How do I record my Mac screen with good quality?

To record your Mac screen with good quality use one of the screen recorders suggested above: Adjust the Quality: For higher quality, use a tool that allows you to adjust the resolution and frame rate. Ensure Ample Storage and CPU: High-quality recordings can be large in size and require good CPU performance, so ensure your Mac has enough resources. Test Your Settings: Do a short test recording to check the quality and make adjustments if needed. Record in a Quiet Environment: To ensure good audio quality, record in a quiet environment and use a high-quality microphone if possible.

The Best Screen Capture Software for Your Mac

Let’s be honest. The built-in Mac screen capture app isn’t ideal. And once you try several other Mac screen recording apps, you realize they have their own shortcomings.

So, you need something better. After all, as a Mac user, you probably love the simplicity that comes with their hardware and software.

This guide is for you if you want to know how to screen record for free on Mac and enjoy it. Here are the best free screen capture tools for Apple users.

Why use third-party screen capture software for Mac

The current global economy has enabled remote working, an unexpected shift in the way we used to work. Now video calls are the order of the day.

Unlike the traditional workplace where papers and inks were the norm, screen capturing is now an important part of the work culture.

Screen capturing with the default app is not meant for sharing. It creates huge files that you can’t upload in video emails and it doesn’t make sense to upload them to shared drives.

A screen recorder should make it possible to record every instant of a conversation or work ongoing on the screen and make that easy to share. It should be a simple means of documenting and referencing.

The Best Screen Capture Tools For Mac Users

Below are ten screen capture tools for Mac users who want better screen recordings.

ScreenRec

ScreenRec is a Mac screen recorder and screenshot software that is also available for Windows and Linux. It enables you to capture screen videos, as well as take and annotate screenshots. People use it to create tutorials, record online meetings, and record streaming video, among other things.

One of the few screen recorders for Mac with both internal audio and microphone capture, ScreenRec lets you quickly create all types of screen videos.

This small app packs a punch with its ability to produce high-quality video recordings with minimal file size. With instant private sharing and a dead-simple interface, you have everything you need to send video messages instantly or save your recordings locally.

Pros

Record computer audio and your voice
Capture footage from your webcam
Free from watermarks and time limits
Lightweight, no lag screen recorder
Cloud recording lets you share your videos instantly
Private shareable links
2 GB private and secure cloud storage for free
Record the full screen or a specific area
Automatically get a sharing link after recording
Offline recording available
Up to 4k@120fps video recording

Cons

No video editing tools

Rating

4.5 out of 5

“Our experience with ScreenRec at Overe for creating video demos of our product has been great. This tool is not only lightweight but also lightning-fast, which makes it a great fit for our needs.”

Price

ScreenRec offers all the above features for free. Advanced features are available on the paid plans.

Screenflick

Screenflick is a screen capture software designed to provide high-quality screen captures for Mac. Screenflick is a feature-rich screen recording tool that is designed specifically for Mac. It provides many advanced features to help you create professional-quality screen captures. Screenflick is user-friendly and easy to use, even for users with little or no experience with screen recording software.

Pros

High-quality video capture
Records system and microphone audio
Support for a wide range of file formats, including HEVC, H.264, WebM, ProRes, and GIF
Mouse and keystroke highlighting
Webcam recording
Draw on screen
Timelapse recording feature

Cons

Watermark on free version
No video editing

Rating

4.3 out of 5

“I like this product - easy to use, powerful, very clean and simple interface.”

Price

Screenflick is a paid program, with a one-time cost of $35. However, it also has a free trial version, which provides a limited set of features.

VLC Media Player

While VLC (VideoLAN Client) is widely known as a free, open-source, and cross-platform multimedia player. It can play a wide range of audio and video formats. But did you know it can also record your screen?

VLC is known for its ease of use and user-friendly interface that makes it easy for you to navigate and find the features you need. VLC is another free screen recorder for Mac. Depending on your workflow or preference, here are other features to help you decide whether to choose VLC or not.

