Vendor sources and our tests are labelled separately. Independent tests that have not been run are not implied.
A better fit starts here.
Explore exact editions, see the tradeoffs, then select the features you can’t leave behind.
Loom
StarterScreen and camera recording organized around shareable videos.
- Record microphone audio
- Send a hosted video link
- Record your screen
25 videos per person, five minutes per recording, and no MP4 download on Starter.
OBS Studio
Free desktopCapture, combine and record video with an open-source desktop app.
- Record microphone audio
- Save a local video
- Record your screen
A recording and streaming application; a hosted team video library is a separate workflow.
ShareX
Free desktopA Windows capture utility with screen recording and configurable uploads.
- Record microphone audio
- Save a local video
- Record your screen
Upload destinations are external services with their own privacy and pricing terms.
5 editions ruled out · see why
Microsoft Clipchamp Free · personal browser workflow: Windows is not supported by this edition.
QuickTime Player Included with macOS: Windows is not supported by this edition.
Screenity Free Chrome extension: Windows is not supported by this edition.
Tella Pro: Windows is not supported by this edition.
Tella Premium: Windows is not supported by this edition.
Browse every edition in this category
Open the exact edition to check its capabilities, sources and limits. These entries are candidates, not a ranked list.
| Software edition | Platforms | Purchase basis | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cap Desktop commercial license | Windows, macOS | $58.00 onceUSD · verify current terms | The one-time license includes 20 cloud links per month, up to five minutes each. Instant uploads during recording; Studio is the local workflow. OS-specific capture behavior remains untested. |
| Microsoft Clipchamp Free · personal browser workflow | Browser | FreeUSD · verify current terms | A recording is limited to 30 minutes. Paid assets and business plans have other entitlements; the browser workflow is not independently verified for disconnected use. |
| Loom Business | Windows, macOS, Browser | $18.00 / monthUSD · verify current terms | MP4 download requires an eligible paid Admin or Creator role; Creator Lite cannot download. Hosted-player branding and exported-video branding differ. |
| Loom Starter | Windows, macOS, Browser | FreeUSD · verify current terms | 25 videos per person, five minutes per recording, and no MP4 download on Starter. |
| OBS Studio Free desktop | Windows, macOS, Linux | FreeUSD · verify current terms | A recording and streaming application; a hosted team video library is a separate workflow. |
| QuickTime Player Included with macOS | macOS | FreeUSD · verify current terms | A saved local movie is not a managed hosted library. Camera recording is a separate workflow; a combined screen-and-camera overlay is not established here. |
| Screenity Free Chrome extension | Browser | FreeUSD · verify current terms | The full video editor and cloud sharing require paid Screenity Pro. System-audio capture depends on the browser and operating system. |
| ShareX Free desktop | Windows | FreeUSD · verify current terms | Upload destinations are external services with their own privacy and pricing terms. |
| Snagit Individual annual · Windows | Windows | $39.00 / yearUSD · verify current terms | The individual license is non-transferable. Team licenses and hosted sharing plans are separate; do not apply their rights to this personal subscription. |
| Tella Premium | Browser | $228.00 / yearUSD · verify current terms | The browser workflow uses hosted storage and export. Watermark-free downloaded video is distinct from branding on a hosted viewing page. |
| Tella Pro | Browser | $156.00 / yearUSD · verify current terms | The browser workflow uses hosted storage and export. Watermark-free downloaded video is distinct from branding on a hosted viewing page. |
| Xbox Game Bar Included with Windows | Windows | FreeUSD · verify current terms | This records an app or game. A multi-scene training editor, webcam overlay and a hosted team library are separate requirements. |
What happens after you press stop?
How to check offline software activation
Local files do not prove an application can be installed, activated and used indefinitely without a connection. Test the four stages separately.
Open checklistHow to check a screen recording before you share it
A recording preview is only one stage. Verify the saved video, audio tracks, watermark and recipient access before moving a recurring workflow.
Open checklistLeave Loom with your videos, not just your links.
Recording a screen, storing a video and sharing a link are three different jobs. Plan each one before you move a team away from a hosted video service.
Open checklistWhat will this software really cost?
A monthly equivalent, a one-time purchase and a free edition are not interchangeable. Compare the same number of people over the same period.
Open checklistChoosing a Camtasia replacement
List the edits your final video requires
A screen recorder can capture a clip without providing Camtasia’s timeline workflow. Write down whether you need cuts, separate tracks, captions or camera composition. OBS is a recording candidate, while a separate editing step and its cost remain outside an OBS-only price comparison.
Check the exact free export
A free download or trial is not proof of a watermark-free deliverable. Test the actual exported video using the plan you intend to keep. Hosted player branding and a watermark burned into the MP4 are different constraints. Do not use a paid trial result to describe a permanent free edition.
Plan handoff and ongoing access
For hosted alternatives such as Loom or Tella, test a signed-out recipient opening the link and review download rights. For local files, decide who stores them and controls access. Subscription activation and disconnected recording must be checked separately, particularly on a computer that rarely connects to the internet.
Common questions
Can OBS replace the complete Camtasia editing workflow?
OBS covers recording and streaming workflows. Treat post-production editing as a separate requirement; a free OBS download does not establish an equivalent timeline editor or hosted video library.