The Best Free Video Capture Software app downloads for Mac: Adobe Presenter Video Express OBS Studio Snap Camera LifeFlix MiniDV Importer Free Camtasi. Debut Free Video Screen Recorder for Mac.
Use Shift-Command-5 in macOS Mojave
With macOS Mojave, press Shift-Command (⌘)-5 on your keyboard to see all the controls you need to record video and capture still images of your screen. Use these onscreen controls to select whether to record the entire screen, record a selected portion, or capture a still image of your screen. If you haven't upgraded to Mojave, you can record the screen with QuickTime Player.
Record the entire screen
- Click in the onscreen controls. Your pointer changes to a camera .
- Click any screen to start recording that screen, or click Record in the onscreen controls.
- Use the thumbnail to trim, share, save, or take other actions.
Record a selected portion of the screen
- Click in the onscreen controls.
- Drag to select an area of the screen to record. To move the entire selection, drag from within the selection.
- To start recording, click Record in the onscreen controls.
- To stop recording, click in the menu bar. Or press Command-Control-Esc (Escape).
- Use the thumbnail to trim, share, save, or take other actions.
Trim, share, and save
After you stop recording, a thumbnail of the video appears briefly in the lower-right corner of your screen.
- Take no action or swipe the thumbnail to the right and the recording is automatically saved.
- Click the thumbnail to open the recording. You can then click to trim the recording, or click to share it.
- Drag the thumbnail to move the recording to another location, such as to a document, an email, a Finder window, or the Trash.
- Control-click the thumbnail for more options. For example, you can change the save location, open the recording in an app, or delete the recording without saving it.
Change the settings
Click Options in the onscreen controls to change these settings:
- Save to: Choose where your recordings are automatically saved, such as Desktop, Documents, or Clipboard.
- Timer: Choose when to begin recording: immediately, 5 seconds, or 10 seconds after you click to record.
- Microphone: To record your voice or other audio along with your recording, choose a microphone.
- Show Floating Thumbnail: Choose whether to show the thumbnail.
- Remember Last Selection: Choose whether to default to the selections you made the last time you used this tool.
- Show Mouse Clicks: Choose whether to show a black circle around your pointer when you click in the recording.
Use QuickTime Player
QuickTime Player also has a screen-recording feature, and you don't need macOS Mojave to use it.
- Open QuickTime Player from your Applications folder, then choose File > New Screen Recording from the menu bar. The Screen Recording window opens.
- Before starting your recording, you can click the arrow next to to change the recording settings:
- To record your voice or other audio with the screen recording, choose a microphone. To monitor that audio during recording, adjust the volume slider (if you get audio feedback, lower the volume or use headphones with a microphone).
- To show a black circle around your pointer when you click, choose Show Mouse Clicks in Recording.
- To record your voice or other audio with the screen recording, choose a microphone. To monitor that audio during recording, adjust the volume slider (if you get audio feedback, lower the volume or use headphones with a microphone).
- To start recording, click and then take one of these actions:
- Click anywhere on the screen to begin recording the entire screen.
- Or drag to select an area to record, then click Start Recording within that area.
- To stop recording, click in the menu bar, or press Command-Control-Esc (Escape).
- After you stop recording, QuickTime Player automatically opens the recording. You can now play, edit, or share the recording.
Learn more
- When saving your recording automatically, your Mac uses the name ”Screen Recording date at time.mov”.
- To cancel making a recording, press the Esc key before clicking to record.
- You can open screen recordings with QuickTime Player, iMovie, and other apps that can edit or view videos.
- Some apps, such as DVD Player, might not let you record their windows.
- Learn how to record the screen on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Video is the way of the future. From crazy cat videos on YouTube to in-depth training tutorials sold by mega corporations, our society just can't get enough of those moving pictures. But video is more than just an entertainment option or revenue channel. It can also assist you in your daily workflow and turn you into a productivity machine at work!
