Free Desktop Video Recorder Mac

What to look for in a free screen recorder for Windows/Mac. The follow features are just exactly what you need in a free screen recorder, not “the best one”: recording your computer screen in full or part of it, making screenshot, capture computer’s screen during the process and the save the videos in a watchable format. Capture audio and video up to 7680x4800 with custom frame rates. Platform: Windows, Mac and Linux. OBS Studio is another open source screen recorder for video recording. You can complete free to capture the desired files with the program without any restriction. Capture and mix audio and video of onscreen activity in high performance.

Have you ever been in such a situation that you want to record your screen but have no idea about how to record it freely and conveniently? What you need is an effective screen recorder. There are numerous screen recorders on the market, but which one is the bestfree screen recorder for Windows 10?

This post is for everyone who wants to find out the answer. It covers the top 10 best free screen recorders for Windows, and Mac users can choose from it. Read on and check them now.

Free Screen Recorder for Windows 10 PC	Best Free Cross-platform Applications	Desktop Screen Recorder for Mac

Top 1. EaseUS RecExperts (Editor Recommend)

Applies to: Windows 10 /8.1/8/7; Mac OS X ® 10.10 or higher

As one of the most powerful and rich-featured screen recorders, this tool is compatible with these two operating systems, macOS and Windows.

EaseUS RecExperts for Windows allows you to capture videos on your screen in various qualities and FPS. Recording a video in 4K can restore all the details on the screen, while recording in 720p allows efficient storage space utilization. Those features will all be helpful for your daily life, entertainment, or business.

On the other hand, EaseUS RecExperts for Mac can perfectly support the flexible screen recording. You can freely choose to record the full screen, specific window, or any selected area on your Mac. Along with that, you can capture the audio from different sources. For instance, you can record system sound, audio in your microphone, or both of them simultaneously.

Key Features:

Set up the time and duration to make a scheduled screen capture
Record streaming video in high quality
Support online and offline recording
Record sound from computer effortlessly
Support more than 10 video and audio formats

Can those functions be helpful? Don't hesitate to download and try it out.

To show you how to use this best screen recording software, a tutorial is offered below. Follow the steps carefully, and you can record the screen on your Windows 10 PC successfully.

>>Steps to Record Screen on Windows 10
>>Steps to Record Screen on Mac

Top 2. OBS Studio

Applies to: Windows 8+/macOS 10.12+/Linux

OBS Studio is a free and open source screen recorder for video recording and live streaming. You can use this tool on Windows 8, macOS, and Linux.

Besides, this software is entirely free, with no limitations. You can immediately start recording from multiple sources at once, with a fairly nice amount of customization in terms of the options you have. What's more, the application streams with various platforms like Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Hitbox, Twitch, and more.

Pros:

Free and Open Source
Support multi-platform
Support live Streaming
It can serve as an intuitive audio mixer

Cons:

It doesn't work on Windows XP or Windows 7
Setup takes a little while
No 'pause' function for recording
Beginners may find it hard to use

OBS Studio supports streaming and recording in high definition without restrictions on your creations' number or length. If you want to record screens on different platforms, OBS is one of your best choices.

Top 3. Movavi Screen Recorder

Applies to: Windows 7/8/10; Mac OS 10.10 or higher

Movavi Screen Recorder is one of the best free screen recorders for both Windows and Mac. Thanks to its compact design, it doesn't get in the way of desktop activities when it's running.

With Movavi, you can record screen video, capture system sound or audio from your microphone, grab and edit screenshots, and share the results via social networks. You can use it to record online streaming videos, video calls, and any other desktop activity.

When you are about to start your recording, this recorder offers you the opportunity to select the recording area yourself. For example, you can choose to record the full screen or a certain part of your screen, and you can even adjust the width and height of the area according to your need.

