The 6 Best Screen Recorder for Chromebooks 2024

Chromebooks are lightweight laptops designed primarily for web browsing and productivity tasks. While they’re known for their simplicity and efficiency, many users are unaware that Chromebooks also offer screen recording capabilities. This feature can be incredibly useful for sharing their screen, creating tutorials, or capturing important moments during online meetings.

If you’ve ever wanted to have a screen recorder for a Chromebook, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or professional, screen recording can be a valuable tool for communication and instruction. This article will introduce you to six of the best screen recorders for Chromebooks, helping you choose the right one for your needs.

Part 1. Top 6 Screen Recorder for Chromebooks

The following tools are designed to serve as Chromebook recorders, offering a range of features to suit various needs. These solutions come in different forms: some are online tools you can access through your browser, others are apps you can install, and some are extensions that integrate directly with Chrome.

Each tool has unique capabilities and strengths, so you are encouraged to explore them to find the one that best matches your requirements. To give you an overview of each app, here’s a tabular summary of important details:

Screencastify

Screencastify is a user-friendly screen recorder that simplifies communication at work. It lets you record, edit, and share HD videos directly from your Chrome browser. While the free version has limited recording time, Screencastify’s simplicity and integration with Google services make it an excellent choice for Chromebook users.

Key Features

• Record desktop, browser tab, or webcam

Screencastify allows you to capture the entire screen, a specific browser tab, or just the webcam. You can switch between different recording modes without disrupting your workflow as well.

• Real-time annotation

The platform provides tools for highlighting, drawing, and adding text during recording. The intuitive pen tool for freehand drawing and annotations enhances clarity during real-time key points.

• Basic editing tools

Screencastify offers simple yet effective editing capabilities for quick editing. You can trim, merge, and crop clips in-app. You can also add text overlays for captions, titles, or annotations.

Pros and Cons

Rating

Screencastify currently holds a 4.5/5 rating via the popular review website Capterra.

Loom

Loom combines video messaging with screen recording to create a powerful communication tool. Its ability to record your screen simultaneously, voice, and face creates engaging and personal videos. It’s useful for remote teams, making communication more expressive than email. Loom’s focus on quick, efficient video messaging and team-oriented features make it a top choice for businesses using Chromebooks.

Key Features

• Screen, voice, and face recording

Loom allows simultaneous screen, voice, and webcam capture for comprehensive presentations. You can personalize your recordings for enhanced viewer engagement.

• Instantly shareable videos

There’s no need for lengthy uploads or file transfers with Loom. It provides instant sharing capabilities via links, email, or social media without downloading.

• Activity dashboard

It provides detailed analytics on viewer engagement, including views, comments, and reactions. You can use the data to help track the effectiveness of your shared videos and gather feedback.

Pros and Cons

Rating

Loom holds a 4.7/5 rating based on 443 reviews via Capterra.

Zight (Formerly CloudApp)

Zight is a comprehensive screen recording solution that goes beyond basic capture. It offers powerful analytics, allowing you to track viewer engagement. Its easy-to-use features and professional branding options make it ideal for marketing and sales teams. Zight’s focus on reducing miscommunication and increasing productivity through visual content sets it apart in the Chromebook screen recording landscape.

Key Features

• Screen capture and recording

Zight offers excellent capture options for full-screen, specific windows, or selected areas. It also supports screenshots and video recordings for varied content creation.

• GIF maker

You can create animated GIFs from screen recordings or video clips. It’s ideal for quick and shareable social media or messaging content.

• Annotations

Zight allows you to add text, arrows, shapes, and highlights to screenshots and recordings. Its easy-to-use annotation tools are perfect for real-time or post-capture editing.

Pros and Cons

Rating
Zight holds a 4.6/5 rating based on 183 reviews as of June 2024 via Capterra.

Hippo Video

Hippo Video is a versatile screen recording tool with a comprehensive feature set. It offers both a quick edit mode for beginners and a pro edit mode for advanced users. Hippo Video excels in its branding capabilities, allowing users to customize videos with logos and color schemes. It’s a strong contender for Chromebook users seeking a full-featured screen recording solution.

Key Features

• Screen and webcam recording

You can capture your screen and webcam using Hippo Video simultaneously. You can also switch between screen-only, webcam-only, or combined views with a click.

• Powerful video editor

The tool offers advanced tools for trimming, cropping, and adding transitions and effects. It also supports multi-track editing and detailed customization, making it suitable for beginners and professionals.

• Branding options

Hippo Video allows customizable video branding with logos, colors, and themes. It can enhance the appearance of your brand, bringing consistency to your videos.
Pros and Cons

Rating

Hippo Video holds a 4.5/5 rating via the popular review site Capterra.

