Screen recording software is used by people from different walks of life from educators to remote coworkers and content creators once digital users learn why screen recording is essential for businesses. For the frequent and higher screen recording demands, a dedicated screen recorder that records your screen with audio (voice-over or system audio) and webcam overlay from your Mac is essential over any native screen recording software.
Therefore, if you own a Mac, choosing the best screen recorder for your Mac will make your recording work easy. So, with plenty of software on the market, which is the best? Some are free and some have paid versions. Notably, when opting for the best free screen recorder, you need to keep in mind that most will have a limited time recording or some features will be missing. However, they can qualify as good screen recorders for users who don’t want to spend money. Let’s start with the best.
1. Zight Screen Recorder
You can’t mention the best screen recorders and fail to mention Zight. Just after using this software for 5 minutes, I knew my search for the best screen recording app for Mac had ended. Although it’s not the only option, it offers a compelling combination of features and ease of use that makes it a strong contender for the title of “best screen recorder for Mac.” Let’s look at why.
One of the first things you’ll notice about Zight is its sleek and user-friendly interface. The design is intuitive, allowing users to quickly navigate through its features without a steep learning curve from installation to recording.
So how does Zight perform when it comes to screen recording? Zight provides a wide array of recording options, making it incredibly versatile. Users can capture their entire screen, a specific window, or a selected area with ease of a few clicks.
Additionally, Zight supports recording from external devices, such as webcams and microphones, which is perfect for creating professional presentations, tutorials, or gameplay videos. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcuts on your Mac:
It can capture audio from your system and microphone simultaneously, making it perfect for tutorials, presentations, and more.
Screen recording is just the beginning with Zight. It’s one of the best free screen recorders for Mac that includes a GIF creator and video editing tools that allow you to trim, cut, and merge your recordings effortlessly. You can also add transitions, effects, and overlays to give your videos a polished, professional look. This will be handy when creating instructional content, as it helps to emphasize important points and guide viewers effectively.
Another of Zight’s standout features is its ability to integrate webcam footage into your recordings. This is particularly useful where you can narrate or present while showing your screen activity. The webcam recording feature is easy to set up and customize, giving your webcam videos a personal touch.
The software is one of the apps that integrates smoothly with popular cloud storage services, allowing you to save and access your videos from anywhere. Additionally, you can directly upload your recordings to YouTube, Vimeo, and social media platforms, making it easy to share your content with the world.
You can share your recordings instantly with a simple link or collaborate with your colleagues. For those who need to collaborate or gather feedback, Zight offers real-time collaboration features. Viewers can leave time-stamped comments and reactions to your videos, facilitating easy and effective communication.
Zight is the best Mac screen recording software for users who:
- Want an all-in-one tool
- Value ease of use and a clean interface.
- Need to capture their screen, webcam, or both
- Want to share recordings quickly and securely
- Collaborate with others and require cloud storage
- Are individual users or large teams
Some teams that might benefit from Zight include:
- Educators and Trainers: Zight can be used to create video tutorials and other training materials. You can record your screen while you demonstrate a process or software, and then add annotations and voiceovers to explain concepts and share them with students.
- Remote Workers and Teams: Share quick screen captures, create GIFs, and collaborate with colleagues.
- Content Creators: Capture gameplay, software tutorials, or quick demos with ease.
- Troubleshooting: To understand the problem and provide a more efficient solution by recording your screen while you encounter a bug or issue
- Customer Support Agents: Zight can be used to create screen recordings to explain complex concepts to customers or to provide step-by-step instructions on how to use a product or service.
- Engineering: Zight screen recordings can be used to record bug reports and to collaborate with other engineers on fixing issues. This can help to communicate the problem and the steps to reproduce it.
- Design Collaboration: Zight can be used to capture design ideas and feedback. You can record your screen while creating a mockup or prototype, and then share the recording with other designers for feedback.
Pricing of Zight Screen Recorder for Mac
Zight offers a range of pricing plans to suit different needs, from individual users to large teams. The flexible pricing ensures that you only pay for the features you need, making it a cost-effective solution for both personal and professional use. A free trial is also available, allowing you to test the software before committing to a subscription.
If you are now convinced and want to give Zight a try, here’s a detailed guide on using the Zight screen recording software on your Mac. The possibilities with Zight are endless, so be sure to check it out as soon as you can! Start by creating a free Zight account to get started.
