16 Best YouTube Recording Software in 2024

Try Movavi Screen Recorder!

  • Easy capture
  • Webcam recording
  • High-quality footage
Edited by Ben Jacklin
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Though there are many YouTube downloaders, they only allow you to download the whole video. In most cases, you only want a specific portion of the video. In this case, a YouTube screen recorder is the ideal option. The key, however, is choosing the best YouTube recorder. So if you’re wondering what software YouTubers use to record their screen, check out our recommended screen recorders.

Program

Our rating

Best for

Download

8/10

Capturing gaming videos

6/10

Presentation videos

Best YouTube recorders

Though there are free options, the best YouTube recording software is usually paid for. Here are the top picks to help you choose the best option. Each screen recorder for a PC offers specific features, so it should be easy to pick the best screen recorder for YouTube videos according to your needs.

OS: Windows, macOS.

Price: free version with some limitations, $59.95 for the full version.

Best for fast and easy screen recording.

Whether you want to record your online calls, webinars, or a YouTube video, Movavi Screen Recorder is the perfect screen capture tool. With a few clicks, you can record your video without missing a second. The software allows you to draw on the video during the recording process. After the recording is done, you can trim the video or cut out unwanted fragments. The program also has a free version, which is available with a few restrictions: a watermark on output videos and the inability to add description or tags to your videos before sharing them on YouTube.

Features

  • Webcam capture
  • Record audio
  • Draw on videos
  • Grab separate streams
  • Schedule recordings
  • Quick share
  • Add mouse movements and keystrokes
  • Conversion ability

Pros

  • The option to draw on videos
  • Easy-to-use
  • Unlimited recording time

Cons

  • Only basic video-editing tools

Our rating: 10/10

Bandicam

OS: Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10.

Price: $39.95

Best for capturing gaming videos.

If you need a screen capture software that allows you to record specific parts of the computer screen, try Bandicam. You'll also be able to capture any game that uses the DirectX/OpenGL/Vulkan graphics technologies. To use this software, you'll only need to pay a one-time fee of $39.95. However, for use with multiple PCs, there are separate packages priced differently.

Features

  • Real-time drawing
  • Schedule recording
  • Add webcam overlay
  • Add mouse effects
  • Audio feature

Pros

  • Allows you to capture specific parts of the screen
  • Unlimited recording time

Cons

  • Not compatible with macOS

Our rating: 8/10

Download Bandicam

ScreenFlow

OS: Mac.

Price: $129 per year.

Best for presentation videos.

If you download ScreenFlow, you'll not only be able to record videos but also edit them. The interface is quite simple, so you won’t spend much time mastering the program. If you want to access stock videos, images, and music, you can buy an additional subscription to Stock Media Library integrated with ScreenFlow.

Features

  • Device recording
  • Animations and motion graphics
  • Closed caption support
  • Video-editing tools

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Editing features available

Cons

  • Only available for Mac users

Our rating: 6/10

Download ScreenFlow

FineShare FineCam

OS: Windows, macOS.

Price: free plan, $9.95 per month, $29.99 per year, $59.9 lifetime plan.

Best for screen recording and online meetings.

As an AI virtual camera, FineCam is also a powerful recording software that suits everyone: even a beginner can learn how to use it in a few minutes. Besides YouTube videos, FineCam is also able to record a webpage or an app window. And when you have online meetings, FineCam will make you look better in the camera with its versatile functions such as background removal, camera filters, and personal brand.

Features

  • Record videos in small segments
  • Record multiple scenes at once
  • Convert phone into webcam
  • Webcam background removal
  • Hardware acceleration

Pros

  • Support resolution up to 4K
  • Unlimited recording time
  • Intuitive and simple interface

Cons

  • No video editing functions

Our rating: 9/10

Download FineShare FineCam

EaseUS RecExperts

OS: Mac and Windows.

Price: $19.95 per month, $39.95 per year.

Best for screen capturing and video editing.

If you want a screen capture tool that works on both Mac and Windows, try EaseUS RecExperts. With this paid app, you'll get an intuitive tool that is simple to use. Subscriptions are priced at $19.95 and $39.95 per month and year, respectively. A trial version with limited features is also available.

