screen Recorder.
3. What is the best screen recorder no watermark no time limit no lag?
VideoProc, OBS, ShareX, Apowersoft Online Screen Recorder, AceThink Free Screen Recorder Online.
4. What is the best screen recorder with a zoom-in feature?
Camtasia (paid), VideoProc, Bandicam, CamStudio, Xsplit Broadcaster (paid).
1. VideoProc
As one of the watermark-free screen recorders, VideoProc is chosen by millions of video marketers, YouTubers, gaming bloggers, teachers, developers, and more. It features multiple screen recording modes to assist users to record webinars, video games, streaming videos, and make screencasts in any form they prefer - full screen, fixed region, or picture in picture.
By its level-3 hardware acceleration tech, VideoProc outperforms most screen recorders and runs smoothly on all recent Windows and macOS (Big Sur included) computers. What's more, users are enabled to polish the recorded video in its editing toolkit - cutting, merging, filtering, compressing, converting, etc.
Highlighted Features
- No watermark, no recording time limits, and no advanced skills required.
- HD 1080P output for better sharing and archiving.
- Produce videos in any format you like: MP4, FLV, MOV, MKV, and TS.
- Record screen with sound from both systems and external devices.
- Flexible recording modes: screen, webcam, screen & web, green-screen.
- Annotation tools for engaging instructional videos: arrows,texts, and cursor highlight.
- GPU acceleration tech to make smooth recording and timely export on Mac and Windows.
Cons:
- No advanced frames settings.
VideoProc Giveaways
Google VideoProc and participate in its giveaways, and you'll have a chance to get its license to free use more features in its latest version without any limit.
How to record screen without a watermark in VideoProc
Step 1.Download and install VideoProc with a free screen recorder (no watermark).
Step 2. Lanuch this software, then choose Recorder in its main UI.
Step 3. Tweak screen recording settings: recording mode, recording area, output format, recording quality, and output folder.
Step 4. Hit the red button to start and end the recording. Next, preview the video and save it to your computer.
Bonus Tips: Connect your iPhone to a Mac, launch VideoProc for Mac with steps above, and you can record iPhone screen on Mac without watermark nor red bar.
2. CamStudio
Operating system: Windows 10/8/8.1/7
CamStudio is a piece of 100% free software ideal for recording Windows screen without watermark nor time limits. It is not a grand screen recording program taking much space nor validating its existence with a big UI. When it is activated, you'll just see a small window that can be hidden in the taskbar while recording. Even though born without editing tools, CamStudio goes for fences on various recording functions: autopan, annotations, picture in picture effect, personalized watermarks, timestamps, and more small but indispensable settings.
Pros:
- Lightweight and intuitive.
- HD results with lossless codecs - Microsoft Video 1, Intel IYUV codec, and Cinepak Codec by Radius.
- Versatile recording tools and annotation effects: cursor highlight, timestamps, captions, etc.
Cons:
- Not compatible with macOS.
- No professional support team to solve users' problems since it's an open-source tool.
- It only exports recorded videos in AVI and MP4 format and provides conversion to SWF.
- Choppy and lagging when you push video quality to the maximum.
How to get it: https://camstudio.org/
3. OBS
Operating system: Windows 10/8/8.1, macOS 10.13+, Linux
OBS, short for Open Broadcasting Software, is a free open source program widely applied to hosting lives on YouTube and Twitch. When disconnected to streaming platforms and used offline, it functions as a game screen recorder as well. It is super powerful to hold numerous scenes (recording screens) and audio tracks, meanwhile feature smooth scene transitions and audio mixing. Obviously, OBS is a pro-level screen recorder that requires skilled users to deal with settings for video/audio bitrate, encoders, replay buffer, etc. So we recommend it to advanced users instead of beginners.
Pros:
- Flexible and customizable recording settings.
- It is a free screen recorder no watermark nor ads since it's open source.
- HD 1080P @60fps outputs for recording videos.
- Various recording formats for different goals: MP4, MKV, FLV, MOV, TS, and M3U8.
Cons:
- Too many advanced settings for novices to learn.
