Jan 23, 2020  TinyTake claims to be the best free screen capture and video recording software out there. The software allows you to capture a video of your screen activity, annotate it, and share it on social media. TinyTake advertises itself as simple, free, and feature-rich, though many features are only available with the paid options.

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What is a Screencast?

Screencasting is the video recording of a computer screen that is often accompanied by voice-over narration and serves for educational purposes. Live screencasting is, respectively, the live broadcasting of your screen.

For example, teachers may use screencasting to create e-learning tutorials and courses. Employers may screencast how-to videos and tutorials for new employees.

So, what is the best software for this purpose?

We’ve put together a list of the best screencast software available for free and premium. But, before we get into the specifics of each app, let’s define what ‘best’ means.

The Best Screencast Software Checklist

Here’s what to consider when looking for screencast software:

• Easy to use – You probably don’t want to and don’t have the time to fiddle around with complex applications. Screencasting should be easy and worry-free.
• Free – This isn’t a ‘must-have’, but, in reality, you don’t have to invest much (or anything) to produce a screencast. Typically, a free screen recorder will do a great job as we’ll see in a moment.
• Easy Sharing – Screencasting software can become a pain to use when you decide to publish your video tutorials. You should be able to share your recorded videos with just a few clicks in a matter of seconds.
• Security – Most people who are screencasting are typically recording information that they may deem sensitive, e.g. university lectures, internal training videos. Security is a must.

Best Free Screencast Software

1. ScreenRec

ScreenRec is reliable and super-easy screencast software (free for Windows + upcoming versions for Mac and Linux). Offering the simplest way to download and begin recording, this program ensures there is no learning curve to climb or tutorial to watch. Just download ScreenRec and you can get right to creating a screencast.

ScreenRec can record your screen and audio simultaneously and, even better, it automatically uploads your screencasts online, to your private cloud account. This means that you can share your tutorials and e-learning videos safely and privately with your students or colleagues while protecting your copyrights.

Feature Highlights

• User-friendly interface
• Automatic upload to private account
• Automatic shareable link copied to clipboard
• Free screencast software for Windows 10
• High-quality video and audio
• No time limit
• No watermark
• Saves in MP4 for universal viewing

Available for: Windows (Mac & Linux versions coming soon)

2. OBS Studio

One of the most popular open-source screencasting solutions, OBS Studio is not for the everyday software user. With powerful video screen capture capabilities, OBS ensures that your screencasts will be of the highest quality.

However, you’ll need to climb a steep learning curve before you can venture in the vastness that is the Open Broadcaster Studio. Besides creating videos, with OBS studio, you can also broadcast live screencasts. There is also a powerful API that allows developers to create various plugins and scripts.

Feature Highlights

• Powerful customization and configuration options
• High Def recording
• Live screencast software
• Built-in equalizer and mixer
• Plugins available

Available for: Windows, Mac, Linux

3. CamStudio

CamStudio is yet another open-source screencasting software for Windows. This free program allows you to create AVI videos and convert them to SWF Adobe Flash files. However, there is no way to share, so you’ll need to upload your videos manually.

On the plus side, there is a basic editor that allows you to add annotations and save your videos in any format. What’s more, there are no file size limitations. However, be careful when setting up CamStudio because the setup tries to install a few other programs onto your computer.

Feature Highlights:

• Open-source
• Free program
• Automatic AVI to FLV converter

Available for: Windows

4. QuickTime

Unbeknownst to some, the QuickTime Player is a program on macOS that does more than playing videos. You can also use it to make recordings of your computer screen and even do simple edits on these recordings (like clipping and trimming).

It is by no means a highly sophisticated application, but it gets the job done. With the added bonus of narration options, QuickTime serves its purpose nicely. It may be one of the simplest screencast software for Mac available for free.

In MacOS Mojave, screen recording is done by pressing Command-Shift-5. It’s no longer part of QuickTime but, rather, a separate app.

Feature Highlights

• Simple editing options
• Built-in application
• Recordings saved with H.264 encoding with AAC audio track (high video and audio quality)

Available for: Mac

Best Paid Screencast Software

1. Screencast-O-Matic

Screencast-O-Matic is screencasting software that doubles as a video editor. It’s a fairly straightforward tool. You can record, edit, and share via direct upload to YouTube, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.