Pros:

Record in full-screen mode, capture a specific screen area or a separate window
Get high-quality output video thanks to the supporting for hardware acceleration
Record system sound and microphone simultaneously
Capture mouse movements and highlight the cursor

Cons:

A watermark is added to output videos
You cannot add a description or change tags before sharing the video on YouTube

Top 4. ActivePresenter

Applies to: Windows 7+/macOS

Another best free screen recorder is ActivePresenter. It includes all the tools needed to record screens, make annotations, edits screencast videos, and create interactive eLearning content in HTML5.

Its video editing tools make it outstanding among other screen recorders that can only record videos. With those tools' help, you can easily cut, copy, delete, crop the videos recorded using its recording function.

Pros:

Support multi-platform
Allows creating responsive content for all types of devices
Includes smart capture to make almost automatic image tutorials
Allows working with Green Screen

Cons:

It lacks video effects that many other video editors offer
You can only import video files created in ActivePresenter itself
The free edition has a watermark

If you are not worried about the watermark, you can use ActivePresenter to record and edit your recordings on different platforms.

Top 5. Monosnap

Applies to: Windows/macOS

Monosnap is a lightweight, free screen recorder for PC that is great for instructors who don't need many bells and whistles. Monosnap also allows users to host videos on the Monosnap server. You can use this software to capture a selected window or just a small part of the screen. You can take benefit from hotkeys to a customized screen shooting.

This is a suitable screen recorder for people who want to make tutorial videos by recording PowerPoint on your screen. It allows you to edit your recordings and annotations to make your tutorial videos look more professional.

For example, you can highlight details and hide sensitive data with Blur Tool. Finally, you can upload your works to social websites or store them to cloud storage.

Pros:

Totally free
Adjust settings for higher and lower quality recording
Export to monosnap.com, Youtube, and other cloud platforms
Easy to operate even for beginners

Cons:

Video editing is not possible
Cannot connect mobile devices

If you are looking for the best free screen recorder for Windows 10/8/7 or macOS, you can choose Monosnap. It is free and easy to operate, even for beginners.

Top 6. Bandicam Screen Recorder

Applies to: Windows only

Another best free screen recorder for PC is Bandicam. This screen recorder is a video and game recording software for users, businesses, and professionals who want to produce short videos for several purposes. It can record various 2D/3D games with 4K UHD resolution at up to 144 FPS.

Bandicam can also record the full screen, part of the screen, and external video devices such as webcam and game console.

Pros:

Three modes according to different needs
Record full screen, region, webcam, microphone, computer sound
Draw, add text and take screenshots while recording
Record high fps games without lag

Cons:

Windows only
The watermark in the free version
Limited video output formats: AVI, MP4

When it comes to high-quality recordings and includes any settings you might need to make your recordings top-notch, Bandicam Screen Recorder ranks top.

Top 7. Free Cam

Applies to: Windows 10/8/7 32- and 64-bit

Free Cam is a reliable and free screen recording program with a built-in audio/video editor. You can create screencasts, edit recorded videos, and upload videos to YouTube easily.

This free screen recorder provides a full set of features for creating professional video lessons and e-Learning presentations. After recording, you can save your screencast on your desktop or instantly share it on YouTube.

Pros:

No watermark, time limits, or ads
Records voice-overs and computer sounds
High-quality resolution
A wide selection of audio effects

Cons:

The free version only supports saving recordings to WMV only
No webcam recording for the free version

If you don't care about the WMV format, you can try Free Cam. This software is super easy to use. Besides, there's no watermark on the recordings.

Top 8. Flashback Express

Applies to: Windows only

FlashBack Express is the best screen recorder for PC, yet a powerful editor. You can capture your screen, along with a webcam and microphone, and then make the recording better with built-in editing tools by adding captions, arrows, images, and highlights.

It neither sets a time limit on recording nor stamps watermark on the output videos. To gain a better understanding of its function, you can check the picture below:

Pros:

Well designed interface
No time limits, watermarks
Allows you to record from screen or webcam
You can add distinctive and custom watermarks

Cons:

Some tools are paid-only
The free version only supports MP4, AVI, and WMV
Only free for 30 days

If you are running Windows 10 on multi-monitors, this software would be your best choice. You can either record screens across multiple monitors or limit capturing to a single monitor with this screen recorder.