Pros
- Versatile recording capabilities
- The same software can create screenshots, GIF creation, and annotations
- High-definition video recording, ensuring you get sharp and clear captures when you record videos
- Supports multiple output video formats
- AI features
- Customizable hotkeys to manage your screen recordings with ease
- Video transcription available
- Integrations with Zendesk, Slack, Zapier, Asana, and Google Suite
- Extensive enterprise features including SOC2 compliant, custom branding, SSO, and more
Cons
- It has a monthly subscription, not a one-time licensing fee
2. Movavi Screen Recorder
Movavi is among the best screen recording software that is often compared to Zight for its almost similar capabilities.
With Movavi Screen Recorder, creating screencasts and recording your screen is a breeze. You can schedule a finish time for your recordings, choose to record just your webcam video, or capture only your system sound or mic. This flexibility allows you to record audio separately from your Mac’s screen or simultaneously record audio and video.
It is among the best screen recording software of its bonus features such as an automatic monitor area that you can customize to your exact needs. You can add system alerts, choose different keyboard and cursor types, and even include custom sounds for clicks. With its built-in timer, you can set it and forget it, letting the recording happen on its own while you relax.
Although Movavi isn’t the most elaborate screen recorder on the market, it has a modest price tag making it an ideal option for users who don’t want to invest in the complex screen recorders for Macs such as Screenflow or Camtasia.
Pros
- Multiple output formats and options for easy sharing of screen record
- Convenient scheduling options allow you to stop and start recording automatically
- Automatic monitor frame
- Can use system audio or microphone audio
- Chroma keying
Cons
- Slow rendering
- In-depth editing requires a separate Movavi app
- Limited compatibility
3. Camtasia
Camtasia makes it to this list of best screen recorders for Mac since it comes with screen recording software and a video editor in one tool. With its extensive layout, you can make smooth edits and mix on your recorded video.
The screen recorder for Mac makes it easy to include webcam captures, allowing you to set up a Picture-in-Picture overlay effortlessly. Techsmith also offers a variety of features to enhance your videos, such as quizzes and interactive elements to boost engagement and learning.
This professional-grade software comes with comprehensive post-production editing tools similar to ScreenFlow. You can split, trim, and merge multiple recordings on the timeline, adding transitions, intros, outros, and more to create polished, professional videos. To dive more, check out the best Camtasia Alternatives.
Pros
- Supports large video files
- Video editing tools offering plenty of support for transitions, filters, effects, and other post-production needs
- Annotation tools
- Interactivity and quizzing options you can embed in your video to make them more interesting
Cons
- The editing options can be a bit overwhelming for beginners
4. QuickTime Player
Mac users are familiar with QuickTime Player as the default video player on their devices. QuickTime not only plays various media files and supports a wide range of video formats, but it also serves as a handy screen recording tool. You can record your entire desktop or just a selected area, with optional features to show the mouse and include microphone audio in your recordings.
Although Quicktime Player is an inbuilt screen recording software on your Mac, it is not at the top of the list because of its limited features. It is a good free screen recorder if you don’t need to record your voice or don’t have any requirement for the output quality or file format.
To start and stop recording, you can use some keyboard shortcuts: “Command + Shift + N” to start recording and “Control + Command + Esc” to stop recording instantly. Alternatively, to launch QuickTime Player, go to the File >> New Screen Recording.
However, the Quicktime player doesn’t support webcam recording and has only one output format since it can’t help but capture the system audio.
Pros
- Different file formats
- Internal & external sound
- Variable video resolution
- Built-in video player with screen recorder
Cons
- No option to add annotations
- The recording timeline is too small
5. OBS Studio
Here is another of the best screen recorders for Mac, OBS i.e. Open Broadcaster Software. Although free, the screen recording software has impressive features like live streaming that you will only get in paid software. The audio delivery is also impressive thanks to the audio mixer which includes extras such as a VST plugin support and noise suppression.
This free screen recorder is recommended because of its ability to record multiple screens but it also lets you set shortcut keys to facilitate smooth navigation and choose the recorded video quality and FPS.
As it supports various formats, you can combine different types of media, such as screen captures, images, text, internet windows, and webcam feeds. Thanks to its Studio Mode, you can preview each scene before finalizing your project, ensuring everything looks just right.
