Top 10 Clipping Software for Mac [Medal Alternatives]

Discover the best clipping software for Mac to capture, edit, and share screen or gameplay highlights effortlessly, like you can on Medal, NVIDIA, or Xbox Game Bar.

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Alin

Updated on Jul 24, 2026

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If you're looking for clipping software for Mac, you may be searching for a Medal alternative. Medal is no longer available as a desktop app for macOS, with its current support focused on Windows and mobile devices. This leaves Mac users looking for another way to save gameplay highlights and screen clips.

However, some users want a Medal-style instant replay tool that continuously keeps recent gameplay and lets them save a clip when something exciting happens. Others prefer to record a full gameplay session, screen, or tutorial first and then trim the best moments afterward.

This guide covers 10 clipping software options for Mac, including tools for instant replay, full-screen and gameplay recording, quick capture, video editing, and clip sharing. Whether you want to save the last few minutes of gameplay or create polished highlights from a longer recording, you can find a suitable option below.

How We Test Macbook Clipping Software

To ensure our recommendations are accurate and trustworthy, we thoroughly test each Mac clipping software on multiple MacBook models, including Intel and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) devices. Our evaluation process includes:

  • 🛠️Performance Testing: We assess how smoothly the software records clips during gaming, streaming, and multitasking without causing system lag.
  • 👉Ease of Use: We analyze the interface, hotkey settings, and how quickly users can capture or trim a clip.
  • 💡Clip Quality: We evaluate the resolution, frame rate, audio sync, and 4K screen recorder of the final output.
  • 📚Background Recording Features: If applicable, we test instant replay or auto-highlight functions for reliability and speed.
  • 🎧Export & Sharing Options: We check whether the tool makes it easy to edit, export, or share clips to YouTube, Discord, or other platforms.
  • 💻Compatibility & Updates: We confirm macOS version support and whether the developer provides regular updates or user support.

Every software is tested under real-world conditions to help Mac users, especially gamers and content creators, find tools that are not only powerful, but also practical and easy to use.

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Top 1. EaseUS RecExperts

  • Best for: Gamers who want to record full gameplay sessions in high quality and quickly turn the best moments into shareable clips.
  • Compatibility: macOS 10.13 or later
  • Price: Free version; paid version

If you want more than a tool that only saves the last few seconds of gameplay, EaseUS RecExperts is a practical all-in-one choice for Mac. Instead of relying on a replay buffer, you can record an entire gameplay session and then trim the best moments directly in the app.

easeus recexperts main nterface

It supports high-quality gameplay recording with up to 4K resolution and 144 frame rates, while allowing you to capture system audio and your microphone at the same time. This is useful for recording gameplay commentary, walkthroughs, tutorials, and longer gaming sessions without needing a separate audio recorder or video editor.

After recording, you can quickly trim unwanted sections and keep the highlights you want to share. Features such as scheduled recording and automatic file splitting are also helpful for long sessions, especially when you don't want one recording to become a single oversized file.

💡Highlights

  • Record gameplay in up to 4K resolution and high frame rates
  • Capture system audio and microphone input simultaneously
  • Record gameplay, webcam footage, or both together
  • Trim unwanted sections and create highlight clips in the same app
  • Use hotkeys to control recording without leaving your game
  • Auto-split long recordings into more manageable files
  • Schedule recordings for long gameplay sessions or other screen activity

Pros

  • Clean UI and easy to use
  • No watermark in the free version
  • Lightweight and smooth on Mac
  • Auto-split long recordings

Cons

  • No built-in instant replay or replay buffer
  • Free version can only export up to 1 minute per recording
  • Cloud sharing isn't built in

Download this tool by clicking the button below.

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Top 2. OBS Studio

  • Best for: Gamers and streamers who want free, customizable instant replay and advanced control over gameplay recording.
  • Compatibility: macOS 12.0 (Monterey) and later, including Intel-based and Apple Silicon Macs
  • Price: 100% free and open-source

If you want a free way to save gameplay that has already happened, OBS Studio is one of the strongest options on Mac. As an open-source screen recorder, its Replay Buffer feature continuously keeps a configurable amount of recent gameplay in memory. When something worth saving happens, you can press a hotkey to save the buffered footage as a clip instead of recording the entire gaming session.

obs mac video capture device

This makes OBS Studio one of the closest options on this list to the instant replay experience offered by tools such as Medal, NVIDIA Instant Replay, and Xbox Game Bar. You can choose how much recent gameplay to keep in the replay buffer and assign a custom hotkey to save it whenever you get a great play, unexpected moment, or important highlight.

OBS also gives you much more control than a dedicated clipping tool. You can clip last 30 seconds on OBS, capture gameplay, system audio, microphone input, webcam footage, and multiple sources at the same time. With customizable scenes, overlays, transitions, and recording settings, it is also a strong choice for streamers and content creators.

obs replay buffer hotkey

The trade-off is that OBS requires more setup. You need to configure your sources, audio, recording settings, and Replay Buffer before you can start clipping gameplay. For beginners who want a simple one-click experience, a dedicated screen recorder may be easier to use.

💡Main Features

  • Use Replay Buffer to save the last few seconds or minutes of gameplay
  • Assign a custom hotkey to save an instant replay clip
  • Record gameplay at up to 4K and 60 FPS with customizable bitrate settings
  • Capture game audio, system audio, microphone input, and webcam footage
  • Create custom scenes with overlays, transitions, and multiple video sources
  • Support streaming and recording workflows in the same application
  • Extend functionality with community plugins and scripts

Pros

  • Completely free with no limitations
  • Highly customizable
  • Constantly updated by an active community

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for beginners
  • No built-in clipping or highlight-saving by default
  • Heavy CPU/GPU usage if misconfigured

📚Free Download: Go to the OBS official website.

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Top 3. Monosnap

  • Best for: Professionals and educators who need quick screen capture, annotation, and basic video clipping on Mac
  • Compatibility: macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later
  • Price: free version; paid version

Monosnap is one of the best Mac clipping software for gaming that is great for screen recording and screenshots taking. It allows users to record last 5 minutes on PC and capture a selected area or specific window of the screen. To make it simple, you can make use of hotkeys.

It is said that people like to use it to record a presentation during meetings. This is because it can record Powerpoint and audio in the meantime. Also, you can use the blur feature to highlight anything you want.

Monosnap

💡Main features:

  • Instant screen recording and screenshot toggle
  • One-click upload to Monosnap cloud or external services like Dropbox, S3
  • Highlight, draw, and add text directly during or after capture
  • Quick access to clipping features without navigating menu
  • Quickly clip out unnecessary parts without exporting to another editor

Pros

  • Lightweight and fast
  • All-in-one capture solution
  • Cloud-friendly

Cons

  • Video editing features are limited
  • Free version has upload/storage limits
  • Not ideal for gaming

📚Free Download: Go to the Monosnap official website.

Top 4. QuickTime Player

  • Best for: Mac users who need basic screen and audio recording without installing third-party software
  • Compatibility: Pre-installed on all macOS devices; fully compatible with both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs
  • Price: 100% free and built into macOS

Mac offers a screen recorder to its users, and it is called QuickTime Player. It is a default video maker and player that comes with your Mac computers. Therefore, you don't need to download anything.

Just like other screen recorders, QuickTime Player can record the audio, screen, and webcam effectively for you. However, it cannot record internal audio on Mac. And this is why many Mac users need to find another tool.

QuickTime Player Mac

💡Main features:

  • Built-in and easy to access and no installation needed
  • Record full screen or selected region
  • Record microphone sound alongside screen content
  • Basic clipping supported right in the player
  • Run smoothly with low CPU usage

Pros

  • Completely free and native
  • Beginner-friendly
  • No ads, no watermarks

Cons

  • No background recording or instant replay
  • Lack internal system audio support by default
  • No editing beyond trimming

📚Guide: Check the Apple Support official document to use QuickTime Player to record the screen on your Mac.

Top 5. ScreenPal

  • Best for: Educators, marketers, and casual creators who want quick screen clipping, webcam recording, and video editing in one tool
  • Compatibility: macOS versions 10.15 (Catalina) or later
  • Price: free and paid

ScreenPal is another screen recorder you can use to record the Mac screen. In fact, it is also a webcam recorder that can record your figure in the camera. Therefore, it is a good choice when you want to record and make a video tutorial.

