Top 9 Free Screen Recorders without a Watermark in 2021

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Top 9 Free Screen Recorders without a Watermark in 2021

Last Updated: Aug. 10, 2021

Having a flexible and free screen recorder makes communication easier and more fun. Capture your screen for a tutorial video; record a streaming video for later view, or screen record a trouble-submitting video for customer service personnel and pc developers, etc.

To simply put, nowadays, a screen recorder is something you can’t live without.

In this post, we will review 9 free screen recorders by comparing their prominent screen recording features, limitations and interface, and accessibility, and beyond. So you can pick an ideal watermark-free screen recorder to create easy screencasts as never before.

Here’s What You Will Learn:

A Quick Glimpse of the Top 9 Free Screen Recorders

Free Screen Recorder Online

FlexClip RecordCast Sreenapp

Free Desktop Screen Recorder on PC

Xbox Game Bar QuickTime Player Screencast-0-Matic ScreenRec OBS ShareX

Final Thoughts

A Quick Glimpse of the Top 9 Free Screen Recorders

The following table gives you a heads up of the 9 free screen recorders we will be discussing. Just take a quick look and go for the detailed review below for the most ideal free screen recorder.

	Platform	Accessibility	Video Editing
FlexClip	Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.	Online	Yes, featured & versatile
RecordCast	Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.	Online	Yes, basic
Screenapp	Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.	Online	No
Xbox Game Bar	Windows 10	Desktop	No
QuickTime Player	Mac	Desktop	No
Screencast-o-Matic	Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Chromebook	Desktop, mobile apps	Yes, basic
ScreenRec	Windows, Mac, Linux	Desktop	No
OBS	Windows, Mac, Linux	Desktop	No
ShareX	Windows 10,8.1,7	Desktop	No

Free Screen Recorder Online

1. FlexClip

FlexClip is a feature-packed online video editor that integrates screen recording with video editing so flawlessly. You can easily access its in-browser screen recorder and kick start full-screen or webcam recording in no time.

Free screen recorders within FlexClip’s in-browser video editor

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What makes FlexClip free screen recorder second-to-none is that it has storyboard and timeline mode and dozens of handy video editing tools for the instant editing of the recordings. This brings extra flexibility for both newbies and experienced users to create and refine screencasts effortlessly, not to mention the vast royalty-free stock assets in its media library and a wide array of expertly designed free video templates, etc. It deserves to be your go-to free screen recorder for day-to-day screen recordings.

Platform: In-browser screen recorder for Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.

Accessibility: Online

Pricing: Free, no watermark

Interface: Storyboard mode for beginners; timeline mode is for experienced users

Prominent Features:

Record full screen, app windows, Chrome tab

Record voiceovers, system audio

Record screen/webcam and export as a GIF

Create picture-in-picture effects

Instantly trim video recordings, add animated texts, elements, video filters customizable logos, overlays, speed changer, etc.

Millions of royalty-free stock assets, thousands of full-customizable video templates

Cloud storage and one-click share to YouTube and Dropbox

Limitations:

10 mins recording time limit for free subscribers

Need to record screen and webcam separately to create a picture in picture effects

2. RecordCast

RecordCast is an evenly-balanced free screen recorder and video editor that empowers you to create, edit and share screen recordings in one place. With a few clicks, you can record your screen with a webcam on, including mic and system audio, which is pretty useful for creating brief tutorial videos. After you are done with the recording, you can add captions, elements or add new media sources to create engaging videos on the timeline.

Versatile RecordCast free screen recorder

Platform: In-browser screen recorder for Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.

Accessibility: Online

Pricing: Free, no watermark

Interface: Easy to use, 3 recording modes, the timeline for basic video editing

Prominent Features:

Record full screen, webcam, both full screen and webcam (circle and rectangle shape)

Record both internal and system audio

Basic video editing tools to add captions, animated elements, custom logos, overlays, video filters, video transitions, speed changer, etc.