Worthy Read: Best OBS Studio Alternatives
Pros
- Its functionality can be expanded by adding different plug-ins
- Broadcasting capabilities
- It can monitor up to 8 scenes and also add transitions
- You can also add transitions to your screen recordings while switching from one screen to another
- Set up hotkeys to start and stop recording, switch between multiple screens, and also to do more frequent tasks
- There’s an intuitive mixer for audio sounds
Cons
- It doesn’t indicate as your recording starts
- Not ideal for beginners
6. ScreenPal (formerly Screencast-o-Matic)
Screenpal is among the simple screen recording software in the market and it was specifically launched with the intention of easy video editing and communication. It is easy and free to use for recording needs such as trimming. However, all the features like watermark removal and annotating recordings will need a paid software upgrade.
Although that is a huge disadvantage, some features make it a worthy choice to screen record your videos for educational purposes like creating video tutorials and demos. In addition, this screen recorder for Mac can capture videos from any part of your screen, allows a webcam for the picture-in-picture effect, and also has the option to add narrations and captions.
Pros
- You can animate your video recordings with overlays and smooth transition effects
- Allows a user to edit text, images, and shapes with pre-defined styles
- Allows you to include narration in sync, music, or an audio recording from your system
Cons
- The free version lacks a video edition option
- Recordings must be shorter than 15 minutes
7. TinyTake
Tinytake is among the best simple and free screen recorders on the market that can record images and videos of your computer screen or a region of it.
The screen recording app is quick and easy to set up and get going, and if all you need is a simple recording, you’ll have that in no time.
Once you’ve finished recording, TinyTake offers a range of robust features for annotating your videos. You can add arrows, draw on the video, and insert text overlays with ease.
Unlike ScreenFlow and Camtasia on our list, TinyTake has a simpler interface with fewer bells and whistles. While it doesn’t include a timeline, you can easily drag and drop pictures and other videos into your project.
Pros
- Ability to zoom in or zoom out
- Stores your screen-recorded videos on the cloud
- Custom shortcut keys
- Offers free distributed storage for users to save cloud storage
Cons
- The recording must be shorter than 5 minutes
8. Loom
Another Mac’s best screen recording software is Loom, which stands out with its versatile recording options, allowing you to capture your screen, camera, microphone, or internal audio. Your videos are automatically saved to the cloud, making them easy to access whenever you need them.
Designed for seamless collaboration, Loom lets viewers engage with time-stamped comments and fun emoji reactions. You’ll get notifications for every viewer interaction, ensuring you never miss a comment. This makes it perfect for educators, designers, professionals, and other corporate users.
Plus, with a mobile-friendly library, you can watch videos on the go. Enhanced security controls give you detailed viewer insights, helping you refine your content over time.
Pros
- Video recordings are saved without watermarks
- Records your screen in HD
- Exceptional noise reduction feature
- Reactions and comments include emojis making the feedback part interesting
- Protect your screen-recorded videos with a security key
Cons
- Its free plan only allows 5 minutes of screen recordings
- Lacks a sensor feature for sensitive content
- Updates are not automatically downloaded and so need manual downloads
9. Recordit
This screen recorder is not for everyone and unlike other screen recorders on this list which save your recording to your Mac’s local drive, Recordit uploads your recorded video to the cloud storage. This makes it ideal for sharing videos quickly with remote co-workers. Recordit also includes a video-to-gif option.
So, how does it work? Once installed, you will see a Recordit icon on your top menu bar, click on it to record any area of your screen, and once done, click the stop button where you’ll get a link to share your screencast. One thing you need to have is a good upload speed if you intend to use this screen recorder.
Nevertheless, the video recordings are limited to 5 minutes in the free version and it doesn’t have a paid version. Also, it doesn’t store a local copy of your recording which means if the internet goes down for any reason, your video will not be uploaded and you will have to start over.
Pros
- Video to gif option
- Uploads video to cloud storage
Cons
- Screen recordings are limited to 5 minutes
- The app doesn’t keep a local copy of your recording
10. Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder
Another professional screen recorder is the Apowersoft Screen Recorder, rich in features and offers more control to the creator during the recording process.
For starters, it supports unlimited recording, time restriction, and no watermark. You can also set the recording quality from 15-60 fps, depending on whether you want to use it on the web or make a professional video.
The screen recorder also offers a web-based screencast software meaning you can record the screen without downloading any screen recording software. However, you’ll need to install a launcher if it’s the first time.
With three recording modes and different audio inputs for recording, you can record the screen in the best possible way. To make it better, you can configure your mouse style for recording your screen in your preferred way.
