#1. ShareX
ShareX is a completely free screen recorder designed to be open-source. It is weightless and quick for users to record and take a screenshot with a single key press. It allows you to record the screen with audio and capture any region as a GIF. The application may not be that fancy looking, but it is functional. It offers various image editing options.
Pros
- The open-source screen recorder for Windows is completely free of charge.
- It integrates with lots of cloud and video platforms for instant sharing.
- The scrolling capture option is available.
Cons
- Windows only.
- Old and unintuitive interface.
#2. CamStudio
CamStudio is a popular open-source screen and audio recorder with no paid features or paywalls. Developed by volunteers, the software runs smoothly on low-end PCs thanks to its small CPU and RAM. It can record the full screen, a selected region, or an active window. It exports videos in AVI format and can convert the format to Flash videos (SWF).
Pros
- The free, open-source screen recorder allows you to add annotations to recorded videos.
- Compact and friendly UI.
- No time limit.
Cons
- Windows exclusive, and it's been a long time since the last update.
- Occasional crushes.
#3. OBS Studio
OBS Studio is an open-source screen recording software that many content creators use. It is considered close to industry standards, offering rich features with lower resource consumption. The OBS screen recorder is entirely free to all users for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It lets you record and mix audio and video from multiple sources. Multi-screen recording is possible.
Pros
- The OBS Studio, a free and open-source screen recorder, allows for flexible customizations and settings.
- Multi-platform compatibility.
- Screen and webcam recorder.
Cons
- It's a challenging learning process to start with.
- Lacks basic video editing options.
#4. ScreenCam
ScreenCam is another open-source screen video recorder worth trying. It was initially built to create instructional videos, not professional media videos, and thus is easy to use and requires no resources. It allows you to record screen activities in a predefined area, in succession of frames, with audio using shortcuts. The open-source recording software will generate videos in .swf format.
Pros
- Simple video editing features like trimming.
- Add buttons, arrows, text boxes, or other annotations on recordings.
- The best open-source screen recorder also has an Android app.
Cons
- Limited features and lacks webcam overlay.
- Incompetent for high FPS or high-requirement screen recording.
#5. Kap
If you’re looking for a handy open-source, free screen recorder for Mac without much fuss, Kap is an awesome project. Kap allows you to select any portion of your screen to record and include audio in the recording. It is fully free of charge and ad-free.
Pros
- Highlight cursor clicks and trim videos.
- Modern and natural interface with no learning curve.
- The open-source video capture software can export videos in multiple formats (MP4, WebM, GIF, and APNG).
Cons
- Installation issues.
- Less powerful than OBS Studio, which is also available for Mac.
#6. SimpleScreenRecorder
SimpleScreenRecorder is among the best open-source video recording software for Linux. It is fast and robust, originally designed for desktop recording, but now also suitable for recording apps and games. It streamlines your recording configuration without requiring the installation of command-line tools. It uses lower CPU system resources.
Pros
- You can perform screen recording with audio using the open-source software.
- It is in consistent updates and maintenance.
- Record an entire screen, a specified area, or an OpenGL app directly without performance loss.
Cons
- No editing capability.
- Sometimes the accident program closes.
A Bonus Best Free Software for Screen Recording
All the introduced open-source video recorders are non-profit. Additionally, if you're looking for something free, simple, and easy to use, AWZ Screen Recorder Free is also an ideal option. The free software is downloadable for Windows and Mac, tiny and speedy. It features a graphical and straightforward interface, allowing new users to get started, set up, and save recordings quickly and easily.
For Windows:
For Mac:
Download AWZ Screen Recorder Mac
- AWZ Screen Recorder Free is one of the best free screen recorders with no watermark added to the exported videos.
- Like the best open-source free screen recorder software, it has no time limit on the recording length.
- It can record the entire screen or any portion of it, with audio, a microphone, and a webcam overlay to show your face and voiceover.
- Better than the open-source programs, it offers a wider range of video and audio formats, frame rates (FPS), and other customizable options—up to 120 FPS for gaming.
- Capture images of the screen.
- Add annotations on recordings and screenshots.
- The free screen recording software packs a necessary video cutting tool.
Final Words
A video is worth a thousand more words, and you can use the 6 open-source Android/Windows/Mac/Linux screen recorders to enhance your work effect. They are not only free but also accessible through the source code for redistribution and reuse. They let you record video calls, report issues for troubleshooting, make engaging videos for YouTube, or save gameplay for sharing. They may perform better than the built-in recorder on your device.
AWZ Screen Recorder Free is an equivalent to the best free screen recorders for Windows PC/Mac that offer their source code as open-source.
For Windows:
For Mac:
