10 Best Open Source Screen Recorders [2025]

Best 10 Open Source Screen Recorders

1. OBS Studio

Best free open source screen recorder overall for gamers, educators, and professionals.

OBS Studio is an open-source software designed primarily for users who want to stream on platforms like YouTube or Twitch, but it also serves as a versatile tool for recording activities on your Windows desktop. While not particularly beginner-friendly, it offers powerful features like customizable hotkeys and a built-in audio mixer to create high-quality videos. Unlike native programs in major operating systems, OBS provides advanced live streaming capabilities and robust screencast options.

OBS Studio is particularly adept at handling tasks that other software might struggle with, such as capturing games in full-screen mode using its Game Capture feature. If you have multiple monitors, it even allows you to specify which display to capture. Despite being free, OBS delivers an impressive suite of features, making it a comprehensive tool for live streaming and recording alike. Its power and versatility make it a go-to choice for content creators seeking professional-grade software without the hefty price tag.

Key Features:

• High-performance real-time video/audio capturing and mixing.
• Multiple scene creation (ideal for tutorials, presentations, and streaming).
• Scene transitions and a built-in audio mixer.
• Support for various file formats, including MP4, MOV, and FLV.
• Customizable hotkeys and wide plugin support for added functionality.

2. ShareX

Best free open source screen recorder with annotation.

ShareX is a free, open-source video recording tool designed for Windows users, offering a watermark-free and time-unlimited recording experience. This versatile software allows you to capture your entire screen, a specific window, or a selected area, making it an excellent alternative to OBS for those seeking similar quality without the complexity. The project's source code is hosted on GitHub, reflecting its commitment to transparency and community-driven development.

Compatible with Windows 7, 8.1, and 10, ShareX stands out for its lightweight design and ad-free user experience. It provides powerful functionality while maintaining simplicity, making it an appealing choice for users who want professional-grade recording capabilities without unnecessary clutter. Whether you're creating tutorials, recording gameplay, or capturing work presentations, ShareX delivers a seamless and reliable solution.

Key Features:

• Support screen recording, GIF creation, and image capturing.
• Customizable hotkeys for efficient workflow.
• Upload recordings directly to a wide range of cloud services.
• Built-in editor for screenshots and recordings.
• Detailed screenshot annotation tools.

3. CamStudio

Best open source screen recorder for HD screen recording.

CamStudio is a free, open-source screen capture software designed for both personal and commercial use. While its last update was in 2013, it remains a simple and functional tool for recording parts of your screen. It supports video output in AVI and SWF formats and includes a feature to add captions, making it a practical choice for creating content for platforms like Facebook or for projects where audio narration isn't needed. One notable advantage is that CamStudio does not impose watermarks on your recordings.

However, CamStudio does have some limitations compared to more modern tools. The lack of post-capture editing capabilities means you’ll need separate software if you want to refine or enhance your videos. Despite these drawbacks, its straightforward functionality and no-cost availability make it a viable option for users with basic recording needs or those seeking a lightweight alternative to more complex programs.

Key Features:

• Support AVI and SWF file formats.
• Built-in audio capture from system sound and microphone.
• Adjustable frame rate and recording area.
• Video annotations.
• Custom cursors.

4. Kap

Best open-source screen recording software built with web technology.

Kap is a modern, open-source screen recording tool designed exclusively for macOS, prioritizing simplicity and ease of use. With its intuitive interface, Kap is perfect for users who need to capture their screen quickly and efficiently. The application offers smooth performance on macOS, delivering high-quality recordings without putting a strain on system resources, making it an ideal choice for casual users or those who need straightforward screen captures.

Although Kap excels in simplicity and efficiency, it may not suit users looking for more advanced features or customization options. Its streamlined design focuses on providing an uncomplicated recording experience, making it perfect for those seeking speed and ease, but it might not meet the needs of power users requiring additional functionality.

Key Features:

• Clean and minimalistic user interface.
• Record entire screen or specific areas.
• Support for export in GIF, WebM, MP4, and other formats.
• Lightweight with a focus on performance.

5. ScreenToGIF

Best open source screen recorder software for saving recordings to GIF.

ScreenToGIF is a simple and effective tool for both screen recording and GIF creation. While it is primarily designed with GIF creators in mind, it also offers flexibility by supporting standard video exports, making it suitable for a variety of recording needs. Its straightforward interface ensures that users can easily capture their screen and create high-quality GIFs with minimal effort.

In addition to its core functionality of GIF creation, ScreenToGIF provides a seamless experience for those looking to produce video recordings. This versatility allows users to choose between GIFs or videos, depending on their specific requirements, all while maintaining a user-friendly design that prioritizes ease of use.

Key Features:

• Record screen activity as GIFs.
• Edit GIFs with the built-in editor (crop, resize, add text).
• Export to various formats like AVI and GIF.
• Open-source and lightweight.

6. SimpleScreenRecorder

Best open screen recording software for Linux users.

SimpleScreenRecorder is an open-source software designed for capturing games and other applications running on your screen. Its straightforward functionality makes it accessible to users of all experience levels, while its powerful features cater to more advanced needs.

Despite its simplicity, the software boasts a rich array of capabilities paired with a user-friendly interface. Whether you're recording gameplay, tutorials, or presentations, SimpleScreenRecorder provides a reliable and efficient solution for high-quality screen capture.

Key Features:

• High-quality screen recording at customizable frame rates.
• Support a variety of file formats like MP4, MKV, and AVI.
• Allow users to record audio from the system or microphone.
• Work well for both simple and advanced screen recording tasks.
• Live streaming.