Some of the cool features that come with this screencasting software are the green screen and stock music. While there is a free version available it’s hardly usable for screencasting due to the time limits. It’s the deluxe version that makes this program worth mentioning.

Feature Highlights:

• User-friendly interface
• Basic editing options
• Direct upload for sharing
• Green screen tool

Available for: Chromebook, Windows, Mac

2. Camtasia

Created by TechSmith, Camtasia is a multifaceted program used to create online tutorials through screencasting. However, Camtasia is more of an all-in-one e-learning tool rather than a simple screen recorder.

By no means complex, Camtasia is still rather involved. There are a handful of editing options and e-learning features (quiz creator, slideshow integration) that give you a lot to browse through and figure out when creating your videos. Camtasia is a viable option for screencasting, as long as you’re willing to invest a few hundred dollars and several hours to sift through the dozens of options.

Feature Highlights:

• Powerful video editor
• Free music and sound effects
• Quiz creator
• Supports almost all file formats (AVI, MP4, MOV, WAV, etc)

Available for: Windows, Mac

3. ScreenFlow

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ScreenFlow is a screencasting program with a built-in video editor specifically for MacOS. This pieces of software has a very simple interface that’s easy to use for every user level. Even though there is an option to sign up for their free trial, in our opinion, the program is a tad too expensive for its simple features and design.

The most notable feature is ScreenFlow’s access to hundreds of stock photos. If stock photos are extremely important to you and you’re on a Mac, then, by all means, give ScreenFlow a try. Another small bonus is that you can customize your exports settings with ProRes and MP4 encoding.

Feature Highlights

• Easy, user-friendly interface
• Access to stock images
• Customizable exporting options

Available for: Mac

4. ActivePresenter

An advanced screencast and e-learning program, ActivePresenter gives you options for every step of the recording process—from choosing your recording options (i.e, capture area) to selecting audio recording tools (i.e, microphone or webcam), all the way to editing your video. ActivePresenter is a good application for getting a decent video screen capture done.

However, once you are finished recording and editing, sharing becomes a hassle. You can either export your video in various formats including MP4, MKV or AVI or publish it to YouTube. In order to share privately, you’ll need to upload your videos manually to the destination of your choice. Plus, the free version will watermark your videos.

Feature Highlights:

• E-learning tools like quiz creator
• Powerful editing options
• Export in MP4, MKV, AVI

Available for: Windows and Mac

*BONUS* Video Editing Software

Not every screencast program in our list comes equipped with a video editor and some that do, just aren’t quite up to the task. So, instead of having one tool that tries to do two things, you can have two dedicated tools that are best at their specific task.

For example, you can pair a powerful free screen recorder like ScreenRec with a powerful video editor like OpenShot. Both applications are best at what they do which means you don’t have to compromise on quality or features. Plus, they are both free.

What is the Best Free Screencast Software?

There’s quite a bit of information that needs to be processed when deciding which of these apps is best. To make it easier on you, we took the info from the apps above and compared them to the checklist to see which apps ticked all of the boxes.

Each of these programs has its own advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, you decide which is the best screencasting software.

If you’re wondering where to start, download ScreenRec as it offers not just easy screen recording, but also easy sharing and security.

What is the most lightweight screencast software out there?

The idea of using a screencast software is to save time and avoid additional emails, phone calls etc. That’s why the software you are going to use need to be simple and easy to use. ScreenRec is a perfect choice in this regard, because it’s optimized to work fast and it’s not bogged down by unnecessary features.

What is the best open-source screen recorder for Windows?

If you are looking for a Windows supported open-source screen recorder, OBS Studio might be a good choice. It has vast features, concerning video quality, audio modifications, colour correction etc. OBS may be complicated but it has a lot of important tools to make sure your video will really be outstanding and impressive.

Which programs should I use to screencast?

To create a screencast, you need a screen recording tool. Different screen recorders have specific features but there are some basic criteria to consider. For example, an easy interface is important, since one of the main reasons people record their screens is to save time explaining and to avoid misunderstanding. Another requirement that most users have is the ability to simultaneously record audio along with the screen recording, so the explanations can be clearer and the information they share can be easily understood. Once you’ve recorded your video, you have to share it. This is another basic, but crucial, feature of screen recording software—easy sharing, without the need to use other apps and tools. The best screencast tool is the one that saves you the most time.

