The following is a list of (mostly) free screen recording and video editing tools, software and apps available. It is by no means exhaustive! I will add to it as I come across new things (or at least things that are new to me). And I’ll try to delete anything that gets out of date.
Links, prices and features last checked August 2026.
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Quick Picks
| I want to… | A good choice |
|---|---|
| Record or livestream almost anything | OBS Studio |
| Make a quick Windows screen recording | Xbox Game Bar |
| Record my screen with minimal setup | ScreenPal |
| Record a Windows tutorial | FlashBack Express |
| Edit a video easily on Windows or online | Clipchamp |
| Edit a video on an Apple device | iMovie |
| Start with a friendly open-source editor | OpenShot |
| Use a more capable cross-platform editor | Shotcut or Kdenlive |
| Learn professional video editing and colour correction | DaVinci Resolve |
| Create short social-media videos | CapCut |
| Record gameplay | FBX Game Recorder |
| Send short video messages | Loom |
| Convert or compress video files | HandBrake |
| Create and synchronise subtitles | Subtitle Edit |
| Find free stock footage | Pixabay |
| Plan a video with a storyboard | Boords |
| Turn a short screen recording into a GIF | Gifcap |
Downloadable video and screen-recording tools
OBS – Open Broadcaster Software
OBS is a powerful, free and open-source programme for screen recording and live streaming. It is available for Windows, macOS and Linux. You can record directly from a webcam and microphone, and then add in existing videos, images, capture a window or part of your screen, and much more.
Best for: Screen recording, livestreaming and combining several audio and video sources
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS and Linux
Worth knowing: OBS is extremely powerful but can initially feel complicated. It does not include a conventional video editor.
Xbox Game Bar
Xbox Game Bar is built into Windows 10 and 11 and provides a quick way to record an app or game without installing anything. Press the Windows logo key, Alt and R together to start or stop a recording. It is useful for straightforward demonstrations, although it cannot record the Windows desktop or File Explorer and offers only basic capture controls. Press the Windows key + G to open the Xbox Game Bar.
Best for: Quickly recording a Windows app or game
Cost: Included with Windows
Works on: Windows 10 and 11
Worth knowing: It records an individual app or game rather than the entire desktop or File Explorer, and it has very few editing features.
CamStudio
CamStudio is a free, open-source screen recorder for Windows. The project has recently been revived in 2026 and version 3 is under active development. It is a simple option for recording your screen and microphone, although OBS Studio and FlashBack Express may feel more polished.
Best for: Simple screen and microphone recordings on Windows
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows
Worth knowing: CamStudio has recently been revived and is being actively redeveloped. It is less polished and flexible than OBS Studio or FlashBack Express.
Mango Recorder (formerly TinyTake)
Mango Recorder, formerly known as TinyTake, is a straightforward screen-capture tool for Windows and macOS. Its free desktop version can capture screenshots and recordings and save them locally without requiring an account. Cloud storage, online sharing and team features are reserved for premium plans.
Best for: Simple screenshots and short screen recordings saved locally
Cost: Free local recorder; premium plans for cloud storage and sharing
Works on: Windows and macOS
Worth knowing: The TinyTake name has been replaced by Mango Recorder. The free version does not require an account but lacks its former cloud-sharing features.
Shotcut
Shotcut is an advanced open-source video editor for Windows, macOS and Linux with a user-friendly interface.
Best for: Full video editing without a subscription
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS and Linux
Worth knowing: Shotcut supports a very wide range of formats and advanced features, but its interface takes time to learn.
Blender
Open-source 3D computer graphics software used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, interactive 3D applications and video games.
Best for: Combining video editing with animation, 3D graphics and visual effects
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS and Linux
Worth knowing: Blender contains a capable video-sequence editor, but it is primarily a 3D-creation suite and is excessive for straightforward editing.
Microsoft Clipchamp
Microsoft Clipchamp is a beginner-friendly video editor with templates, stock media, screen and webcam recording and a straightforward timeline. It is built into many Windows 11 computers and can also be used through a web browser. The free personal plan permits unlimited watermark-free exports at up to 1080p, provided that only free features and assets are used.