7. VirtualDub

Best open source screen video recorder for professional video editors.

VirtualDub is an open-source video capture and editing software compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows systems. Beyond its screen recording capabilities, it doubles as a robust video editor, allowing you to fine-tune your recordings within the same application. Its lightweight design ensures smooth, lag-free performance, making it a reliable choice for users seeking efficiency without unnecessary complexity.

What sets VirtualDub apart are its advanced features, including noise reduction, which enhances audio quality for a polished final product. Whether you’re capturing screen activity or refining your videos, VirtualDub offers a streamlined and efficient solution for users looking for a versatile, no-cost tool.

Key Features:

• Real-time video capture and processing.
• Can handle a wide range of video formats.
• Basic video editing tools like cutting, filtering, and compression.
• Supports both screen recording and webcam capture.
• Noise reduction.

8. Krut Computer Recorder

Best for recording tutorials and gameplay with audio.

Krut Computer Recorder is an open-source screen recording tool compatible with Windows 10, 7, and other versions. As a portable application, it requires no installation - simply run it using Java, making it convenient and easy to use across different systems.

This versatile utility allows you to record both video and audio while offering options to customize frame rate and video encoding quality to suit your needs. Additionally, it provides a preview feature that lets you monitor the output in real time during recording, ensuring you capture exactly what you need with precision.

Key Features:

• Record audio and video from the system and microphone.
• Allow users to select custom recording areas.
• Export video to popular formats.
• Record live-streaming videos.

9. Record My Desktop

Best open-source screen recorder for GNU/Linux and FreeBSD.

RecordMyDesktop is a simple yet effective command-line tool for screen recording on Linux. It also offers two GUI-based versions, one built with GTK and the other with QT4, allowing users to select a specific window or entire desktop and begin recording with ease. This lightweight software is designed to minimize disk space usage, making it an efficient choice for Linux users with basic recording needs.

The software supports both graphical interface and command-line operation, offering flexibility depending on user preference. RecordMyDesktop saves video recordings with audio in OGG Theora and OGG Vorbis formats, ensuring compatibility with open-source standards. Whether you're creating tutorials, capturing presentations, or recording desktop activities, it provides a reliable and straightforward solution.

Key Features:

• Simple interface for easy screen recording.
• Audio capture from microphone and system sound.
• Support both video and audio compression.
• Export in Ogg and WebM formats.

10. Captura

Best open source screen capture software for game recording.

Captura is a free, open-source recording software available under the MIT license, with its source code accessible on GitHub. It provides a cost-free solution for screen recording video and audio without compromising on quality or features. Captura stands out for its user-friendly design and wide accessibility, offering support for over 30 languages that can be easily translated to suit diverse users.

One of Captura's key advantages is its completely ad-free experience, ensuring a seamless and distraction-free workflow. Whether you’re recording tutorials, presentations, or gameplay, this lightweight and versatile tool delivers reliable performance without requiring any payment.

Key Features:

• Capture the entire screen or selected areas.
• Record system audio and microphone input.
• Lightweight with a focus on performance.
• Export video to popular formats like MP4, AVI, and WMV.
• Customizable hotkeys for easy control during recordings.
• Input and output audio mixing.

Comparison Table of the 10 Open Source Screen Recorders

After tried and true test, here is an overall comparison table of the 10 best open source screen recorders we handpicked based on the criteria: Format support, FPS support, resolution support, editing ability, and ease of use.

How We Test the Best Open Source Screen Recorders

When evaluating the best open-source screen recorder software, we focus on several key criteria to ensure that the tools we recommend provide the best user experience, functionality, and performance for different use cases. Here’s how we test the tools:

1. Easy to Use

We evaluate how user-friendly the interface is for both beginners and advanced users. A good open source screen recorder should be easy to set up and operate without a steep learning curve. We also assess whether the software offers clear documentation and support.

2. Scenario Support

Not all open source screen recorders are suitable for every situation. We consider whether the tool supports different types of recordings, such as full-screen, windowed, region-specific, or GIF creation. This is important for users with varying needs, such as gameplay recording, tutorial creation, or quick snippets for social media.

3. FPS & Resolution Support

High frame rates (FPS) and resolutions are critical for certain use cases, like gameplay recording or high-quality video production. We test each tool’s ability to capture smooth recordings at 30 FPS, 60 FPS, and higher resolutions (1080p, 4K), especially for tasks requiring high performance.

4. Editing Options

Although screen recorders are primarily for capturing footage, the ability to perform basic edits, such as trimming, annotations, and video processing, is an added bonus. We assess whether the software has built-in editing features or if it requires external tools for post-production.

5. Output Format & Quality

The variety of output formats and the video quality after export are essential factors. We test the software’s ability to export recordings in different formats, including popular video formats like MP4, AVI, and MKV. We also evaluate whether the software supports exporting to smaller file sizes (important for GIF creation) without sacrificing too much quality.

6. Editors’ and users’ reviews.

We listen to users and trust reputable media outlets to gain professional opinions on open source screen capture software. Based on editors’ and users’ reviews, we only chose those ones that received a rating over 4.0 (out of 5).

In conclusion, open-source screen recorders offer an excellent alternative to paid software, providing users with flexible, powerful tools for a variety of recording needs. Whether you're creating content for YouTube, recording meetings, or making educational tutorials, these tools allow for efficient and high-quality recordings without breaking the bank. By testing various tools based on performance, ease of use, and feature set, you can find the one that best fits your specific requirements.