Picking the right screen and webcam recording software can be challenging. With so many online options, each with a unique feature set, advantages, and disadvantages, deciding on one specific tool can feel overwhelming.
How do you pick one among so many? What features do you look for? These are all vital questions.
There's no need to worry, though. We've got you covered.
In today's guide, you'll find the best free screen recorders with webcam and their features, pros, and cons. We'll then compare these free screen and camera recorders, show you how we compiled the top ten list, and help you find the right tool for your needs.
Table of Content
Top Free Screen Recorders With Webcam
To save you the trouble of dealing with an overwhelming number of screen recording tools, we've compiled a list of the best free screen and webcam recorders, which you'll find below. So, let's dive into their features, pros, and cons and see what they're best at.
1. DemoCreator
Compatibility
- Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11;
- macOS 10.15 and above.
Best For
– Teachers, business people, gamers, knowledge-sharing influencers.
About
Capable of 8K/120FPS screen recording and simultaneous webcam capture, Wondershare DemoCreator is the best free screen and camera recorder available today, and for more than one reason.
The tool has adjustable screen recording options, cross-screen capture capabilities, real-time drawing tools, six distinct recording modes, and built-in editing features, making it the top choice in this category.
Key Features
- It's currently the only tool with a Virtual Avatar mode (one of six distinct recording modes) that can generate smooth and natural-looking facial expressions and motions;
- The app's Game Recording mode can record gameplay up to 4K/8K, regardless of your monitor's resolution.
- The video presentation mode is compatible with all popular video conference platforms, allowing presenting a report in an online meeting professionally.
- Various annotation tools to make the point easier to follow.
- AI teleprompter ensures a smooth recording.
User Rating
2. OBS Studio
Compatibility
- Windows 10 and 11;
- macOS 11.0 and newer;
- Linux (Ubuntu 22.04 and newer).
Best For
– Gamers and streamers.
About
Primarily focused on recording games and streaming, OBS Studio is a multi-platform, open-source screen recording solution with remarkable features. Although entirely free, the program has many features usually only found in professional recording tools.
However, as great as it is at blending multiple audio and video sources and recording anything you can imagine, its range of features can make the tool feel overwhelming for beginners.
Key Features
- OBS Studio lets users stream videos in real-time and supports multiple platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Facebook Live, Hitbox, and more;
- The app lets you set up as many scenes as you want, allowing you to switch between them seamlessly via custom transitions.
User Rating
Read the full review of OBS Studio
3. Filmora
Compatibility
- Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and 11;
- macOS 10.15 and newer;
- Android;
- iOS.
Best For
– Users looking for an all-in-one recording and editing software.
About
Primarily geared toward professional editors, Filmora is an all-in-one recording and editing software and a powerful one at that. It has everything you'll need to record the screen and the webcam, from an intuitive user interface to AI-powered editing tools that can enhance your recordings.
The tool can capture screens, webcam footage, and audio separately or simultaneously, making it a fantastic choice.
Key Features
- Filmora's screen recorder is fully adjustable to your screen or app, also allowing you to record keystrokes, mouse clicks, screen, camera, system sounds, and mic audio, or set up a recording timer;
- It's a cross-platform tool with audio, video, and text editing tools, a massive library of assets, and AI-enhanced features like text-based editing, music generator, and object remover.
User Rating
Record your screen and webcam, then create pro-level videos easily and quickly with AI tools, stylish templates, effects, music, and other creative assets.
4. Apowersoft
Compatibility
It's a browser-based tool that works on all computer operating systems.
Best For
– Screen and webcam recording without downloads or installations.
About
Apowersoft's free screen and camera recorder is a fantastic all-in-one choice for those seeking an online solution. This web-based app doesn't require an installation but still provides multiple recording modes and unlimited recordings without a watermark.
Whether you want to record your desktop and the webcam or a browser window, Apowersoft's web app is a fantastic option.
Key Features
- It's an online tool that doesn't require downloads or installation, and it lets you edit as soon as you start recording the screen;
- The online screen recorder is highly customizable, allowing users to change export formats, frame rates, file size, and video quality.
User Rating
Read the full review of Apowersoft screen recorder
5. ShareX
Compatibility
ShareX is a Windows-only tool.
Best For
– Users looking for a highly customizable all-in-one screenshot, screen capture, and file-sharing tool.
About
While ShareX's user interface might not look like much, this free screen and camera recorder has everything you'll ever need. It's an open-source tool with over 16 years of industry experience, and while its interface certainly looks a decade and a half old, its wide range of features and customization options make up for it, making it a viable choice.
Key Features
- ShareX is a fully customizable free screen and webcam recorder with various tools like viewer, editor, combiner, splitter, thumbnailer, beautifier, etc.;
- The tool has built-in sharing options for Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Imgur, ImageShack, Flickr, Twitter, Chevereto, and more, allowing you to share your creations instantly on various social media platforms.
