The other day I was watching a video about artificial intelligence and its future development in editing software. It was a typical webinar: the speaker was showing off features in DaVinci Resolve while a talking head was broadcast in a small window.
And then I had the idea to write a post about the best screen recording programs. Many people need them: bloggers, teachers, online course sellers. Companies use them to create tutorials and send them to employees, and gamers record their gameplay.
I tested 11 options, and I'm sharing my thoughts in this review.
OBS Studio
The powerful OBS Studio is suitable for streaming. You can break them down into scenes: when there's a break or pause during an event, you can switch to another source, like showing a broadcast or launching a webcam to talk to the audience.
What I liked:
Recording multiple sources simultaneously — you can not only switch between them but also arrange them on one screen. This means you can show a presentation, include a desktop recording, and have a talking head all at the same time.
Cross-platform program — available on Linux, macOS, and of course, Windows.
Lots of settings — you can set a background fill, choose recording quality / bitrate / encoder type / folder to save the streamed content.
What I didn't like:
The interface is a bit complicated for regular users — you have to sit down and figure it out, and knowing which settings to use comes with experience in broadcasting and screencasting. You might not even find the record button on your first try.
It's more suitable for streaming, and if you record a video, you can't edit it — there's no editor to quickly cut out unnecessary scenes.
Faststone Capture
Faststone Capture is more of a screenshot tool, but it's also considered a screen recorder. You can capture images from a webcam, record audio from a microphone and speakers. Overall, the program has more features for working with images.
What I liked:
Selection of recording area — a window, a specific-sized area, full screen with or without the taskbar.
There are settings for video, sound, etc. — you can highlight the cursor and mouse clicks, choose the frame rate, and change hotkeys.
30 days of free use — after that, you need to pay for a license. That's enough time to test the program.
What I didn't like:
Video quality selection is graded from "good" to "maximum" — it's unclear what these values actually mean.
Screen Camera
In Screen Camera, there is a basic video editor. This means you can make a screencast and edit it right away: remove unnecessary parts, add background music, and create an intro. No need to learn separate editors.
Other default features include recording with microphone audio, shooting mode (full screen or a part of it), and cursor display.
By the way, I remember this screen recording program from experience. When it was popular in 2021–2022, I used it to record short lessons for colleagues who were just starting their professional journey in editing.
What I liked:
Simple interface — it's genuinely uncluttered, with only the essentials, and an average user can figure it out quickly.
Delayed start — the ability to schedule a recording for a specific time.
Duration limit — you can set the time in minutes for how long the broadcast should be recorded. You can return to your PC after this time has passed.
What I didn't like:
Ads for the developer's other programs appear periodically. I accept the necessity, but it's still a bit annoying :)
Screen Studio
Screen Studio is a program from the same developer as the previous one, but with its own nuances. With it, you can capture not only the screen but also the image from a webcam, for example, for recording let's plays or movie reviews. It records system and external audio and allows you to select video and audio devices.
The program offers advanced screencast settings. You can set the capture area — full screen, active window, or a selected part. Scheduled recording is also available. You set it up, and the PC wakes itself from sleep mode, records what's needed, and then shuts down. I once recorded a Spanish league football match that was on at night this way.
There's also a built-in video editor here. It allows for minimal processing of the recorded computer screen footage: apply filters, add stickers and text, cut out unnecessary frames, add music and voice-overs, and slow down or speed up the video.
What I liked:
Simple interface in Russian — the developers are consistent in this regard;
Convenient to use — all the necessary settings are right at hand before starting the screencast, no need to switch to a separate window.
Adding overlays — you can upload a picture or video from a file or record your webcam directly during editing.
Animated transitions between frames — a cool feature if you're editing videos for a blog.
What I didn't like:
Short trial period — it only lasts 5 days. Of course, that's enough to test all the features, but I'd like to use it for free for longer :)
Icecream Screen Recorder
In Icecream Screen Recorder, there are drawing tools available during recording — and it's not just a pencil. You can draw arrows, highlight phrases with a marker, and use numbers to show a sequence. The color of the elements can also be changed.
What I liked:
Countdown timer — you can start the recorder, and it will stop recording after a set number of minutes.
Saves in multiple formats — MP4, MOV, WebM, AVI.
Speeds up the recorded video — a useful feature for tutorials.
What I didn't like:
Without the PRO version, fewer features are available, and you can only record for 5 minutes (spoiler alert — there are even stricter ones later in the list).
