Check what you already have
Every major system can record the screen without an extra app. Apple's Mac guide uses the Screenshot app (Shift-Command-5) or QuickTime Player, and you can choose a microphone to record your voice. On iPhone and iPad the Record button sits in Control Center, and recordings land in Photos. Android has Screen record in Quick Settings, with an option to record audio and show touches. On Windows 11, the Snipping Tool can take a video snip of any part of the screen.
For a quick recording without installing anything, our screen recorder records the screen, a window or a tab with sound in the browser.
Watermarks and time limits
Free plans differ most in how long you can record and whether a logo ends up in the video. What the official pages say:
| Recorder | Time limit | Watermark |
|---|---|---|
| Clipchamp | 30 minutes per recording | None, per its page |
| Bandicam | 5 minutes per recording | None on recordings; trimmed exports get one |
| Screencastify | 30 minutes per video, 10 videos | Castify watermark |
| ScreenPal | 15 minutes per recording | Not clear on the plans page |
| Loom | 5 minutes per video, 25 videos per person | Not stated |
| Cap | No limit on local recordings; shareable links up to 5 minutes | Not stated |
OBS Studio, ShareX, Kap and SimpleScreenRecorder are open source apps; their pages mention no time limit or watermark.
Recording for teaching or work
If you send short walkthroughs to colleagues or students, a recorder with sharing built in saves a step. Loom's free Starter plan allows up to 25 videos per person at up to 720p, Screencastify's free plan 10 videos at up to 1080p, and ScreenPal's free plan hosts 10 videos.
Note one rule: Cap says its free version is for personal use only. For work recordings, check the terms of the plan you use.
Tidy up the recording
- Trim video: cut the start and end off the recording.
- Video compressor: make a long recording small enough to send.
- Video to GIF: turn a short clip into a GIF for docs or chat.
- Webcam recorder: record yourself with sound and download the file.
For bigger edits, see our list of free video editors.
How we checked
We opened each recorder's official site, pricing page, help page or code repository on the date in the table and wrote down only what it says. Where a page is silent on a watermark or a time limit, we say so instead of guessing. One warning from the SimpleScreenRecorder site: the project says simplescreenrecorder.com is a fake site, so download it only from the official project page.
Frequently asked questions
Which free screen recorder has no watermark?
Clipchamp says its screen recorder adds no watermark. Bandicam's free version records without a watermark, but videos exported after trimming get one. Screencastify's free plan adds a Castify watermark. The pages of OBS Studio, ShareX, Kap and SimpleScreenRecorder do not mention a watermark.
Can I record my screen without installing anything?
Yes. Macs have the Screenshot app and QuickTime Player, iPhone, iPad and Android phones have a screen recorder in their quick controls, and Windows 11 can take a video snip with the Snipping Tool. The screen recorder on this site also works right in the browser.
How long can I record for free?
It depends on the app. Bandicam's free version allows 5 minutes per recording, Loom 5 minutes per video, ScreenPal 15 minutes, and Clipchamp and Screencastify 30 minutes. Cap states no time limit on local recordings.
Can I record my voice with the built-in recorders?
On a Mac you can choose a microphone in the Screenshot app or QuickTime Player. On iPhone and iPad, press and hold the Record button and turn on the microphone. Android lets you choose whether to record audio before you start.
Which screen recorder is open source?
OBS Studio, ShareX, Kap, SimpleScreenRecorder, Cap and Screenity describe themselves as open source. ShareX is for Windows, Kap for macOS and SimpleScreenRecorder for Linux, while OBS Studio runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.