OBS is most commonly used for streaming, and you can customize your stream overlay to your heart’s content with the software’s tools. While the UI is a bit difficult to learn, it allows you to edit just about anything you can think of. OBS is an open-source program with a focus on putting the power in your hands. So whether the program is dedicated to simple clip saving or broadcasting your screen to sites like Twitch and YouTube Gaming, we’ve made sure the options here won’t destroy your PC’s performance.įree and Versatile: OBS (Windows/Mac) OBS Studio

Performance: For gameplay recording and livestreaming in particular, performance is a major concern-it’s no easy task for a computer to run both of these processes at the same time.

But if you’re looking to live stream or save highlights from your games, then you’ll need tools to accommodate those-such as options for customizing stream overlays. If you want to make short tutorials with your recorded clips, then a simple editor where you can add text and merge short videos will be a killer feature for you.

Features: There are loads of different features video recording software can include that appeal to different use cases.

We’ll be sure to specifically mention how much each program costs, and any differences there may be between free and paid-for versions of the same tool.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the free programs are worse, however, as all the programs on this list cater to different niches. Pricing: This list contains a mix of free and paid programs.

There are a few things we want to cover before jumping into the programs themselves. And there several choices for screen recording software out there that try to appeal to different use cases, so let’s take a look at the best of the best. Whether it’s to post to YouTube, stream on Twitch, or just send to a friend through email, being able to record video of your computer screen always comes in handy.

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