How we review screen recorders
Every app on this site is reviewed the same way, from documented facts. We read each app’s pricing page, plan comparison, help center and system requirements, and note the date. Ratings come from G2, Capterra and the app stores. Every fact in a review traces to a source, which we keep with the date we read it, and each review lists its sources.
What we check
- Free plan: length limit per recording, number of videos, watermark and export resolution.
- Price: the cheapest plan that removes the free plan’s main limits, in US dollars, per person.
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, iPhone and Android.
- Features: share links, webcam overlay, computer audio, editing, maximum resolution and open source.
We re-check prices and free-plan limits regularly, and the “Last checked” date on each review shows when we last did.
How we score
Each app gets a score out of 10 in each of these criteria:
| Criterion | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Sharing | How you get a video to someone: an instant share link with comments scores highest, a local file you upload yourself lowest. |
| Recording features | Resolution, webcam overlay, computer audio, region and window capture, length limits and extras like auto-zoom or scheduling. |
| Editing | From no editing, through trimming and cutting, to a multi-track editor with captions and effects. |
| Free plan | What you can do without paying: time limits, watermarks, video caps and export quality. |
| Value for money | Yearly cost for one person of the cheapest plan that removes the free plan's limits. |
| Ease of use | Ease-of-use ratings from G2 or Capterra, or the app store rating when those aren't available. |
| Platforms | How many of Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, iPhone and Android it runs on. |
Each type of app is judged on what it’s for
A game recorder doesn’t need share links, and a video messaging tool doesn’t need a multi-track editor. So each type of app weighs the criteria differently, and an app’s score is a weighted average. An app that fits more than one type gets a score for each, and we show its best one, for example “8.9 as a game recorder”. When you filter the finder by one type, every app is scored and ranked as that type.
| Type | Why | Sharing | Recording features | Editing | Free plan | Value for money | Ease of use | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video messaging tool | Sharing and ease of use matter most: the point is getting a video to someone quickly. | 3× | 1× | 1× | 1× | 1× | 2× | 1× |
| Game recorder | Recording quality and the free plan matter most; sharing and editing happen in other apps. | 0× | 3× | 0× | 2× | 1× | 1× | 1× |
| Video editor | Editing matters most. | 1× | 1× | 3× | 1× | 1× | 1× | 1× |
| Screenshot tool | Ease of use and value matter most for a tool you open many times a day. | 1× | 1× | 2× | 1× | 2× | 2× | 1× |
| Guide maker | Capturing steps automatically, editing them and sharing the guide matter most. | 2× | 2× | 2× | 1× | 1× | 2× | 1× |
| Demo tool | Editing the demo and sharing or embedding it matter most; they all run in the browser. | 2× | 1× | 3× | 1× | 1× | 2× | 0× |
| Screen recorder | An all-round recorder: recording features count double, everything else once. | 1× | 2× | 1× | 1× | 1× | 1× | 1× |
Tools built into Windows, macOS and ChromeOS are listed for comparison but not scored.
We’re independent
No app maker pays to be on this site. There are no affiliate links, sponsored placements or paid reviews, and every app goes through the same research and scoring. App makers can’t see or approve a review before it’s published. If you spot a mistake, email [email protected] .