The eight video recording software mentioned below will help you communicate quicker, increasing the amount of work you can get done on any given day. Does that sound like something you might be interested in? Then keep reading.
In this post we'll explain what kind of video recording software we're talking about and the eight best options you should consider adding to your technology stack in 2020.
The Purpose of Video Recording Software
The video recording software we'll be talking about in this blog post is NOT the kind you would use to record and edit a Hollywood blockbuster, or even a silly home movie. You won't find Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro on this list.
Instead, we've rounded up the top eight software tools that will allow you to record your personal computer screen in 2020. These kinds of programs can be extremely useful to business professionals and boost both productivity and efficiency by giving users the ability to easily share everything they see on their computer screens.
The most common uses of video recording software are to demonstrate tasks, troubleshoot problems, and craft intuitive tutorials.
The Top 8 Video Recording Software
The following eight pieces of video recording software have been carefully selected. You'll find both paid and free tools, but each is well designed and would be a worthy addition to your business software suite in 2020. Let's dive in!
1. CloudApp
Let's start with our absolute favorite video recording software, CloudApp. Are we biased? Sure, but after a quick look at the facts, we have no doubt that you'll agree with us in thinking that CloudApp is quite an amazing tool!
CloudApp is an all-in-one, visual collaboration platform that gives users easy access to screen and webcam recording, and GIF creation features. Once content has been recorded, CloudApp also allows its users to edit their visuals with convenient annotations such as drawings, arrows, emojis, and more to better communicate their thoughts and ideas.
What do you do when your content has been shot and edited to perfection? Distribute it, of course! Our cloud-based software makes it easy to share your work via links that include password protection options, expiration dates, and detailed analytics. Quickly see who has viewed your content and enable real-time notifications when your links have been opened.
CloudApp packs in a lot of features, but fortunately, all this functionality won't cost your business an arm and a leg. Plans including premium features start at just $9 a month, though our entry-level plan is free-forever and allows you to begin sharing videos, GIFs, and screenshots immediately. Become more productive and save up to 56 hours a week with CloudApp!
2. SnagIt
SnagIt is a popular video recording software that is specially designed to help users make amazing step-by-step instruction videos and how-to guides. If that will be your main goal when using this kind of tool, then you may find this app is exactly what you're looking for.
Video Recording Software For Mac
In a nutshell, SnagIt gives you the ability to capture a video of your computer screen or, using your webcam, a video of yourself, and share the result with whomever you wish.
One of SnagIt's most useful features is 'Favorites', which will allow you to add each of your favorite tools inside the app to one specific tab and group them together for easy access. This is a valuable, time-saving feature that will keep you from constantly digging through multiple menus to find what you need.
A license to use this tool costs $49.95 and can be installed on up to two different computers.
3. ShareX
When it comes to the best free video recording software on the market, you'd be hard pressed to find a better tool than ShareX. This app makes it incredibly simple to capture a video of your screen with just one (configurable) click.
One great feature included with ShareX is the ability to record just a portion of your computer screen when needed. Perhaps you don't want your entire screen visible in the video you plan to record and share. No problem, simply select the area you wish to record in ShareX and only capture that space in your video.
Once a video is recorded, users are able to edit it, though the editing features aren't as extensive as other apps on this list. But for a completely free tool, the functionality is impressive and ideal for those on a tight budget, or those who only need basic video recording features.
4. Debut Video Capture
Debut Video Capture (DVC) is a powerful and free (for personal use only) video recording software that can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, DVC can be used to capture video of your computer screen as you work, which is great for explaining processes.
But this app also allows video to be recorded from external devices, such as a high-end video recorder or network IP camera (surveillance camera). This is a unique and useful feature for those looking to record higher quality videos than their webcam can provide, or those who need to set up a security system at their place of business.
While the interface is unattractive and dated, the functionality of this app is great and the main reason why it's secured a place on our list. It should be noted, however, that use of this tool for non-personal related reasons will cost your company $39.95.
