14 Top Screencast Software for HD Recording in 2024 (All Devices)

Screencasting itself is simple, but choosing the right software for the job can be tricky. 

Choosing just any screen recorder can leave you with low-quality recordings or wishing for more features and functionality. That’s why it’s important to choose a screen recorder tool that offers high-quality screen recordings, an easy and seamless workflow, and the flexibility to do more than just record your screen. 

We’ve compiled the ultimate guide to the best screencast software available in 2024. You’ll find a range of free and paid software compatible across devices that work for all setups. Let’s jump in. 

TL;DR

• Screencast software lets you record your screen (and possibly webcam)
• Strong contenders will also give you the ability to simultaneously livestream, record yourself, remote guests and capture your screenshare
• You should look for platforms that offer multitrack recording, fit your budget, and promise high-quality recording 
• Riverside is the most versatile option out there, offering high-quality recordings, a budget-friendly platform, and an easy to navigate workflow 

What is Screencast software?

Screencast software is a platform that records what’s on your computer screen. This is often called ‘screen sharing’ or ‘screen capture’. 

So, if you’re on a remote video call and you share your screen, the software will record your screen share as part of your overall recording. You often don’t need to seek a dedicated screencast software since many remote recording software include this as an integral feature.

How to choose the best screencast software

Separate track 

Your ideal screencast software should record your screencast as a separate track to yours and your guests’ audio and video. This is to ensure you get the maximum level of control possible during post-production. 

Recording quality 

If you plan on recording your webcam, or plan to record with remote guests alongside your screen share recording, quality is important. Check the general recording quality of your software. It’s best to look for a platform that locally records each participant. This means everyone records on their own device rather than over the internet. Your recordings are not dependent on your internet connection and you’re more likely to get good results each time. 

We’d suggest finding a recording platform that offers at least 720p recording resolution but for tip-top quality, aim for 4K video and 48kHz audio. 

Budget 

Whether your budget is big or small, it’s important to think about how much you’re willing to spend on your screencast software. And of course, you should ensure you’re getting a good bang for your buck with your subscription. 

Usability 

Look for screencast software that is easy to use and aligns with your needs. For instance, there’s no point using a platform aimed at complex and high-stake projects if all you want is a simple recording tool. And the same applies to creators looking for a platform that lets them do it all, from recording, live streaming through to editing. Essentially, you need to know exactly what you’re looking for. 

Other features 

Finally, make sure to browse through the other features that your screencast software is offering. These extra features usually make a substantial difference to the overall user experience and make one software stand out from all the rest. 

14 Best Screencast Software for Mac & Windows PCs

In this section, you’ll find our favorite screencast software for Mac and Windows computers. There are also some apps that are browser-based which means they work across devices. 

Browser-based screen recorders

Loom

Price: Loom has three pricing plans: 

• Free
• Business - $8/month 
• Enterprise - get in touch for pricing 

With the free plan you get 25 videos of up to 5 minutes per person. And you’re able to screen record with a ‘cam bubble’. 

Loom is aimed at helping businesses cut down on the need to hold meetings. Using Loom’s screen recording tool, you can quickly record engaging tutorials, walkthroughs or demos. 

Compatibility: Loom has a Mac and Windows desktop, iOS and Android mobile apps as well as a Chrome extension. 

Key Features:

• Share your screencast video with a simple link 
• Interactive video reactions such as time-stamped comments and emoji reactions
• In-built editor for quick and easy editing 
• Closed captions for your videos 
• Display an avatar instead of yourself in your cam bubble 

Pros

• Budget-friendly free plan 
• Easy to use 
• High-quality screen capture up to 4K 

Cons

• No remote calling 
• No separate tracks. If you record your webcam and screen at the same time, this will result in one single recording track. 

Riverside

Price: Riverside has four subscription tiers: 

• Free 
• Standard - $15/month 
• Pro - $24/month
• Teams - contact for more information 

Note: You need to be on the Standard plan for screen sharing. 

