The screen recorder is a useful tool on computer. It can help you to capture gameplay, software usage, video tutorial and more. Though you can find oceans of software in Google Search that has such capacity, most of them are pricy or expensive for students, college and small business. The good news is there are dozens of open-source screen recorders free to use. In this article, you can get a top list of 5 best open-source screen recorders for Windows 11 and Mac.
- Part 1: Top 5 Open Source Screen Recorders
- Part 2: Best Alternative to Open Source Screen Recorder
- Part 3: FAQs of Open Source Screen Recorder
Part 1: Top 5 Open Source Screen Recorders
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Top 1: Apeaksoft Free Online Screen Recorder
As its name indicated, Apeaksoft Free Online Screen Recorder is a free way to record screen and videos on Windows and Mac. Moreover, it works totally online, so you do not need to install it on your hard disk.
- Pros
- 1. Completely free of charge.
- 2. No watermark or limit on recording length.
- 3. Offer custom options.
- 4. Work stable in major browsers, like Chrome, Firefox, etc.
- Cons
- 1. It lacks video editing.
How to Record Screen for Free
Step 1 Open a browser and visit https://www.apeaksoft.com/free-online-screen-recorder/. Click Start Recording button to access the launcher.
Step 2 Press the Monitor button and set the recording area. If you wish to add your face to screen recording, enable Webcam; otherwise, disable it. Then decide the audio source, like System audio and Microphone.
Step 3 Click the REC button to start screen recording. When it finishes, hit the Stop button and download the recording.
Top 2: OBS Studio
OBS Studio is an open-source screen capture tool popular around the world. Many vloggers, teachers and small business use OBS to make video recordings. There is a developer team online offering helps.
- Pros
- 1. Record gameplay, screen and more.
- 2. Upload your recordings to social media platforms directly.
- 3. Low impact for budget system.
- Cons
- 1. The learning curve is high.
- 2. It may crash sometimes.
Top 3: ShareX
ShareX is another open-source screen recorder for PC. In addition to screen recording, it can also take scroll screenshot. It lets you capture full screen, a window or custom region.
- Pros
- 1. Edit video capture after recording.
- 2. Include customizable shortcuts.
- 3. Capture screen with annotation.
- Cons
- 1. It is too complicated to set up.
- 2. The editor is rather simplistic.
- 3. It is only compatible with Windows users, not for Mac. (Get ShareX for Mac here.)
Top 4: CamStudio
CamStudio is an open-source screen recorder for Windows 7/XP/Vista. If you are looking for a compact screen recorder, it is a good option. The clean interface lets you find what you want quickly.
- Pros
- 1. Use all functions for free.
- 2. Extremely easy to understand.
- 3. No recording time limit.
- Cons
- 1. It downloads extra software when installing.
- 2. It only supports two output formats.
Top 5: Captura
Captura is the open-source video capture software supported by donating. It is available on GitHub under the terms of the MIT license. Moreover, it supports more than 30 languages. All you need is a PC.
- Pros
- 1. Offer a portable version.
- 2. Capture video, audio, screen, webcam, etc.
- 3. Completely free with no ads.
- Cons
- 1. It requires .NET 4.7.2.
Part 2: Best Alternative to Open Source Screen Recorder
Obviously, open-source screen recorders have some downsides, like poor output quality. If you mind it, Apeaksoft Screen Recorder is a good alternative.
And you can use this software to take snapshots, cut and edit your recording videos. It also supports a smooth and safe recording process for video and audio like voice-over recording. Besides, if you want to plan the process or time length for recording, you can also use the schedule function of Screen Recorder.
4,000,000+ Downloads
Capture screen, videos, gameplay and more in one click.
Enhance screen recording quality using advanced technology.
Provide extensive custom options.
Offer plentiful bonus functions, like video editing.
How to Record Screen with the Best Quality
Step 1 Get the best screen recorder
Start the best alternative to open-source screen recorder once you install it on your PC. For Mac users, download the dedicated version. Pick Video Recorder from the home interface.
Step 2 Record screen
There are four sections in the interface:
Display: Record everything on your screen.
Webcam: Capture your face through webcam.
System Sound: Record audio from your system.
Microphone: Add your voice via microphone.
Enable or disable each section based on your need. Next, click the Settings button to open the Preferences dialog. Then customize options related to output, hotkeys and more.
Once the screen you want to record is ready, click the REC button. During the process, you can add text and paintings with the Pen tool or take a screenshot with the Camera button.
Step 3 Export screen recording
Click the Stop button when screen recording finishes. Then the preview window will show up. Click the Play button to check the recording and use the Clip tool to remove unneeded frames. Finally, hit the Save button to export the screen recording to your hard drive.
Besides, this recorder is also a great HD screen recorder that can help you capture any videos with the best quality.
People Also Ask:Part 3: FAQs of Open Source Screen Recorder
How do I record a video of my computer screen for free?
Open-source screen recorders are able to record your screen and save it as a video for free. However, you’d better search and read the reviews before installing a free tool since it may have some bugs or shortcomings.
Does Windows 11 have video capture?
Yes, Microsoft has introduced Game DVR function into Windows 11. By default, it is the game recorder on Xbox One. Now, you can use it on Windows 11. In addition to gameplay, it is able to capture your screen and videos.
What program do YouTubers use to record your computer screen?
There are a lot of screen recorders on market. However, YouTubers prefer to several programs according to a recent survey. OBS Studio, for example, can record screen as well as upload the recordings to YouTube for free.
Conclusion
This post has shared top 5 best open-source screen recorders for Windows 11/10/8/7/XP and Mac OS X/11/12/13/14/15. All of them are free to use with no watermark or length limit. Apeaksoft Free Online Screen Recorder, for example, can meet your need without installing. If you do not like open-source projects, Apeaksoft Screen Recorder is the best alternative. Compared to freeware, it provides more useful tools. Better recommendations or other questions? Please feel free to leave a message below this post.