Bandicam
Bandicam is a more complex screen recording application in terms of interface than Screen Camera. This is offset by its capabilities. For example, you can record from different devices: you can stream from a webcam, connect an Xbox, PlayStation, or a smartphone.
What I liked:
Drawing — a super feature for those who want to write an example, circle a phrase or an equation on the canvas while explaining what's happening on the screen.
Mouse effects — this is an option for those demonstrating how to work in a program, a platform, or even in 1C. The cursor will glow yellow, and you can also add sound and a mouse click effect.
What I didn't like:
The "Chroma Key" option — I don't really understand why it's here. In any case, a person needs to film themselves against a solid, contrasting background. It's easier to record yourself with a regular camera, download a classic video editor, and process the material there. By the way, there's no built-in editor here.
In the free version, you can record for no more than 10 minutes, and the program's logo remains on the video.
AVS Video Editor
AVS Video Editor is not a screen capture program, but an editor with a recorder function. It supports dozens of formats and works with quality up to 4K. But it can only be downloaded on Windows.
What I liked:
Mouse effect settings — you can choose the shape of the cursor highlight, its size, and the parameters for right and left clicks.
After screen recording, a full-fledged video editor opens — you can apply transitions and effects, insert music and images, work with audio, and re-record voice comments via a microphone.
Real-time drawing — text annotations, rectangles, circles, and arrows help to highlight information. There is a color palette, and each element can be assigned its own shade.
What I didn't like:
Without paying for a license, a watermark that takes up half the screen is placed on the video.
ApowerREC
ApowerREC records a specific window, the entire workspace, or just audio. You can record from the webcam separately or simultaneously with the computer screen.
What I liked:
Saves in 1 of 10 formats of your choice — MP4, AVI, MOV, VOB, FLV, etc.
Clear screencast settings — bitrate, frame rate (up to 60), codec, and audio parameters.
Task scheduler — you can set the start and end time of the recording, the audio source, and also select the recording area.
What I didn't like:
Video editing — it's basic and available in the PRO version. Without a subscription, some interesting options are locked, for example, the Teleprompter. You can put notes in it and then read them directly on the screen, and this text will not be recorded.
With ApowerREC, you can only record for one minute (!) for free. Of course, you can't really try out the software's capabilities.
Snagit
Snagit is known as software for creating screenshots, but it also has a video recording function. You'll have to put up with an English-language interface, the need to register, and a 15-day demo period. It can be downloaded not only for Windows but also for macOS.
What I liked:
You can create GIF files — suitable for short tutorials.
Cursor animation — only two settings, but the effect itself is nice. A widening red circle appears on click. I think it will be convenient for the viewer to follow along in a video tutorial. The animation can be turned on and off during the screencast
What I didn't like:
More modest drawing options — an arrow, a square, numbers for enumeration, and a choice of four colors.
FlashBack Express
FlashBack Express is also a freemium recorder. With it, you can draw, schedule broadcasts by time, and connect a webcam.
What I liked:
High-quality video editor — offers multi-track editing, splitting a recording into several clips, and adjusting the video to different sizes for various platforms.
There are AI tools — for example, you can create a neural network voice-over or generate automatic subtitles (which can be edited). But these features are not available for free.
What I didn't like:
The interface is in English — I know this might deter some people.
Without a license, you can only record 2 minutes of video.
Mango Recorder
In Mango Recorder, you can record the screen and webcam together or separately. You can choose full-screen mode, a specific window, or set the area size. The maximum recording quality is 1080p.
What I liked:
The recording opens in an editor — here you can cut out unsuccessful fragments, highlight specific areas, add text and shapes, and insert screenshots you've taken.
You can use it for free, and as I understand it, there are no duration limits. There is a premium version that expands the capabilities, but the free one is sufficient for regular screencasts.
What I didn't like:
You can't draw while recording the PC screen — for example, you explain the material, and only during editing can you add drawings. This results in more effort.
To summarize
Obviously, I haven't covered all the screen recording programs available online. In general, they are all similar — they record the screen or a part of it and connect to a webcam.
For example, FlashBack Express can be downloaded and purchased by those who plan to record screencasts regularly. It has a good video editor, automatic subtitles, and AI voice-overs. Screen Camera would be the best choice for beginners and educators who need a simple and accessible recorder.
Thanks for reading, I hope this review helps you choose a program.