Spotlight: AI chat, games like Retro, location changer, Roblox unblocked
Spotlight: AI chat, games like Retro, location changer, Roblox unblocked
There are many reasons why you need a Mac screen recorder. Video lessons, for example, are a good way to deliver knowledge and information while keeping attracting the attention of students. Small businesses and developers are able to present their products and apps with screen recorder software. Vloggers can make video tutorials and monetize on social media.
However, what is the best screen recorder for Mac? Firstly, the Mac comes with a built-in screen recording program, accessible through the shortcut Shift + Command + 5. Yet, its functionality is quite basic and it doesn't capture system audio. Secondly, QuickTime Player is also commonly used but only executes basic recording tasks. With this said, we’ve researched and picked several screen recording software options that are more user-friendly for Mac users. These options not only record audio and webcam but also offer advanced features like editing. Through professional testing and comparison, we've written this review article to help you choose the screen recording tool that suits you best. All the review is based on our lab research and hundreds of users’ reports. Follow us to read more.
See what can TopSevenReviews team offer you about the best review:
| Steps | Description |
| 1. Testing macOS | We picked three Macs of the latest macOS 14 Sonoma, macOS 13 Ventura, and macOS 12 Monterey to conduct various recording tasks. |
| 2. Task Setting | Then, we launched five kinds of recordings to test each recorder software including an online meeting, online lecture, online video, audio-only recording, and webcam recording. Besides, the recording durations vary in 5 min, 30 min, and 1 hour. |
| 3. Recording Process | During the converting process, we tested them from the start to the end by measuring recording easiness, recording stability, adding elements, and exporting result files. |
| 4. Result File Check-up | When receiving the recorded file, we compared them in final quality, picture clarity, information integrity, and more. |
Top Picks of Screen Recorder on Mac
Best screen recorder of all on Mac: AnyMP4 Screen Recorder
The flexible design can 100% meet your various need on screen recording on Mac.
Best free screen recorder for Mac: Icecream Screen Recorder
Although the free version has some limit, it can meet your basic need of screen recording
Best online screen recorder for Mac: Loom Screen Recorder
It enables you to record up to 5 minutes without paying a penny or installing software.
Best professional screen recorder on Mac: ScreenFlow
It integrates both a standard screen recorder and a video editor into a single package.
System Requirement: macOS 10.9 or later
Price: Free version, $14.99 for Pro version
Standout Features: Offers free version with features like fast sharing, adding annotation, and Zoom In option to enlarge recording area.
As a screen recorder app for Mac, Icecream Screen Recorder has been around for years. It allows you to record any region on your display. It is an easy way to create video tutorial, gameplays, app guide, live stream, and more. You just need to click the record button, select the desired area and the screen recording will begin. Plus, you can decide the output quality, format, and other options. While recording screen, you can add text, shapes, and arrows directly or add watermark logo for sharing on social media. The webcam overlay enables you to capture webcam while recording gameplay or video tutorial. However, you can only get full features and remove the limits in the Pro version.
System Requirement: All macOS
Price: Free for personal use and $8 per user per month for business use
Standout Features: Various area recordings with the Speaker notes feature to offer a complete speech outline during the online meeting or speech.
Loom Screen Recorder is not an independent screen recorder for Mac, but an extension for web browsers, like Google Chrome. This screen recording software on mac offers two kinds of accounts, free and business. Once you install the screen recorder to your browser on Mac and sign up an account, you can use it immediately. It provides three modes, screen only, camera only, as well as screen and camera. Plus, you can also decide to record full screen, custom region or a specific window. Of course, the free account has several limits, like up to 100 videos and screenshots, and each screen recording is no more than 5 minutes. To create an account, you have to associate with your email and private information.
It is an online screen recorder for Mac for free with limits. If you want to capture screen on Mac for 100% free without limitations, you can refer to AnyRec Free Screen Recorder. It is a web screen capture software to record video, audio, and webcam.
System Requirement: macOS 10.10.5 and later
Price: $30 for single user and $80 for family pack
Standout Features: Scroll screenshots and PDF output with convenient file management.
Capto expands on the abilities with a more robust set of tools for capturing screen or websites and recording on Mac. Unlike other screen recorders for Mac, Capto is a one-stop solution. After screen recording, you can also edit it within the built-in video editor. The screen recordings can be easily shared with other applications and popular cloud services. With the intelligent file manager, this screen recorder app on Mac is perfect for teachers, vloggers and small business. Before purchasing a license, you can get the basic features during 7-day free trial. The advanced features, like video editing, can only be unlocked in the formal app. Moreover, the export functionality requires improvement.
System Requirement: macOS 10.14.0 or later
Price: $129.99
”Standout
As a robust screen recorder and video editor, ScreenFlow is a Mac screen recorder with audio functions and is popular among creative professionals, small businesses and studios. It allows users to capture everything taking place on their screen along with computer audio, microphone and camera. When screen recording is done, you will be taken to the video editor window. Then you can add annotations, shapes and do other editing to the recording on the timeline. It enables users to create demos, high-quality tutorials, app review and guide, and presentations. In addition to screen, it is also able to record extra devices, like iPhone, online videos, gameplay and more. Besides MP4, you can also export the recording as animated GIF or other popular video formats. However, the cost is very high and not affordable for average people.
