Recording a computer screen can be a very useful function on different occasions in life. If you have a community behind your back, you may want to do this to show them how you play certain gameplay, or even to create a step-by-step tutorial on how to use certain multimedia editing programs. This is not only a way to share your skills and knowledge, but also to earn money by creating good content for a large audience .
To record the screen it is necessary to install an external program on the computer and the list of candidates is quite wide. For more than a decade different types of applications have been produced for computers of this nature that allow users to obtain high definition recordings and export them in the most used video formats on the network. The choice depends mainly on the needs you have.
In this article we present an extensive list of programs to capture the computer screen in Windows and MacOS. This is a selection of the best available today , in its paid and free versions. So if you are interested in filming the interface of your desktop, take note and choose some of the platforms that we present below.
Index:
List of the best programs for screen recording and video on Windows (free and payment)
As always, Windows offers you the widest selection of software to record the computer screen. These are some of the virtues that make this the most used operating system in the world. Here is a list of the best software to copy what you see on the screen in the Windows operating system .
OBS Studio
One of the most popular internet programs when it comes to screen recording as it is also one of the most powerful. With it you will have everything that can be asked of such software ; unlimited time recording, video processing at 60 FPS, high quality of the documented material and a wide variety of formats so you don’t have problems uploading them to your social networks.
One of its most interesting features is that it allows you to upload the content you record directly to YouTube, as well as broadcast live for this and other RS. If we take into account that it is a completely free application , we can say that it is easily the best option you have to film your computer screen without investing money in other alternatives.
Action!
This software is as complete as the previous one but it includes special functions that make it make a difference considerably compared to the others we will share in this list. It is much more than a simple screen recorder because it also allows you to transmit what your webcam or any other camera connected to the computer via USB or HDMI cable.
Among its many functions, it highlights the high quality with which it documents the videos, which makes it perfect for making gameplay’s of Fortnite, LOL and other videogames with a high level of graphics . While editing isn’t your forte, it gives you the ability to add slow motion effects to your videos to make them more dynamic and entertaining for your audience.
You can export all the recorded material in the main video formats currently available . So you won’t have problems migrating them to a video editor or uploading them to your social networks. In case you don’t want to tweak anything recorded, you can share it directly to your YouTube channel or Facebook FanPage and even stream live on these platforms . It is paid, but the investment is worth it in every way.
Camtasia
Another favorite of lovers of desktop screen recording. It allows you to record video in high quality and export it in different formats, as well as broadcast live for the social networks you need, be it YouTube, Facebook or Instagram . It is an excellent alternative to the previous program and in a way you can say that it improves.
Its strength is its interface, which makes it an excellent audiovisual material editing application with several interesting functions . In it you can accelerate or reduce the volume or speed with which images are reproduced, add sound effects, apply filters and some special effects, write text, add images or watermark and render all material produced in HD and higher .
It is paid, but it has a free trial period where you can enjoy its functions almost to the fullest . Among the most important limitations of the free version are the time limit for videos.
Movavi Screen Capture Studio
A program that thinks about everything a user may need when recording the monitor of their computer. It is literally a box full of tools to record and edit all documented material while you are in a video game or explaining how to use a particular program . With it you can forget about the external video editors since in its interface you have everything you need to make the highest quality content.
Movavi equipped its Screen Capture Studio with all kinds of functions that will allow you to add effects, transitions, cut and join audiovisuals, increase or reduce the playback speed, add selectable background music from your library full of copyright-free audios and a wide range of options that also make it one of the best editors available on the internet.
However, these wonderful features are only available in your paid version, whose license costs € 99 . You can use it in its free version, but you will have to deal with several limitations that range from having only a few minutes to recordings until you cannot edit the material in its interface.
Ice Cream Screen Recorder
A software used even by professional producers of live TV programs as it not only allows you to record your computer screen, but you can also stream live with your webcam or any other camera connected to the computer . Although it does not have video editing functions like the previous alternatives, other special features that make it one of the most powerful in this list for Windows are remarkable.
From its interface, so simple that even a novice could use, you can control the aspect ratio of the screen, record in qualities that go from 240p to 1080p and control the bit rate of the captured audio. You can also add graphic elements such as arrows, numbers or letters, and export everything in different formats on your computer or directly to your YouTube, Drive or Dropbox account .
It also has two versions; one for payment (€ 29) and another free. The latter has some limitations such as time limit on videos and not being able to generate it in HD , but in lower qualities. Although if you are a youtuber who is starting in the world of video content, this can be a great alternative.
Ezvid
This is a completely free software with which you can record your computer screen for up to 45 minutes . It has a basic editor that will allow you to cut and paste several video clips. You will not be able to stream live, but you can upload all the content directly to Facebook or YouTube from its simple but ingenious interface.