Riverside is an online recording studio and top-quality video creation platform. Using your browser or mobile, you can connect and record with up to 7 remote guests, livestream, and share your screen. Your screen recording can be up to 1080p and always record as a separate track. When you finish recording, you can download it as a separate MP4 or a constant frame rate MP4. 

Compatibility: Browser-based, Android, and iOS mobile app.

Key Features:

• Screenshare easily during your recording session 
• Local recording for each of your participants 
• Record with up to 7 remote guests 
• Live mixing using Riverside’s Media Board
• Livestream to major platforms
• Automatic Ai transcription tool for highly accurate transcripts straight after recording
• Text-based video and audio editor to create professional content as easily as editing a text doc
• Magic Clips tool that uses AI to repurpose recordings into short promotional videos to share on social media
• Background noise remover & audio normalizer 

Pros

• Separate track for your screenshare 
• Browser-based so no need to download anything 
• High-quality recording for you and your remote guests
• Ability to record audio or audio and video 
• Easy to use with an intuitive interface
• Ability to livestream to multiple platforms at once
• Budget friendly 

Cons

• You have to upgrade to the standard plan for the screencast feature

Screencastify

Price: Screencastify has three pricing plans: 

• Free
• Starter - $15/month 
• Pro - $20/month 

The free plan allows you to record up to ten 30-minute videos. 

Screencastify is an online screen recording tool that lets you record your entire screen, your webcam, or both simultaneously. 

Compatibility: Browser-based but only for Google Chrome. It is not compatible with mobile devices. 

Key Features: 

• Live annotation for better engagement 
• Track your video’s reach with the Screencastify Watch page that shows you who has watched your video
• Interactive questions that ensure your viewers have understood what you talked about in your video 
• All videos save automatically in your Google Drive 
• Set permissions for access to your videos

Pros

• Browser-based so there’s no need to download any software
• Budget-friendly 
• Easy to use 
• You can use Screencastify even if you’re offline 

Cons

• No native livestreaming or remote recording tools 
• You need to have a Google account to use Screencastify 
• Your Screencastify screen recording’s video and audio might not be synced 
• No ability to customize the thumbnail of your screen recording

Downloadable Software 

Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder

Price: Free

Apowersoft’s free online screen recorder is a very basic and straightforward tool. Since it’s browser-based, you don’t need to download an extension or any software. 

Compatibility: Mac and Windows 

Key Features

• Record Google Meet or Zoom calls 
• Screen and sound synchronization tool 

Pros

• Free and unlimited recording 
• Record your browser window and webcam simultaneously 
• Budget-friendly 

Cons

• Very basic 
• No additional features 
• Remote calling is not an in-built feature 
• No ability to livestream 

OBS Studio

Price: Free 

OBS studio is a free and open-source video recording and live streaming platform. You can create unlimited scenes to switch between, including a screen share through the ‘present my screen’ feature.

Key Features: 

• Set up hotkey shortcuts for easy transitions 
• Studio mode to preview your scenes before they go live 
• Choose between window capture or browser-window capture 

Compatibility: Windows, MacOS and Linux 

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Pros

• Customizable with plugins 
• Budget-friendly 
• Perfect for live streaming 

Cons

• Outdated interface
• Not the easiest to use 

Camtasia

Price: $299/user 

Camtasia is a dedicated screen recording software. You can create all kinds of videos, including tutorials, lessons, presentations, training videos, and more. Camtasia also offers its users video templates to make it even easier to get started. 

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Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Key Features: 

• Add text, transitions, and effects to your screencast before sharing it 
• Instant uploads to YouTube, Vimeo, and other platforms 
• Drag and drop in-built editor
• Media library  
• Interactive add-ons such as quizzes 
• Pre-made animations and themes 
• Interactive table of contents

Pros

• Easy to use 
• Video templates perfect for beginners 
• Integrates with PowerPoint  

Cons

• No remote recording 
• Expensive for a dedicated screencast tool 

CamStudio

Price: Free 

Compatibility: Windows 

CamStudio is a straightforward screencast software. Record any audio or video that’s on your screen as well as via your Webcam using CamStudio. You can select whether you want to record the whole window or just a window. 

