1. How to choose a program
2. Short software overview
3. Top 10 video capture apps
4. Software comparison chart
5. Frequently asked questions
10 Best Video Capture Software in 2024
5.0
Votes: 2
(Rated: )
Last updated: 19.01.2024
Do you want to record a tutorial for some app? Or capture some gameplay for YouTube? Maybe a blog or a presentation? If you find whatever happening on your computer monitor interesting and worthy of sharing, then you need software to capture the screen and webcam feed. However, picking the right program can get tricky.
The market is overflowing with screen capture software. Some are plain and meant for general use, while others are designed with specific content types in mind. We have tried out a great many such apps, so you don’t have to. And now we are ready to present the results of our research! Keep reading and discover the best video capture software for Windows 10, macOS, and beyond, along with some guidelines if you wish to search further on your own.
Record the screen and capture the essence
How to Choose Video Capture Software
The best video capturing software for you depends on a handful of parameters. If you define these parameters for yourself, the perfect choice might become obvious, or you’ll at least know the exact kind of app to look for. So, this is what to consider when choosing video capture software:
Compatibility. Always check the system requirements. If the app cannot run on your setup, then everything else is meaningless. There’s even an option of getting a video capture card if software solutions aren’t enough for you.
Price. There are overpriced products at every price tier. If the app has a lot of features you don’t need, then look for an alternative that does not have them – chances are it will be notably cheaper. And if you don’t know what you require yet – most video recording software is free to download and try.
Ease of Use. Different apps have different levels of complexity. To get the maximum use out of a program, make sure your skills are enough to operate it. Just remember that easy does not necessarily mean bad.
Features. Direct export to YouTube, separate audio and video capture, webcam recording, certain export file formats, editing toolkit: if you don’t want to finish your work in other programs, make sure the grabber has all the features you might need.
Reliability. There’s always a chance of running into some issues. To minimize that risk, check out user reviews and make sure the app has active tech support.
Best Video Capture Software
- OBS Studio. An all-encompassing platform for gaming and streaming.
- Camtasia. Great for capturing conferences with interactivity, e.g. quizzes.
- Loom. Great for recording video messages and conference calls.
- Snagit. Lightweight and easy to use with lots of export options.
- Vidyard. A fitting solution for marketing and making personalized video content.
- Zight. An enterprise-level cloud platform with interactivity features.
- Vimeo Record. Solution for enterprises with automatic upload to Vimeo hosting.
- Bandicam. Runs stably on low- and mid-end computers.
- Debut. Great for demonstrations and streaming.
- SMRecorder. Free and uncomplicated tool.
If you want to thoroughly edit the results of your video capture, download and try Clipify. With a wide range of features, you will be able to turn your footage into an engaging video in a snap. You can even record the feed from your webcam directly into the program. You can also transform your webcam recordings into trendy reaction clips or picture-in-picture videos in a few clicks.
Best Video Capturing Software in 2024
Established names and newcomers, specialized capturing software and all-in-one tools – our list includes something for everyone. So, let’s see what each app has to offer.
1
OBS Studio
OBS Studios is free video capture software made with gamers’ needs in mind. It allows you to stream on Twitch and YouTube, as well as record footage and publish it later. OBS has enough features to capture any on-screen activity, and its functionality can be expanded further with external plugins. OBS is completely free, the only investment you’ll have to make is time and effort since the program has a considerable learning curve.
Pros:
- Record from multiple sources
- Built-in audio mixer with filters
- Direct streaming to various platforms
- Lots of advanced settings
- No watermarks or time limits
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- Occasional crashes
2
Camtasia
Camtasia is a video recorder app for PC and Mac specialized in capturing on-screen tutorials and presentations. It allows structuring your performance with an interactive table of contents and various templates. If you want to make things more personalized, you can alter backgrounds and themes. Integration with PowerPoint will be of great help as well. On top of that, you may introduce some interactivity with quizzes.
Pros:
- Adding arrows and callouts
- Voice and screen capture
- PowerPoint integration
- Interactive elements
- Easy editing workflow
Cons:
- Slow processing of large files
- Reported performance issues
3
Loom
Loom is designed for group calls and is a superb tool for teams. Integration with Jira and Confluence makes it great for the working environment. It is also excellent for presentations thanks to annotations and custom recording space dimensions. The more expensive plans also let you record at 4K resolution and allow viewers to interact with your translation.
Pros:
- Has a team workspace for sharing files
- Integration with Jira, Confluence, etc.
- Interactions like emojis and comments
- Available as a Chrome extension
- No ads or watermark
Cons:
- Very poor editing functionality
- Limited duration and number of videos in the free version
4
Snagit
Snagit’s selling feature is its simplicity. It is incredibly easy to use since it is stripped of all unnecessary bells and whistles. It has the bare minimum you need to capture your screen activity, make screenshots, and share the footage on a wide variety of platforms.
