10 Best Open Source Screen Recorders for Windows 11/10/8/7 PC and Mac

December 30, 2025Amanda Brown

While using your computer daily, you may frequently need to capture your screen. Do you know how to free capture video or audio files on Windows 11/10/8/7 PC or Mac?

You should know that there are many open-source screen recorders offered on the internet that can help you record all types of activities happening on your computer. The question is, what is the best open source screen recorder, and which one should you use?

Most open source video capture tools are free and full-featured. But some poorly designed screen recorders may produce video/audio in quite low quality. Considering this, we would like to share 10 great open-source screen recorders for you to choose from.

How We Test & Review

We tested all the open-source screen recorders on multiple Windows devices to evaluate performance.

Each tool was used for screen capture, webcam overlay, and audio input to reflect real scenarios. We explored editing and export features, including trimming, annotations, and format options, for a complete review.

Finally, recordings were assessed for resolution clarity, playback smoothness, and audio quality to ensure fair comparison.

	License Type	Primary Platform(s)	Primary Output Format	Live Streaming Support	Built-in Video Editing	Notes
CamStudio Recorder	Open-Source (GPL)	Windows	AVI (Classic), MP4 (New)	No	No (Basic Annotation)	Classic, lightweight option; newer versions (v3.0+) include modern codecs and GPU acceleration.
OBS Studio	Open-Source (GPL-2.0)	Windows, macOS, Linux	MP4, MOV, FLV	Yes (Excellent)	No (Requires External)	Professional-grade tool with complex scene management; steep learning curve.
ShareX	Open-Source (GPL-3.0)	Windows	GIF, MP4 (FFmpeg), Image	No	Yes (Basic Image/GIF Editor)	Focuses on screenshots and post-capture automation (uploading/sharing).
Captura	Open-Source (MIT)	Windows (Primary)	MP4, AVI, GIF	No	No (Basic Trimming)	Lightweight, portable, good for tutorials with keystroke visualization.
FlashBack Express	Proprietary (Freeware)	Windows	MP4, AVI, WMV	No	Yes (Basic Trimming Only)	Not open-source, but a popular free option that offers no watermarks or time limits.
VirtualDub	Open-Source (GPL-2.0)	Windows	AVI (Primary)	No	Yes (Advanced Non-Linear)	Primarily an advanced video editor/processor with screen capture as an input source; technical interface.
VokoscreenNG	Open-Source (GPL-3.0)	Linux, Windows	MP4, MKV, WebM, AVI	No	No (Basic Playback)	User-friendly, cross-platform solution with a simple interface and zoom/magnifier.
Peek	Open-Source (GPL-3.0)	Linux (X11/Wayland)	GIF, WebM, MP4	No	No (Basic Frame Selection)	Highly specialized tool for creating small, silent animated GIFs easily.
Kazam ScreenCaster	Open-Source (GPL-3.0)	Linux (X11/Wayland)	MP4, WebM, AVI	No	No	Simple, dedicated Linux screencaster known for reliability and ease of use.
XVidCap	Open-Source (GPL-2.0)	Linux (X11)	AVI, MPEG	No	No	Legacy X11 recorder; very simple and minimalist but largely superseded by newer tools.

Downloads

Professional Screen Recorder for Winodws/Mac

Record any video and audio on Windows 7/8/10 PC and Mac with high quality.
Support 4K UHD video recording up to 3840 × 2160 resolution.
Create a picture-in-picture screen recording while the video game playing.
Capture online live videos, 2D/3D gameplay, webcam, video/audio chats, music and more.
Advanced hardware acceleration technology to capture screen with low CPU, GPU and RAM.
Offer powerful editing features and output recording in any popular video/audio format.

Different open-source screen recorders will provide a range of differing recording and editing features. You can pick your preferred one based on your specific needs. In the following parts, we will introduce you with top 10 screen capture tools.

NO.1 CamStudio Recorder

CamStudio is a popular open source screen recorder which enables you to capture any video and audio on your computer with high quality. It It provides different download versions for Windows 11/10/8/7 PC and Mac. This open source video capture software has the capability to capture computer screen with entire screen or any selected portion.

CamStudio recorder allows you to place screen captions and overlay your webcam video on top of the content you are recording. With its built-in SWF Producer, it can record AVI videos and turn those recordings into lean, mean, bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos. One thing you should concern is that, this open source screen recorder doesn't carry any editing features.

PROS

Simple and easy-to-use interface, perfect for beginners.
Lightweight, runs well on older Windows operating systems.
Creates small-sized output files (AVI/SWF).
Completely free for both personal and commercial use.

