12 Best Screen Recording Software for 2025 (Pros, Limitations, Pricing)

Do you agree that visuals beat text and audio any day? 👀

Imagine being on call with your IT team, and they’re shooting instructions about finding buttons and changing settings.

You’re asking, “Where? Huh? I don’t see it!”

Wouldn’t it be much easier and comforting to see each other’s screens to ease the troubleshooting process?

That’s why you need to take a look at the best screen recording software.

It’ll definitely save you from those long calls with the IT department. 😉

In this article, we’ll discover the twelve best and free screen recording software along with their pros, cons, and pricing.

Let’s find you a great screen recorder that won’t cost a fortune!

What Makes for Excellent Screen Recording Software?

Every screen recording software offers several features such as:

• Creating a screencast
• Recording system sounds
• Adding voice-overs

But how do you know if it’s the one?

Start by checking if the recording or screen capture software:

• Has a built-in sharing option, so you don’t need to share videos as email attachments
• Easy to use. You don’t want to waste time watching YouTube video tutorials to understand how to use the tool!
• Can do more than just recording videos. This way, you don’t end up hoarding apps for different purposes

With these points in mind, let’s check out the top picks for screen recording software in 2021.

12 Best Screen Recording Software

Here’s a little secret about screen recorder software:

You don’t need to spend a lot.

Here are the best screen recording software for your organization’s needs:

1. ClickUp

ClickUp is one of the highest-rated productivity and project management tools used by productive teams in small and large companies.

But why is a project management tool on this list?

Because ClickUp doubles as the best free screen recording software! Clip in ClickUp allows you to create screen recordings next to managing your projects, assigning tasks, and taking notes .

If that doesn’t scream ‘convenience’, we don’t know what will!

Clip lets you:

• Capture your entire screen, browser tab, or an app window
• Add voice using a microphone
• Record with no time limit
• Share the recording with anyone

That’s not all!

Remember, an excellent screen recording tool should be more than a recorder.

That’s exactly what ClickUp is, and we’ve got proof.

ClickUp key features

A. Add context to tasks using Clip recordings

In a ClickUp task, you can access Clip from the Comments section.

Record your screen to add context to that specific task. Say goodbyeto typing endless paragraphs describing your task. 👋

Sometimes, it’s just more effective to show than tell, especially if you’re a visual learner. 👀

Recording your screen in ClickUp from within a task using Clip recording

B. Chrome Extension for screen capture and more

ClickUp’s Chrome Extension is multipurpose like a Swiss knife.

It can help you:

• Screen capture yourself browsing
• Add notes
• Bookmark websites
• Create tasks and more

You can even edit the screen capture right after you take it by enabling the editing feature.

Use ClickUp’s Chrome Extension to screen capture while browsing and edit the image right after taking it

C. Annotate images using Proofing Whether it’s a captured image or any other type of image, annotation is easy using ClickUp‘s Proofing.

Add comments on the image where you want to make changes and assign it to the right person.

Commenting on an image and assigning it to a team member with ClickUp’s Proofing feature

What about PDF annotation ? We have this covered too. 😎

You can add clear markers on legal documents, highlight typos, make alterations, and more right from the task space.

D. Protect information using Permissions Your website developer doesn’t need to see employee payroll data.

Your clients don’t need access to your internal workflow.

Set Permissions for anyone (including both Guests and Members) in ClickUp to protect sensitive information.

Customizing privacy and sharing settings in ClickUp Permissions

E. Bring apps and websites to ClickUp using Embed view Simply copy and paste the URL or HTML to view websites like YouTube, Google Sheets, Outlook calendar, and Loom insideClickUp.

No more switching tabs to manage your workflows!

Copy and pasting a Google Doc URL to embed it within ClickUp

F. Ditch boring texts with Rich Text Editing Basic text can be a snoozefest, but it doesn’t have to be!

Use banners, headings, tables, numeric lists, italic, bold, and more with the Rich Text Editing feature in ClickUp.