If you want to shoot the interface of your desktop without investing money, this is undoubtedly one of the best options you have available in the market today. You can export everything in different formats and with more than decent quality.
List of the best programs for screen and video recording on Mac (free and payment)
Although there are not as many programs on Mac as on Windows, it is remarkable that those that exist are quite powerful, giving users access to different functions to improve the quality of the content that is documented. Here are the best screen recording software in the Apple desktop operating system .
iShowU HD
This is an exclusive payment program for Mac where you can do much more than record your computer screen. It is considered a semi-professional platform, so has several advanced functions with which you can edit the documented video a bit by adding special elements such as cutting and joining, adding background music or broadcasting live from the screen or with a webcam.
It has two versions; HD and HD Pro. Both are paid, the second one being the most expensive with a value of € 59.95. The main difference between one and the other is the quality of the video you get .
ScreenFlow
This is undoubtedly the best option available in MacOS to record the computer screen. Its price is somewhat high, with a license of almost € 100, but its functions make the money worthwhile as it gives you many freedoms to create the best possible content.
It is an application specially designed for gamers since with it you can record games at a very high quality , ideal for games with a high level of graphics. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to do other things too.
Your trump card is your video editor , which has nothing to envy to other programs specially developed for it. From its interface you can apply all kinds of image and audio effects available in its large library. In addition, you can also add background music, cut and join audiovisuals, stabilize the image and everything you can imagine at the editing level .
In the end, you can export everything directly to your computer or to your accounts on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Vimeo or Google Drive in the main formats available today and with a quality of up to 4K. No wonder he is considered the favorite of professionals.
QuickTime Player
This is a simple, free and versatile program that perfectly meets what you need to record your computer screen without much difficulty. Best of all, it comes preinstalled on all OS X operating systems , so you won’t have to download anything or pay annoying licenses.
It does not have any additional function to be able to record the computer screen, but it does well, producing content at a quality more than decent and being able to export it in several of the main formats currently available .
Voila
This is a simple screen recorder that also allows you to record video from your Mac’s webcam or from any other camera connected to it . Like the previous option, it does not have an integrated editor or any other function in particular other than being able to record and transmit the content live by linking to YouTube, Facebook and other platforms.
Its cost is € 29, which is a bit expensive considering its simplicity, but the quality of the video captured and having no time limit to record makes many users opt for it.
TinyTake
Another simple but efficient software that meets perfectly as an alternative to payment recorders . It is multiplatform, so you can also use it in other operating systems such as Windows or Linux.
We cannot fool you by saying that it is one of the best programs of its kind that you will have in your life, but you will certainly enjoy it since it can produce high definition video and export it in a very good quality . It does not have support for streaming platforms, so with it you will not be able to transmit your computer screen live, but it offers you the freedom to record up to two hours of video continuously.
Monosnap
This is another simple tool that has the necessary functions so you can create screen quality recordings of your desktop . With it you will simply have to start the software and start recording so that everything you do is registered without a time limit.
Among its most interesting features is undoubtedly its 8x zoom to get better shots and its support to send recorded content to other online platforms such as Google Drive, Yandex.Disk or YouTube in multiple video formats strong>. It is completely free and you can also install it on the Windows operating system.
Screen Recorder Robot Lite
This is possibly the best free screen recorder available for MacOS. Not only can you record video at very good quality, but also edit it thanks to several of its functions that, while not professional, give you enough freedom to create very interesting material.
Its editor is basic, but with all this it allows you to speed up or reduce the playback speed up to x30 , crop, rotate and merge video clips, add background audio and eliminate noise from it If necessary. If you are starting in this world, this is undoubtedly the best possible option.
You can render all recorded and edited material in multiple formats and export it directly to YouTube . However, its large mole is that it only allows you to record 600 seconds of video (10 minutes). You can eliminate this restriction by paying your license, which is not very expensive.
How useful is it to be able to record your screen and capture videos and images?
Recording your computer screen may seem like the most basic process , like taking a graphic capture, but the truth is that can be very useful . Beyond the hobbies you may have, it is important to talk about the economic side, and there are several very lucrative activities that can be greatly benefited thanks to this function.
- Record games from your video games : One of the things for which screen recording is most used is to document the games of players from different games such as LOL, Fortnite or Destiny . For this task the most convenient is to use a payment program that allows you to make videos in high definition, especially if it is a gameplay with a high level of graphics.
- Record a video call : If you are going to have an important video call, either because someone decided to grant you an interview by this means or simply to speak with a tutor or partner, to record the whole conversation, so that you can then access it to remember the most points important of it.
- Make tutorials : You can make tutorials of audiovisual editing programs or other platforms thanks to screen recording. In this way you can explain in a clearer and more precise way the most important points of each process.