Compared · checked 2026-10-24
The best free screen recorders
A screen recorder for a quick walkthrough, a bug report or a lesson. These free tools record your screen; they differ in what they need you to install, where the video goes and how much they can do.
We make Screen Recorder, one of the tools on this page. Every fact about the other tools comes from their own pages, linked under each one, as they read on 2026-10-24. Prices and features change: check each site before you choose.
How we compared them
- Free to use for screen recording
- Webcam in a corner and microphone
- Sound from the computer
- Where the video is kept: your device or a cloud
- Install or browser
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Runs on | Video kept | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Recorder ours | Free | Desktop browsers (webcam and microphone on phones too) | On your device | WebM, MP4, GIF, WAV |
| OBS Studio | Free, open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | On your computer | unknown |
| ShareX | Free, open source | Windows | On your computer, or uploaded where you choose | Video, GIF |
| Loom | Free plan with limits; paid plans | Browser extension and desktop apps | In Loom's cloud | unknown |
| Feature | Screen Recorder ours | OBS Studio | ShareX | Loom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record the screen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Webcam in a corner | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sound from the computer | Partly | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
| Pause and resume | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Trim after recording | Yes | No | Not stated | Not stated |
| GIF | Yes | Not stated | Yes | Not stated |
| Live streaming | No | Yes | No | No |
| No install | Yes | No | No | Partly |
| No account | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Video stays on your device | Yes | Yes | Partly | No |
| Mac and Linux | Yes | Yes | No | Not stated |
1. Screen Recorder (ours)
Best for: A quick screen, webcam or screen + webcam recording in the browser, kept on your device.
Good
- Nothing to install and no account
- Screen with your webcam in a corner, countdown, pause and resume
- Trim the ends, then WebM, MP4 or GIF; open it in Video Editor to edit
- Says what your browser can record, including sound from the screen
Not so good
- Sound from the screen only where the browser shares it (Chrome and Edge)
- No scenes, streaming or drawing on the screen
- No share links: you send the file yourself
2. OBS Studio
Best for: Long recordings and live streaming with scenes, many sources and full control.
Good
- Records and streams
- Scenes made of many sources: screens, windows, cameras, pictures
- Open source
Not so good
- Has to be installed and set up; more to learn than a one-button recorder
OBS Studio website · Sources: OBS Studio home page
3. ShareX
Best for: Windows users who want screenshots and screen recordings, including GIFs, in one tool.
Good
- Screen recording to a video or a GIF
- Screenshots with many capture modes
- Open source
Not so good
- Windows only
- Many settings to find your way through
ShareX website · Sources: ShareX home page
4. Loom
Best for: Teams that want a share link to every recording and comments on it.
Good
- A share link right after recording
- Screen and camera together
Not so good
- Needs an account, and the video is uploaded to Loom
- The free plan has limits; more needs a paid plan
Loom website · Sources: Loom pricing
Which one to choose
Screen Recorder is our pick for a quick recording you keep: open the page, choose the screen, the webcam or both, record, trim and save, with nothing installed and nothing uploaded. It does not stream, has no scenes and makes no share links.
Choose OBS Studio for long recordings, many sources and streaming, ShareX on Windows for screenshots and GIFs in one tool, or Loom when your team wants a share link for every video and is happy to keep them in Loom's cloud.
Questions
Which free screen recorder records the computer's sound?
OBS Studio records desktop sound. In the browser, Screen Recorder gets the sound of a tab in Chrome and Edge, and of the whole screen on Windows and ChromeOS; Firefox and Safari share none.
Can I record my screen without installing anything?
Yes. Screen Recorder runs in a desktop browser. Phones and tablets do not let web pages record the screen, so use the phone's own recorder there.
Is my recording uploaded?
Not with Screen Recorder, OBS Studio or ShareX unless you choose to; Loom keeps your videos in its cloud so it can give you a link.
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