Pros

Three recording modes: Desktop, TV – Digital, and DirectShow
Select desired frame rate from 1 to 100 fps
Various output formats, including MP4, WebM, TS, and ASF

Cons

No instant sharing
VLC captures the screen but not the audio
Records the whole desktop screen, not selected specific region

Rating

4.7 out of 5

“I love the record option through which I can trim selected parts of the video easily.”

Price

VLC is completely free and open-source software as there are no fees or hidden costs associated with using the player.

Movavi Screen Recorder

Movavi Screen Recorder is a screen recording software for Mac that provides a range of features that make it easy to capture high-quality screen recordings. Although its price may be a consideration for some users, it has a free trial version that is just as good.

Movavi has a clear and easy-to-follow user interface. It allows for both screen and audio recording, as well as webcam recording.

Pros

Record specific areas or the entire screen
Various frame rate and quality options
Mouse click highlighting and cursor effects
Webcam recording
Microphone and computer audio recording

Cons

Limited video editing features
Watermark on free version

Rating

4.5 out of 5

“Movavi Screen Recorder has been excellent overall, but for those on a budget, it may not be the most cost-efficient. There are other completely free resources you can use for basic screen capturing.”

Price

Movavi Screen Recorder is a paid software, with a one-time cost of $59.95. However, a free trial version is also available, which provides a limited set of features. Movavi is not one of those tools that qualify as a free screen recorder for Mac with no watermark.

Monosnap

Monosnap is a powerful and versatile screen capture and image editing tool designed for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Its simple interface allows for capturing screenshots and recording screen activity. This makes it an ideal solution for anyone looking to capture and share visual information quickly and easily.

With Monosnap, users can capture screenshots of their entire screen, a specific window, or a selected area. And then easily annotate and edit the images using a range of tools such as text boxes, arrows, and shapes.

The software also includes image editing tools. It allows you to crop, resize, and adjust the color and brightness of your images. But for the videos, you will need video editing software.

Pros

Record the whole screen, a desired region, or a selected window
Annotation tools for screenshots
Features to highlight details during recording
Free cloud storage available
Integration with popular cloud storage services

Cons

Audio capturing can be limited
You need a paid license to use the integrations

Rating

4.1 out of 5

“The annotation features are great - very easy to blur areas, add text, and other annotations.”

Price

Monosnap offers both free and paid plans. The free plan provides limited features, while the paid plans start at $2.99 per month and provide access to all of the software's features.

Droplr

Next on our list of the best screen recording for Mac is Droplr – a cloud-based platform that isn’t widely known. Meanwhile, it packs screen capturing, file sharing, and collaboration into one easy-to-use software. With its advanced screen capturing ability, Droplr makes it easy for you to capture both screenshots and screen videos. You can record your screen activity, and share your work with a single click in real-time.

Pros

Easy-to-use interface
4K video screen recording
Cloud storage
Team file sharing and collaboration
Annotation tools for screenshots
Integrates with popular cloud tools

Cons

No free plan

Rating

4.5 out of 5

“I like the easy of use and the fact that the screenshots and recording go into the cloud.”

Price

Droplr offers both free and paid plans. There is a free trial and paid plans start at $4.99 per month, providing access to all of the software's features.

OBS Studio

Next on our list of the best screen capture software for Mac is OBS. OBS Studio is an open-source software that primarily lets you stream your video content and share it with the world. However, it also has screen recording capabilities. This app offers high-quality free screen recording on Mac you can count on.

Think of OBS studio as a giant virtual camera that captures every pixel of your screen. Then, it transforms it into an immersive and interactive experience. It's like having a window into your desktop that you can tweak, customize, and share with anyone, anywhere.

The downsides are that it is not a simple app and it doesn’t offer instant sharing like ScreenRec or Droplr, for example.

Pros

Enables both live streaming and screen recording
Ability to extend functionality with plugins
Ability to record in high resolution
Native support for Apple Silicon Macs
Lightweight app, reducing lag when recording

Cons

Very steep learning curve
Infrequent updates

Rating

4.5 out of 5

“OBS makes it easy to screen capture, video capture, audio recording and also the integration to upload videos directly to YouTube is a plus feature.”