- No support team to solve your technical issues except a user forum.
- Slow and freezing on low-end PCs, esp. when recording at a high frame rate.
- No editing options for captured videos.
How to get it: https://obsproject.com/
Apowersoft Online Screen Capture
4. ShareX
Operating system: Windows 10/8.1/8/7
The last one of open source screen recorders on our list is ShareX. Over a decade of diligent work, developers pack the screen recorder, screenshot capturing, file sharing, and productivity tools into one lightweight program and insist on charging users nothing. Today, we mainly talk about its screen recorder. ShareX empowers you to record either the full screen or partial area with audio, and save it as a common video file. But ShareX distinguishes itself by offering a GIF export format, which makes short clips more convenient. Moreover, ShareX lets you customize hotkeys and sets countdown to get you well-prepared so that you can work at your own pace.
Pros:
- Upload recorded videos to YouTube, Dropbox, Google Drive, and more, instantly.
- Capture desktop screen as videos, GIFs, and images without watermark.
- Optional audio and video codecs for better output: H.264, BP8, Xvid, AAC, MP3, etc.
- Performs well on all recent Windows PCs.
- Highlight any area during the recording.
Cons:
- Windows only.
- No recording icon so you have to configure shortcuts before recording.
- Cannot activate the screen recorder without installing FFmpeg.
How to get it: https://getsharex.com/
5. QuickTime Player (v10.x)
Operating system: Mac OS X Snow Leopard and later
Many folks stick to native tools to protect their computers from malicious third-part software though not all third-party tools are dangerous. Built-in screen recorders are certainly safe, free, and without any watermark. QuickTime X, shipped with macOS X 10.6 in 2009, was built with a screen recording utility to capture both HD video and audio from Mac. As a simple and handy tool, QuickTime Player presents no complicated parameters to users. However, this causes limitations in output format and editing features.
Pros:
- Easy and novice-friendly.
- Auto minimize itself when you record the screen.
- Capture high-quality screencasts and videos.
- Share the saved video to YouTube, Message, and Mail via a click.
Cons:
- When record the full screen, facecam will disappear.
- No annotation tools for further illustrations and highlights.
How to get it: https://support.apple.com/downloads/quicktime
6. Xbox Game Bar
Operating system: Windows 10 version 17763.0 or higher
Just as the name suggests, Xbox Game Bar was originally created as comprehensive widgets for capturing and sharing screens, live streaming, and chattering with game friends across Xbox consoles without exiting your game. Later, more and more users find it compatible with Windows 10 latest versions and call it the built-in screen recorder on Windows 10 because it can capture screens of other programs like Microsoft Office, common browsers, and so forth. Like other decent screen recorders, Xbox Game Bar allows users to adjust video quality, frame rate, shortcuts, etc.
Pros:
- Watermark-free and pre-installed.
- Easy to activate it by pressing Win + G keys.
- Quick switches among audio sources while recording.
- Considerate overview of CPU, GPU, and RAM usages.
Cons:
- Unable to record the full screen.
- Stop recording automatically when you quit applications and return to the desktop.
- No annotation tools like captions, shapes, and arrows.
How to get it: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/xbox-game-bar/9nzkpstsnw4p?activetab=pivot:overviewtab
7. ScreenRec
Operating system: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7
ScreenRec was designed to help people communicate with ease in marketing, e-learning, onboarding, project managing, etc. Besides recording screens without watermarks, it has integrated video sharing and analyzing features while protecting users' information. That's why we recommend it to people who are marketers and online tutors. One notable thing is its active developing team that updates this tool consistently. Lately, the webcam and webcam + screen recording modes have been added. If you want to use it for free, you need to register an account first, but it may send you loads of subscription emails then.
Pros:
- Record HD videos without time limits and watermarks.
- Record screen along with microphone audio and system audio.
- No pressure on system and storage.
- Customizable recoding shortcuts.
Cons:
- MP4 is the only available video format.
- Media Sharing currently disabled.
- Not supported on macOS yet.
