Find the best screen recorder for your setup

Tick what you need. Apps that don't fit drop out of the list, and the rest stay ranked by our score.

By Sam Fisher. Updated October 17, 2026.

Details for ApowerREC and Icecream Screen Recorder haven't been fully verified yet and may change.

Best by use

Comparisons

Pricing and guides

Alternatives

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How to choose a screen recorder

Most people looking for a screen recorder want one of three things, and the best app for one is often a poor fit for another.

Sending a quick video message. You record a walkthrough, a bug report or an update for a colleague or customer. What matters is how fast you get a link and whether the viewer can watch without installing anything or creating an account. Tick “Instant share link”.

Making a tutorial or training video. You’ll cut mistakes, zoom into clicks and add captions, and people will watch the video more than once. The editor matters more than the recorder. Tick “Built-in editor”.

Recording long sessions or games. Frame rate, CPU load and file size matter most, and time limits on free plans get in the way. Free, open-source recorders are often the best choice here.

What to check before you pick one

Free plan limits. Many free plans cap the length or number of videos, or add a watermark. Each app below shows its free recording limit.
Platform. Some of the best apps run on only one platform. Filter by Windows, Mac, Linux or Chromebook first.
Where your videos live. Cloud recorders store your videos on their servers, which makes sharing easy. Local recorders save a file, which you then upload yourself.
Price per person. Team plans are usually priced per person and add up quickly. Check the cheapest plan that removes the limits you care about.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best screen recorder?

It depends on what you record. For quick video messages with a share link, look at the apps that score highest on sharing. For tutorials, pick one with a built-in editor. For long recordings or gaming, a free open-source recorder usually beats paid apps. Tick your platform and needs in the finder to narrow the list.

What is the best free screen recorder?

See our best free screen recorders: only apps with a free plan, ranked by the same score, with watermarks and time limits shown for each.

Do free screen recorders add a watermark?

Some do. Tick “No watermark when free” in the finder to see only apps that record without one on their free plan.

How do you rank screen recorders?

Every app is scored on the same seven criteria from documented facts: sharing, recording features, editing, free plan, value for money, ease of use and platforms. Prices and free-plan limits come from each app’s own pricing page. See how we review.