Comparison of screencasting software


This page provides a comparison of notable screencasting software, used to record activities on the computer screen. This software is commonly used for desktop recording, gameplay recording and video editing. Screencasting software is typically limited to streaming and recording desktop activity alone, in contrast with a software vision mixer, which has the capacity to mix and switch the output between various input streams.

Comparison by specification

Product namePublisherLatest stable versionLatest release dateOSSoftware licenseSource code
available?
Adobe CaptivateAdobe SystemsWindows
macOS
Adobe Presenter Video ExpressAdobe Systems12.0.2.1702017-11-28Windows
macOS
AVS Video EditorOnline Media Technologies LtdWindows
BandicamBandicam CompanyWindows
BB FlashBackBlueberry SoftwareWindows
BB FlashBack ExpressBlueberry SoftwareWindows
CamStudioCamStudio.orgWindows
Camtasia TechSmithWindows
Camtasia TechSmithmacOS
CloudAppCloudApp6.12020-07-13Windows
macOS
Linux
Debut NCH SoftwareWindows
Debut NCH SoftwaremacOS
FrapsBeepa Pty LtdWindows
FreeseerFOSSLCWindows
macOS
Linux
HyperCamSolveig MultimediaWindows
HyperCamHyperionics2.29.002016-01-07Windows
Microsoft Expression EncoderMicrosoft42011-11-02Windows
Nero VisionNero AGWindows
Nvidia ShadowplayNvidia2.11.4.02016-06-21Windows
Open Broadcaster Software
OBS ProjectWindows
macOS
Linux
PeekPhilipp WolferLinux
PixetellOntier Inc.Windows
QuickTime XApple Inc.10.0 2010-03-29macOS
RecCloudWANGXU TECHNOLOGY1.5.52025-09-26Windows
recordMyDesktopSourceForgeLinux
ScreencamSmartGuyz Inc.3.3.02009-03-24Windows
ScreenPalScreenPal

Windows
macOS
ScreenFlowTelestreammacOS
ShareXJaex and Michael DelpachWindows
SimpleScreenRecordermaartenbaertLinux
Snagit TechSmithWindows
Snagit TechSmithmacOS
Snapz Pro XAmbrosia Software2.6.12016-10-17macOS
VirtualDubSourceForgeWindows
VLC media playerVideoLAN3.0.182022-11-08Windows
macOS
Linux
BSD
Solaris
QNX
Haiku
Syllable
OS/2
Xbox / Xbox Game BarMicrosoftWindows
XSplit BroadcasterSplitmediaLabsWindows
Product namePublisherLatest stable versionLatest release dateOSSoftware licenseSource code
available?

Comparison by features

The following table compares features of screencasting software. The table has seven fields, as follows:
  1. Product name: Product's name; sometime includes edition if a certain edition is targeted
  2. Audio: Specifies whether the product supports recording audio commentary on the video
  3. Entire desktop: Specifies whether product supports recording the entire desktop
  4. OpenGL: Specifies whether the product supports recording from video games and software that employ OpenGL to render digital image
  5. Direct3D: Specifies whether the product supports recording from video games or software that employ Direct3D to render digital image
  6. Editing: Specifies whether the product supports editing recorded video at least to some small extent, such as cropping, trimming or splitting
  7. Output: Specifies the file format in which the software saves the final video
Product nameAudioEntire
desktop		OpenGLDirect3DEditingOutput
Adobe CaptivateSWF, EXE, MP4
Adobe Presenter Video ExpressMP4
Bandicam
BB FlashBackAVI, FLV, SWF
BB FlashBack expressAVI, FLV, SWF, MP4, WMV, Animated GIF, PowerPoint slideshow, self-extracting EXE
CamStudioAVI, SWF
Camtasia
Camtasia
CloudApp
DebutAVI, FLV, MKV, MP4, WebM, WMV, 3GP, ASF, DV, MOV, MPG, OGV
FFmpeg with a plug-incf.
FrapsFPS1 in AVI
FreeseerOgg
HyperCamAVI, WMV
JingSWF
Microsoft Expression Encoder
Nero Vision
Nvidia Shadowplay
Open Broadcaster SoftwareSimple mode: FLV, MP4, MOV, MKV, TS, HLS
Advanced mode: Any format supported by libavformat
Pixetell
QuickTime X
recordMyDesktopTheora in Ogg
Screencam
ScreenPal
ScreenFlowProRes, MP4, GIF, AAC
ShareXAVI, MP4, GIF
SimpleScreenRecorderFormats supported by libavformat
Snagit
Snagit
Snapz Pro X
VirtualDubAVI
VLC
Windows Media Encoder
Xbox /Xbox Game BarMP4
XSplit BroadcasterMP4, FLV
Product nameAudioEntire
desktop		OpenGLDirect3DEditingOutput