Best Screen Recorder in 2026 – Free & Paid Screen Recording Software

Finding the best screen recorder is essential for creating tutorials, recording gameplay, capturing presentations, or producing YouTube videos. A good screen recording software should offer high-quality video capture, audio recording, performance stability, and ease of use.

The best screen recorder software usually includes two core features: a screen recorder and a video editor. Depending on your needs, some tools focus on performance and gaming, while others are designed for tutorials, education, or professional video creation.

In this guide, we cover the best screen recorder software in 2026 for Windows and macOS — including free and paid options used by YouTubers, gamers, teachers, and professionals.

Lets us take a quick glance at what screen recorder do YouTubers use–

10 Best Screen Recorder Software (Free & Paid)

Below are the most reliable and widely used screen recording tools available today.

Camtasia Studio

Camtasia Studio is one of the best screen recorder software for Windows and macOS, especially for tutorials and professional videos. Developed by TechSmith, it combines screen recording with a powerful built-in video editor.

Camtasia allows users to record their screen, webcam, and microphone simultaneously. The editor includes transitions, animations, cursor effects, annotations, and templates, making it ideal for educational and business content.

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface
• Professional-quality video output
• Built-in video editor

Cons

• Paid software
• Requires good system resources

Best for: Tutorials, online courses, presentations, professional videos

OBS Studio

OBS Studio is the best free screen recorder available today. It is open-source and widely used by YouTubers and streamers for high-quality video recording and live streaming.

OBS supports screen recording, webcam capture, system audio, microphone input, and real-time mixing. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux and supports plugins for advanced effects and customization.

Pros

• Completely free with no watermark
• Supports HD and 4K recording
• Excellent for live streaming

Cons

• Steep learning curve for beginners

Best for: Free screen recording, YouTube videos, live streaming, professionals

Bandicam – Best Screen Recorder for Gaming

Bandicam is the most popular and the best screen recorder for gaming for all users that capture anything on your Windows desktop and options to produce a high-quality video (360p,480p,720p,1080p). It saves video clip format in (MP4, AVI) format.

It does not have a video editor, but for the video editing software, go for Bandicut. This screen recorder YouTubers use for gameplay recording with a microphone, webcam recording, live-streaming. The free version allows screen recordings of 10 minutes duration. You can also use it for image capturing (Screenshots) in BMP, PNG, JPG.

Pros

• High FPS game recording
• Lightweight and fast
• Supports hardware acceleration

Cons

• Watermark in free version
• Windows only

Best for: Gaming, gameplay recording, performance capture

ScreenPal

ScreenPal is another online screen recorder for YouTube video, that is easy to use and has a free and paid version. It allows you to capture a particular rectangle area of the screen and record the full screen of the PC with an inbuilt microphone.

The free version has features of record trimming, published to YouTube but with the limitation of screen recordings of 15 minutes only. The paid version includes all extra features and a video editor.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Free version available
• Good for quick recordings

Cons

• Limited advanced features

Best for: Beginners, students, teachers, quick screen recordings

Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder

Apowersoft is a free online screen recorder that works directly from your browser. It allows users to record the full screen or selected areas with system sound and microphone audio.

This tool does not require installation and produces recordings without watermarks or time limits. However, it is not recommended for gaming due to performance limitations.

Pros

• Free with no watermark
• No time limits
• Easy to use

Cons

• No built-in video editor
• Not suitable for gaming

Best for: Casual users, online videos, general screen recording

VLC Media Player

VLC media player is commonly known as a video player, but it also includes a basic screen recording feature. Users can record their desktop screen and save the output in MP4 or other formats.

While VLC is not a dedicated screen recorder, it can be useful for simple recording tasks and taking screenshots without installing extra software.

VLC Media Player can convert recorded video to 3GP, MP4, or make HD video for YouTube. Check full detail here.

Xbox Game Bar (Windows 10 & 11)

In Windows 10 there is a built-in screen recording tools i.e. Xbox Game Bar. If you are Windows 10 user and don’t want to spend any single money then you can use the Windows game bar for free screen recording gameplay, for making tutorials, etc. It is made for gameplay recording but can be used to record any desktop screen.

Press the combination of the key “Windows logo key + G” from the keyboard. On the top of the screen you will see Xbox Game Bar. Click the Capture button as shown below

A New Capture box you will see on the left side of the window, where you will see Take Screenshot button, Star Recording, Turn Mic ON. Click Start Recording Button to capture video on the computer.

Pros

• Built into Windows
• Free to use
• Simple controls

Cons

• Limited features
• Cannot record file explorer or desktop in some cases

Best for: Windows users, quick recordings, casual gaming

Best Screen Recorder Software Comparison

How to Choose the Best Screen Recorder

Before choosing a screen recorder, consider these factors:

• Video resolution (HD, 4K)
• Audio recording quality
• System performance and CPU usage
• Built-in editing tools
• Supported file formats

Best Screen Recorder – Final Verdict

The best screen recorder depends on your specific needs.

• Best free screen recorder: OBS Studio
• Best screen recorder for tutorials: Camtasia
• Best screen recorder for gaming: Bandicam
• Best screen recorder for beginners: ScreenPal
• Best built-in screen recorder: Xbox Game Bar

If you want a powerful and free solution with no limitations, OBS Studio is the top choice. For professional and educational content, Camtasia offers the best all-in-one experience.