5 Best Free Screen Recorders for Windows
Screen recording tool is essential and a must-have app these days as virtual working and online teaching are at rise. They come in handy when it comes to recording online meetings, creating tutorials and academic lessons, or collaborating on projects with an online team.
There are abundant screen recording tools on the web, supporting various platforms and offering different features. Choosing a good one can be challenging; to help you make an informed decision, we’ve done some work and research to find out what’s good and available.
From customizable screen capture settings to different editing and sharing features, you’ll find some good options. Here is a list of top 5 free screen recorders for Windows, together with a few more under the bonus section.
1. FonePaw Screen Recorder
FonePaw Screen Recorder is a versatile screen recorder that records video, audio, webcam, live stream, online class, gameplay, and more. Besides, you can even use it to capture the screen and add text during the recording.
What we like:
- No watermarks for both free trial and full versions.
- Allows users to check the system’s sound and microphone before recording.
- The Microphone noise cancellation and Microphone enhancement enable users to record a noise-free video/audio.
- The canceled or unsaved recordings can be restored.
- Offers multiple output formats like .gif, .wmv, .mp4, .avi, .mov, etc.
- Allows users to record screens and webcams simultaneously.
- Easily set the record length and the exact time to begin the record task.
What we don’t like:
- Free version allows users to save only 3 minutes of the recording.
- No technical support for the free version.
- Some functions are limited on the free version.
Download FonePaw Screen Recorder for Windows
2. Atomi ActivePresenter
Atomi ActivePresenter is a powerful software that can capture all or part of your computer screen with superb video quality.
Although it lacks various features (in its free edition) that its competitors provide, it’s a perfect minimalistic screen recorder for anyone looking forward to creating long-time high-resolution screencasts.
What we like:
- No watermark and recording time limits — even for free users.
- Offers decorating the screencasts with styles, shadows and color effects.
- Allows adding transition effects like photo slides and annotations to your videos.
- Offers a range of post-recording editing options like video overlays, cutting and cropping videos, adjusting volume levels, adding blur and few more.
- Allows exporting recordings to .mp4, .avi, .wmv, .webm and .mkv formats.
What we don’t like:
- Can’t upload the recorded videos directly online.
- Its free version lacks various useful features in its premium versions.
Download Atomi ActivePresenter for Windows
3. AnyRec Screen Recorder
AnyRec is a lightweight screen recorder for both Windows and macOS. You can record your screen, capture an external webcam, and record the computer’s audio or external mic. There’s also an option to take screenshots as well.
The recorded videos are saved in high resolution without lags or watermarks. You can also schedule a recording session and draw during recordings in real time.
What we like:
- Simple to use with a clean interface.
- Captures video and audio in high resolution.
- No watermark on your recordings.
What we don’t like:
- There’s a limit on the recording length you can do in the trial version.
- Limited file formats supported.
Download AnyRec Screen Recorder for Windows
4. Movavi Screen Recorder
Movavi Screen Recorder is a versatile software tool designed to capture any activity on your computer screen. This screen recording software is perfect for anyone who needs to create video tutorials, product demos, or any other type of screen-based content. With Movavi Screen Recorder, users can capture everything from system audio to webcam footage and add annotations or captions to their recordings for greater clarity and context.
One of the key features of Movavi Screen Recorder is its ease of use. The software has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for even beginners to start recording their screens with just a few clicks. Users can select the area they want to record, choose the audio sources, and start recording right away. The software also includes editing tools that allow users to trim and cut their recordings, add transitions, and apply various visual effects. Overall, Movavi Screen Recorder is an excellent tool for anyone looking to create high-quality screen recordings for any purpose.
What we like:
- Easy to use with versatile recording options and basic editing tools.
- Produces high-quality output.
What we don’t like:
- Limited advanced editing capabilities and customization options.
Download Movavi Screen Recorder for Windows
5. Icecream Screen Recorder
Icecream Screen Recorder can record your entire computer screen or specific parts of the screen. With the software, you can shoot webinars, record video calls or conferences, gameplays, etc. via its intuitive and user-friendly interface.
What we like:
- Records videos in .mp4, .mov, .avi or .webm format.
- Allows upload (and share) videos by URL.
- Allows audio recording along with the video.
- Offers webcam recording along with screen recording.
- Allows on-screen drawing (or annotating) while capturing the screen.
- Offers hotkey configuration to pause, record and stop the recording.
- Allows saving screenshots to the clipboard or in .jpg or .png.
- Offers Project History for quick access to previously captured pictures and videos.
What we don’t like:
- Free users get a 10-minute cap of screen recording time.
- Offers limited functionalities and editing options in its free edition.
- Its recordings can’t be used for commercial purposes by free users.
Download Icecream Screen Recorder for Windows
Bonus: Ezvid Video Maker
Ezvid Video Maker is a useful desktop or screen recording software. You can record the computer screen to create high-resolution movies with clicks.
This app also allows on-screen drawing and recording specific region (similar to Icecream Screen Recorder). You can also add title, description, keywords, and other meta-info to your recordings.
What we like:
- Auto-saves the videos during recording.
- Allows creating slideshows with the capturing.
- Offers audio recording and voice synthesis features.
- Allows on-screen annotating while recording the screen.
- Enables uploading the recorded videos to YouTube directly.
- Offers webcam recording.
What we don’t like:
- Allows recording videos up to 45 minutes.
- Supports uploading videos directly on YouTube only.
- Offers no customizable settings for recording the screen.
Download Ezvid Video Maker for Windows
Bonus: Screenpresso
Screenpresso captures your desktop (as screenshots) and records the same to create HD videos.
With all its advanced features, it’s one of the best premium screen recorders though it doesn’t offer much to free users. Nevertheless, using its management features, you can capture the entire screen or specific areas and even manage your captures easily.
What we like:
- Allows recording audio and webcam along with the screen.
- Allows using captures and recordings for commercial use — even in its free edition.
- Records the screen in lightweight .mp4 format and allows changing the format to .wmv, .webm and .ogg.
- Offers ‘Quick Access‘ to your previous screenshots and recordings.
- Allows labeling, sorting and editing captures into custom folders and manages workspaces and libraries of your captures (photos & videos).
- Offers sharing features for numerous services including Email, FTP, Evernote, Google Drive, OneDrive, Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox and more.
What we don’t like:
- No support for Android with its free edition.
- Recordings’ max. duration is just 3 minutes.
- Limits image editing features and mandates updates for free users.
- Can’t remove watermarks from images, videos or documents in its free version.
Download Screenpresso for Windows
Bonus: Bandicam Screen Recorder
Bandicam Screen Recorder is an easy-to-use recorder capable of capturing a specific area or the full screen. It lets you easily record flash games, streaming videos and more.
The software offers several modes like gaming mode, screen recording mode and device recording mode for perfect recording.
What we like:
- Saves the recorded videos in .avi or .mp4 format.
- Offers real-time voice recording for creating screencasts.
- Offers live drawing while recording.
- Allows adding watermarks and overlaying webcam while recording.
- Allows adding mouse clicks’ effects or animations while recording screen.
- Bloats to optimize the recording process using hardware acceleration (if supported).
What we don’t like:
- Can’t get rid of its watermark in the free version.
- 10-minute recording cap for the free version.
Download Bandicam Screen Recorder for Windows