Pros:
- 4K and scrolling capture
- Optical character recognition
- Custom themed templates
- Cloud storage export
- Built-in GIF editor
Cons:
- Requires third-party storage
- Rather expensive
5
Vidyard
Vidyard is video capture software for PC designed primarily to produce promotional materials. It helps you create and share personalized videos over email and social media. Vidyard also provides analytics on your content performance, which is extremely helpful for building and adjusting a marketing strategy.
Pros:
- Full production from recording to sharing
- Straightforward link sharing
- Lots of available tutorials
- Detailed performance metrics
Cons:
- Quite expensive
- Reported slow upload
- Mixed customer service reviews
6
Zight (formerly CloudApp)
Zight is helpful if your aim is to record interactions with the audience. It allows you to record a webcam feed, customize the translation to match the crowd, use call-to-action features, and control privacy with passwords and shared links. Zight also fits into the working environment thanks to integration with Slack, Trello, and so on. On top of that, you can have some fun with a built-in GIF editor.
Pros:
- Annotated screenshots and recordings
- Integration with Slack, Jira, Trello, and more
- Unlimited file storage
- Effective visual search
Cons:
- Occasional availability issues
- Reported Windows app crashes
7
Vimeo Record
Vimeo Record is an effective option for enterprises looking for a way to quickly produce and spread video content. It allows you to record, edit, and share footage within its platform, which makes it great for remote collaboration. Vimeo’s greatest turnoff is the subscription cost, but you should keep in mind that it is aimed at teams and businesses rather than individual users.
Pros:
- Free and unlimited recording
- Integration with Vimeo hosting
- Intuitive and clear interface
Cons:
- Lacks screenshot feature
- Team features are available for subscription only
8
Bandicam
Bandicam is an effective recording video software for PC with mid- to low-end hardware and has low requirements both for your skills and system. Among other things, Bandicam is great for gaming thanks to webcam and mic capture and a built-in FPS counter. However, your footage will have a watermark unless you upgrade to premium.
Pros:
- Minimal system requirements
- FPS counter and gaming overlay
- Gameplay capture in 4K
- Recording scheduling
Cons:
- Few output formats
- Limited sharing
- No editing features
- Time cap and watermarks in the free version
9
Debut
Debut video capture app stands on par with premium apps in terms of capture features while being free and easy to use. In addition to essential functions, it supports scheduling and customization. You can even record feed from security cams at home with it. On the other hand, NCH Debut lacks editing features and looks rather dated.
Pros:
- Free for personal use
- External camera capture
- Recording scheduling
- Highly customizable
Cons:
- Outdated interface
- No proper editing tools
10
SMRecorder
SMRecorder is an uncomplicated Windows 10 video capture software for quick recording, editing, and sharing. It supports little to no extra decor for your footage, but SMRecorder is still a viable option if you want to capture the substance and have no need for style. On the downside, although this video recording software is free, it is available for Windows only and is effectively discontinued.
Pros:
- Completely free to use for recording
- Has lenient system requirements
- Very user-friendly
Cons:
- Only two output formats
- Editing tools are behind a paywall
- No longer supported by devs
Video Recording Software Comparison Chart
| Features |
OBS
Download
|
Camtasia
Download
|
Loom
Download
|
Snagit Download | Vidyard Download |
|
Vimeo Record Download | Bandicam Download |
|
SMRecorder Download | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS | Windows | Windows, macOS, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows | Windows, macOS | Windows | |
| Webcam capture | |||||||||||
| Audio capture | |||||||||||
| Editing tools | |||||||||||
| Interactions | |||||||||||
| License | Free | Paid | Freemium | Paid | Freemium | Freemium | Paid | Freemium | Freemium | Free | |
| Price | - | $299.99 | From $8.00/mo | $62.99 | From $29/mo | From $9.95/mo | From $12/mo | From $33.26/year | From $1.66/mo | - | |
| Final score | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7.6 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6 |
Conclusion
It is nice to have plenty of choice, however, with great variety comes the difficulty of picking the best tools for the job. But it is possible to at least narrow down the list. For gaming, OBS and Bandicam are quite popular picks. Loom or Vidyard will be a great asset for a business. Camtasia and Debut will help you have engaging classes and presentations. If you consider your goal, skills, and available resources, be it hardware or budget, you’ll be able to eliminate all the apps that are definitely not for you and clearly see proper options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best video capture software?
● OBS Studio – for gaming
● Camtasia – for presentations
● Loom – for business
Learn more about these and other noteworthy apps for Mac and Windows from our review.
Does Windows 10 have video capture software?
Yes, Windows 10 has a free built-in app called Xbox Game Bar. It allows you to take screenshots, capture videos, and more.
Can VLC capture video?
Yes, here’s how:
1. Run the app and go to Media > Open Capture Device.
2. Select Desktop as capture mode, set a frame rate, click the arrow next to Play, and click Convert.
3. Select an MP4 profile and name the destination file.
4. Click the Start button to begin recording and minimize the VLC window.
5. Close the program to end the recording.