PROS

Development is largely inactive; may lack stability on modern OS versions.
Lacks modern features like advanced editing, webcam overlay, or scene composition.
Output video quality can be lower than modern codecs.

NO.2 OBS Studio

OBS Studio is one of most popular open source screen capture tools. Besides the screen recording feature, it also offers a great live streaming service. This open source screen recorder enables you to capture any activities on Windows 11/10/8/7 PC, Mac and Linux. There is no time limit of the video recording.

OBS Studio is able to record computer screen with full screen or custom region. It allows you to record any video or audio from computer screen, webcam and microphone. This open source screen capture is specially designed for content creators and live streamers. It offers an intuitive audio mixer with per-source filters like noise gate, noise suppression and gain. This free video recorder won't add any watermark to the recordings. Fix OBS black screen issue here.

PROS

Professional-grade features for live streaming and advanced recording.
Unmatched flexibility with complex scene creation and mixing capabilities.
Supports cross-platform use (Windows, macOS, and Linux).
Large community support and extensive third-party plugin ecosystem.

PROS

Very steep learning curve for beginners; setup can be complex.
Resource-intensive and can cause performance issues on low-end PCs.
Lacks a dedicated, built-in video editor for post-production.

NO.3 ShareX

ShareX is an open source screen recorder which provides you with a fast screen recording with unlimited features. This free video capture allows you to record any video with full screen, active window or customized area. ShareX is designed with an "Automated Capture" feature to guarantee you can have a great screen recording experience.

ShareX has many useful settings to help you custom your recordings. It allows you to freely adjust effects, drawings and region based on your need. This open source screen recorder won't set any watermark or duration limits on your recordings. It will output your recorded video in MP4 or GIF format. You can also directly upload recordings to YouTube or other video sharing platforms.

PROS

Extensive automation capabilities for capturing, editing, and uploading content.
Supports output as video, static images, and animated GIFs.
No watermarks or time limits, and is a completely free screen recorder.
Advanced features like OCR (text recognition) and color picking are included.

PROS

Primarily designed for Windows (no official macOS or Linux version).
The interface is technical and complex, not ideal for casual users.
Screen recording is less polished than dedicated video tools like OBS.

NO.4 Captura

Captura is another popular open source screen recording software which allows you to capture any activities from computer monitor and webcam. It can record capture screen from custom regions, windows, or screens. While the screen recording, you won't see any annoying ads.

This open source screen recorder is equipped with some hotkeys to help you get the full control of the screen recording. It has the capability to mix microphone input audio and output speaker audio with ease. Captura also allows you to capture DirectX Fullscreen games with the Desktop Duplication API. It will output your recording as an MP4, AVI or GIF file.

PROS

Lightweight, portable (runs without installation), and resource-efficient.
Excellent for tutorials with on-screen visualization of keystrokes and mouse clicks.
Exports to common formats: MP4, AVI, and GIF.
User-friendly and highly customizable capture settings.

PROS

Relies on third-party libraries like FFmpeg for some advanced video encoding.
The feature set is less mature than OBS Studio for complex productions.
Development has been archived for the main repository, but forks exist.

NO.5 FlashBack Express

FlashBack Express is our last recommendation in the list of open source screen recorders. This all-featured video recording software enables you to record any region of your computer screen. It also allows you to capture your own face from the webcam. Similar to other screen recorders like Camtasia Screen Recorder we recommended above, FlashBack Express won't put any watermark and recording time/length limits.

Flashback Express can save your recording in MP4, AVI, or WMV format according to your need. This open source screen recorder carries some editing features for you to edit the captured video. You can trim recording or crop video to output a video you really like.

PROS

Allows unlimited recording time with no distracting watermarks.
Very clean and intuitive design, making it easy for beginners.
Can record the screen, microphone, and webcam at the same time.
Includes the ability to set recordings to start and stop automatically.
Uses a proprietary format initially to help create smaller, efficient files.

PROS

It is not real open-source; the full feature set is locked behind the paid 'Pro' version.
Only offers basic video trimming; lacks professional editing tools.
The free version typically limits the recording quality (often to 720p).
Critical tools like adding text/annotations and advanced export options are restricted to the paid version.

NO.6 VirtualDub

VirtualDub is a venerable, open-source Windows utility primarily designed for video capture, linear editing, and processing, particularly known for its fast, non-destructive trimming, filtering, and recompression capabilities on AVI files. Although it is not a dedicated screencaster, it includes a powerful, built-in screen capture driver that treats the screen as a video source, making it a viable, albeit advanced, option for capturing desktop activity. Its core strength lies in its extensibility through hundreds of third-party plugins and its efficiency in processing large video batches, though its user interface and methods for screen capture are antiquated and more technical than modern alternatives.

