Screencasting is the method of recording your macOS screen and embedding customized audio with it. It is mainly used to create tutorial videos and also by YouTubers who want to record their voice commenting or explaining what is being displayed on the screen. Many applications can help you with this and they do have some unique extra features as well. Let us check out the best screencast software for macOS in 2023.
Best Screencast Software for Mac
1. OBS
To begin the list of free screencasting software for macOS, we have Open Broadcaster Software which is an open-source and free application. It allows users to record both screen videos and live stream. Users can benefit from other features like Scene Composition, Broadcasting, Real-Time Captures, etc. It is an easy-to-use software and can record audio from different sources which makes it one of the best screencast software for macOS. Some of its most important features are:
- Enables lanczos3 and bilinear resampling
- Output of the recordings can be saved as MLV or MP4
- Uses AAC & H264 to encode
2. QuickTime
The next one on the list of free screencast recorders for macOS is Apple’s built-in application, QuickTime, which is preinstalled on all macOS devices. This application supports a variety of panoramic images, picture sounds, high-quality and digital videos. The onscreen controls of this program are similar to a DVD player. It is generally used as a video content viewer application that can also stream live content.
Features:
- The interface is intuitive and easy to use.
- The video editing functions are limited.
- Incorporates into the establishment program modules
Click here to download QuickTime
3. Monosnap
Another free screencasting software for macOS is Monosnap that can help create and transfer high quality screenshots to cloud service. It is easy to use and has an intuitive interface.
Features:
- Allows users to highlight important details on the screen with an arrow or other shape.
- Allows users to upload screenshots with ease
- Users can capture full screen or even just a part of the screen.
Click here to download Monosnap
4. Loom
Moving forward we have Loom, which is a free screencast recorder for macOS and is available for free and also has paid versions for advanced users. The free version supports screen and camera recordings and offers 480p resolution. It also enables viewers to comment and provide reactions to the videos as well as provide viewer insights. It is available for Windows, macOS, and iOS with the Android version in the development phase making it one of the best screencast software macOS.
Features:
- Create GIF thumbnails of your video.
- Available as a Chrome Browser extension
- Password Protection for Videos
5. Free Screencast
The last one on the list of free screencasting software for macOS is Free Screencast which was developed back in 2005. This application has many powerful features embedded and allows users to record either the full screen or just a specific area of your screen. In addition, this app can record sound from various sources like microphones, line audio mixers, and other input devices.
Features:
- Video can be recorded from a Webcam or IP camera.
- Users can edit videos, add filter effects, create text and image overlays, etc.
- Schedule recordings when you are away.
6. Camtasia
Let us begin the list of best screencast software for Mac (paid) with Camtasia which is one of the popular ones out there. This application seems to have all the features possible that one could require to record the screen and edit the video later. Users can choose to record the entire screen or choose a part of the screen and record audio from either the system or a separate microphone attached or both at the same time.
The recording session can be paused at any time and resumed later. The audio streams can be recorded as a separate track which can be edited and combined with any video clip later. Video editing includes trimming, merging, and splitting video clips. It also includes a library of various elements that can be imported into the video clip like icons, motion graphics, music tracks. A green screen feature is also included that allows users to replace the video background.
Features:
- Add Hotspots and Quizzes to make your video interactive.
- Videos can be saved in MP4, EVI, GIF formats.
- Cloud Storage like Google and Dropbox is supported.
- Price: $249 for two machines
- Trial version Available
7. Screencast-O-Matic
Moving forward, we have Screencast-O-Matic which is a remarkable screencast for macOS. It allows users to capture the screen and add a webcam at the same time. Audio input includes system sounds and user narration options as well. One of the unique features included importing a script and breaking it into different sections only to add each section separately to a screen recording.
This application allows users to eliminate the background in your videos with a green screen effect. As far as audio is concerned, it automatically can recognize and identify silence. It is available on all major platforms like macOS, iOS, Android, and Windows.
Features:
- Simple and very easy to use by anyone without training.
- Add design elements like arrows, shapes, and freehand drawings.
- Apply visual effects like transitions and other overlay effects.
- Price: $18 per year and Premier Plan at $48 per year.
- Trial Version available with limited recording
Click here to visit the official download
8. ScreenFlow
If you are looking for a screencast software for macOS that is packed with video editing and enhancement features, then your search ends here with ScreenFlow. This app contains all the basic features like combining videos and webcam feed along with microphone audio. It is the editing features that set it apart from other apps in this list. One of the most important features of editing includes allowing the user to impose several layers within one video.
Other enhancement features include extraordinary zooming capabilities and annotation options with transition effects. There are several video and audio effects that can be applied on the screen. It also offers its users a Stock Media Library containing over half a million images, audio, and video clips.
Features:
- Export Videos as MP4, Prores, and GIFs.
- Publish your videos from within the app on Wistia, Vimeo, and YouTube.
- Create professional-quality tutorials
- Price: $129 as one time and $46 for Stock Media Library that is an optional purchase.
- Trial version Available
9. Screencastify
The next app in the list of best screencast software for macOS is Screencastify which is a Google Chrome Browser extension rather than a standalone application. However, this extension is different from the free ones as it can record the entire screen instead of recording only the contents of the browser window which is a characteristic of free extensions. The editing features are limited to cropping, trimming, focusing the mouse pointer, and other basic features. This can be a problem if you wish to make tutorials and training videos as you need a lot of customizations like pointers, arrows, etc.
The video export options include MP4 and users can upload their videos on Google Drive without saving them on their hard drive. There are two versions with the freemium version applying a watermark while the other paid version does not have any watermark and allows users to edit their videos before saving them. It is suitable for creating simple videos for general and basic purposes.
Features:
- Lightweight and resource-friendly extension
- Easy to use with an intuitive interface.
- Export as MP4 to your Google drive.
- Price: $24 per year
- Trial Version: Free version can record only for upto 10 minutes.
10. Icecream Screen Recorder
The final paid application to screencast on macOS is Icecream Screen Recorder which contains almost all the features that a screencast app must-have. It allows users to alter the video playing speed and trim. crop videos with a special focus on zoom in and zoom out feature. A special drawing toolbar is available which can be used to enhance your simple videos. This toolbar allows users to use a paintbrush to add text, basic shapes, or custom drawings to your video screen. Other simple video and audio effects along with transition can also be applied.
The production quality provided by this application is quite basic but supports exporting the final product in different formats. There is no restriction on the length of the video you wish to create and is simple to use.
Features:
- Very Easy and Great Interface.
- Fewer features as compared to others.
- It is available on Windows Android and of course, macOS.
- Price: $29.95 one time
Trial version available and allows 5 minutes of video-only.
The Final Word on Best Screencast Software For Mac
The above-mentioned applications are the best free screencast recorders for macOS which can be used without burning a hole in your pocket. These applications will do the job on a basic level with OBS applications providing the most advanced features. The reason for limited features is the fact that these software are free of cost and do not have advanced features available in paid programs.
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