15 Best Open Source Screen Recorder 2025 [Free Download🔰]
Rel updated on Jun 17, 2025 to Screen Recording Utility
Rel updated on Jun 17, 2025 to Screen Recording Utility
Looking for the best open source screen recorder in 2025? Compare 15 free, lightweight screen recording software tools for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android with real test data.
Open source screen recorders are widely favored for their flexibility, zero cost, and high customizability. They're perfect for users who need free screen recording software on Linux or less common systems, especially developers, students, and educators working within limited budgets. Many prefer them for privacy and security, thanks to transparent source code.
Whether you're recording tutorials, gameplay, or live meetings, open-source tools like OBS Studio or ShareX deliver lightweight, portable performance with plugin support and advanced settings, ideal for both beginners and power users.
We evaluate open-source screen capture and screenshot tools based on core factors like recording features (screen/audio/webcam), output quality (1080p/4K, 60fps), and ease of use.
We also consider OS compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android), performance (CPU/GPU load, stability), and export options (MP4, GIF, direct sharing).
Privacy, no watermark, and open-source licensing (e.g., GPL) matter too.
Lastly, we look at community support, frequent updates, and plugin/script flexibility, especially for tools like OBS Studio.
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Before diving into open-source tools, we strongly recommend EaseUS RecExperts, a powerful screen recorder that's easy to use yet packed with professional features. It supports system audio + mic, webcam overlay, auto recording, and 1080p/4K export with no watermark.
As free video recording software unlike many open-source tools, it requires no plugins, coding, or complex setup - just install and start recording.
✅Best for: Beginners, streamers, teachers, and professionals needing a reliable, all-in-one solution.
To help you find your desired screen recording software, we have made a comparison table below among those 15 opening source screen capture software we introduced.
| Screen Recorder | Compatibility | Recording Quality | Update Frequency |
| Windows, macOS, Linux | Up to 4K, 60fps+ | 🟢Active, large community | |
| Windows | High (configurable, 60fps) | 🟢Active, frequent updates | |
| Linux | Up to 1080p, moderate fps | 🟡Moderately maintained | |
| Linux | High, up to 60fps | 🟢Active, consistent maintenance | |
| Windows | High (customizable) | 🔴Inactive (archived) | |
| Linux | Basic, low to medium | 🟡Stale, rarely updated | |
| Windows, Linux | Up to 1080p, adjustable fps | 🟢Actively maintained | |
| Linux (GTK-based) | Moderate (limited formats) | 🔴Discontinued | |
| Windows | Up to 720p, limited codec options | 🟡Minimal updates | |
| Windows | AVI, high compression | 🟡Infrequent updates | |
| Linux | Medium, designed for presentations | 🟡Dormant | |
| Android, Windows | Medium quality, app-focused | 🟡Minimal updates | |
| Windows | High for editing, not primary recorder | 🔴No longer maintained | |
| Linux | Low to medium, older codec | 🔴Deprecated | |
| Windows | Basic, up to 30fps | 🟡No recent updates |
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OBS Studio is one of the most popular open source screen recorder software on the market. This video recording software provides further customization and functionality to your needs. Using it, you can record your screen, live streaming audio/video, or capture video from multiple resources like images, webcam, browsers, etc.
Besides, it is also a free screen recorder no watermark. Also, this open-source screen capture offers custom transitions, advanced filters, color correction, and many more to apply to your recorded video clips.
⭐Key Features:
Extensive tutorials, Discord/Reddit communities, and regular updates
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ShareX is another open source screen capture software for Windows computers. This free software lets users take screenshots and record YouTube live stream with audio easily. One of the essential features is that you can edit screenshots or recordings with annotations and upload them instantly.
⭐Key Features:
Automate capture or uploads via keyboard shortcuts
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Kazam Screen Recorder is a lightweight and straightforward screen capture tool designed for Linux users. It focuses on simplicity while offering essential features like full-screen and window capture, audio recording, and direct video export.
Ideal for users who want minimal setup, Kazam balances usability and functionality without overwhelming the interface.
⭐Key Features:
Upload videos to YouTube easily
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SimpleScreenRecorder is a lightweight yet powerful Linux-based screen recording tool designed for high performance and ease of use. It supports full-screen, window, and area recording with real-time preview and multiple format outputs.
Ideal for both beginners and advanced users, it strikes a balance between functionality and system efficiency, especially useful for recording gameplay or tutorials on Linux.
⭐Key Features:
Save partial recordings if the program crashes unexpectedly
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Captura is a free, Windows-only screen recorder that lets you record streaming video, desktop, webcam, audio, mouse clicks, and keystrokes. Once popular for its simplicity, it was developed in C# and licensed under MIT.
However, development ceased in April 2023, and it's now archived without future updates.
⭐Key Features:
Open-source under MIT License, free for personal/commercial use
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recordMyDesktop is a classic open-source Linux screen recorder focused on simplicity and efficiency. It captures your screen and audio with minimal system resources and saves recordings in Ogg Theora/Vorbis format.
Though it lacks modern updates and advanced features, it's still favored by Linux users who need a lightweight, no-frills screen recording tool for tutorials or quick demos.