Features

  • Capture audio and video simultaneously
  • Record webcam
  • Flexible screen capture
  • Game recording mode
  • Task scheduler
  • Editing tools

Pros

  • Unlimited recording time
  • Zoom function
  • Game recording mode

Cons

  • The trial version has a watermark

Our rating: 9/10

Download EaseUS RecExperts

TinyTake

OS: Mac and Windows.

Price: free version with limited features, packages for $29.95, $59.95, and $99.95 per year.

Best for adding annotations to videos.

TinyTake is a screen recording tool with various features. Its packages cater to both personal and commercial-use clients. With the free personal-use package, you'll have limited features, e.g., the recording time is limited to 5 minutes.

Features

  • Webcam capture
  • Cloud storage
  • Assign custom short-cut keys

Pros

  • Relatively cheap
  • Annotation tools

Cons

  • Limited recording time

Our rating: 6/10

Download TinyTake

Best free YouTube video recorders

If paid programs seem expensive, there are great free apps with good features. Here's a list of the best YouTube recorders for free.

OBS Studio

OS: Linux, Mac, and Windows.

Price: free.

Best for adding audio effects.

OBS is a free and open-source tool that allows you to record videos on YouTube and other platforms. Among free video capture services, many users consider it one of the best YouTube recording software. It offers intuitive and high-performance screen capturing features accompanied by audio mixing capabilities.

Features

  • Capture multiple sources
  • Intuitive audio mixer

Pros

  • Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • The layout can be overwhelming for novice users

Our rating: 8/10

Download OBS Studio

VLC Media Player

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Price: free.

Best for quick use.

Other than being a popular media player, VLC is also a top screen capture tool. It's open-source software that's free to download.

Features

  • Offers full-screen recording
  • Includes sharing option

Pros

  • It runs on all platforms
  • No ads, spyware, and user tracking

Cons

  • Limited features

Our rating: 5/10

Download VLC Media Player

Screen Capture

OS: Any.

Price: free.

Best for capturing videos in your browser.

Screen Capture is a free online screen recorder you can use for capturing your screen with ease. It works in your browser, so it can run on both Windows and Mac devices with ease, and it doesn't need to be downloaded or installed. It saves videos in HD quality and has strict privacy controls, so all of your recordings will be safe and secure. It also has features to record your mic and webcam, if needed.

Features

  • Free to use
  • Saves videos in HD quality
  • Microphone and webcam capture also available

Pros

  • Completely free for all users
  • No downloads or installations needed
  • Speedy and reliable

Cons

  • Watermark is present on your recordings

Our rating: 9/10

Go to Screencapture.com

Ezvid

OS: Windows.

Price: free.

Best for adding visual effects to your video.

Ezvid is a free screen recorder with various effects and features. It lets you record screen and voice, control your video’s speed, and draw on video recordings. The program allows you to record whatever appears on your computer screen – web pages, games, applications, etc.

With Ezvid, you can edit your video and then save it or upload it directly to YouTube.

Features

  • Speed control
  • Instant slideshow maker
  • Free music included
  • Drawing on the screen
  • Speech synthesis

Pros

  • Convenient timeline for editing
  • Simple interface
  • Many editing tools

Cons

  • The recording time is limited to 45 minutes
  • Not available for macOS

Our rating: 9/10

Download Ezvid

Screencast-o-Matic

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

Price: free basic plan, $1.65/month for Deluxe, $4.00/month for Premier.

Best for students and educators.

If you have no prior experience with screen recording tools, Screencast-o-Matic is one of the best YouTube recording software for you. It can be used with a wide range of videos, including gameplay.

Features

  • Editing tools
  • Host and share contents

Pros

  • The intuitive design enhances the user experience

Cons

  • Building a content library takes time

Our rating: 7/10

Download Screencast-o-Matic

Loom

OS: Any.

Price: free.

Best for recording videos with Google Chrome.

Loom is a free screen recorder extension available for Google Chrome. You can download and install this extension directly to your Chrome browser and then activate it as needed to record videos. It's very easy to use and can also be used for recording other parts of your screen and your webcam, along with both internal audio and external audio from a microphone.

