Capture Mastery: Top Picks of Free PC/Mac Desktop Recorders

Free Screen Recording Software [Windows & Mac]

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

For many years, computer instructors face the fierce challenge of instructing another user to perform a specific task on their own computer. Things become harder when the user is away from the instructor. In fact, it is far harder than programming or managing a database because in this case, you have to deal with another person with a different mind-set. No matter how hard your efforts are, you will feel tired at the end of the day more likely with less satisfactory output with ordinary instructional methods. As a great alternative for this, you can seek the help of a screen recording software to make the teaching or instructing effective and productive with minimal efforts. There are many screen recorder software for you to pick when you browse through the internet. Herewith we list down a set of highly effective screen recorder software, which you can obtain for FREE, whether you are looking for a free video recording software for Windows, Mac, or Linux, or an online free screen recorder.

You may also like: Best Screen Capture Tools for Linux

Top List of Video Recording Apps for iPhone >>

Note: In this article, we won’t introduce the built-in screen recording software in Windows 10 and Mac and only introduce some 3rd party free screen recorders on both Mac, Windows, and Linux. If you want to learn more information about the default screen recorders, you can check Windows 10 Screen Recorder Review or How to Record Screen for Mac with QuickTime .

Part 1: Best Free Screen Recording Software for both Windows and Mac in 2020

1. Wondershare Filmora

Screen recording is an extremely efficient way to present something to an audience (especially for a novice audience) precisely on both Windows and Mac. It wipes away all the doubts and difficulties. Filmora is the best software to resolve the headache that users may not find a suitable tool to help them record their screen. With all-in-one features, users not only can record videos, but they also can edit recordings with a powerful editing suite. The interface is extremely simple and easy to learn, so if you are a beginner in this field, there is nothing to worry about to give it a shot.

Filmora is free to use and there is no limitation in recording time, but there will be a watermark in the exported video. To remove the watermark, you can purchase Filmora’s license.

2. Jing

Jing is a free screen recorder presented by TechSmith. It is a small but powerful tool that comes with essentials which allows you to capture images as well as videos and share to the Internet. Although Jing doesn’t have high end features, it is effective enough to plan, record and share the video within a very small time.

Being a free software, Jing still is backed up with the technical support of the TechSmith. However, Jing is not the best software tool for you when it comes to big projects, and you have to sign up and connect to your TechSmith account to use. Besides, as a free screen recording software, Jing allows you to capture screens up to five minutes and the best frame rate is 10FPS, and the recorded videos will be saved in SWF flash format. So, before downloading this free screen recorder on your Windows PC or Mac computer, make sure if you are OK with that.

3. Icecream Screen Recorder

You can get Icecream Screen Recorder for free from Icecream Apps. This is an excellent free screen recorder and screen capture tool that is compatible with all the latest Windows and Mac versions. It comes with features to let you add URLs to screen shots, clip board features, project history, audio settings adjustments, hotkey support etc. There is a feature called “area selection” in this unique software enabling you to thoroughly focus on the precise task. There is a drawing panel with advance features which can make your recording session a more creative and unique one.

If you choose Icecream Screen Recorder Free version, there is a 5-minute record time limitation and a watermark in the recorded video footage, and many advanced features such as exporting the recorded video in various formats, schedule the screen recording, add watermark to video will be not available. But you can upgrade to Icecream Screen Recorder Pro at the price of $29.95.

4. ActivePresenter

ActivePresenter is a great screen recorder that is extremely useful with educational presentations or tutorials. Like Wondershare Filmora, this is also a 2-in-one screen recorder and video editor platform for both Windows and Mac. ActivePresenter is a free screen recording software presented by Atomi Systems. The features included in this wonderful screen recorder allows you to be more creative and interactive while recording which is extremely useful when it comes to explaining. Callouts, annotations, narration and special graphics are vital for a better and clearer explanation and that is why ActivePresenter comes with all those features to make your recording a professional and effective one. Professional and standard versions of the ActivePresenter are also available to obtain.

There is no time limitation during recording nor watermark in the exported recorded videos, but the formats of output is limited. You can also update to the ActivePresenter Standard Edition with $199 or the Pro Edition with $399. If you are not sure, check the Atomi ActivePresenter review here .

Part 2: Best Free Video Recording Software for Windows 2020

1. CamStudio

CamStudio is a completely free video recording software. Although CamStudio doesn’t come with a large number of fancy tools, there are extremely useful tools with high efficiency. Hiding the cursor during your recording session and browsing for sound sources are examples for such features. Simply put, CamStudio got basic, yet essential tools to perform a highly productive screen recording.

Camstudio can only be used on Windows XP/Vista/7 operating system, so if you want to record on Windows 8 or Windows 10, you have to move on to other free screen recorder.

2. EZVID

EZVID is one of the best screen capturing tool that allows you to record a video and upload it instantly to YouTube. Adding more value to the product, EZVID comes with an integrated video editor, you so do not have to seek the assistance of an external tool to edit your recordings. It also comes with tools to control the speed of the recording and synthesizing speech. EZVID is free tool which is compatible with Windows XP and greater.

3. Webinaria

Webunaria is ideal for those who like open source software tools. It comes with some editing features like insertion of text. Webinaria is made to be compatible with Windows and it gives you the opportunity to create a Flash Based video with your own narration. Webinaria is good in creating some standard recordings. The main plus point of this tool is that it is an open source software.

There is no watermark nor recording time limitation when using Webinaria screen recorder, and you can record voiceover and add text to the video, but the video is saved as AVI or FLV formats. This open source free video recording software only works on Windows 98/2000/XP/Me/2003/NT/Vista operating systems.

4. Rylstim Screen Recorder

This is a free screen recorder that allows you to record anything goes on your PC screen. After installing the Rylstim Screen Recorder, you should pick the codec type, desired the frame rate and the destination where you are going to save the file. Then it is a matter of pressing Start Recording. This handy tool comes with a portable version too, making things much easier for users.

Rlystim Screen Recorder is a light application which captures the activities happening in the desktop. However, you can also use it in Windows 7/8/10, and the recorded video will be saved in AVI file.

Conclusion

Above are the best free video recording software that we found for Windows, Mac, and Linux users. Some of them are totally free, which means there is no watermark nor recording time limitations but there are limited output formats. While some of them are free to use, but there may be a watermark in the exported video, to remove the watermark or use the full features of these free screen recording software, you may need to purchase the paid version.

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Also read: