Top 10+ Best Free Video Capture Software [Updated Ranking]

Gone are those days when you needed a high-end graphics tool to capture screen recordings or external hardware. Nowadays, video capture software is super easy to use, and it supports recording almost anything on the computer.

However, finding the best video capture software is much more difficult, as there are lots of options on the market. Given that, this post comes in handy. Here, you will learn how to choose the best video recording software as well as 10+ free video-capturing tools. Whether you are a PC or Mac user, you can always find your desired answer here.

What to Consider While Selecting the Best Video Capture Software

In fact, the best screen capture software differs from person to person because of their needs. But generally, here are some common factors you need to pay attention to while choosing (for most ordinary users):

💍System compatibility: There are lots of video capture software, some for Windows, some for macOS, and some for both. So, you must carefully check the system specifications of the video capture tools you choose.

📸Video quality: To get a high-quality recording, the video recorder you choose should support capturing HD, full HD, 2K, 4K, and higher resolution. An HD screen recorder is the most basic one.

🎈Recording features: To deal with almost all recording tasks easily, you need an all-in-one screen recorder. So, the video capture software you choose should offer lots of advanced recording features, including but not limited to schedule recording, no time limit recording, and more.

🎨Easy to use and price: The last is to ensure this capture tool has an intuitive workflow and reasonable price. The best choice is to choose from free screen recorders.

If you are in a hurry, you can choose EaseUS RecExperts. This screen capture software offers all the features we mentioned above and performs better!

11 Best Video Capture Software [Windows/Mac]

This section will show you the 11 best programs to screen capture your Windows PC or Mac. 

1. EaseUS RecExperts (Windows/macOS)

EaseUS RecExperts is one of the best free screen recorders that offers tons of features for recording. With its aid, you are able to record copyrighted video, capture streaming videos, and much more hassle-free.

Besides, the software is straightforward to use and has almost zero learning curve. Since it supports various output formats, you can create videos from recording and upload the recordings to many social platforms without effort.

Main Features:

• Record part of screen or the full screen freely
• Schedule recording to capture videos automatically
• Record streaming video and audio with simple clicks
• Work as a webcam recording app for PC

Click on the following button to download the best full-version video capture software for free!

2. Debut Video Capture Software (Windows)

This is a versatile and powerful video recorder. As its name indicates, this is the free video capture software that Windows 10 users can choose as the go-to recording toolkit on their PC. This capture tool supports capturing videos and audio files at the same time, and it's beneficial for those who want to save streaming videos in the formats they desire, such as AVI, MP4, MOV, WMV, etc.

Moreover, it can also used as HDMI video capture software as well as capture card software because of its powerful support. You can create videos from YouTube recording and more.

Pros:

• Capture videos from many sources, including desktop and webcam
• Highlight your mouse during the recording
• Support adding text and time stamps to your videos

Cons:

• Need extra video editing software
• The interface is outdated

3. Icecream Screen Recorder (Windows)

It's a free video capture software for PC that offers tons of features to serve most consumers. Apart from the usual recording features mentioned, the strength of the software is in its tools, like changing speed, scheduling screen recording, displaying hotkeys, adding mouse click animations, and posting video editing options.

The best part is that you can instantly copy the shot video and paste it into apps like Skype. That is super useful if you want to share something without going into editing and post-recording stuff quickly.

Pros:

• Record videos for Windows
• Record screen, record desktop audio, and webcam
• Annotate videos with text, arrows, shares, and more
• Record live webinars, games
• Offers to brand as you can add your logo
• Share to Dropbox, YouTube, Google Drive, and more

Cons:

• Video editing is limited to trimming
• No automatic FPS setup for game recording
• Precise control for audio bitrate is missing

4. CamStudio (Windows)

CamStudio is best suited for beginners who would like to get technical help and quickly record their problems. This Windows 10 video capture software can record all screen and audio activity on your computer, and the recording is saved as AVI video files.

To capture video on a desktop, you only need to choose a custom cursor, and create a more petite video using a lossless codec. Most importantly, It is entirely free, and when recording, you can use screen and webcam annotations.

Pros:

• Create demonstration videos, tutorials, and so on
• Create high-quality video at a smaller size using a built-in codec
• Keyboard shortcuts to quickly start, pause, and stop recording

Cons:

• It can only record in AV1 and Flash format
• The latter is already outdated

5. ShareX (Windows)

If you are looking for a completely free and open-source video capturing tool, ShareX should be your choice. It offers tons of features that you would expect from the tool, which also means there is a substantial learning curve because the menus are not exactly familiar on the first go.

It can record the screen, share the screen with others, and customize many aspects of the program. The software allows you to configure what will happen once the capture or upload is complete. It is perfect for those scenarios where there is s workflow to follow. 

Pros:

• Open-source video capture software
• Add images, effects, and watermarks
• Upload to multiple destinations
• Screen, webcam, and game recording

Cons:

• Too many options can confuse new users
• Some features don't work as advertised

6. Chrome Screen Recorder (Online)

If you are looking for a online video capture program, this Chrome-based video capturing software is a perfect solution. The best part of using this is to record online streaming videos such as Netflix, YouTube, and Vimeo. You can also use this extension to screen recording, but it works efficiently when it comes to tab recording of the browser.

It is perfect for a simple solution instead of a complicated feature-rich software installation. Also, it will be best to use for browser-based recordings, such as recording streaming services, and then recording desktops.

Pros:

• Record full screen on Windows 10
• Supports audio recording, webcam recording, application recording
• Record system and microphone audio

Cons:

• It only works when the browser is open
• Limited video format support

7. macOS Built-in Recorder (macOS)

If you are searching for a Mac video capture software, there is it! macOS has tons of features built-in the OS, including the screen recorder tool. If you press Shift-Command (⌘)-5 on your keyboard on your MacBook, it will instantly launch the built-in editor. It offers onscreen controls for recording the entire screen, recording a selected portion of the screen, or capturing a still image of your screen.

Pros:

• Support capturing videos on Mac via hotkeys
• Support recording full screen or region
• Record screen with audio on Mac
• You can use a microphone or mute it completely

Cons:

• Missing built-in video editor
• System audio recording is not possible

8. OBS Studio (macOS and Windows)

This is an open-source free screen recorder and video editor built for video recording. It was originally produced for gamers who liked to stream gameplay and use a webcam, but now it is popular as a professional tool to record video. With its help, you can capture multiple screens simultaneously or adjust your specific recording parameters based on your own needs.

Pros:

• Record game with audio
• Real-time video/audio capturing and mixing
• Switch between multiple scenes
• Offer an Audio Mixer with pre-source filters to filter out the noise and gain

Cons:

• The software is for professionals only
• You need a high-end system to deliver live broadcasting
• Installing plugins is complicated

9. TinyTake (macOS and Windows)

If you love lightweight video capturing software, you are going to love TinyTake. It can capture images and record all activities on macOS. What is helpful about the software is that it offers annotations, making it useful when you share videos as an explanation. You can also upload videos on their online platform and instantly share links. You can also do bulk video sharing.

Apart from taking videos, you can also take screenshots and add annotations like videos. Annotations make the software very useful as you will explain and point out things precisely and efficiently.

Pros:

• Annotate videos and screenshots
• Supportbulk file sharing
• Directly upload videos to video sites such as YouTube

Cons:

• In its free version, you are limited to five minutes to record video
• Limited editing features
• You will have to create an account with them to use it

10. ScreenApp (Online)

It's a universal tool to record on any platform. This online video capturing app requires no installation, but you can still record, edit, and share your screen on the web instantly. The idea behind the tool is to offer an easy-to-use screen recording experience without complicated options and configurations. It also provides video in the most miniature possible format, which makes it easy to share. You can record one hour of video without any watermark or limitation.

This online tool is helpful for those who want to keep everything online and are looking for a smaller download size. It makes it easy to share it on a social platform with limits on upload size.

Pros:

• Record the entire screen, an application window, or a browser tab
• No limit on the number of screen recording

Cons:

• No MP4 support but instead offers WEBM format
• You cannot edit downloaded videos easily with standard tools
• No annotation features are available

11. Movavi Screen Recorder (Windows and macOS)

It's a popular screen video capture tool that can record screen, region, streaming videos, system sound, and more. You can select an area and instantly start recording. It also offers support for multiple displays, which is helpful if you want to refer to notes side by side. The video is finally converted into MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, GIF, and other images. It also supports webcams and microphones.

Pros:

• Easily record games, create video tutorials and audio
• Provide an advanced video editor with filters
• Advanced Tools for video stabilization

Cons:

• The free version is limited
• No social media support

Conclusion

These are some of the best video capture software for macOS and Windows. While some are entirely free, others are limited to free full-screen video capture tools.

EaseUS RecExperts offers excellent features, including support to record games, desktops, webcams, and audio. It can listen to system sound. It also provides a task scheduler so you can record at any time.

Best Video Capture Software FAQs

1. Is there free video capture software?

Of course, yes. There are some best free video capture software on the market, like OBS Studio, QuickTime Player, ShareX, and so on. You can choose anyone to start your video recording for free.

2. Does Windows 10 have video capture software?

YES. Windows 10 comes with a built-in screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar. It is completely free, and you can hit Windows + G to perform any Windows 10 recording tasks.

3. What is the best program to record videos?

EaseUS RecExperts is the best program to record videos on both Windows and Mac. This software supports any video recording, including but not limited to protected video recording, streaming video recording, and more. Most importantly, it supports recording up to 4K video quality!