Top 9. QuickTime Player

Applies to: Mac only

If you are looking for the best free screen recorder on Mac, you can't miss QuickTime Player. It is the default Mac video player. But you could use QuickTime Player to do screen recording too! It uses onscreen controls that are similar to a CD or DVD player.

Pros:

Conversion of images to different formats
Record Skype videos in full screen
Ability to save videos from the web
Support a small and attractive interface

Cons:

Limited recording and editing functionality
Can support MOV file format only
System audio recording is not possible

Quicktime is one of the best free screen recording programs for Mac devices to edit music or add audio to video. If you are willing to add audio to video on your own, you can try this tool.

Top 10. VLC Media Player

Applies to: Windows/macOS/Linux/Android/iOS

VLC is a free and open-source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files and DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. It is a video player and the best free screen recorder while considering the convenient and advanced extensions.

Pros:

Completely free and open source
Stream media over the network or internet
A simple and efficient way to create screen recordings

Cons:

No audio recording options
No video editing options
Can only capture the entire screen

Even though creating screencasts with VLC is possible, many better free screen recorders provide more screencasting and video editing tools.

Top 11. Snapz Pro X for Mac

Applies to: Mac only

This tool allows you to capture anything you want to save on the Mac screen when sharing those contents with others. Then, you can easily post the recorded videos on various video hosting platforms, like YouTube, Vimeo, and so on.

You can also use this great screen recording tool to take a screenshot on a Mac screen, and one of its fey features is 'Live Preview' of the screenshot. Sometimes you may want to know how your screenshots look like before you save them to the computer. This feature can satisfy your needs perfectly.

Pros:

Edit video easily
Support various image formats
Support view the screenshots before save it

Cons:

No timed capture
Priced too high

Top 12. ScreenFlow

Applies to: Mac only

This is an all-in-one tool on Mac that you can use as screen recording software and video editing software. If you want to create a masterpiece by yourself, you can import the video clips and edit them or record some video footage in high quality using this recorder.

When it comes to screen recording, there are many helpful functions you can use. For instance, you can change the default background color as a preset. You can capture your mouse's movements, which is very useful if you are a teacher who needs to emphasize some key points when you are recording video classes for your students.

Pros:

Powerful video editing function
Support clip preview
Support recording multiple screens simultaneously

Cons:

Only Mac version

How to Record Screen on Windows/Mac

As an all-in-one screen recorder, both Windows users and Mac users can utilize it to record what happens on their screen without much effort.

Steps to Record Screen on Windows

Windows users can follow the guide below to capture the contents they need.

Step 1. Launch EaseUS RecExperts. There are two different options for screen recording, i.e., 'Full Screen' and 'Region'. If you select 'Full Screen', you will capture the whole screen.

Step 2. If you select the 'Region' option, this software will ask you to customize the recording area. Make sure that everything you want to capture is within the bounds of the select box.

Step 3. Tap on the buttonat the bottom left side of the main interface, and there will be many options you can select. This recorder supports recording microphone and system sound separately or simultaneously. The 'Options' button is for you to adjust the volume and microphone device.

Step 4. If you want to record the webcam simultaneously, click on the 'Webcam' icon at the bottom of the interface. Tap on the button to enable the webcam recording, and there will be a drop-down menu to select the recording device. Click on 'OK' to confirm your settings.

Step 5. When you turn back to the main interface, click on the 'REC' button to start recording. A floating toolbar offers you buttons to pause or stop the recording during the recording process. In addition, the camera icon can be used to take screenshots, and the timer icon can help you stop recording automatically.

Step 6. The recorded video clips will be saved on your computer. When the media player appears, you will see a set of tools you can use to trim the recordings, extract audio, and add opening title & closing credits to the recorded video.

Steps to Record Screen on Mac

If you are using a Macbook, the following tutorial is for you. Try to record your screen now.