Use the toolbar or slash commands to add Rich Text Editing into your comments and task descriptions

G. Plan and organize using Mind Maps Mind Maps in ClickUp help you visualize your ideas and transform them into actions.

Sketch out your project plans and workflows or even draw relationships between different tasks.

Drawing relationships between tasks with Mind Maps to visualize your project process in ClickUp

Use Clip to record your screen as you mind map and share it with your team instead of hosting a meeting.

Bonus: your team will also love you for calling in fewer meetings.

ClickUp pros

• Send and receive emails right from ClickUp using the Email ClickApp
  • Set Reminders
    • See your work the way you prefer with views
      • View task descriptions in Full Screen
        • Set different priorities
          • Directly integrate
            • Take your work wherever you go with ClickUp’s mobile app to see what’s in store.

ClickUp pricing

ClickUp offers a Free Forever Plan. Its paid plan starts as low as $5/user per month.

ClickUp customer ratings

• Capterra: 4.7/5 (2200+ reviews)
• G2: 4.7/5 (3100+ reviews)

2. Loom

Loom is one of the best screen recorders that can help you record high-quality videos.

What makes it fun?

Viewers can comment and react to your videos. You can also see who viewed your videos!

Unfortunately, Loom has limited video editing features.

So if you want to do more than video trimming or creating thumbnails, this video editor and recording software isn’t for you.

Maybe trim this screen capture tool from your options list entirely?

Loom key features

• Create GIF thumbnails
• Archive your videos
• Unlimited creator accounts

Loom pros

• Embed Loom video in ClickUp
• Restrict viewing of videos to specific people

• Integrate with Gmail, Slack, and Notion

  Loom limitations

• Video recording length is limited to five minutes in the free version
• Paid plans are expensive for a tool with only video recording features
• Loom desktop app isn’t compatible with the Linux platform

Loom pricing

This screen recorder software has a free plan. Its paid version starts at $10/user per month.

Loom customer ratings

• Capterra: N/A
• G2: 4.5/5 (100+ reviews)

Are Loom drawbacks looming over your mind?

Here are the top Loom alternatives you can consider.

3. OBS Studio

OBS Studiois an open-source, free screen recorder.

Thanks to its support for live streaming screencasts on platforms like YouTube, it’s ideal for all professionals and even gamers.

For a free screen video recorder, OBS Studio offers a decent set of features, especially compared to other screen recorder tools.

However, if you just want to record the screen quickly, it can get confusing.

The OBS Studio software offers overlays, an audio mixer, custom transitions, etc. Unfortunately, these can be overkill for someone who doesn’t need extensive video editing features.

OBS Studio key features

• Offers video recording and live streaming
  • Hotkeys to start and stop recording, switch between scenes, etc.
• Offers real-time video capturing and mixing

OBS Studio pros

• Open-source software
• Supports Windows, Mac, and Linux systems
• Full-screen video capture

OBS Studio limitations

• No mobile versions
• Can be glitchy
• Can be difficult to understand

OBS Studio pricing

OBS Studio is free.

OBS Studio customer ratings

• Capterra: 4.6/5 (500+ reviews)
• G2: 4.5/5 (50+ reviews)

4. ScreenRec

ScreenRec is a very lightweight screen recording and screen capture software for PC, Mac, and Linux.

With an extremely user-friendly interface, you can easily click and drag to select your capture area and press record (or snap). Once finished, an automatic link is generated and copied to your clipboard.

You can easily annotate your screenshots and record your videos with mic audio and a webcam overlay.

When you’re done, you immediately get a private shareable link. This is because ScreenRec uploads your videos to your private cloud account while you’re recording.

ScreenRec key features

• Automatic shareable link
• Screenshot annotation
• Webcam overlay with computer and mic audio recording

ScreenRec pros

• Recordings are heavily encrypted so they can’t be downloaded
• You can record in 4k
• Can export as mp4

ScreenRec limitations

• Can’t edit videos
• No direct upload to sharing sites
• Can’t pause recording

ScreenRec pricing

ScreenRec is free.