References and Further Reading

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Video is the way of the future. From crazy cat videos on YouTube to in-depth training tutorials sold by mega corporations, our society just can't get enough of those moving pictures. But video is more than just an entertainment option or revenue channel. It can also assist you in your daily workflow and turn you into a productivity machine at work!

The eight video recording software mentioned below will help you communicate quicker, increasing the amount of work you can get done on any given day. Does that sound like something you might be interested in? Then keep reading.

In this post we'll explain what kind of video recording software we're talking about and the eight best options you should consider adding to your technology stack in 2020.

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The Purpose of Video Recording Software

The video recording software we'll be talking about in this blog post is NOT the kind you would use to record and edit a Hollywood blockbuster, or even a silly home movie. You won't find Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro on this list.

Instead, we've rounded up the top eight software tools that will allow you to record your personal computer screen in 2020. These kinds of programs can be extremely useful to business professionals and boost both productivity and efficiency by giving users the ability to easily share everything they see on their computer screens.

The most common uses of video recording software are to demonstrate tasks, troubleshoot problems, and craft intuitive tutorials.
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The Top 8 Video Recording Software

The following eight pieces of video recording software have been carefully selected. You'll find both paid and free tools, but each is well designed and would be a worthy addition to your business software suite in 2020. Let's dive in!

1. CloudApp

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Let's start with our absolute favorite video recording software, CloudApp. Are we biased? Sure, but after a quick look at the facts, we have no doubt that you'll agree with us in thinking that CloudApp is quite an amazing tool!

CloudApp is an all-in-one, visual collaboration platform that gives users easy access to screen and webcam recording, and GIF creation features. Once content has been recorded, CloudApp also allows its users to edit their visuals with convenient annotations such as drawings, arrows, emojis, and more to better communicate their thoughts and ideas.

What do you do when your content has been shot and edited to perfection? Distribute it, of course! Our cloud-based software makes it easy to share your work via links that include password protection options, expiration dates, and detailed analytics. Quickly see who has viewed your content and enable real-time notifications when your links have been opened.

CloudApp packs in a lot of features, but fortunately, all this functionality won't cost your business an arm and a leg. Plans including premium features start at just $9 a month, though our entry-level plan is free-forever and allows you to begin sharing videos, GIFs, and screenshots immediately. Become more productive and save up to 56 hours a week with CloudApp!

2. SnagIt

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SnagIt is a popular video recording software that is specially designed to help users make amazing step-by-step instruction videos and how-to guides. If that will be your main goal when using this kind of tool, then you may find this app is exactly what you're looking for.

In a nutshell, SnagIt gives you the ability to capture a video of your computer screen or, using your webcam, a video of yourself, and share the result with whomever you wish.

One of SnagIt's most useful features is 'Favorites', which will allow you to add each of your favorite tools inside the app to one specific tab and group them together for easy access. This is a valuable, time-saving feature that will keep you from constantly digging through multiple menus to find what you need.

A license to use this tool costs $49.95 and can be installed on up to two different computers.

3. ShareX

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When it comes to the best free video recording software on the market, you'd be hard pressed to find a better tool than ShareX. This app makes it incredibly simple to capture a video of your screen with just one (configurable) click.

One great feature included with ShareX is the ability to record just a portion of your computer screen when needed. Perhaps you don't want your entire screen visible in the video you plan to record and share. No problem, simply select the area you wish to record in ShareX and only capture that space in your video.

Once a video is recorded, users are able to edit it, though the editing features aren't as extensive as other apps on this list. But for a completely free tool, the functionality is impressive and ideal for those on a tight budget, or those who only need basic video recording features.

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4. Debut Video Capture

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Debut Video Capture (DVC) is a powerful and free (for personal use only) video recording software that can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, DVC can be used to capture video of your computer screen as you work, which is great for explaining processes.

But this app also allows video to be recorded from external devices, such as a high-end video recorder or network IP camera (surveillance camera). This is a unique and useful feature for those looking to record higher quality videos than their webcam can provide, or those who need to set up a security system at their place of business.

While the interface is unattractive and dated, the functionality of this app is great and the main reason why it's secured a place on our list. It should be noted, however, that use of this tool for non-personal related reasons will cost your company $39.95.

5. ScreenFlow

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Apple user? Then consider using, ScreenFlow, an intuitive, Mac-only video recording software. This app has many of the standard screen recording features we've talked about in this article already, such as GIF creation and image annotation abilities.

But there are two features we especially like about ScreenFlow:

1. This app allows users to record the screens of the iOS devices. Looking to demonstrate how to use a specific mobile app? Simply connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer, ensure the device is recognized, and click 'record iOS device'.
2. ScreenFlow gives its users access to a stock media library of over half a million media clips that can be used in their own videos. This includes visual clips, background music, and more. Just find what you need and drag it into the ScreenFlow timeline.
   

When your video is done, save time and export it directly to YouTube, Wistia, Facebook, DropBox, or Google Drive.

Does ScreenFlow sound intriguing? You can buy the program for $129. It should be noted that the media library is an additional cost and will run you $60 a year. Premium support is also not included in the price of the software, but can be had for $39 a year.

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6. GoPlay

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We just gave you a Mac-only application, how about a Windows video recording software next? GoPlay is a screen recording app that allows users to easily create high-definition videos, edit them in a jiffy, and then export the final product to social media with the click of a button.

Some might find the picture in picture (PIP) option especially useful. This feature will let you record both your computer screen and yourself (via a webcam) at the same time. Once your video has been created, editing options include trimming, cropping and various filters.

Finally, we should mention the captioning feature. Add subtitles to every video so that the information you're sharing is never lost or misinterpreted.
GoPlay is mainly geared towards those who plan to publish their work on YouTube and other social media channels. But if you use a Windows computer, there's no reason why this app can't also be used for more traditional business video projects. Prices start at $4.90 a month.

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7. Camtasia

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Camtasia is known for being very easy to use. It combines screen recording features with more traditional video editing options (much like the ScreenFlow and GoPlay apps that we mentioned earlier) to give its users a comprehensive video recording software suite.

A typical workflow using this app might look something like this:

1. First, record your screen. You can choose to capture the entire thing or just part of it, whatever suits your video-making needs best.
2. Second, edit your footage. Cut out sections; combine multiple takes into one seamless shot; and add in external videos, images, and presentation slides as you see fit.
3. Third, add effects and give your video a professional, polished feel. Effects include annotations, titles, music, and more.
   

As you can see, working with Camtasia is a straightforward process. And while this app doesn't have as many screen recording features as other tools on this list, or the editing options of a fully-featured video editing software, it strikes a good middle ground between the two.

For those looking for basic screen recording functionality and a few higher-end video editing options, Camtasia is a good bet and can be had for $249.

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8. Screencastify

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Finally, we have Screencastify, a unique option because this tool is actually a Google Chrome extension rather than a stand-alone app. It's perfect for those using the Chrome web browser and looking for a basic video recording software — especially if they're on a tight budget.

Screencastify gives users a few different options when recording. Do you want to capture your entire desktop, one specific browser tab, or yourself via a webcam? Each option is available. In fact, you can record your screen and yourself at the same time and embed the webcam feed in the screen recording.

Finished recordings can be edited with annotations and mouse highlights (so viewers always know what you're clicking on), and then cropped and trimmed to perfection.

When it comes to cheap video capture software, Screencastify is a solid option at only $49 a year. Can't justify the price tag? Use the app for free. Just know that you'll only be able to record up to 5 minute long videos.

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The Right Video Recording Software For You

Mac Top Video Recording Software Like Obs Download

If you're hoping to become more productive in 2020, any of the video recording software mentioned in this blog post will help you reach that goal. Visual communication is on the rise and is, in our humble opinion, a worthy investment for just about every business.

So jump on it! Try a few of the apps we mentioned (listed again below for your convenience) and choose your favorite. Then use it and crush your business goals. Happy video recording!

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CloudApp is the best option when it comes to video recording software. Our tool's powerful screen and webcam recording, GIF creation, and image annotation features will help you boost productivity immediately. Learn more about the CloudApp solution here.