Step 1. Download and launch EaseUS RecExperts on your Mac. Click on the 'Screen' button in the Video tab.

Step 2. Click 'Size' to select the recording area. You can capture the full or part of the screen in 'Custom'. Also, you can set the quality of the video in advance or configure basic options, like the shortcut and location.

Step 3. To capture screen and audio simultaneously, click 'Audio Sources' to select an audio source. Besides, you can adjust the volume by hitting the sound icon at the bottom.

Step 4. Once done, click the big red circle button to begin recording. It captures anything displayed on your Mac screen. When you are done, click the stop button. Then you can watch the recorded video in the preview window. If you are satisfied with it, you can export it as an MP4 or GIF file flexibly.

Conclusion

These are some of the best free screen recorder software available for Windows and Mac. Whether you are a professional video recorder or a hobbyist, having the right set of tools to record your video is necessary to grow your audience.

We strongly recommend you to download EaseUS RecExperts since it is full-featured, lightweight, and easy to use in the meantime.

FAQs About Best Free Screen Recorder Windows 10

There are hot topics on the internet. Here, I have listed some popular ones about screen recording and video editing. You can read on to solve your problems.

1. What is the best free screen recorder?

Top 10 Best Free Screen Recorders for Windows and Mac in 2021:

2. Does Windows have a screen recorder?

Yes. Windows 10 has a secret screen recording tool - Xbox Game Bar. You can use it to capture the screen. It is convenient to use without installing any software.

3. How can I record my screen without background noise?

You can use free screen recorders without an audio recording feature. Like QuickTime Player, it enables you to record your Mac screen without audio.

Whether it’s to record a live stream or create a video training for work, you often need to record computer screen and audio together.

That should be easy, right?

Yeah… Not really.

When you want a screen recorder with sound that can truly deliver amazing features for free, well, let’s just say your options are limited. No worries, however. I’m going to break down the best FREE screen recorders on the market today. The criteria are based on screen capture abilities, audio recording capabilities, sharing options, and user-friendliness.

The Easy Solution: Use ScreenRec To Record Screen Audio And Video

Hiding in the mess of the internet is Screenrec and it may be the best screen and sound recorder for Windows you’ve used thus far. It’s easy to use, free and lightning fast and works on Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10. I know this might be saying a lot, so let me show you. Here’s how to record your screen with audio on Windows. Watch this video:

Or see the text-based guide below.

Step 1: Download and Install Screenrec For Windows

Screenrec will launch automatically after it is installed.

Step 2: Configure audio recording settings

Screenrec can record your computer screen WITH sound coming from both your microphone and/or your computer audio. Believe it or not, this is a big deal as many other screen recording tools make it look impossible.

The microphone is selected by default to allow you to add audio narration. To record system (desktop) audio, go to Settings and slide the system audio toggle to “On”.

Step 3: Record your screen video

Press Alt-S or click the camera icon and then use your mouse to select a capture region. For a full-screen capture, click and drag the mouse over the entire screen.

Once you select a capture region, the screen recording (screencast) will start automatically. You will see a big orange countdown, starting from 3.

Step 4: Share your recorded videos instantly

When you finish your screen and audio recording, a unique sharing link is automatically created. If this is the first time you are using Screenrec, you will be asked to create a free account. You can paste your unique sharing link in an email, a messaging app, directly on social media, you name it. Pretty cool, huh?

Screenrec is actually the only free screen recording tool on the market that gives you a sharing link instantly. It is possible because Screenrec uploads your screen recording in the background (while you’re recording). So, if you ever forget to save locally or somehow accidentally delete your video, it’s already online!

Step 5: Manage the screen recordings in the gallery and user panel

Not only is a sharable link automatically created, but your video screen capture is uploaded directly to the cloud in high quality. Click the gallery icon to view your existing recordings. Hover on a recording to preview it, get a sharing link or delete it.