This Mac screen recording software allows you to record and stream your screen with real-time video editing tools which you can use on the go be it for training, teaching, or gaming purposes.
Pros
- Real-time editing
- Converts videos into various formats
- Picture-in-picture mode
- Customizable shortcuts
Cons
- It doesn’t support audio recording
- It does not offer editing tools.
11. ActivePresenter
ActivePresenter is a versatile tool that combines screen recording, video editing, and eLearning capabilities. You can record videos from your computer screen, including webcam footage and audio, making it perfect for creating training videos, screencast videos, handouts, and presentations.
It’s one of the screen recording tools that offer basic editing tools like cutting, splitting videos, and adding annotations. While it has more advanced features, accessing those requires a software update.
Pros
- Professional video editor
- Different video formats can be exported.
- Good technical support
- eLearning software
Cons
- Not ideal for professional game recording
12. Icecream Screen Recorder
If you are not interested in the bells and whistles and are interested in a good screen recorder that can produce quality video content, this is it for you. Icecream screen recorder for Mac can capture video from any area of your screen and also capture and save the area in form of a video file or a screenshot over your system.
Using this screen recorder, you can easily record your webinars, games, and Skype video calls in HD quality quickly in both windowed and full-screen modes to present your content in the best way possible. Easily add your own watermark while capturing your desktop or laptop screen and set the video quality to suit your needs.
The app includes basic editing features like adding shapes and text on-screen. It comes in both free and premium versions, with the free version having limited features. You can upload your recorded videos to cloud services like Dropbox, change formats after recording, trim unwanted parts, and add mouse effects.
Pros
- Zoom and annotation tools included
- You can change the recording speeds
- You can schedule screen recordings
- Mouse Effects
Cons
- Records up to 5 minutes with a watermark
13. Snagit
Snagit is part of the best screen recorders for Mac because it combines top-notch editing features, this software makes desktop recording simple and effective.
The recorded videos are saved in MP4 format with a generous 1 GB file limit. Once you’ve finished recording, you can easily send your video to any compatible application service, ensuring reliability.
Developed by TechSmith, this app can also capture still images and includes a variety of annotation tools for both photos and videos. Users can utilize picture-in-picture mode to record webcam feeds. While it may not be as powerful as Zight, it’s important to remember that this is a screen recording tool for Mac OS, not a full-fledged video editing software.
A standout feature is the scrolling screenshot capture mode, which is rare among similar tools. Additionally, it supports multiple file formats, including GIFs.
Pros
- You can store your screen recordings in a specific folder
- Schedule recordings
- Scrolling screen capture
- You can simplify the user interface
- Animated GIFs
Cons
- No video editing capabilities
14. CleanShot X
Cleanshot X is a top screen recorder for taking screenshots and recording your screen among so many other things such as:
- Choosing whether you want to record a video or GIF
- Disable notifications and hide your desktop icons while recording your videos
- Set a timer
- Record a specific window, an area, or full-screen
- Record a scrolling window (e.g. a long webpage)
In addition, CleanShot Cloud seamlessly integrates with the app, making it easy to store and share screenshots with your coworkers instantly. After recording a video, you’ll receive a shareable link immediately, streamlining collaboration and communication.
Lastly, Cleanshot includes an easy-to-use video editing toolkit that you can use to annotate, highlight, or blur anything in your video after you take it with no extra editing app required.
Pros
- Instant cloud sharing
- Screenshot annotation tools
- Records your display, webcam, microphone and system sound.
- Disabling notifications and hiding icons
Cons
- No free trial
- Cannot do video editing other than splitting and trimming.
15. Monosnap
Another free screen recorder for Mac is Monosnap. One of the coolest features of this screen recording tool is that you can also draw a pointer or rectangle when you are recording a video.
This screen recording software can also allow a user to turn on their mic, webcam, and system audio all before the recording. In addition, for your recording, you can either use the Mac’s built-in webcam or add an external camera.
Monosnap screen records your screen in 60fps to ensure an ultra-smooth playback to meet the needs in demanding situations.
With its integration into the cloud, Monosnap is suitable for professionals and students since one can connect the cloud drives such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or FTPs to upload screen-recorded videos and share them with other PCs and smartphones.
Pros
- Support the Mac built-in webcam
- Direct upload to the cloud storage
- Customizable hotkeys
- Export to many cloud-based storage websites
Cons
- Limited video editing features
16. Zappy
Sometimes you just want to make a quick recording and send it off without dealing with editing or complicated settings. Zappy is perfect for this. You can trigger it with a keyboard shortcut or from the menu bar icon. Simply select the portion of the screen you want to record, click the video camera button, and hit stop when you’re done. You can also add a voiceover using your microphone or include your face via the webcam if you like.