Best for: Quick, beginner-friendly editing on Windows or online
Cost: Free plan; premium features are included with some Microsoft 365 plans
Works on: Windows and supported web browsers
Worth knowing: Free exports are available up to 1080p. Projects containing premium stock or features cannot be exported without upgrading or removing those elements.
iMovie
iMovie is Apple’s free video editor for creating polished videos and trailers from clips, photographs and music. Its clean interface makes trimming, arranging clips, adding titles and using green-screen or picture-in-picture effects relatively straightforward. Projects can be started on an iPhone or iPad and transferred to a Mac for further editing.
Best for: Straightforward video editing on Apple devices
Cost: Free
Works on: macOS, iPhone and iPad
Worth knowing: iMovie is approachable and can edit video at up to 4K, but it is only available for Apple devices and has fewer advanced controls than DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut Pro.
OpenShot
OpenShot is a friendly, open-source video editor designed to be easier to learn than many full professional packages. It uses a familiar drag-and-drop timeline and includes trimming, titles, transitions, animation, effects and multiple tracks.
Best for: Beginners who want a conventional desktop video editor
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS
Worth knowing: OpenShot is easier to approach than many advanced editors, although large or complicated projects can still need a reasonably capable computer.
Lightworks
Lightworks is a professional-style video editor with tools for timeline editing, trimming, effects, titles and audio. A free version remains available for Windows, macOS and Linux, although it limits exports to 720p. Lightworks is powerful, but its professional workflow can take longer to learn than beginner-focused editors such as Clipchamp or OpenShot.
Best for: Learning a professional-style timeline and editing workflow
Cost: Free version; paid Create and Pro plans
Works on: Windows, macOS and Linux
Worth knowing: The free version limits exported videos to 720p. The interface is powerful but less immediately approachable than beginner editors.
VSDC
A Windows video editor that allows you to upload straight to YouTube. Includes many advanced features, such as visual and audio effects, masking, and export options.
Best for: Feature-rich video editing on a Windows computer
Cost: Free version; paid Pro edition
Works on: Windows
Worth knowing: The free edition has no watermark or export-time limit and supports 4K. Hardware acceleration and some advanced tools require Pro.
DaVinci Resolve
Offers advanced video and audio editing for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Best for: Professional video editing, colour correction, sound and visual effects
Cost: Generous free version; paid DaVinci Resolve Studio edition
Works on: Windows, macOS and Linux
Worth knowing: The free version provides considerably more than most beginners need. Resolve has a steep learning curve and performs best on a powerful computer.
FlashBack Express
FlashBack Express is a free Windows screen recorder that can capture your screen, webcam, microphone and computer audio. It places no watermark on recordings and does not impose a recording-time limit. The free version is excellent for straightforward recording, while FlashBack Pro supplies the more advanced editing and annotation tools.
Best for: Straightforward screen, webcam and audio recording on Windows
Cost: Free; paid Pro version available
Works on: Windows 10 and 11
Worth knowing: The free version has no watermark or recording-time limit. Advanced editing, annotations and effects require FlashBack Pro.
ScreenPal
ScreenPal, previously called Screencast-O-Matic, can record your screen, webcam and microphone and includes simple editing and sharing tools. Its free plan allows recordings of up to 15 minutes without a watermark. Features such as system-audio recording, more advanced editing and additional hosting are included in paid plans.
Best for: Easy screen and webcam recording with simple sharing
Cost: Free plan; paid plans available
Works on: Windows, macOS, Chromebook, iOS and Android
Worth knowing: Free recordings can be up to 15 minutes and have no watermark. System audio and several editing and hosting features require a paid plan.
MiniTool MovieMaker
MiniTool MovieMaker is a beginner-friendly Windows video editor with a simple timeline, transitions, titles, effects and templates. The free version allows three full-length exports, but subsequent free exports are limited to two minutes. A paid plan is therefore needed if you regularly produce longer videos.
Best for: Simple videos, slideshows and timeline editing on Windows
Cost: Limited free version; paid plans available
Works on: Windows 10 and 11
Worth knowing: The first three exports can be full length. Later free exports are limited to two minutes.