Price

OBS Studio is open source, hence free.

KAP

Kap is an open-source Mac screen recording tool that provides a simple and efficient solution for recording your Mac's screen. The software includes features such as adjustable recording

frame rate, and automatic file saving. It also integrates with popular tools like Slack and Dropbox.

KAP allows you to capture and share high-quality GIF, MP4, WebM, and APNG files. Export to Giphy, imgur, S3, or copy directly to your clipboard and more using community-created plugins.

Pros

Screen recording
Ability to record audio
Adjustable framerate
Integration with popular cloud services
Exports in various formats: GIF, MP4, WebM, APNG
Features click highlighting and trimming
GIF capture is efficient

Cons

Some users report stability issues
Early versions of the app may cause your computer to hang

Rating

3.1 out of 5

“I hated how clunky most other GIF recorders were. With some products, the GIFs generated are hard to find. With Kap, they're always named "Kapture", so I just search for the most recent "Kapture" to post on whatever I'm working on.”

Price

KAP is open source, hence it’s a Mac free screen recording tool.

Comparison Table Of Mac Screen Capture Tools

A table overview of the operating systems the screen capture apps work on Mac.

Tool	Screenshots	Webcam recording	Audio Capture	Recording Quality	Export/Sharing Options	Price
ScreenRec	Yes, with annotation	Yes	System and microphone audio	Up to 4k@120fps	Yes, instant private sharing + export	Free, paid plans
VLC Media Player	Yes	Yes	No audio with screen	Up to 100 fps	No instant sharing	Free
Screenflick	No	Yes	System and microphone audio	Up to 60 fps	Not specified	Paid, free trial
Movavi Screen Recorder	Yes	Yes	System and microphone audio	Up to 1080p@ 60 fps	Yes, instant sharing	Paid, free trial
Monosnap	Screen capture, editing	Yes	System and microphone audio	Up to 60fps	Yes, instant sharing + integrations	Free, paid plans
Droplr	Yes, with annotations	Yes	Microphone only	4k video	Yes, instant sharing + export	Free trial, paid plans
OBS Studio	Yes	Yes	Microphone and system audio	4k@120fps	No instant sharing; integration with YouTube	Free and open source
KAP	Yes	No	Record audio	Up to 60fps	Integration with cloud services	Free and open source

To record your Mac screen with good quality use one of the screen recorders suggested above:

Adjust the Quality:

For higher quality, use a tool that allows you to adjust the resolution and frame rate.

Ensure Ample Storage and CPU:

High-quality recordings can be large in size and require good CPU performance, so ensure your Mac has enough resources.

Test Your Settings:

Do a short test recording to check the quality and make adjustments if needed.

Record in a Quiet Environment:

To ensure good audio quality, record in a quiet environment and use a high-quality microphone if possible.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Very few screen capture tools offer premium features for free. However, ScreenRec is a constant contender on the list of best free screen capture tools for Mac. On top of ScreenRec's best features are its file output and lightweight screen capturing. Screenflick is another option. Consider any of them if you need to capture your screen on a Mac.

Snipping is the default screen capturing software for Windows. The Mac equivalent of snipping is Screenshot. You can access it by pressing and holding Alt+Shift+5 at the same time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when choosing the right screen capture tool for your Mac, it's important to consider your specific needs and how each tool's features align with them. ScreenRec and OBS Studio offer versatility across various platforms, making them ideal for users who work with multiple operating systems. VLC Media Player is a robust, free option for those needing basic recording features, while Screenflick and Movavi Screen Recorder stand out for their high-quality capture capabilities. Monosnap and Droplr offer additional annotation and sharing features, beneficial for collaborative work. Lastly, KAP, being free and simple to use, caters well to users looking for an open-source option with essential functions. Your perfect tool will depend on the balance of user interface simplicity, file format support, recording quality, and the specific features that enhance your workflow.