For paid Zapier users, the recording automatically uploads to the cloud, with a link copied to your clipboard. If you’re using the free version, you can save the video file locally and share it as you wish.
While Zappy doesn’t offer many settings or editing capabilities, you can add arrows, boxes, basic text, and obfuscation during recording or afterward for screenshots. It’s a fast, straightforward way to share something.
Pros
- Allows you to make GIFs
- Better for remote workers
Cons
- Relatively limited feature set
17. ScreenRec
ScreenRec is one of the best screen recorders for Mac, offering options to record internal audio, microphone, webcam, and any area of your screen. It also captures screenshots and allows you to add annotations to your recordings. With its lightweight design and simple UI, even non-tech-savvy users can easily navigate and create videos with audio on their Mac with just one click.
ScreenRec also allows you to download and save recordings to your local device without any watermarks. Plus, you can tag your files for easy organization. This free screen recorder is a top choice for Mac users.
Pros
- Editing capabilities like adding bubbles, shapes, text, and arrows
- Creates instantly shareable links after your start recording
- Real-time annotation feature
- Secure platform thanks to SSL encryption.
Cons
- If you don’t create an account, cloud sharing and recording for more than 5 minutes are unavailable
18. Scribe
Scribe is an excellent program for quickly creating step-by-step instructions, making it one of the best free screen recorders for Mac. It records your computer operations, turning mouse clicks and keystrokes into written instructions and annotated images.
After editing the content and images, you can share your Scribe via a link or embed it in a help center or knowledge base. The Scribe browser plugin is free and can be used indefinitely, instantly generating step-by-step instructions. You can create an unlimited number of guides and pages and embed tutorials into any online app. Additionally, its steps and instructions are fully customizable.
Pros
- Advanced scripting and annotations for clear communication
- Unlimited number of guides and pages
- High-quality video output with minimal setup
- Integration with popular productivity apps
Cons
- Some advanced editing steps can be clunky initially
19. ScreenFlow
For more control over capturing and editing screen videos, ScreenFlow is a popular choice that can exceed your expectations. This Mac screen recorder lets you capture anything on your desktop and offers powerful editing tools like cropping, zooming, and panning for a polished final product.
Additionally, you can enhance your videos with annotations, callouts, and by displaying multiple clips simultaneously. The latest version of ScreenFlow features improved access to your iTunes and iPhoto libraries, the ability to delete unused raw footage, and a wider selection of templates for your timeline edits.
Pros
- Records high-quality screen-recorded videos even for multiple screen recordings
- Add transitions, animations, multi-channel audio, and free hand annotations to edit your video recordings
- You can add and edit subtitles or captions to your screen recordings
- Create GIFs or APNGs and easily export them to the required location
- Dedicated customer support to solve user queries
Cons
- Not as advanced as other screen recording software on the list
20. EaseUS RecExperts
EaseUS RecExperts is a top Mac screen recorder that can capture footage at up to 4K/60fps and is packed with plenty of useful features such as a GIF creator and a scheduler. This makes this screen recording tool suitable for delivering presentations, gaming, webinars or quickly showing a user how to perform a specific task on a computer.
When it comes to its setup and use, it’s easy to use meaning you won’t need to move around the settings too much to be able to capture everything you may need. RecExperts not only captures your screen (or a specific area of it) and system sounds (if you choose), but it also automatically detects any connected webcams and microphones.
However, this screen recorder for Mac doesn’t have any meaningful post-production editing capabilities but it can only trim, watermark, and also add intros and outros.
Pros
- Up to 4K/60fps captures
- Simple interface for seamless navigation
Cons
- Limited editing functions
- 1 minute cap on the free version
Conclusion
Hopefully, now you can choose the best screen recorder for Mac and can make the best choice as per your needs. With these top 6 screen recorders for Mac, creating creative videos, recording game sessions, video calls, or any other activity will be a breeze.
For more frequent or advanced recording needs, you’ll want a dedicated screen recorder like Zight that can handle recording with audio (whether system audio or voiceover) and webcam overlay on Mac OS. On the other hand, if you don’t need to record your voice and have no specific requirements for output format or quality, the built-in QuickTime Player is your best bet for a straightforward solution.