CapCut
CapCut is an approachable video editor aimed particularly at social-media videos, short tutorials and vertical content. It includes templates, captions, effects, music, background removal and numerous AI-assisted tools. It can be used online or installed on desktop and mobile devices.
Best for: Social-media and mobile-friendly video creation
Cost: Free version; optional Standard and Pro subscriptions
Works on: Web browsers, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android
Worth knowing: Many effects, templates, stock assets, cloud features and AI tools require a subscription or additional credits. Look for the Pro symbol before building a project around a particular feature.
Kdenlive
An open-source video editor, designed to meet most needs from basic video editing to professional work. Kdenlive allows you to use and arrange several audio and video tracks and each one can be locked or muted. Kdenlive can use almost any audio and video formats directly (without needing to convert them). There are also lots of effects to choose from (from colour correction to audio adjustments), and transform options.
Best for: Powerful open-source multitrack video editing
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS, Linux and BSD
Worth knowing: Kdenlive offers many advanced features, but beginners should expect to spend some time learning the interface.
Windows Snipping Tool
Windows Snipping Tool is built into Windows 11 and can capture screenshots or record a selected area of your screen. It is a convenient choice for quick demonstrations when you do not need advanced recording or editing features. Simply press Windows + Shift + S to open the snipping tool overlay to capture an image snapshot. Press Windows l + Shift + R together to open the video-recording controls.
Best for: Quickly recording a selected area of a Windows screen
Cost: Included free with Windows
Works on: Windows 11
Worth knowing: Snipping Tool has only basic recording controls and does not capture a webcam. Recordings can be opened in Clipchamp if you need to add captions, audio or further editing.
Visit Windows Snipping Tool Help
QuickTime Player
QuickTime Player is included with macOS and can play video and audio files, record the whole screen or a selected area, and make recordings using a Mac’s camera or microphone. It also provides a few simple editing tools, including trimming, splitting, rearranging and rotating clips.
Best for: Quick screen recording and simple video trimming on a Mac
Cost: Included free with macOS
Works on: macOS
Worth knowing: QuickTime Player is not a full video editor and does not normally capture the Mac’s internal system audio during a screen recording. It can record microphone audio instead.
Specialist tools and resources
FBX Game Recorder
FBX Game Recorder is designed for capturing PC gameplay, livestreaming and saving short highlights without placing too much strain on the game. The current version supports Windows 10 and 11 and includes recording and basic editing tools. Free videos carry an FBX watermark; upgrading to Pro removes it.
Best for: Recording PC gameplay and saving highlights
Cost: Free with a watermark; paid Pro upgrade available
Works on: Windows 10 and 11
Worth knowing: The free plan includes recording and editing features, but exported videos carry an FBX watermark.
Pixabay
Pixabay provides a large collection of free stock video clips that can be downloaded and used in personal and commercial projects. Attribution is not normally required under the Pixabay Content License. However, you should still check for identifiable people, brands, logos and other third-party rights before using a clip commercially.
Best for: Free stock footage and background video clips
Cost: Free under the Pixabay Content License
Works on: A web browser
Worth knowing: Attribution is generally not required, but unaltered content cannot simply be resold. Check for recognisable people, brands and logos.
Boords
Boords is an online storyboarding tool for planning scenes, scripts, shot lists and animatics before filming begins. A free Solo plan is available. Collaboration, larger AI allowances and more advanced production features require a paid plan.
Best for: Planning storyboards, scripts, shot lists and animatics
Cost: Free Solo plan; paid collaboration plans available
Works on: A web browser
Worth knowing: Boords helps plan a video rather than edit the finished footage. AI allowances and collaboration features depend on the chosen plan.
Storyboard That
Storyboard That is a browser-based storyboarding tool with ready-made scenes, characters and objects. It is particularly approachable for schools, presentations and simple visual storytelling. Free accounts can currently create two three-cell storyboards each week, and downloaded images carry a watermark.
