# The best OBS alternatives (2026) Source: https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/obs-studio-alternatives/ By Sam Fisher. Part of The Best Screen Recorder (https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/). Method: https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/how-we-test/ Every app we review except OBS Studio, ranked by the same score. Tick "Has a free plan" and "No watermark when free" to keep OBS's biggest advantage. ## Ranking 1. [Cap](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/cap/index.md): 8.8/10 as a screen recorder. Best open-source Loom alternative. Works on Windows, Mac, Linux. Free recording: No time limit. Watermark when free: No. Price: From $12/mo. 2. [ScreenPal](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/screenpal/index.md): 8.5/10 as a screen recorder. Best for low-cost recording and editing. Works on Windows, Mac, Browser, iPhone, Android. Free recording: 15 min per video. Watermark when free: No. Price: From $8/mo. 3. [Microsoft Clipchamp](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/clipchamp/index.md): 8.4/10 as a video editor. Best free editor with no watermark. Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Browser. Free recording: 30 min per video. Watermark when free: No. Price: From $9.99/mo. 4. [Bandicam](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/bandicam/index.md): 8.3/10 as a game recorder. Best for game recording on Windows. Works on Windows, Mac. Free recording: 5 min per video. Watermark when free: No. Price: From $33.26/yr. 5. [Riverside](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/riverside/index.md): 8.3/10 as a video editor. Best for recording podcasts and interviews. Works on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android. Free recording: 30 min per video. Watermark when free: Not documented. Price: From $29/mo. 6. [Streamlabs Desktop](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/streamlabs/index.md): 8.3/10 as a game recorder. Best for streamers who also record. Works on Windows, Mac. Free recording: No time limit. Watermark when free: No. Price: From $27/mo. 7. [Claap](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/claap/index.md): 8.2/10 as a video messaging tool. Best for sales teams that record meetings. Works on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android. Free recording: 300 min in total. Watermark when free: Not documented. Price: From $33.61/mo. 8. [Hippo Video](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/hippo-video/index.md): 8.2/10 as a video messaging tool. Best for sales videos with real editing. Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Browser, iPhone, Android. Free recording: 30 min per video. Watermark when free: Yes. Price: From $30/mo. 9. [Loom](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/loom/index.md): 8.2/10 as a video messaging tool. Best for quick work updates. Works on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android. Free recording: 5 min per video. Watermark when free: Not documented. Price: From $18/mo. 10. [Vidyard](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/vidyard/index.md): 8.2/10 as a video messaging tool. Best for sales video messages. Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Browser, iPhone, Android. Free recording: 30 min per video. Watermark when free: Not documented. Price: From $89/mo. 11. [Zight](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/zight/index.md): 8.2/10 as a video messaging tool. Best for support teams and screenshots. Works on Windows, Mac, iPhone. Free recording: 5 min per video. Watermark when free: Not documented. Price: From $12.95/mo. 12. [Vmaker](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/vmaker/index.md): 8.0/10 as a video messaging tool. Recorder plus an AI video editor. Works on Windows, Mac, Browser. Free recording: 1 min per video. Watermark when free: Yes. Price: From $24/mo. 13. [Arcade](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/arcade/index.md): 7.9/10 as a screen recorder. Best for quick interactive product tours. Works on Windows, Mac. Free recording: Length not documented. Watermark when free: Yes. Price: From $50/mo. 14. [Dubb](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/dubb/index.md): 7.9/10 as a video messaging tool. Best for sales videos with a built-in CRM. Works on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android. Free recording: Length not documented. Watermark when free: Not documented. Price: From $59/mo. 15. [Descript](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/descript/index.md): 7.8/10 as a video editor. Best for editing recordings like a doc. Works on Windows, Mac. Free recording: 60 min per video. Watermark when free: Yes. Price: From $24/mo. 16. [Navattic](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/navattic/index.md): 7.8/10 as a screen recorder. Best for HTML demos on your website. Works on Windows, Mac. Free recording: Length not documented. Watermark when free: Not documented. Price: See pricing. 17. [Vimeo Record](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/vimeo-record/index.md): 7.8/10 as a video messaging tool. Best for teams that already host on Vimeo. Works on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android. Free recording: 30 min per video. Watermark when free: Yes. Price: From $20/mo. 18. [Camtasia](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/camtasia/index.md): 7.7/10 as a video editor. Best for edited tutorials and training. Works on Windows, Mac. Free recording: No time limit. Watermark when free: Yes. Price: From $179.88/yr. 19. [VEED](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/veed/index.md): 7.7/10 as a video editor. Best for editing in the browser. Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Browser, iPhone, Android. Free recording: 120 min per video. Watermark when free: Yes. Price: From $24.65/mo. 20. [Wondershare DemoCreator](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/wondershare-democreator/index.md): 7.7/10 as a video editor. Best for recording and editing on a budget. Works on Windows, Mac. Free recording: Trial only (No end date stated; 5-minute, watermarked 1080p exports). Watermark when free: No free plan. Price: From $59.99/yr. 21. [Guidde](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/guidde/index.md): 7.6/10 as a screen recorder. Best for video how-to guides with voiceover. Works on Windows, Mac. Free recording: 10 min per video. Watermark when free: Yes. Price: From $29/mo. 22. [Screencastify](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/screencastify/index.md): 7.6/10 as a screen recorder. Best for teachers using Chrome. Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Browser. Free recording: 30 min per video. Watermark when free: Yes. Price: From $19/mo. 23. [Supademo](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/supademo/index.md): 7.6/10 as a screen recorder. Best for demos and videos in one tool. Works on Windows, Mac. Free recording: 10 min per video. Watermark when free: Yes. Price: From $50/mo. 24. [ScreenRec](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/screenrec/index.md): 7.4/10 as a video messaging tool. Best free recorder with a share link. Works on Windows, Mac, Linux. Free recording: No time limit. Watermark when free: No. Price: From $8/mo. 25. [Tella](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/tella/index.md): 7.4/10 as a screen recorder. Best for polished demos and tutorials. Works on Windows, Mac, iPhone. Free recording: Trial only (7 days). Watermark when free: No free plan. Price: From $26/mo. 26. [Chairkick](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/chairkick/index.md): 7.3/10 as a video messaging tool. Browser recorder priced per recorder. Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Browser. Free recording: Trial only (14 days). Watermark when free: No free plan. Price: From $9/mo. 27. [Medal](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/medal/index.md): 7.3/10 as a screen recorder. Best for sharing game clips fast. Works on Windows, iPhone, Android. Free recording: No time limit. Watermark when free: Yes. Price: From $9.99/mo. 28. [BombBomb](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/bombbomb/index.md): 7.1/10 as a video messaging tool. Best for sales teams sending video email. Works on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android. Free recording: Trial only (14 days). Watermark when free: No free plan. Price: From $42/mo. 29. [Sendspark](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/sendspark/index.md): 7.1/10 as a video messaging tool. Best for personalized sales videos at scale. Works on Windows, Mac, iPhone. Free recording: Trial only (7 days). Watermark when free: No free plan. Price: From $49/mo. 30. [Snagit](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/snagit/index.md): 7.1/10 as a screen recorder. Best for screenshots and short clips. Works on Windows, Mac. Free recording: Trial only (15 days). Watermark when free: No free plan. Price: From $39/yr. 31. [NVIDIA App](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/nvidia-app/index.md): 7.0/10 as a game recorder. Best free recorder for NVIDIA GPU owners. Works on Windows. Free recording: Length not documented. Watermark when free: No. Price: Free. 32. [ApowerREC](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/apowersoft-screen-recorder/index.md): 6.9/10 as a screen recorder. Best for scheduled desktop recordings. Works on Windows, Mac, iPhone. Free recording: No time limit. Watermark when free: No. Price: From $19.95/mo. 33. [ShareX](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/sharex/index.md): 6.7/10 as a screenshot tool. Best for screenshots and clips on Windows. Works on Windows. Free recording: Length not documented. Watermark when free: No. Price: Free. 34. [Movavi Screen Recorder](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/movavi-screen-recorder/index.md): 6.6/10 as a screen recorder. Best for simple scheduled recordings. Works on Windows, Mac. Free recording: Trial only (7 days). Watermark when free: No free plan. Price: From $19.99/mo. 35. [Icecream Screen Recorder](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/icecream-screen-recorder/index.md): 6.4/10 as a screen recorder. Best for simple, cheap Windows recording. Works on Windows, Mac, Android. Free recording: 5 min per video. Watermark when free: Yes. Price: From $29.95/yr. 36. [iSpring Free Cam](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/ispring-free-cam/index.md): 6.3/10 as a screen recorder. Best free recorder for simple lessons. Works on Windows. Free recording: No time limit. Watermark when free: No. Price: Free. 37. [Screen Studio](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/screen-studio/index.md): 6.3/10 as a screen recorder. Best for polished Mac product demos. Works on Mac. Free recording: No free plan. Watermark when free: No free plan. Price: From $29/mo. 38. [Greenshot](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/greenshot/index.md): 6.0/10 as a screenshot tool. Best free screenshot tool for Windows. Works on Windows, Mac. Free recording: Length not documented. Watermark when free: No. Price: Free. 39. [CleanShot X](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/cleanshot-x/index.md): 5.8/10 as a screen recorder. Best for Mac screenshots and quick clips. Works on Mac. Free recording: No free plan. Watermark when free: No free plan. Price: $35 one-time. 40. [ChromeOS Screen Recorder](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/chromeos-screen-recorder/index.md): built in, not scored. Built-in Chromebook recorder with camera. Works on Browser. Free recording: No documented limit. Watermark when free: No. Price: Free. 41. [macOS Screenshot](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/macos-screenshot/index.md): built in, not scored. Built-in Mac screenshots and recordings. Works on Mac. Free recording: No documented limit. Watermark when free: No. Price: Free. 42. [QuickTime Player](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/quicktime/index.md): built in, not scored. Built-in Mac recorder with basic editing. Works on Mac. Free recording: No documented limit. Watermark when free: No. Price: Free. 43. [Snipping Tool](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/snipping-tool/index.md): built in, not scored. Built-in Windows 11 snips and recordings. Works on Windows. Free recording: No documented limit. Watermark when free: No. Price: Free. 44. [Xbox Game Bar](https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/reviews/xbox-game-bar/index.md): built in, not scored. Built-in Windows recorder for games and apps. Works on Windows. Free recording: Length not documented. Watermark when free: No. Price: Free. ## Why people look for an OBS alternative OBS Studio is free, open source and very capable, but it's built for streaming and takes time to set up. People usually want something simpler for a quick recording, a share link instead of a file, or a built-in editor. If you mostly record games, filter by "Game recording".