6 Best Open-source Screen Recorders for Windows and Mac OS X/11/12

This article focuses on the open-source screen recording software. Open-source projects are attractive, partly because it is totally free to use without any limit.

There are always a crowd of customers who have limited budget or just need to record screen occasionally. Open-source screen recorders are the best option. However, it is hard to find the software worth to use.

That is why you should learn this post, getting the best open-source screen recording applications.

Part 1: Top 6 Open-source Screen Recorders

Top 1: OBS Studio

OBS Studio is a famous screen recorder and broadcasting program. It does not require any payment or sign-up. Moreover, you can get a full set of features for screen recording.

Pros

• 1. Available to Windows, Mac and Linux.
• 2. No limit on screen recording length.
• 3. Support a wide range of input sources.

Cons

• 1. The audio choppy issue happens regularly.
• 2. It is hard to master for beginners.
• 3. There is reported black screen problem.

Top 2: ShareX

ShareX is another open-source video capture and editing program. Though the interface looks not friendly, you can get a wide range of tools from a single project. Plus, it won't add watermark to your videos.

Pros

• 1. Upload screen recordings to online popular platforms directly.
• 2. Free to use without any limit.
• 3. Support long screenshot as well.

Cons

• 1. The interface looks messy.

Top 3: CamStudio

If you are looking for a simple way to record screen or video, CamStudio is a good option. It can capture any activities on your screen and save up to 4K quality. Moreover, you can overlay your reactions via webcam.

Pros

• 1. Record screen or videos for free.
• 2. Save recording in AVI or SWF.
• 3. Easy to set up.

Cons

• 1. It adds watermark to the final video.

Top 4: UltraVNC Screen Recorder

UltraVNC Screen Recorder is an easy way to record your screen. For students and small business, this open-source screen recorder is a good option. It is lightweight and works well on old machines.

Pros

• 1. Record video up to 4K resolution.
• 2. Capture multiple sources at the same time.
• 3. Include a recording timer.

Cons

• 1. It can only save screen recordings in MP4, and you need to convert MP4 to other formats for smooth playback.
• 2. The interface seems outdated.

Top 5: Captura

Captura is another open-source screen recorder that you can use to capture your screen. It is prevalent around the world since it offers more than 30 languages. The hotkeys make the process easier than other software.

Pros

• 1. Rely on Desktop Duplication API to record gameplay.
• 2. Support MP4, GIF, AVI, and other output formats.
• 3. Available to Windows 10.

Cons

• 1. There is a bit of delay.

Top 6: SimpleScreenRecorder

As its name indicated, it is a simple open-source screen recorder for Linux users. All screen recording will be saved as HD videos. Of course, you can modify the video resolution if your computer slows down.

Pros

• 1. Pause and resume screen recording easily.
• 2. Preview screen recording in real time.
• 3. Contain extensive custom options.

Cons

• 1. It is not available to Windows and Mac.

Part 2: Best Alternative to Open-source Screen Recorders

As mentioned previously, most open-source screen recorders have drawbacks, like lagging issue. If you mind it, we suggest you to try AnyMP4 Screen Recorder. It is the most cost-effective option to record your screen.

Main features of the best alternative to open-source screen recorder

• 1. Utilize hardware acceleration to improve performance.
• 2. Support a wide range of output formats.
• 3. Produce high quality recording videos.

How to Record Screen without Lagging

Step 1: Install Screen Recorder

Run the best alternative to open-source screen recorder ocean you install it to your computer. Then pick Video Recorder to open the main interface.

Step 2: Record your screen

There are four options:
Display: Record everything on your desktop.
Webcam: Capture your face via webcam.
System Sound: Record the sound from your system.
Microphone: Capture audio through microphone.

Toggle on or turn off each option based on your need. Click the REC button and start recording your screen after the countdown.

Tip: To change the output format, destination and other options, click the Gear icon and you can find them in the Preferences dialog.

Step 3: Edit and save screen recording

When screen recording is done, click the Stop icon to enter the preview window. Play the recording video to check it. The Clip tool allows you to remove unneeded frames by resetting starting and end points. Finally, hit the Save button to save the screen recording to your hard drive.

Part 3: FAQs of Open-Source Screen Recorder

Conclusion

This article has identified and listed top 6 best open-source screen recorder applications for Windows 10/8/7 and Mac OS X/11/12. No matter you wish to record gameplay or capture your screen, they can help you do it easily. If you do not like open-source solutions, don't worry, we also shared a powerful screen recorder, AnyMP4 Screen Recorder. It is not only easy to use, but also provides rich features. If you have better recommendations or other problems, please leave your message below this post.