ScreenRec customer ratings

• Capterra: 5/5 (1 review)
• G2: 4.9/5 (4 reviews)

Bonus: Check out this guide for the best screen recorders without watermarks ! 🎥

5. Screencast-O-Matic

Screencast-O-Matic is another free screen recorder that allows you to add captions to your screencast.

It also lets you record screen and webcam video simultaneously. Great for when you need to record video with yourself and your computer screen in it.

So is it perfect?

Nope.

The tool has a 15-minute video limit for free users. If you need to extend, you’ll have to use their paid plans.

This restriction feels unnecessary, especially when there are other superior screencasting or online screen recorder software available that don’t have these limits.

Screencast-O-Matic key features

• Record your computer screen and webcam together
• Offers custom thumbnails feature
• Add closed captions

Screencast-O-Matic pros

• Screen capture specific areas or the entire computer screen
• Paid versions are affordable
• Password protect videos

Screencast-O-Matic limitations

• Can’t record over 15 minutes in the free version
• Paid plans have no free trial
• Upgrade required to remove the watermark

Screencast-O-Matic pricing

Screencast-O-Matic is available for free. Its paid plan starts at $1.65/ month (billed yearly).

Screencast-O-Matic customer ratings

• Capterra: 4.6/5 (20+ reviews)
• G2: 4.1/5 (40+ reviews)

6. Clipchamp

Clipchamp is a free video editor that lets you create and edit videos for corporate, educational, and creative purposes.

With this screen recorder, you get access to professional editing tools like a green screen and the basics such as trimming and cropping.

Is there something that Clipchamp can’t champion?

One word: personalization.

Unlike other complete video editing software suites, this screen recording software doesn’t let you personalize video recording workflows.

Clipchamp key features

• Work on video projects together with Clipchamp teams feature
• Offers ready-to-use templates for social video ads, corporate slideshows, etc.
• Access an extensive video and audio stock library

Clipchamp pros

• Unlimited video production for Windows.

You can use it to record screens, make videos, and even make GIFs for social media.

What’s great about ShareX?

It’s free, and there’s no time limit to record videos.

What’s not so great about ShareX?

ShareX doesn’t support screen capturing of most games in fullscreen mode.

Gamers can safely remove this tool from their lists.

ShareX key features

• Offers customized screen capture abilities like active windows, scroll capture, text capture, etc.
• Multiple annotation tools
• Supports several uploading methods like file, folder, and URL upload

ShareX pros

• Supports 80+ platforms to share your content like Twitter, Dropbox, Jira, etc.
• Customizable workflows
• Free app with no advertisements

ShareX limitations

• Too many screen capture options can confuse an average user
• No option to record audio within the video
• Only available for Windows

ShareX pricing

ShareX is a free screen capture software.

ShareX customer ratings

• Capterra: N/A
• G2: 4.8/5 (60+ reviews)

9. Free Cam

Free Cam is a great software for your screencast and video editing requirements.

Like most competitors, this screen recording app lets you record voice-overs and system sounds and offers basic video editing tools.

So it’s pretty much ordinary recording software.

Moreover, its audio and video editing options are only available in the pro version.

If you’ve started considering the upgrade, hit the breaks now.

It’ll cost you $227 a year!

Here’s a clincher: only Windows users can use this screencast software.

Sorry Mac users. You have to keep looking for an alternative screen recording and editing tool.

Free Cam key features

• Highlight the cursor in a screen recording with click sounds
• Customize your screen recording area
• Trim your video recording

Free Cam pros

• Upload videos directly to YouTube
• 720p HD quality video recording
• No watermarks

Free Cam limitations

• You can’t export a recorded video to an MP4 file format in the free version
• You can’t annotate recordings
• Video editing features can be hard to use

Free Cam pricing

Free Cam has a free plan. The paid version costs $227/year.