Quick share to Dropbox and YouTube channel

Limitations:

Limited 5 mins recording limit for free subscribers

No advanced video editing tools

Can’t annotate while recording the screen

3. Sreenapp

To make a simple and quick screen recording, Screenapp free screen recorder is all you need. The minimal design of Screenapp allows you to select from recording screen only or capturing screen together with webcam. Then download the recording in WebM format. That’s it.

Screenapp free screen recorder

Platform: In-browser screen recorder for Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.

Accessibility: Online

Pricing: Free, no watermark

Interface: Minimal, easy to use

Prominent Features:

Record full screen or full screen with webcam

Record either browser or mic audio

Limitations:

Limited 15 mins recording limit for free subscribers

No video tools available for editing the recording

Free Desktop Screen Recorder on PC

1. Xbox Game Bar

If you happen to be a Windows 10 user, the great news is you’ve already had a free screen recorder installed on your PC. Sounds surprised? It is called Xbox Game Bar, a pre-installed pc gaming overlay on Windows 10 capable of recording more than gameplay and on-screen activities on your PC. Just press the hotkeys: Windows + G. You can launch the Xbox Game bar and select the recording button for app window recording. Find out how to record gameplay on PC.

Xbox Game Bar—free screen recorder on Windows 10

Platform: Pre-installed free screen recorder on Windows 10

Accessibility: Offline/desktop

Pricing: Free, no watermark

Interface: Easy to use, many controls for details

Prominent Features:

Record app window or chrome tab

Record both internal and mic audio

Check the performance of CPU, GPU, RAM, FPS during recording

Customize the hotkeys for recording, screenshots, FPS, etc.

Unlimited time for free screen recording

Limitations:

No video tools available for editing the recording

Can’t include webcam for screen recording

Gamebar only records one app window at a time. Not that flexible to change to different scenes.

2. QuickTime Player

For Mac users, look no further than QuickTime Player for the best free screen recorder on your computer. The pre-installed QuickTime Player allows you to easily record full screen or a selected area of your screen with a few easy clicks. You can even use QuickTime Player to record full screen with webcam just by using its “New Movie Recording” and “New Screen Recording” buttons.

Use QuickTime Player for free screen recording on Mac

The only drawback is that you need to install a plugin (either Soundflower or Blackhole) to audio Midi Setup to record internal audio on your computer.

Platform: Pre-installed free screen recorder on Mac

Accessibility: Offline/desktop

Pricing: Free, no watermark

Interface: A bit difficult for both screen and webcam recording

Prominent Features:

Record full screen, a selected area, webcam, or both screen and webcam simultaneously

Record mic audio

Select recording quality

Export recorded videos in multiple formats

Unlimited time for free screen recording

Limitations:

No video tools available for editing the recording

To record internal audio, you are expected to download and add a plugin mentioned above, which is time-consuming and far complicated for beginners

When you record both screen and webcam, very often the app window may block the webcam window. You have to manually set the view to “Float on Top” to avoid it.

3. Screencast-0-Matic

Screencast-o-Matic is one of the few free screen recorders that are compatible with desktop and iPhone, Android and iPad for screen recording. Firstly download its free screen recorder to your computer and then select from full screen, webcam, or both to create tutorial videos or capture your gameplay, etc. You can drag and drop the rectangle area to decide the recording region and customize the position of your webcam to create the picture in the picture effects. Overall, Screencast-0-Matic is a lightweight and user-friendly free screen recorder for screen capturing.

Screencast-o-Matic free screen recorder

Platform: Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, and Chromebook

Accessibility: Offline/desktop, mobile apps

Pricing: Free to start; come on $1.65 for watermark-free screen recording, affordable to everyone

Interface: Straightforward

Prominent Features:

Record full screen, a selected area, webcam, or screen and webcam simultaneously

Record voiceovers

Export recorded videos in dozens of video formats

Basic video editor to trim recordings, add captions

Publish to YouTube, G Drive, or share to Facebook, Twitter, and G Classroom

Limitations:

Limited 15 mins recording limit for free users

To record internal audio, you need to upgrade to Deluxe ($1.65)or Premier ( $4.00 )plans, though it seems extremely affordable to most users.