How to get it: https://screenrec.com/
8. Screencastify
Operating system: Chrome browser on Windows, Mac, Chromebook
Screen-O-Matic is one of the most successful screencast software in the market widely integrated with educational tools, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Moodle LTI, and some business tools as well. After sign up/in to it online, you can make both screenshots (images) and screencasts (videos) of your PC. It has nothing special in screen capturing, basic recording modes, audio recording , and even has a time limit. What makes it worth mentioning is the paid edition with advanced editing features. So we do not recommend its free plan.
Pros:
- Free and no watermark.
- Drawing tools help you illustrate videos better.
- After recording, you can trim unwanted beginning and ending part.
- Detect mic and webcam automatically before recording.
Cons:
- Five minutes limit per recording video.
- Cannot record desktop screen and webcam simultaneously.
- Only accesible when the internet is connected.
How to get it: https://www.screencastify.com/products/screen-recorder
9. Apowersoft Screen Recorder
Operating system: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Although the desktop version of Apowersoft screen recorder has limits on recording time, and adds watermarks to the final products. Its online screen recorder is a real free tool that won't watermark on any recordings. Users are allowed to customize the recording area freely. If you plan to record gameplay or make screencasts, it can capture the screen along with webcam and audio simultaneously. During the process of recording, you can illustrate what's going on on your screen by drawing lines, typing texts, etc. As for output formats, it has multiple options – MP4, FLV, WMV, GIF, etc.
Pros:
- No watermark and no time limit.
- Multiple recording modes: full screen, webcam, and customizable area.
- Also available on iPhone and Android phones.
- You can save and share your recorded videos via its cloud base.
Cons:
- You cannot use it directly. It asks you to install a launcher first.
- A red recording bar will pop up when you starting recording the screen.
- Cannot record screen without the internet connection.
How to get it: https://www.apowersoft.com/free-online-screen-recorder
10. Panopto Screen Recorder
Operating system: Mac, Windows
Panopto is an online and free screen recorder no watermark. You can use it on browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge on any computer. Different from other desktop screen recorders, it only has 3 recording modes: entire screen, certain application window, and browser tab. What makes this easy tool a must-have is the video quality. By simply ticking the option of Capture in HD, you can record the video in HD and even at 60fps (which requires hardware support). It has 15 min limits per recordings, but it is enough for most quick demonstrations.
Pros:
- HD recording with no watermark.
- It can record a certain screen without disturbing other programs.
- Record screen along with system audio and mic audio.
- You can edit the video right after recording.
Cons:
- Can't customize the recording area freely.
- You cannot use it without registering an account.
- Recorded videos need to download for local saving, editing, or converting.
How to get it: https://www.panopto.com/record/
11. TinyTake
Operating system: Mac, Windows
TinyTake is a free screen recorder no watermark for your PC and Mac. It is an easy-to-use product that anyone can use without much tech knowledge. Besides capture images and videos on the desktop screen, it can record the screen with audio from the system, a speaker, or a microphone. And webcam recording is supported as well. During the recording, you are allowed to annotate what’s going on on the screen by arrows and texts.
Pros:
- Record the screen for free.
- Directly share and upload the captured video to YouTube via a link.
- Support popular file formats.
Cons:
- Take more storage on your computer than other screen recording utilities.
How to get it: https://tinytake.com/
12. FonePaw Screen Recorder
Operating system: Windows, Mac
FonePaw Screen recorder is a simple but fully-featured recorder. It lets you record not only the screen but also the webcam and audios from both the system and microphone. It also gives you full control over settings of the recording area, recording mode, video quality, hotkeys, and mouse track. To enable you to illustrate the recording better, esp. for remote learning and working, you can draw, circle, and add text to it while recording the screen.
El capitan patcher tool for unsupported macs. Pros:
- Easy and free of charge.
- It adds no watermark to the captured video.
- Record both system and microphone sounds.
- Record the screen in high quality up to 1080P.
Cons:
- The free version can only save 3 minutes of each recording.
- Lack of post-editing tools, like trimming, merging, cropping, etc.
- MP4 is the only supported output format.