If you don't want to pay for it, you may be bothered by a watermark. Besides, as the functions of the free version are limited, you can't use the full-screen recording feature.

screenpal

💡Main features:

  • Record screen, webcam, or both
  • Simple built-in video editor
  • Cloud hosting and sharing
  • Scripted recordings
  • Cross-platform with mobile apps

Pros

  • Beginner-friendly interface
  • Great for educational content
  • Affordable pricing for individuals

Cons

  • Free version is limited of max 15 minutes per recording
  • Watermark on free exports
  • Not ideal for high-FPS or gaming clips

📚Free Download: Go to the ScreenPal official website.

Top 6. ActivePresenter

  • Best for: Creating interactive eLearning videos and professional tutorials
  • Compatibility: macOS versions 10.15 (Catalina) or later
  • Price: free and paid

ActivePresenter is another free screen recording tool we want to introduce to you. It is an all-in-one tool that enables users to record screens, webcams, microphones, and other connected devices.

Moreover, this free screen recorder with no watermark offers many video editing tools like cropping and splitting. Thus, you can edit recorded videos fi you have time and energy.

ActivePresenter

💡Main features:

  • Record screen, webcam, system sound, and edit in one place
  • SCORM-compliant output, quizzes, clickable buttons, and branching scenarios for course creators
  • No watermark in free version
  • Multi-track editing, keyframe animations, green screen, and visual effects
  • Support video, HTML5, PDF, SCORM, and xAPI formats

Pros

  • Highly professional features for educatorsNo watermark in the free version
  • No watermark or time limit even in the free version (non-commercial)
  • Rich annotation and interactivity tools

Cons

  • Steep learning curve
  • Exporting projects in some formats is locked
  • No cloud or mobile support

📚Free Download: Go to the download page.

Top 7. IceCream Screen Recorder

  • Best for: Mac users who want a simple and intuitive clipping tool for quick screen recordings.
  • Compatibility: macOS versions 10.10 (Yosemite) and later
  • Price: free and paid

IceCream Screen Recorder is recommended because it can take a screenshot on a laptop or record videos quickly and easily. Compatible with both Mac and Windows systems, you don't have to worry about compatibility issues.

Moreover, with this laptop screen recorder with audio, you can even add shapes and text during the recording process. Unluckily, if you are using the free version, you can only keep the file in WEBM format.

IceCream Screen Recorder

💡Main features:

  • One-click screen recording with audio
  • Ability to record a specific area or full screen
  • Support webcam overlay during screen recording
  • Draw and annotate in real-time while recording
  • Export recordings in various formats like MP4, WebM, or GIF

Pros

  • Clean and user-friendly interface
  • Lightweight and fast performance on Mac
  • Built-in tools for trimming and basic editing

Cons

  • Free version has time and watermark limitations
  • No advanced editing or timeline features
  • Limited export options compared to pro-grade tools

📚Free Download: Go to the IceCream Screen Recorder official website.

Top 8. VLC Media Player

  • Best for: Tech-savvy users needing a free, open-source media player with basic screen clipping abilities
  • Compatibility: macOS versions 10.7.5 and later
  • Price: free and oepn source

VLC Media Player is another open-resource multimedia player that offers a screen recording function. Most multimedia files and DVDs, Audio CDs, and VCDs can be played with it.

But the most important thing is that this mov player for Windows and Mac can nearly run on all platforms, including macOS, Windows, Linux, and more. Whatever device and system you use, you can always record your screen successfully with this tool.

VLC Media Player

💡Main features:

  • Completely free and open-source
  • Allow basic screen clipping via advanced settings
  • Support nearly all media formats
  • Customizable recording settings
  • Lightweight software

Pros

  • 100% free and safe to use
  • Multi-platform support with consistent performance
  • Highly customizable with advanced settings for experienced users

Cons

  • Not beginner-friendly for screen recording
  • Interface is outdated compared to modern tools
  • No built-in editor for trimming or enhancing clips

📚Free Download: Go to the VLC Media Player official website.

Top 9. Movavi Screen Recorder

  • Best for: Tech-savvy users needing a free, open-source media player with basic screen clipping abilities
  • Compatibility: macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later
  • Price: 7-day free trial with limitations; paid version

Movavi Screen Recorder is a Mac screen recorder that can capture video and audio simultaneously or separately. It is one of the screen recorders free download that saves recordings in MKV format by default.