Best for: Classroom storyboards and simple visual storytelling
Cost: Limited free account; paid individual, education and business plans
Works on: A web browser
Worth knowing: Free accounts are limited to two three-cell storyboards per week, and downloaded storyboards carry a watermark.
Any Video Converter
Any Video Converter is a desktop application for changing video formats, compressing files, extracting audio and processing several files together. Its core converter is free for Windows and macOS, with no file-size limit or watermark. Additional AI, downloading and specialist tools are offered through paid versions.
Best for: Converting, compressing and extracting audio from video files
Cost: Free core converter; paid versions available
Works on: Windows and macOS
Worth knowing: The free converter has no watermark or file-size restriction. Some downloading, AI and advanced processing tools are paid.
VLC Media Player
VLC media player is an open-source multimedia player. It’s completely free, runs on all platforms and pretty much will play anything (most multimedia files, DVDs, Audio CDs, for instance). What more could you possibly want?
Best for: Playing unusual video and audio formats
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS
Worth knowing: VLC is principally a media player rather than a video editor. It includes conversion and recording tools, but they are not especially beginner-friendly.
RecordScreen.io
Browser-based screen recorder. Just remember to download your video – because if you close it without downloading, you can’t retrieve your recording!
Best for: Making a one-off screen recording without installing software
Cost: Free
Works on: A compatible desktop web browser
Worth knowing: Browser permissions and available capture options can vary. Make a short test recording before recording anything important.
Loom
Loom is designed for recording and sharing short video messages, demonstrations and explanations. You can capture your screen, camera and microphone and then share the recording using a link. The free Starter plan is limited to 25 videos per person, five minutes per recording and 720p resolution.
Best for: Short video messages, demonstrations and team communication
Cost: Free Starter plan; paid plans available
Works on: Web browsers, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android
Worth knowing: The free plan allows 25 videos per person, with a five-minute limit and 720p recording quality.
RecordCast
RecordCast combines a browser-based screen recorder with a simple video editor. It can capture your screen, webcam, microphone and compatible system audio without installing desktop software, and recordings are processed locally. Free subscribers are currently limited to five minutes per recording.
Best for: Browser-based screen recording with basic editing
Cost: Free plan
Works on: Desktop browsers, including Chrome and Firefox
Worth knowing: Free subscribers are limited to five-minute recordings. Recordings are processed locally and can be exported without a watermark.
Screencastify
Screencastify is a Chrome-based recorder designed particularly for schools, Chromebook users and quick instructional videos. It can capture a browser tab, an application, the desktop and a webcam. The free plan currently allows up to 10 videos, with a maximum recording length of 30 minutes each.
Best for: School, Chromebook and Chrome-based instructional recordings
Cost: Free plan; paid Starter and Pro plans
Works on: Chrome and ChromeOS, including Chrome on Windows, macOS and Linux
Worth knowing: The free plan allows 10 videos of up to 30 minutes each. Additional editing, storage and AI tools require a paid plan.
Gifcap
With Gifcap, you can create animated GIFs from a screen recording online.
Best for: Turning a short screen demonstration into an animated GIF
Cost: Free
Works on: Compatible desktop web browsers
Worth knowing: GIF files cannot contain sound, and longer recordings can produce extremely large files.
HandBrake
HandBrake is a free, open-source tool for converting and compressing video files. It can make a large video smaller, change it to a more widely supported format or prepare it for a particular device. Everything is processed locally on the computer, and no account is required.
Best for: Converting and compressing video files
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS and Linux
Worth knowing: HandBrake is a converter rather than a video editor. Its many technical settings can look intimidating, but the built-in presets cover most everyday jobs.
Subtitle Edit
Subtitle Edit is a free, open-source program for creating, correcting, converting and synchronising subtitles. It includes video preview, waveform and timing tools, spell-checking, translation assistance, OCR and optional speech-to-text features. It works offline too which could be helpful for confidential or sensitive recordings.
Best for: Creating, correcting and synchronising subtitles
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS and Linux
Worth knowing: The newer cross-platform version covers the principal editing and conversion tools, although some specialist features from the older Windows version are still being added.
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Note: please read the disclaimer before downloading / using any software.