Key Features: 

• Customizable with plugins 
• Video annotation feature that automatically adds screen captions 
• Proprietary lossless codec for higher-quality recordings packaged in a smaller file size 

Pros

• Budget-friendly 
• Beginner-friendly 

Cons

• Very basic with limited features additional to screen capturing

Screencast-O-Matic

Price: Screencast-o-matic has a free plan and four pricing plans: 

• Free screen capture tool 
• Solo deluxe - $4/month 
• Solo Premier - $6/month 
• Solo Max - $10/month 
• Team business - $8/month per user 

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Chromebook. 

Screencast-o-matic offers users a screen capture tool you can use for free for recordings up to 15 minutes long. You’ll need to upgrade to the solo deluxe plan to get access to more features. 

Key Features

• Video editor for adding extra video, text, shapes, and images
• Automated captions 
• Screenshot feature that lets you capture a still image of your screen and annotate it (only available on Mac and Windows) 
• Stock image library full of videos, images and music 
• Host your content with Screencast-o-matic 
• Chrome extension Screenpal that lets you record videos instead of typing your reaction in a text box or comment field 

Pros

• Full suite of screen capture related features (screen recording, screenshot, and screen pal) 
• Budget-friendly 

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Cons

• No remote recording 
• Doesn’t support scrolling screen capture so you need to download a third-party app 

Screenflow

Price: Starts from $169 

Screenflow by Telestream is a video editing and screencast software. You can record multiple screens at once as well as your camera and mic. It calls itself the ‘most powerful video editing and screen recording software for Mac.’ You can simultaneously record your screen, camera and mic. And when you\re done, you can save in a file format compatible to any device or publish directly to social media.  

Compatibility: Mac and Apple devices 

Key Features: 

• Record multiple screens at once 
• Stock media library (if you upgrade to Screenflow Super Pak) 
• Record your iPhone or iPad screen 
• Built in editor 
• Optimized export quality (ProRes, MP4 and more) 
• Create animated gifs for export 

Pros

• Multi-screen capture 
• Use across your computer and phone or tablet 
• Easy to use 

Cons

• No built-in caption generator 
• Expensive 
• No remote calling or other capabilities 

Movavi

Price: A limited free trial and $42.95 for just the Screen Recorder

Movavi has several tools, including a video editor, converter, and a dedicated screen recorder. Using Movavi, you can save video calls, webinars and create your own screencast demos and presentations. You can record both your screen and sound, as well as overlay your webcam. 

Compatibility: Mac and Windows 

Key Features: 

• Draw and annotate on your video during your screen capture
• Display keystrokes and highlight your cursor
• Schedule screen captures even when you’re away from the computer
• Record system audio 
• Capture online calls  

Pros:

• Record screen capture in up to 4K quality 
• Easy to use and clean interface 

Cons:

• Though you can record online calls, this is not a native feature so the recording quality will most likely be low 
• No ability to livestream 

Quicktime Player 

Price:

Free 

If you’re looking for a quick and simple screen capture solution, and you’ve already got a Mac, Quicktime is a good solution. 

Compatibility: Mac 

Key Features

• Record either your whole screen or a selected window 
• Simple and straightforward 

Pros

• Easy to use
• Budget-friendly 

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Cons

• Very basic 
• No additional features such as live streaming 
• Can’t record your webcam at the same time 

Screenium

Price: $59.99 

Screenium is a screencast software that promises high-quality and resolution screen recordings. You can choose to record your entire screen, a selected area, or a specific device’s screen. 

Compatibility: Mac and iOS 

Key Features

• Built-in video editor to add transitions, text, effects, and animation s
• Edit your audio 
• Mouse cursor visualization 
• Embed picture-in-picture clips from your webcam 
• Direct export to YouTube, Facebook, and Flickr 

Pros

• Simple and straightforward
• Works on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV 

Cons

• Not many additional features 
• Expensive for basic feature range 
• Not many additional capabilities, such as livestreaming or remote calling 

Screenrec

Price: Free  

Screenrec is a screen recording app that helps you to replace endless messages and email with instant video messages and screenshots.