User-friendliness

As far as user-friendliness, Screenrec is so simple, it’s insane. There are no complicated buttons or settings. You don’t have to think about encoding or uploading your video. It’s all done for you. With just a few clicks and within a few minutes, you can record your screen audio and video and share it.

Alternative Ways To Capture Your Screen With Audio

Option 1: FonePaw Screen Recorder – Easy-To-Use Recording App

FonePaw Screen Recorder is not only getting the recording job done, but also providing a nice screen recording experience for all users. The software allows users to freely customize their recordings. Users can adjust the recording area, the size of their webcam, the sound of the system and microphone, and so on. What's even better, there's no watermark in recorded videos.

User-friendliness

FonePaw Screen Recorder is very user-friendly. Even though it has many powerful functions, it has a relatively simple interface and we can say it falls under the simple-to-use screen recording software category. You'll find it easy to use whether you're an advanced user or not.

Here's how to record your computer screen and audio with FonePaw Screen Recorder.

Step 1: Download and install FonePaw Screen Recorder.

Step 2: Launch the program. Click Video Recorder.

Step 3: Adjust settings.

Users can adjust settings beforehand, including recording region, webcam, and the sound of the system and the microphone. You can also schedule your task and the recording length. Click REC to start recording.

Step 4: Recording.

While recording, you can capture the screen. Click the red square to end recording.

Step 5: Preview and edit your video.

Step 6: Save your video.

Input the name and the output path of the video. Click Next to save your video.

With just a few clicks, your recording is done. You can upload it to a video sharing site or to a cloud storage service if you want to share it.

Option 2: ShareX – open source screen recorder that gets the job done

If you’re looking for a basic screen recorder, then ShareX is a good choice. It’s simple, easy to use and gets the job done. Think of it as the flip phone of screen recorders. Durable, reliable, and even with the advancement of today’s technology, somehow not yet obsolete.

User-friendliness

Sharex is definitely user-friendly simply because it has very basic functions. Reminding you of a Windows menu, the interface is minimal. This could be a good thing for those who don’t care for bells and whistles. But a little color wouldn’t hurt. Let’s just say it’s not very pretty.

Here’s how to record your computer screen and audio with ShareX.

Step 1: Download and Install ShareX

Step 2: Start the app

Step 3: Record your computer audio and microphone

Technically with ShareX, you can record your voice and/or your computer audio. Don’t get too happy, though. In order to create a screen video and audio capture, you have to download additional software, install it and make changes within the editing menu.

You can, however, narrate with your microphone as you record your screen. If that’s what you need to do, I guess you’re in luck.

To record your microphone, go to Task settings > Capture > Screen recorder > Screen recording options > Audio source. Select “Microphone” as a new audio source.

For screen capture with audio, click the “Install recorder” box on the left side of the screen. You will be prompted to download and install additional software. Follow the instructions. Once complete, choose “Virtual audio capturer” in the audio source drop-down menu.

Step 4: Select video capture area

Click “Capture” found on the left side of the screen. Select the desired recording region and click “Screen recording” from the drop-down menu to capture video.

Step 5: Share your screen captures

There are dozens of sharing destinations that you can choose from and upload directly to, right from the ShareX menu. The only downside is that you have to wait for your recording to be uploaded.

Click “After upload tasks” found on the left side of the screen. Select desired options to shorten, copy, or share URL. Choose “Destinations” to upload directly to a social media platform or website.

Step 6: Manage your screen captures

Once the screen has been captured, there are multiple task options in “After capture tasks”. Unfortunately, the best options apply only to screenshots and not video (ie; image effects, image editor, watermark creator, etc).

The only thing you can do with a recorded video is to share it. Oh, and delete it, I guess. So… two things!

Option 3: Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 – For advanced users

Microsoft’s Expression Encoder is a popular recording solution that gives you more properties that you might have missed with ShareX. However, these extra options seem to come at the cost of clutter. There is so much to look at, so much to decipher, that, if you’re not a genuine techie, you might as well look for a tutorial on YouTube now.