Awesome Screen Recorder

True to its name, Awesome Screen Recorder offers a robust set of features for both screen recording and screenshot capture. Its dual functionality as both a local and cloud-based recorder gives users flexibility in how they store their content. It also offers instant sharing capabilities and supports many video formats. While it requires an account for screen recording, it’s still a reliable choice for Chromebook users.

Key Features

• Desktop, tab, or camera recording

Awesome Screen Recorder gives you the flexibility to capture the entire desktop, browser tab, or your webcam. The recording is adjustable, and you can switch between modes for different needs.

• Multiple video formats

The platform supports various video formats with options to export in MP4, GIF, or even WebM formats. It adds versatility in sharing your content.

• Annotate during and after recording

The tool allows you to annotate in real-time and after recording. You can emphasize key points to enhance clarity and engagement.

Pros and Cons

Rating

Awesome Screen Recorder holds a 4.7/5 rating via the Chrome web store.

Nimbus Screen Recorder

Nimbus Screen Recorder distinguishes itself with its powerful screenshot and screen recording capabilities. It also offers a rich set of annotation tools for both images and videos. The built-in AI assistant for editing guide descriptions is an innovative touch that sets Nimbus apart in the Chromebook screen recording landscape.

Key Features

• Full or partial screenshots

You can capture your entire screen, specific windows, or selected areas. It supports detailed and focused visual documentation with customizable capture options.

• Screen and webcam recording

You can record your screen and webcam at the same time. It also provides high-definition capture for clear and engaging videos.

• Video to GIF conversion

Nimbus Screen Recorder allows you to convert recorded videos into GIFs. It provides a simple tool for editing and customizing GIFs for short, shareable animations.

Pros and Cons

Rating

Nimbus Screen Recorder holds a 4.6/5 rating on the Chrome web store.

Part 2. Optimizing Your Screen Recording Experience on a Chromebook

While Chromebooks are excellent for web browsing and productivity tasks, their hardware capabilities can be somewhat limited compared to traditional laptops. This can potentially affect the quality and smoothness of your screen recordings. However, with a few simple tweaks and best practices, you can significantly enhance your screen recording experience on a Chromebook. Let’s explore some tips to help you get the most out of your screen recording sessions.

• Enable hardware acceleration. Chromebooks can use hardware acceleration to improve performance. To enable this, go to Chrome settings, click on “Advanced,” then “System,” and toggle on “Use hardware acceleration when available.” This can help your Chromebook handle screen recording more efficiently.
• Close unnecessary tabs. Chromebooks often have limited RAM, so closing unnecessary tabs and applications can free up resources for your screen recording software. This can prevent lag and improve overall recording quality.
• Adjust screen recording settings. Most screen recording apps allow you to adjust video quality settings. If you’re experiencing performance issues, try lowering the frame rate or resolution. While this might slightly reduce video quality, it can lead to smoother recordings, especially on less powerful Chromebooks.
• Use a wired headset or external microphone. Built-in microphones on Chromebooks can sometimes produce lower-quality audio. Using a wired headset or external microphone can significantly improve your audio quality. USB microphones are usually plug-and-play on Chromebooks, making them an easy upgrade.
• Extend Chromebook storage. Screen recordings can quickly fill up your Chromebook’s limited storage. Consider storing your recordings using cloud storage solutions like Google Drive or an external SD card (if your Chromebook has a slot). This allows you to save space on your device while keeping your recordings accessible.

Bonus: Explore a Versatile Screen Recorder for Other OS

While Chromebooks are great for many tasks, you may need to record screens on other devices, such as your workplace Windows or Mac computers or your personal iOS/Android smartphones. Having a versatile, cross-platform screen recording tool can be invaluable in these situations. Wondershare Filmora is a comprehensive solution that meets this need.

Wondershare Filmora is primarily known as a user-friendly video editing software but also includes a powerful screen recording function. This dual functionality makes it an excellent choice for those who need to both capture and edit their screen recordings. Filmora is available for Windows and Mac, with mobile versions (Filmora Go) for iOS and Android, ensuring you have a consistent tool across various devices.

How To Screen Record With Filmora

To begin recording your screen with Filmora, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Install, download, and launch Wondershare Filmora.

Step 2: Select Screen Recorder.

Step 3: Adjust your options on this screen and select the red Record button.

Conclusion

In this guide, you’ve explored the top screen recorders for Chromebooks, from user-friendly tools like Screencastify to comprehensive solutions like Hippo Video. There were also tips to optimize your Chromebook for better recording performance, such as enabling hardware acceleration and managing resources effectively.

Remember, while Chromebooks offer built-in and extension-based recording options, you may encounter situations requiring screen recording on other devices. For these instances, Wondershare Filmora is recommended. It's cross-platform compatibility, and powerful recording and editing features make it an excellent complement to your Chromebook toolkit.