11 Free & Best Screen Recording Software for Windows & Mac

A screen recording software captures everything displayed on your screen. Allowing you to record videos of your activities on a computer or mobile device. It can capture video, audio & sometimes even your webcam feed. Making it ideal for creating tutorials, recording online meetings or sharing presentations.

Most come with editing tools, annotations & options for selecting recording areas. These are popular among content creators, educators & professionals for producing high-quality, informative videos.

In this article, we’ll drive you through the 11 free & best screen recording software in 2025. Along with their benefits & essential features. Say goodbye to the chaos of finding a free, reliable & feature-rich screen recorder.

Benefits of a Good Screen Recording Software in E-Learning

1.Learners can pause, rewind & re-watch content at their own pace

2.Improves knowledge retention via visual representation

3.Eliminates the need of advanced equipment or production teams

4.Ensures standardized & consistent delivery of knowledge

5.Recorded sessions make learning accessible anytime, anywhere

6.Instructors can create reusable & high-quality content

7.Makes lessons more interesting & interactive

8.Supports microlearning with easy creation of short videos

9.Reduces the cost & need for live training sessions

10.Enables detailed demonstrations of processes, making complex topics easier to understand

Also read about writing a course description for maximum enrolments.

Essential Features in the Best Screen Recorder

1.High-Quality (HD) Video Capture with Webcam Integration

2.Annotation, Drawing Tools, Highlight & Text Overlays

3.Audio Recording Options with Editing Tools like Trimming, Cropping & Adding Effects/Virtual Background

4.Scheduled Recording with Customizable Recording Area

5.Screen Sharing/Live Streaming Integration in Multiple Output Formats (MP4, AVI, GIF) for Compatibility

6.Keyboard Shortcut Support for Starting, Pausing & Stopping Recordings

7.Low Resource Usage (CPU & Memory) with Cloud Storage or Sharing Options

8.Privacy Controls to Hide Sensitive Information or Blur

Note that most online learning platforms today come with in-built screen recorder.

11 Free & Best Screen Recording Software in 2025

Screen recording software has become indispensable for educators, content creators & gamers. And choosing the right online screen recorder can elevate the quality of your content. Presenting the 11 free & best screen recording software in 2025.

1.OBS Studio

OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free, open-source tool. Known for its flexibility. OBS allows users to record & stream simultaneously with high-quality video output. It includes advanced features like scene creation, real-time audio/video mixing & custom transitions. It’s a windows screen recorder, compatible with macOS & Linux.

Pros:

1.Good level of features

2.Facebook streaming with better sound quality

3.Helps in sharing screen, pictures or videos

4.Enables creation of multiple scenes & customisability of appearance

5.Proper synchronisation of audio with the video

Cons:

1.Difficult to record with a lot of takes, like recording a presentation

2.Somewhat confusing interface

3.Infrequent issues with losing setup details and losing audio/video sync

4.Platform would freeze or crash if a stream is stopped & restarted without closing and reopening OBS

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 on Capterra.

2.Camtasia

Camtasia, a product of TechSmith is a powerful screen recording & video editing software. While not entirely free, it offers a trial version with full features. It’s well-suited for creating instructional videos, presentations & demos with an easy-to-use interface. It offers built-in video editing tools with annotations & transitions.

Pros:

1.Easy to use, reliable, fast & robust platform

2.Excellent customer service

3.Great editing options

4.Affordable pricing

Cons:

1.Crashes a lot and has some bugs

2.Little clunky and difficult to use

3.Limitations of text templates & professional transitions

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra.

You might also like to read about how to create an online course.

3.Loom

Loom is a user-friendly screen recorder app for desktop as well as a browser extension. It’s widely used for remote collaboration & feedback. The free version allows up to 5-minute recordings & offers webcam and microphone recording. It’s popular among remote teams for its ease of use & integration with Slack & Gmail.

Pros:

1.Simplicity and ease of use with great features

2.Ease of sharing & integration with Gmail and Slack

3.Good branding options

4.Free trial available

Cons:

1.Problems in starting and stopping recording

2.Frequent crashes and lack of extensions for the other browsers

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 on Capterra.

4.Apowersoft

Apowersoft offers both a free online option & a desktop version, making it versatile & accessible. Known for its ease of use & features like recording custom/entire screen areas. It’s webcam integration & scheduled recording sets it apart. It also supports various output formats & basic video editing capabilities.

Rating: Not available.

5.Movavi

Movavi is an intuitive software that provides high-quality recording with options to capture specific screen areas. While recording voice from different sources & adding webcam footage. While the free version comes with a watermark, Movavi offers editing tools like trimming & cutting.

Pros:

1.Good user interface

2.Reliable platform with support for 48KHz stereo audio quality

3.Offers a variety of colors for cursor recognition during screen recording

Cons:

1.Costly app

2.The software can be really slow sometimes

3.Can only be used on a computer

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra.