How to get it: https://www.fonepaw.com/screen-recorder/
13. VSDC Free Screen Recorder Software
Operating system: Windows
Just like the VSDC video editor, this screen recorder comes as freeware as well. You can use it to capture the full screen or a certain area with audio from programs and external devices, for example, a microphone or line in. And many people use it to create presentations and video tutorials because it supports drawing, mouse cursor highlighting, and adding audio effects.
Pros:
- It is totally free of charge.
- No watermark nor time limits.
- It can record videos and audios using any codecs installed in your computer screen.
Cons:
- Not available on macOS.
- It has been officially discontinued. Users have to download it from 3rd-party websites which might put your computer at risk.
How to get it: http://www.videosoftdev.com/free-screen-recorder
14. AceThinker Free Screen Recorder Online
Operating system: Windows, Mac
AceThinker has a screen recording program for Windows and Mac, Screen Grabber, but it has watermarks in the free version. While its online version is powered by Apowersoft and performs pretty the same as Apowersoft online screen recorder. AceThinker Free Screen Recorder Online can record the screen quickly in just 3 steps and save the video in multiple formats MP4, AVI, WMV, etc.
Pros:
- Completely free and easy to use.
- It puts no watermarks nor time limits to recordings.
- Flexible recording options: full careen, specific area, and capture screen with audio.
- More compatible output formats than its peers.
Cons:
- You have to downloader a launcher in advance to run the online screen recorder.
- It cannot work without the internet connection.
- You need to download the video to your computer after it finishes recording.
How to get it: https://www.acethinker.com/free-screen-recorder
15. AZ Screen Recorder
Operating system: Android, iOS
Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro Free
The last one is best for recording screen without watermarks on Android and iPhone. iPhone built-in screen recorder always has a red bar in the top corner which is as annoying as a watermark. Now here comes a free screen recording app without watermarks for smartphones. It can record the screen with audio on your phone and capture screenshots of gameplays, live streams, video calls, etc.
Pros: Nfs underground 2 free.
- High quality screen recording: 1080P @60FPS, 12Mbps
- No recording time limits nor watermarks.
- It is free for both iOS and Android.
- Post-editing for recording videos.
Cons:
- It works more smoothly on Android than iOS.
How to get it:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hecorat.screenrecorder.free
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/az-screen-recorder-livestream/id1519912226
Conclusion
Now we have narrowed down mainstream free screen recorder no watermark into 15 tools. You should consider carefully when selecting the best one for you since each of them has both pros and cons. Is it compatible with your computer? Does it record HD videos? Does it have time limit? Will it lag or quit unexpectedly?
Honestly speaking, VideoProc is the one that performs best in our screen recording test. It records the screen of all recent computers without lagging and time limit. And surprisingly, we found it has more solutions to 4K video processing – editing, converting, and downloading.
They say there is no free lunch and, more often than not, that’s the rule. Screen recording software, though, is a delightful exception — there are heaps of free tools out there.
To help you find the best free screen recorder, we have created a shortlist of the best free screen recorders in 2021 that are free. Bejeweled free download full game. Ideal for communicating your ideas and feedback faster, recorder video tutorials, explainer videos, report bugs, etc.
Contents
What Is Screen Recording Software?
Screen recording software captures what is on your computer screen. You can either record in full screen or capture a specific area. Most of these apps can record your microphone (audio narration) and the best desktop recording software can also record your computer screen with audio (the system sound).
However, this is where the similarities end. Not all such programs are HD screen recorders. Some screen recording tools can save the recording in various file formats or export it to social media websites like YouTube. Top screen recorders, though, can upload your screen captures to the cloud in real-time and give you a sharing link instantly (much more effective).
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.
How we reviewed the top screen video recorders
We took information about each of the best desktop recorders directly from their official website. In addition, we gathered insights from independent reviews published on G2Crowd and tested each tool ourselves.
What is a good screen recorder?
While our picks range from desktop apps to browser plug-ins, each one meets the following basic criteria:
- User-friendly interface
- Can record the entire screen or a specific area
- Captures both system and microphone audio
- Built-in video sharing and/or convenient exporting options
See this video for more information.