User-friendliness

I don’t mind a bit of sophistication with my apps, but there is a fine line between sophisticated and complex. A line that Microsoft certainly crossed.

The problem with Expression Encoder 4 is that it is clunky. The interface is much like a space shuttle control center—heavy with toggles, switches, and functions that you have to remember. One of the things you have to DIY is to actually encode your video. Once you’ve finished recording, you have to manually select “Encode” to receive your final video. It is not automatic.

I’m sure with time, you will get the hang of it, but, if you want something simple and easy to understand, this is definitely NOT it.

Here’s how to record your computer screen and audio with Microsoft Expression Encoder 4.

Step 1: Download and Install Microsoft Expression Encoder 4

Two different programs will be installed on your computer—Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 and Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 Screen Capture.

Step 2: Start the app

Make sure to start Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 Screen Capture (not the other program). You will see the recording toolbar.

Step 3: Configure the audio recording settings

Recording audio is far simpler than it is with ShareX. When taking a screen capture, audio can be recorded from either the system speakers or a microphone without requiring any additional installations.

All you have to do is choose the proper audio option in the settings tab and voilà! System sounds recorded.

To record the Mic audio, click the settings icon within the user panel and check “Microphone”.

To record the system audio, follow the same procedure but check “Speakers”.

However!!

If you are using an older system, say Windows XP or Windows 7, you can forget about recording the computer audio. If there are any discrepancies between the systems audio output and the options within the encoder, you will receive an error message. In other words… your screen recording will have no sound.

I also tried recording my screen on Windows 10. I was successful with the microphone but, sometimes, ShareX simply refused to capture the system audio for no apparent reason. So, if you happen to have issues, don’t free. It’s not you, it’s the software.

Step 4: Create a screen capture with audio

In all fairness, even though it might take you a while to funnel through the abundance of information, once you start recording, it is quite simple. The play/pause/stop functions are easily accessible. You could either use your mouse to highlight a recording area or choose specific menus or regions from the drop-down menu within the panel.

To start the video recording, view the screen options by clicking the sun icon. Be sure everything is configured the way you like. Choose your desired capture region by using the crop tool or choosing a window from the drop-down menu. When you select capture area, click the record icon to begin.

Step 5: Encode the video

Yes, there is an extra step here and it’s not the most fun thing to do. When you stop recording, you have to actually click “Send to encoder” which will open the other Microsoft Expression Encoder program. You can edit the recording and adjust the encoding settings. If

If this makes you want to scream in horror and run, rest easy. You can simply click the Encode button at the bottom left of your screen and be done with it.

Step 6: Share your screen recording

Sharing your videos can be a bit tedious. Instead of having direct sharing capabilities like ShareX, you have to manually upload the video to YouTube after saving it locally.

There is no simple “Share on Facebook” buttons or “Tweet This!” option. It’s 2021. We’ve all been spoiled and expect to share our creations in an instant.

Come on, Microsoft! Get with the program! (No pun intended)

Conclusion

So, this is it! You now know three ways to record computer screen and audio. But how can you choose the right tool for the job?

Well, if you are looking for a free and easy screen recorder with sound, then go with Screenrec (but be careful not to get addicted to the instant sharing option). If you’re familiar with ShareX and you don’t care about instant sharing, then that may be a viable option. Finally, if you want lots of advanced features and you’re comfortable with encoding and uploading your screen captures manually, then the MS Expression Encoder might be what you’re looking for.

Step 1: Download and Install Screenrec For Windows;

Step 2: Press Alt + S to select screen capture area and click the audio toggle to enable system sound recording;

Step 3: Click the video camera to start recording

You need a screen recording tool that can record system audio. Not all screen capture programs offer this functionality, so make sure that it is available.

References and Further Reading?

Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 tutorial and breakdown video
Microsoft Expression Encoder 4: Free vs. Pro
ScreenRec: About This Screen Recording Tool
ShareX full tutorial
ShareX additional audio software I installed —“virtual-audio-capturer”.

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