6.Screenpal

Previously known as Screencast-O-Matic, Screenpal is an easy-to-use screen recording tool. Offering both free & premium versions with basic editing tools, webcam recording & the ability to add narration. The free version allows up to 15-minute recordings with a watermark, perfect for creating short tutorials & presentations.

Pros:

1.Ease of use, responsive & reliable

2.Affordable with great features

3.Adds music in background

Cons:

1.Glitches with using camera

2.Lack of built-in editing features

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 on Capterra.

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7.Descript

Descript is more than just a screen recorder. It’s a powerful tool for creating, editing & transcribing unlimited videos. With an intuitive editor that includes transcription & text-based editing. Available as a free version with limitations, it’s popular among podcasters & educators.

Pros:

1.Very easy to use, learn and edit

2.Great quality, accurate transcriptions

Cons:

1.Cloud based

2.Problems with editing two separate tracks in one audio

3.Room tone generation seems to be selected as default

4.When using filler word removal, the cuts can sound quite harsh and need to be manually edited to sound natural

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 on Capterra.

8.Screen Studio

Screen Studio focuses on simplicity & functionality. Allowing users to capture high-quality video & sound with minimal setup. Perfect for beginners, it’s a mac screen recorder offering a sleek interface. With straightforward tools for basic screen recording needs, it’s particularly popular for it’s non-complex settings.

Rating: Not available.

9.ScreenRec

ScreenRec is a free screen recording tool with unlimited recording capabilities & no watermarks. Designed for users who need a fast, hassle-free way to capture screen activity. It’s ideal for business, tutorials & educational videos with it’s instant sharing features & analytics. The software is lightweight & available for Windows & Linux.

Pros:

1.Absolutely free with free cloud storage of 2 GB for every user

2.Records PC Screen without watermark

3.No time restrictions

4.Easy to create and share screen recordings

5.Intuitive interface with annotation & real-time editing features

Cons:

1.Lacks on advanced annotation & editing tools

2.Unintuitive app

3.Glitch screen recording experience for some users

4.Audio is much lower than the original one

Rating: 5 out of 5 on Capterra.

10.Bandicam

Bandicam is known for its high-quality recording & low system resource usage. The free version includes a watermark & recording time limit. But it’s highly effective for recording gameplay, webinars & presentations. It supports various formats like MP4 & AVI, and allows users to add webcam video overlays & custom logos. It also offers an advanced compression technology.

Pros:

1.Easy to use with intuitive record screens/windows

2.Free drawing feature

3.Valuable subscription experience

4.Allows sharing videos with different platforms and equipments

Cons:

1.No feature for custom configuration while recording

2.File directories are a bit confusing to use

3.If you are using it on a low spec PC or a Laptop, it would decrease the FPS considerably

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 on Capterra.

Read about LMS for online teaching of courses/programs.

11.Snagit

Snagit by TechSmith is a screen capture & recording software. While not fully free, it provides a free trial, with support for both video & image capture. Offering annotation tools & advanced editing options, it’s known for simplicity & professional output.

Pros:

1.Quick to use

2.Enables video sharing

3.Reasonably priced

4.Can capture with built in system commands like ‘PrintScreen’

5.Great annotation features

Cons:

1.Sometimes there is a lag in starting the program or making a capture

2.No editing option for video captures

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 on Capterra.

This list highlights the essential tools for screen recording in 2025. Each offering unique features suited to different needs. From free options to trial versions, there’s a tool here for every type of user.

You’ll be thrilled to know that, with Edmingle, you get automated live class recordings with their links sent to learners.

Selecting the Right Screen Capture Software For You

This involves evaluating your specific needs, technical requirements & budget. Here’s a quick guide to help you:

1.Define Your Purpose: Educators might prioritize annotation tools while gamers may look for high-quality video capture & low-latency performance

2.Assess Features: Look for essential features such as audio capture, webcam integration, editing tools & file format options

3.Check Compatibility: Ensure the software works with your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux)

4.Consider Ease of Use: Pick a tool that matches your comfort level with tech

5.Evaluate Cost: Decide between free & premium options. Free versions are great for basic needs while paid tools often provide more robust features & fewer limitations.

6.Read Reviews: User feedback on performance & reliability can give valuable insight

By carefully considering these factors, you’ll be able to select the right screen recording tool. One that aligns well with your requirements, enhances your workflow & content quality.

Summary

In 2025, the availability of high-quality, free & best screen recording software opens new possibilities. For educators, content creators, gamers & professionals alike.

Whether you’re capturing tutorials, meetings, or gameplay. Choosing the right screen recorder can make all the difference in producing effective, engaging content. This list of the 11 best & free options offers tools suited to a variety of needs. From OBS’s advanced streaming features to ScreenRec’s hassle-free sharing capabilities.

By understanding the unique strengths of each software & matching them with your goals. You can find the perfect tool to enhance your projects without the cost.

FAQs on Screen Capture Tools