5. ScreenFlow
Apple user? Then consider using, ScreenFlow, an intuitive, Mac-only video recording software. This app has many of the standard screen recording features we've talked about in this article already, such as GIF creation and image annotation abilities.
But there are two features we especially like about ScreenFlow:
- This app allows users to record the screens of the iOS devices. Looking to demonstrate how to use a specific mobile app? Simply connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer, ensure the device is recognized, and click 'record iOS device'.
- ScreenFlow gives its users access to a stock media library of over half a million media clips that can be used in their own videos. This includes visual clips, background music, and more. Just find what you need and drag it into the ScreenFlow timeline.
Best App For Recording Video On Mac Free Download
When your video is done, save time and export it directly to YouTube, Wistia, Facebook, DropBox, or Google Drive.
Does ScreenFlow sound intriguing? You can buy the program for $129. It should be noted that the media library is an additional cost and will run you $60 a year. Premium support is also not included in the price of the software, but can be had for $39 a year.
6. GoPlay
We just gave you a Mac-only application, how about a Windows video recording software next? GoPlay is a screen recording app that allows users to easily create high-definition videos, edit them in a jiffy, and then export the final product to social media with the click of a button.
Some might find the picture in picture (PIP) option especially useful. This feature will let you record both your computer screen and yourself (via a webcam) at the same time. Once your video has been created, editing options include trimming, cropping and various filters.
Finally, we should mention the captioning feature. Add subtitles to every video so that the information you're sharing is never lost or misinterpreted.
GoPlay is mainly geared towards those who plan to publish their work on YouTube and other social media channels. But if you use a Windows computer, there's no reason why this app can't also be used for more traditional business video projects. Prices start at $4.90 a month.
7. Camtasia
Best Screen Recording For Mac
Camtasia is known for being very easy to use. It combines screen recording features with more traditional video editing options (much like the ScreenFlow and GoPlay apps that we mentioned earlier) to give its users a comprehensive video recording software suite.
A typical workflow using this app might look something like this:
- First, record your screen. You can choose to capture the entire thing or just part of it, whatever suits your video-making needs best.
- Second, edit your footage. Cut out sections; combine multiple takes into one seamless shot; and add in external videos, images, and presentation slides as you see fit.
- Third, add effects and give your video a professional, polished feel. Effects include annotations, titles, music, and more.
As you can see, working with Camtasia is a straightforward process. And while this app doesn't have as many screen recording features as other tools on this list, or the editing options of a fully-featured video editing software, it strikes a good middle ground between the two.
For those looking for basic screen recording functionality and a few higher-end video editing options, Camtasia is a good bet and can be had for $249.
8. Screencastify
Finally, we have Screencastify, a unique option because this tool is actually a Google Chrome extension rather than a stand-alone app. It's perfect for those using the Chrome web browser and looking for a basic video recording software — especially if they're on a tight budget.
Screencastify gives users a few different options when recording. Do you want to capture your entire desktop, one specific browser tab, or yourself via a webcam? Each option is available. In fact, you can record your screen and yourself at the same time and embed the webcam feed in the screen recording.
Free Video Recording App Windows
Finished recordings can be edited with annotations and mouse highlights (so viewers always know what you're clicking on), and then cropped and trimmed to perfection.
When it comes to cheap video capture software, Screencastify is a solid option at only $49 a year. Can't justify the price tag? Use the app for free. Just know that you'll only be able to record up to 5 minute long videos.
The Right Video Recording Software For You
If you're hoping to become more productive in 2020, any of the video recording software mentioned in this blog post will help you reach that goal. Visual communication is on the rise and is, in our humble opinion, a worthy investment for just about every business.
So jump on it! Try a few of the apps we mentioned (listed again below for your convenience) and choose your favorite. Then use it and crush your business goals. Happy video recording!
CloudApp is the best option when it comes to video recording software. Our tool's powerful screen and webcam recording, GIF creation, and image annotation features will help you boost productivity immediately. Learn more about the CloudApp solution here.