Features

  • Record screen, camera, and audio
  • Automatically save videos to the cloud or share via link
  • Simple editing features to annotate and enhance your recordings

Pros:

  • Really easy to use and ideal for beginners
  • Handy built-in editor
  • Rapid sharing and saving

Cons

  • Only available in Chrome

Our rating: 8/10

Get Loom

FlashBack Express

OS: Windows.

Price: free basic version, $49 for the Pro version.

Best for adding features such as captions.

From recording your screen to making engaging videos, FlashBack has it all. Better yet, it allows you to add commentary and music and enhance your recordings with images, arrows, and captions.

Features

  • Webcam capture
  • Editing tools
  • Add music and commentary

Pros

  • Wide range of features
  • No watermarks

Cons

  • Only available to Windows users

Our rating: 9/10

Download FlashBack Express

ScreenRec

OS: Windows, Linux.

Price: free.

Best for saving time at work.

ScreenRec is another free screen recorder you can use for capturing your screen. It's primarily aimed at business users, helping people save time at work by quickly capturing and sharing videos and screen recordings with one another. It's very fast and efficient, able to save high-quality recordings in a matter of minutes. It also features instant sharing and strong privacy protection.

Features

  • 1-click screen recording
  • Can record audio and camera, too
  • Instant sharing

Pros

  • Ideal for business use
  • Beginner-friendly user interface
  • Extra features like editing and sharing

Cons

  • Not yet available on Mac

Our rating: 8/10

Download ScreenRec

ShareX

OS: Windows.

Price: free.

Best for taking screenshots.

As the name suggests, ShareX is a screen capture tool that allows easy sharing to other platforms. It's a lightweight open-source tool that also has editing features.

Features

  • Customizable workflows
  • Annotation tools
  • Over 80 destinations to share with

Pros

  • Lots of sharing options
  • Wide range of features

Cons

  • The interface is not appealing

Our rating: 8/10

Download ShareX

QuickTime Player

OS: Mac and Windows 10.

Price: free.

Best for basic screen-capturing needs.

Developed by Apple as the official media player for macOS, QuickTime can also serve as a screen capture tool. Though it has not been designed primarily for this function, it offers reliable functions. You can record the entire screen or a specific portion as well as games. The process is easy to follow, making the tool convenient for all users.

Features

  • Record an entire screen or a part of the screen
  • Include the pointer or clicks in the screen recording

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • You can add audio to the videos

Cons

  • Limited features

Our rating: 6/10

Download QuickTime Player

How to choose the best recording software for YouTube

If you're not sure which video recording software for YouTube to pick, here are some factors to keep in mind.

  • Ease-of-use: Try to find an app or tool that is easy for you to use and matches your technical ability level.
  • Features: Some recording apps are quite basic, but others can come with a wide range of features, such as audio recording, webcam recording, and editor tools. Find one with all the features you need.
  • Price: Some recorders are free, while others may have one-off or recurring payments. Try to find a tool that fits your budget and gives you all you need at the best price.
  • User reviews: Check out user reviews of different apps and software to find out which one is best. User reviews can help you find out more about apps and discover if they have any bugs or other issues.
  • Support: Check to see if the app you want to use has good user support and tutorials to help you get started and solve problems if anything goes wrong.

Summary

We hope that this guide has given you some great options. There are a decent amount of options when it comes to screen recording, each with its own advantages and features. If you’re struggling with the choice of a program, try out Movavi Screen Recorder.

Movavi Screen Recorder

The perfect way to record anything from your screen

Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best YouTube video recorder?

Here are our five top recommendations for YouTube video recording software:

  • Movavi Screen Recorder

  • Bandicam

  • Flashback Express

  • Screen Capture

  • Screencast-O-Matic

Read through the full article to learn more about these apps and other ways to record videos.

Can you record from YouTube?

Other than downloading videos on YouTube, it's possible to capture entire videos or specific sections using video recorders for YouTube or screen-capturing software.

Is screen-recording YouTube illegal?

As the most prominent video streaming platform globally, YouTube has stringent regulations to prevent infringement on copyrights. As such, questions on the legality of recording on the platform are genuine. If you are recording videos on YouTube for personal use, such as viewing offline, then it's legal. However, if you attempt to use the video for commercial purposes, such as uploading it as your video on YouTube, they'll take action against you.

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