Free Cam customer ratings

• Capterra: N/A
• G2: 4.5/5 (10+ reviews)

10. Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder

Apowersoft’s Free Online Screen Recorder is an in-browser screen recorder.

This free recorder is worth trying out, whether you want to record your presentation, software demonstration, or tutorial.

While it’s an in-browser tool, it can give any desktop recording software a run for its money with its option-packed control bar. It lets you record a video stream, self-demonstration, live chat, etc.

However, this free tool has its limitations.

For starters, sometimes the audio and video fail to sync.

If you’re a professional gamer, it’s not too great at recording games.

Apowersoft Screen Recorder won’t do justice to your powerful game moves. 🎮

Apowersoft key features

• Export videos in multiple formats, including MP4, WMV, AVI
• Option to record audio and video simultaneously
• Add a webcam into screen recording

Aprowersoft pros

• No recording limit
• Flexible screen capture
• Annotate videos in real-time

Apowersoft limitations

• App tends to crash sometimes
• Doesn’t integrate with other work apps
• No option to set permissions

Apowersoft pricing

Apowersoft’s screen recorder is a free tool.

Apowersoft customer ratings

• Capterra: N/A
• G2: N/A

11. Camtasia

Camtasia is an all-in-one TechSmith capture tool and video editor that lets you record and create professional-looking videos on Windows and Mac.

You can use this screen capture software to create online lessons, tutorials, product demos, etc.

The editor also lets you add animations and effects to make your videos more interesting. For example, you can trim, cut, add zoom and pan, add annotations, etc.

On the downside, it’s not a free tool.

It’s the most expensive video recording software on our list.

Camtasia key features

• Simple drag-and-drop editor
• Free assets like video effects, images, and audios are available in the Camtasia library
• Add quizzes and interactivity to your videos

Camtasia pros

• Pre-built video templates reduce editing time
• Use themes to keep a consistent look and feel
• Instantly upload your video to YouTube, Vimeo, etc.

Camtasia limitations

• App takes time to load
• Audio tends to drop out

Camtasia pricing

Camtasia costs $249.99 per user.

Camtasia customer ratings

• Capterra: 4.6/5 (90+ reviews)
• G2: 4.5/5 (500+ reviews)

12. Tella

Tella is a new screen recorder that brings more personality to your videos.

Recording with Tella is flexible. You can record your screen, camera, or both at the same time. It also has slides mode, so you can present slides directly in Tella.

Tella also has fun customisation options. You can add your own backgrounds to your screen recordings, change layouts and camera styles, and combine different clips. It also lets you trim and replace your recordings.

But if you want to do more advanced editing of your recordings Tella might not be best for you.

Tella key features

• Add custom backgrounds & change layouts
• Combine multiple clips as one video
• Share instantly with a link

Tella pros

• Runs in any web browser (nothing to download or install)
• Unlimited recording duration
• Simple editing features

Tella limitations

• Limited to 10 videos on the Free plan
• The Free plan has watermarks on downloaded videos
• No mobile app

Tella pricing

Tella Starter is completely free and Tella Pro is $19 per month (for unlimited videos and no watermarks).

Tella customer ratings

• Capterra: N/A
• G2: N/A

Related: Check out these Vidyard alternatives !

Lights, Camera, Screen Record!

Remember when recording screens was a job only for tech wizards? 🧙‍♀️

Well, we’ve come a long way.

Now we have many screen recording programs that record your screen with the click of a mouse.

But you still need to choose a screen recording tool that fits your needs.

Do you need free screen recorders with no recording limit?

A tool that lets you add voice?

A built-in sharing feature?

Get all of the above in a comprehensive project management tool. In other words, get ClickUp. 😊

It’s your task managing, note taking, and best free screen recorder. Try ClickUp for free today and start recording yourself making history!