PROS

Powerful tool for video processing and filtering after capture.
Extensible with a massive library of third-party plugins.
Highly efficient for batch processing and non-linear editing of AVI files.
Open-source and runs well on Windows.

PROS

Primarily a video editor/processor, not an intuitive screen recorder.
The interface is outdated and highly technical, posing a steep learning curve.
Screen capture often requires significant configuration for performance and modern codecs.

NO.7 VokoscreenNG

VokoscreenNG is a user-friendly, actively maintained, and cross-platform screen recorder (Windows and Linux) that emphasizes simplicity and quick setup for general recording tasks, making it perfect for educators and general users. It offers flexible capture options: full screen, a specific area, or an application window, and includes helpful features like a magnifier/zoom function for focusing on screen details during the recording process. Crucially, it provides simultaneous recording from the screen, webcam, and microphone with a clean, modern interface, positioning it as a powerful, yet non-intimidating, alternative to more complex suites.

PROS

Cross-platform support (Windows and Linux).
Intuitive, modern interface with a simple learning curve.
Includes a built-in magnifier/zoom feature for highlighting details.
Support for various output formats and simultaneous webcam recording.

PROS

Lacks advanced streaming and scene composition features like OBS.
May require some initial configuration to ensure all video codecs are present.
Not officially supported on macOS.

NO.8 Peek

Peek is a minimalist and highly specialized open-source application designed for Linux that excels at one task: creating high-quality, short screencasts, particularly for export as animated GIFs. It functions by providing a simple, frame-like window that the user places over the desired screen area; upon recording, it captures the activity and optimizes it for the GIF format, though it also supports WebM and MP4. Peek is invaluable for developers and communicators needing to quickly create visual bug reports, short demonstrations, or reaction GIFs without dealing with complex video file sizes or encoding settings.

PROS

Highly optimized for creating smooth, efficient GIF animations.
Minimalist interface; incredibly easy and quick to use.
Supports recording to WebM and MP4 for better quality/smaller size.
Excellent for short, focused clips, such as bug reports or UI demonstrations.

PROS

Primarily Linux-only (though forks for other systems may exist).
Not suitable for long-duration recordings or large video projects.
Lacks built-in audio support for the screen capture process.

NO.9 Kazam ScreenCaster

Kazam ScreenCaster is a simple, modern, and reliable screen recorder designed specifically for the Linux desktop environment, focusing on providing a clean, unintrusive graphical user interface for easy screen capture. It is a preferred choice for Linux users who want to record a selected area, a specific window, or the entire screen with minimal fuss, making it ideal for creating basic how-to videos and desktop session recordings. While it includes necessary features like audio and webcam recording, its strength is its stability and commitment to being a dedicated screencasting utility rather than an all-in-one streaming suite, providing a focused, beginner-friendly experience.

PROS

Simple and beginner-friendly graphical interface (GUI).
Stable and highly functional for Linux users.
Supports simultaneous recording of screen, audio, and webcam.
Can pause and resume recordings easily.

PROS

Primarily for Linux; not available on Windows or macOS.
Development can be intermittent, and it lacks advanced features like editing.
Output format options are fewer than tools like OBS.

NO.10 XVidCap

XVidCap is an open-source screencasting program designed for the X Window System (X11), making it a legacy but still functional option for Linux and Unix-like operating systems. It is intended for recording screencasts with audio narration, capturing any movement on an X11 display by encoding captured frames into a video file using the FFmpeg library. Its core function is to capture a selected area on the screen and save the output efficiently. While it provides basic, standards-based functionality, its development is not highly active, and it has been largely superseded by newer, more feature-rich Linux tools like Kazam or SimpleScreenRecorder.

PROS

Simple and direct screencasting functionality for the X Window System (Linux/Unix).
Capable of capturing video with optional audio narration.
Can capture the screen and save it as single frames (for later conversion).
Low system resource usage for basic captures.

PROS

Legacy tool with largely inactive development.
Interface and features are very minimalist compared to modern recorders.
Linux/Unix-only and less compatible with newer display technologies like Wayland.

Conclusion

We have primarily discussed 10 open-source screen recorders in this post. When you need to capture your computer screen, you can select your preferred one from the options you like. I hope you can easily find a free video recorder that meets your requirements.