System Requirement: macOS Catalina or later
Price: $29
Standout Features: You can remotely control the recording process through different devices.
If you just need a free screen recorder on Mac, Screenflick is a good choice. It features high performance screen capturing for smooth. You can capture fluid motion up to 30 FPS in screen recording mode. It also provides a game recording mode to produce higher quality with up to 60 FPS. Screenflick supports full screen or custom region recording with audio from internal or external microphone and the system audio. You can decide to highlight mouse clicks and cursor track or hide them during screen recording. Another important functionality is to compress your recordings multiple times by changing resolution, quality and more. It supports the built-in FaceTime camera and external webcam or connected camera too. However, you still need an extra video editor to retouch your recordings.
System Requirement: macOS 10.10 or later
Price: $26.99
Standout Features: It’s compatible with various iOS or TV devices recording. Also, it supports you adding effects to the audio or video files.
As screen recorder apps become better and easier to use, there are more and more live videos produced by Mac users on YouTube, Twitch, and more. Screenium has long been one of the best computer screen recorders for Mac users who hope to record video and audio from their display. It lets you capture full screen, a single window or prescribed area. According to research, it is available to streaming videos and microphone audio. You can also create the picture-in-picture effect with iSight or other cameras. This screen recorder has a built-in video and audio editor too, although it is very simple and almost useless. After recording, you can upload the video to YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook and Flickr directly. Therefore, it is an easy way to share your screen recordings on Mac.
System Requirement: macOS 10.10 and later
Price: $29.25 per license per year, $44.25 for lifetime
Standout Features: Comprehensive functionalities for recording video and audio with different content: game, lecture, class, etc. Meanwhile, its powerful built-in editor can help you export the recorded files as much as possible.
AnyMP4 Screen Recorder is one of the best screen recorders for Mac users. It lets you choose the recording sources for different purposes, like screen, online video, app, system audio, microphone audio, and webcam. Moreover, you can enable multiple sources at the same time. Another important functionality is to make the schedule. You can set the start time, duration and recording based on your event. Then the app will start working automatically. That makes AnyMP4 Screen Recorder a perfect tool to save live stream and gameplay on Mac computers. Unlike other screen recorders, this app enables you to edit the recording while capturing screen, such as add text, annotations, shapes or arrows at specific frames. At important moment, you can take screenshots with the toolbar too. According to our research, it is the most cost-effective screen recorder for Mac users.
| Record screen and webcam | Record screen with system audio | Record screen with microphone | Highlight mouse | Record multiple screens | Hide cursor | Add annotations | Real time preview | On screen markup | Video resolution | Schedule recording | Output formats |
| 1080p | WebM and GIF | ||||||||||
| 1080p | MP4, AVI, or FLV. | ||||||||||
| 1080p | H.264 | ||||||||||
| Up to 4K | MP4, MOV, M4V | ||||||||||
| 1080p | MP4, MOV, FLV, GIF | ||||||||||
| Up to 4K and 5K | MP4, MOV, FLV | ||||||||||
| Yes, add annotations while recording | Up to 4K | MOV, M4V, GIF, WMV and MP4, etc. |
Does Mac have a built-in recorder?
As for video recording, you can use the pre-installed program via the shortcut Shift + Command + 5. Also, the QuickTime media player can also do screen recording. But they both result in no audio. Besides, if you just want to record audio, you use the Voice Memos app.
Where do Mac screen recordings go?
In the default situation, your Mac recording will be automatically saved in the desktop folder. Also, you can change the file track based on your third-party recorder software.
Why are screen recording files so big?
Usually, it depends on the resolution you set on your video recorder tool. The higher the resolution, the larger the file size. however, it can also be related to other factors like recording time length.
Conclusion
This article has reviewed and shared the top 7 best screen recorder apps for MacBook Pro and other Mac computers. It is well-known that QuickTime Player is the built-in screen recorder on Mac. However, it has several downsides, like cannot record screen and webcam at the same time, limited output format, only support audio recording through microphone and more. Obviously, it is not the best way to record screen on Mac. The apps shared above all have unique benefits and advantages, such as built-in video editor, excellent output quality, etc. They help you to convert your idea, presentation and more into visual content in order to attract audiences’ attention.
Did you find this helpful?
188 Votes
YESThanks for letting us know!
NoThanks for letting us know! 
Best Screen Recorder for Windows 10/11 with Audio [2024]
Video Recorder
Top 7 Online Video Converters: Free and Paid
Video Converter
Review of Screencast-O-Matic: Details, Pricing and Alternative
Video Recorder
CloudConvert Review – Is CloudConvert Safe and Free to Use
Video Converter