Compatibility: Windows, MacOS and Linux 

Key Features:

• 1-click screen capture of your screen, mic, audio, and webcam 
• Annotated screenshots 
• Instantly share your screen capture 
• Organize and manage your content from your Screenrec account 
• Screenshot tool 
• Download your recording in MP4 format 

Pros

• Record even when you’re offline
• Budget-friendly 
• Easy to use 

Cons

• MP4 is a lossy and compressed file format which means you might lose some recording quality 
• No ability to remote record 
• No multitrack recording 
• No ability to livestream 

Icecream Screen Recorder

Price: Screen recorder is available for free.  

Using Icecream’s Screen Recorder you can go ahead and simply record your screen with audio, record in-app windows, or Zoom or Whatsapp calls and livestreams. 

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Android. 

Key Features

• Annotate your screen capture as your record 
• Basic editing features 
• Add a logo to your videos 
• Schedule a start and stop time for your screen recording 
• All recordings are saved in WebM, MP4, AVI, and MOV formats

Pros

• Simple and easy to use 
• Budget-friendly 

Cons

• Remote calling is not a native feature 
• Saves recordings in lossless and compressed file formats that might reduce the quality of your original screen capture 
• Doesn’t appear to offer multitrack recording 
• No ability to livestream 

Bonus: Best Screencast Apps for iOS and Android

As we’ve seen, a number of the screencast solutions we covered in the previous section also offer mobile apps: 

Loom (iOS and Android)

• Free to use 
• Record camera and screen at the same time 
• Save recorded videos to your camera roll 
• Share videos straight away with instantly-generated links 

Icecream Screen Recorder (Android only)

• Unlimited recordings
• Overlays with controls
• Recording trimmer

ScreenPal- formerly Screencast-o-matic. (iOS and Android)

• Mobile editing tools 
• Free to use 
• Easy transfer to desktop video editor 

Screenium (iOS only)

• 60 fps recording and up to 5K resolution
• Different recording modes and screen selection
• Keystroke and click visualization
• Built-in editor with video effects, transitions, templates and overlays

How to screencast videos with Riverside

Riverside makes screencasting a seamless part of your video recording or live streaming workflow. Here’s how it works: 

Step 1: Setup your recording studio following our walkthrough here. You can either choose to livestream to a live audience or record in a private session. 

Step 2: When you land in your studio, invite your guests if you haven’t already, using the ‘Invite People’ section on the right-hand portion of your screen. 

Step 3: When everybody is ready and in position, click the red record button at the bottom of your screen. 

Step 4: When you want to share your screen, click the ‘share’ button at the bottom of your screen. 

Step 5: A window will pop up, asking you what part of your screen you want to share. You can share a Chrome Tab, another application Window, or your entire screen. 

You can also record a presentation if you're on a Business plan. You’ll simply select ‘Share’, then ‘Presentation’. Your presentation records as a local file, and you can give guests control to present.

Step 6: When you’ve selected the tab or window you want to share, click ‘Share’. 

Riverside records your screencast and shares it with all participants. The host still records at the bottom of the screen. 

Step 7: After recording, click the red hang-up button and hit ‘end session for all’. You will end up on your Recordings page. 

Step 8: Here, you can choose to export each participant track and screenshare as a separate recording track or opt for the ‘all participants’ consolidated recording. 

Read more: How to Record Your Screen Easily on a PC or Mobile Device

FAQs on Screencast Software

Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about screencast software. 

What is the best screencasting software?

The best screencasting software for your setup totally depends on your specific needs, the types of videos you’re recording, as well as your budget. As we’ve seen 

Is Screencast free?

It depends on which screencasting software you decide to use. As we’ve seen, several free solutions are out there, although sometimes these don’t offer the best functionality. 

Can I Screencast on my PC?

Absolutely. Browse our list of suggestions and we’re sure you’ll find a tool that works for you. Riverside is the most versatile option since it’s browser-based and does much more than just screencasting. 

What is the best free Screencast software?

Riverside offers the ability to screencast and record yourself and your remote guests in high-quality. Riverside’s powerful features work to support and enhance your workflow from start to finish. Essentially, screen sharing has never been so easy. You can try it for yourself for free.