Most of the advanced features like Zoom in while recording, music library, Gifs maker, etc. are only open to paid users.

The recording controls often block much of the screen as you set up the recording, which is a bit annoying.

4. ScreenRec

ScreenRec is another lightweight free screen recorder you can use to create instructional videos or record webinars or make video presentations and other screencasts for easy sharing. Its intuitive interface face is exceedingly easy to use. You can easily use it to take screenshots or record a selected area of your screen with a webcam.

ScreenRec free screen recorder

Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux

Accessibility: Offline/desktop

Pricing: Free, no watermark

Interface: Intuitive for everyone

Prominent Features:

Record full screen, a selected area, webcam, or screen and webcam simultaneously

Record both mic and system audio

Take screenshot

Generate a shareable link

Keyboard shortcuts for recording/stop

Free cloud storage

Media library allows you to easily search or manage video and photo files

Limitations:

Limited 5 mins recording limit for free users

No video editing tools

5.OBS

If your primary goal is to record your live streaming gameplay on Twitch and YouTube or record podcast online interviews, then OBS or Open Broadcaster Software should be your go-to free screen recorder for daily use. You can easily record the full screen or selected area of your screen while also including the recording of your webcam.

OBS: open-source free screen recorder across platforms

As an expertly designed streaming and free screen recorder, OBS allows you to create an unlimited number of scenes and sources and tweak between different scenes with seamless video transitions during the recording. You can enjoy studio-like recording and streaming features like green screen or Chrome key, etc. that can only be found on paid streaming software like Restream on the market. Overall, OBS is a feature-rich free screen recorder for multiple purposes.

Platform: Open-source free screen recorder for Windows, Mac, Linux

Accessibility: Offline/desktop

Pricing: Free, no watermark

Interface: Nerdy and far complicated for first-time users

Prominent Features:

Record high-quality video and audio (internal and mic) while live streaming on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, etc.

Audio mixer and advanced studio mode

Seamless transitions to different scenes

Keyboard hotkeys

Fully customizable controls for audio, video, and output, etc.

Accept plugins and integration for wide uses

Have up to 18 languages for global users

Global community for screen recording and streaming discussion

Limitations:

CPU and RAM intensive as you live stream and record the screen

The complex UI and tons of features may make the first-time user feel overwhelmed. It does take a while to figure out how to set up the computer and webcam source for the actual recording.

6. ShareX

ShareX is a free open-source screen recorder that enables you to capture videos with a few clicks. It records the entire screen, active window, or a selected region on your computer. Besides, ShareX also has screenshots and a GIF screen recording feature. You can even copy and paste the shareable link of your online video and create a QR code for different uses. What a surprising feature for more than a free screen recorder. Explore the 5 best Gif screen recorders.

ShareX free screen recorder

Platform: Open-source free screen recorder for Windows 10,8.1 and 7

Accessibility: Offline/desktop

Pricing: Free, no watermark

Interface: A bit difficult for first-time users

Prominent Features:

Record any parts of the screen, app window, or entire screen

Record screen and export as a GIF

Take screenshots

Customize FPS of screen recording

Show cursor during the recording

Countdown timer for the recording

User-friendly video converter

Create a QR code using the existing URL

Limitations:

Can't record screen with webcam

There is no video editing tools

Way too many options on the interface may make first-timers bewildered where to start.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it here, we are glad to see that our recommended free screen recorders make sense to you. One thing to mention is that whether you screen record to make a tutorial video or record an online meeting or for a podcast, streaming gameplay, etc. screen recording alone is not enough, you need a versatile video editor to refine it before posting it online. In this respect, FlexClip and RecordCast probably would be most helpful to you. So, start screen recording now with the free screen recorders recommended above.

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Frank /

Passionate about photography, video-making and travel, Frank is a seasoned copywriter and a beloved father of 2-year-old daughter at FlexClip. He is always keen to share his latest discovery about video marketing and tricks to relive your memories through videos and images.