⭐Key Features:
Open-source with GPL license, 100% free and customizable
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VokoscreenNG is a powerful open-source screen recorder for Linux and Windows, designed for ease of use and functionality. It's ideal for creating educational videos, tutorials, or software demos.
With support for webcam overlay, system/microphone audio, and multiple recording formats, it serves both beginners and experienced users looking for a stable, no-cost screen recording solution.
⭐Key Features:
Supports multiple languages and regular updates from active maintainers
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Green Recorder was a lightweight open-source screen recording tool for Linux, especially GNOME and Wayland desktops. Although discontinued, it gained popularity for its simplicity and ease of use.
It allowed users to quickly record desktop sessions with audio and supported multiple output formats. Ideal for basic screencasts, it was one of the few early Wayland-compatible recorders.
⭐Key Features:
Very beginner-friendly with no cluttered settings
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CamStudio is a free, open-source screen recording tool for Windows that captures screen and audio activity to create AVI videos. Known for its simplicity, it's best for basic tutorial or walkthrough recordings.
Though lightweight and easy to use, CamStudio is outdated and lacks modern features, with some users reporting compatibility and malware concerns in unofficial downloads.
⭐Key Features:
Good for creating quick tutorials or educational content
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UltraVNC Screen Recorder is a lightweight, free screen capture tool developed by the UltraVNC team. It's designed for fast, low-resource desktop recording, especially suited for capturing remote sessions or quick screen activities.
Though basic, it offers high-performance AVI recordings without lags or bloat, making it ideal for tech-savvy users who prioritize speed over advanced features.
⭐Key Features:
Highly customizable encoding settings for power users
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Freeseer Screen Recorder is an open-source presentation and lecture recording tool originally built for conferences. It's designed for simplicity, making it easy to capture full-screen or windowed content with audio. Though no longer actively maintained, it remains a lightweight, script-friendly tool favored by developers or educators needing basic screen and audio recording on Linux.
⭐Key Features:
Open-source and modifiable for advanced users
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ScreenCam is an open-source screen recording tool available for both Android and Windows. It's designed to be lightweight, privacy-respecting, and user-friendly, catering to users who want ad-free screen capture without unnecessary bloat.
On Android, it records without root; on Windows, it offers basic screen + audio capture with minimal system impact.
⭐Key Features:
Lightweight Windows version, perfect for simple screen + voice recording tasks
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VirtualDub is a free, open-source video capture and processing software for Windows, primarily geared toward AVI file editing. Though not a full-fledged screen recorder, it supports basic screen capture via video input devices and excels in batch video processing.
It's ideal for users needing lightweight, high-speed editing and filtering of uncompressed video formats.
⭐Key Features:
Open-source with long-term reliability, no ads or hidden costs
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XVidCap, an open-source screen capture tool for Linux systems, records X-Window desktop sessions and saves them as MPEG or AVI files. Designed for simplicity, XVidCap is ideal for quick desktop recordings without the need for heavy dependencies. While outdated, it still works for basic screen capture tasks on older Linux distributions.
⭐Key Features:
Scripting capabilities for advanced users or batch jobs
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Krut Computer Recorder is a simple, open-source screen recording tool written in Java, compatible with Windows. It's designed for educational or basic tutorial use, offering screen + audio recording without the complexity of modern tools. Though minimal in design, it's portable, requires no installation, and is perfect for low-end or older systems.
⭐Key Features:
Cross-platform compatibility, useful for mixed OS environments
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On this page, we share with you the top 15 best open source screen recorder. Whether you are working on a Windows, macOS, or Linux computer, you can always find the best screen recording software here.
While selecting the screen recorder, make sure to choose the one that can work best for you according to your situation. No matter you are a Windows user or a Mac user, EaseUS RecExperts is your best option. Although it's not open source, it can satisfy almost all of your needs. Try it now!
This post introduced many excellent open-source screen recording apps you can use on different operating systems. You may still have some questions about those programs, like how to use them. You will find the answer in this part.
1. How do I record my screen on open source?
Let's take OBS Studio as an example, and you can follow those steps to use it to record your screen.
1. Launch this open source video capture software and adjust the settings according to your needs.
2. Go to the "Source" tab on the main interface, click the "+" icon, and choose "Display Capture" as the video source. Then, select "Audio Output Capture" to set the sound source.
3. Click on the "Start Recording" button to capture the activities on your screen.
4. Hit the "Stop Recording" button to save the captured video to your device.
2. Which is the best open-source screen recording software for PC?
There is enough open-source capture software on different platforms, and you can find the most suitable one for you in the following list.
Listed Best Open Source Screen Recorder for Windows:
Among them, OBS Studio is a famous open source screen recording software on Windows. It provides simple and advanced editing functions for recording screens, audio, etc.
3. What are the best open source screen recorder Android?
ScreenCam, Rec. (Screen Recorder), AZ Screen Recorder (Open-source version in GitHub, not Google Play), SCR Screen Recorder (legacy).
If you're looking for a modern, privacy-respecting, and open-source screen recorder on Android, ScreenCam is your best bet. It's frequently updated, transparent, and respects user privacy, ideal for both developers and casual users
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