Here Are The Best Free Screen Recording Software In 2021
Screenrec | iSpring Free Cam | Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder | Screencast-O-Matic | Ezvid | Prezi Video | Veed | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Save screencast to your hard drive | |||||||
Video Hosting | |||||||
Cloud Recording | |||||||
Instant sharing | |||||||
Sharing options | Universal sharing link. Share privately or publicly. | Upload to Youtube | Upload to Youtube, Dropbox, Vimeo or GDrive | Upload to Youtube | None. You can save the screen capture to your hard drive. | Steam to web conferencing apps | None, You can save the screen capture to your hard drive. |
Record computer audio and video at the same time | |||||||
Record your voice | |||||||
Record in full screen | |||||||
Capture Screenshots | |||||||
Video Library | |||||||
Video Encryption | |||||||
Video Analytics | |||||||
Video Editing Tools | |||||||
Facecam recording | |||||||
Recording Time | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 15 minutes | Depends on how much free space you have | 15 minutes | 10 minutes |
Ads | Ad-free | Ad-free | Ad-free | Ads | Ad-free | Ad-free | Ad-free |
Video compression | MP4 (Universal) | WMV (Windows only) | MP4, WMV, AVI, FLV, MPEG, VOB, ASF and GIF | MP4, AVI, FLV | WMV (Windows only) | ||
Supported Platforms | Windows, Mac and Linux | Windows | Windows and Mac | Windows and Mac | Windows | Windows, Mac and Chrom | Windows and Mac |
Works when you’re offline |
1. Screenrec
Click. Record. Share instantly. If you’re looking for the quickest and easiest possible way to capture your computer screen and share the recording with someone else, this is it. No ads and limitations. You not only get a screen recorder for free but you also get business video hosting for free.
Pros:
- Record computer audio
- Record your computer screen in HD
- Capture and annotate screenshots
- 2Gb of free video hosting included
- Cloud recording. Your video capture is uploaded on the fly to a secure video hosting platform — StreamingVideoProvider.
- Files are saved in the .MP4 format which can be played on any device (free MP4 screen recorder)
- Instant private sharing. Once the recording is complete you get a private sharing link that you can send to anyone online.
- Extremely lightweight
- Video CMS to manage your recordings, e.g. tag, add descriptions, organize in folders and playlists
- Video encryption. No one can download your videos without your explicit permission.
- Video analytics
- Unlimited recording time
- No ads
Cons:
- There are no video editing tools at this point
- You can’t record your webcam
Free Download For:
- Windows, Mac and Linux: https://screenrec.com/download-screenrec/
2. iSpring Free Cam
iSpring Free Cam made our list of the best screen recorders because it’s easy-to-use, without ads and time limitations. It only works on Windows which can potentially be an issue but, otherwise, it’s got all the chops to help you capture the full screen or a specific area of your desktop.
Pros:
- Record your microphone and system sounds
- Highlight your mouse
- Basic video editing tools, e.g. delete selection, remove background noise.
- Webcam recording is available but only in the Pro version
- You can upload your screencast to YouTube
- No ads
- No time limits
Cons:
- Only works on Windows. No support for Linux or Mac.
- Screen captures are saved in .WMV format (OK if you’re using a Windows PC but might not play on other platforms)
- Uploading large videos might take quite some time because there is no cloud recording option. The file is compressed and uploaded after recording.
- You can’t take screenshots
- Some users report high CPU usage
Available for:
- Windows
3. Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder
A nice online screen recorder with basic video editing capabilities. This free screen capture software runs in your browser (Mac or Windows) and requires an internet connection. The Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder might be a good choice if you’re looking for a one-time solution.
Pros:
- Record your webcam
- Add annotations within the video
- Capture computer audio
- Crop your video (no other editing tools, though)
- Works on Windows and Mac but not on Linux
- After recording, you can save the video file to your computer or upload it to YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.
- You can save the file in a number of different formats (This can also be a con if you don’t know what you’re doing)
Cons:
- 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:
- Windows and Mac
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
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.
What's the difference between a desktop screen recorder vs. online screen recorder?
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.
What is the best alternative to Screencast-O-Matic?
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'.
How do I record my computer screen?
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.