Moreover, you can record your voice from a mic, capture your face with a webcam, and record internal sound with the system audio. You can even schedule recordings to make it start automatically.

Movavi Screen Recorder

💡Main features:

  • Capture recent moments with a single click
  • Start/stop clipping or screenshot your gameplay using custom hotkeys
  • Support 60fps recording without noticeable lag or frame drops
  • Instantly trim your recorded clips and remove unwanted segments

Pros

  • Easy to use for most people
  • Offer a user-friendly interface
  • Save files in many formats

Cons

  • The original watermark can't be removed in the free version
  • Can't edit the tags before sharing

📚Free Download: Go to the Movavi official website.

Top 10. ScreenFlow

  • Best for: Mac gamers, content creators, and educators who want to create highlight reels or tutorials with advanced editing
  • Compatibility: macOS 10.0.10 or later
  • Price: free trial with limitations; paid version

ScreenFlow is another free Mac screen recorder. This screen-capturing software can record anything you want, including recording screen, recording computer audio, and recording microphone.

During recording, you can set the keystrokes and mouse movements; after recording, you can edit your recording using the editing features offered.

ScreenFlow

💡Main features:

  • Multi-track timeline to trim, split, and rearrange clips with frame-level accuracy
  • Built-in royalty-free clips, backgrounds, and audio
  • Export high-res footage with fine-tuned control over quality and size
  • Simultaneous screen and webcam recording

Pros

  • Professional editing + clipping in one tool
  • Stellar export quality without compression loss
  • Frequent updates for new macOS compatibility

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for first-time users
  • Watermark on free trial exports
  • No Windows version or cloud sync

📚Free Download: Go to the ScreenFlow official website.

Clipping Software Mac FAQs

Let's check some of the frequently asked questions related to clipping software for Mac below together.

1. What are the best Medal alternatives for Mac?

The best Medal alternative depends on how you want to create clips.

If you want to save the last few seconds or minutes of gameplay after something happens, OBS Studio is one of the best free options because its Replay Buffer can continuously keep recent gameplay and save it with a hotkey.

If you prefer to record a full gameplay session and trim the best moments afterward, EaseUS RecExperts is a more straightforward option with high-quality recording and built-in trimming tools.

Other options are also useful for specific needs. ScreenFlow is better for recording and professionally editing highlight videos, while QuickTime Player is suitable for basic screen recording without installing additional software.

2. Can you clip gameplay on a Mac?

Yes. You can clip gameplay on a Mac, but the method depends on the software you use.

Some tools use an instant replay or replay buffer. They continuously keep a recent portion of your gameplay in the background, allowing you to save the last few seconds or minutes with a hotkey after something happens.

Other screen recorders use a record-then-trim workflow. You start recording before playing, then trim the best moments from the full recording afterward.

For example, OBS Studio supports Replay Buffer for instant replay, while EaseUS RecExperts is designed for recording longer gameplay sessions and trimming highlights afterward.

3. How do I save the last few seconds or minutes of gameplay on a Mac?

You need clipping software with an instant replay or replay buffer feature. OBS Studio is one free option that can continuously buffer recent gameplay.

After setting up the Replay Buffer:

  • Open OBS Studio and add your game as a capture source.
  • Enable and configure the Replay Buffer with the recording length you want to keep.
  • Set a hotkey for saving the replay.
  • Start the Replay Buffer before playing.
  • Press the hotkey when something worth saving happens.

The software will save the buffered gameplay as a video clip. This is different from a traditional screen recorder, which usually requires you to start recording before the moment happens.

4. Can I use a Mac's built-in tools to clip the screen?

Yes, but the built-in tools are better suited to basic screen recording and screenshots than Medal-style gameplay clipping.

You can use the Screenshot toolbar to record the entire screen or a selected portion of it. Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the toolbar, then choose a screen recording option.

For a quick screenshot, press Shift + Command + 4 and select the area you want to capture.

However, macOS's built-in tools do not provide a typical game replay buffer that continuously saves recent gameplay in the background. If you want to save something that has already happened, you will need software with an instant replay feature, such as OBS Studio.

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