User Rating
Read the full review of ShareX
6. Icecream Screen Recorder
Compatibility
- Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11;
- macOS 10.9 or later;
- Android 5.1 and up.
Best For
– Cross-platform users.
About
Characterized by an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, the Icecream Screen Recorder is a tool that lets you capture customizable screen areas as screenshots or videos. This free screen and webcam recorder tool offers various features for capturing professional-looking desktop and camera videos, game footage, video calls, and more.
Key Features
- The tool has dozens of preset resolution options for capturing streaming videos, desktop, gaming sessions, and other on-screen activities;
- It has low system requirements, allowing you to use it on almost any device.
User Rating
Read the full review of Icecream screen recorder
7. FlashBack Express
Compatibility
FlashBack Express is a Windows-only free screen and webcam recorder.
Best For
– Fast, lag-free recordings and no-fuss editing.
About
FlashBack Express is another fantastic option for simultaneous screen, webcam, and audio recordings. This tool is based on the "what you see is what you get" principle, and its screen recorder has a simple, easy-to-understand user interface.
You can't customize much, but there's a big "Start Recording" button whenever you want to capture the desktop and yourself.
Key Features
- The tool has multiple recording enhancement and customization tools like captions, annotations, stickers, GIFs, sounds, and FX;
- FlashBack Express allows for multi-screen recording, has an integrated Video Trimmer for simple edits, and allows users to upload videos automatically to YouTube.
User Rating
Read the full review of FlashBack Express
8. Free Cam
Compatibility
Free Cam works on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10.
Best For
– Users looking for an ultra-minimalistic recorder.
About
Despite the name, the Free Cam app also has a paid version. You want to use that version to record your screen and webcam simultaneously, as the free version only supports 720p desktop recordings. Both versions are simple and effective, offering only a few customization options, such as custom recording areas and audio input.
Key Features
- Free Cam has a fantastic volume control feature, allowing users to make video sections silent or remove noise;
- The program has a video trimmer that can automatically remove unnecessary clip segments.
User Rating
Read the full review of Free Cam
9. Debut Video Capture
Compatibility
- Windows 7 - 11;
- macOS 10.5 and above.
Best For
– Separately capturing multiple audio and video sources for easier editing.
About
NCH Software's Debut Video Capture is a fantastic choice for those who value the ability to capture from multiple sources and devices.
It supports computer screens, webcams, IP cameras, and VHS tapes, making recording effortless and even supporting scheduled recordings for when you're not around. The app captures these elements separately, providing unmatched editing flexibility.
Key Features
- Debut Video Capture has fantastic mouse highlighting features with zoom-to-mouse abilities and digital zoom with the mouse scroll wheel;
- The tool can record from computer screens, webcams, network (IP) cameras, and other external devices (VHS recorders).
User Rating
Read the full review of Debut Video Capture
10. Ezvid
Compatibility
This Windows-only recorder supports all Windows versions from the last two decades (From XP to 11).
Best For
– Content creators and users focused on audio quality and effects.
About
Ezvid is one of the top free screen and camera recorders for content creators. It can create one-click screen recordings in crisp HD quality, handle simultaneous screen recordings and voiceovers, and synthesize your speech.
However, the tool also has one major drawback you should be aware of: it doesn't support local saves, uploading your recordings to YouTube automatically instead.
Key Features
- Ezvid has an instant face cam & voice synthesizer for effortless video narration, allowing users to create computer speech for clips instantly;
- The tool's built-in video editor has an extensive library of audio effects and free music.
User Rating
Read the full review of Ezvid video recorder
How To Pick The Right Free Screen Recorder With a Webcam
While we've discussed the top ten free screen and webcam recorders and their features, compatibility, strengths, weaknesses, and ratings above, we've also included a brief comparison of these tools. After all, seeing them side-to-side might help you make a well-informed decision, so let's dive into it.
| Software | Best For | Pros | Cons |
| DemoCreator | Teachers, business people, gamers, and knowledge-sharing influencers | – Six distinct recording modes – Effortless setup and beginner-friendly process |
– Mac screen recordings have a watermark |
| OBS Studio | Gaming or streaming | – Open-source recorder – Cross-platform tool |
– It can feel overly complex due to too many features |
| Filmora | Professional video editors | – Remarkably straightforward user interface – Built-in Video Editor with extensive effects and AI tools |
– Geared toward editing more than recording |
| Apowersoft | Users who want to avoid installations | – Online screen and webcam recorder – No time limits or watermarks |
– WebM videos are the only export option |
| ShareX | Next-level customizations | – Open-source tool – Multiple customization options |
– Requires an additional installation (ffmpeg) to record your screen |
| Icecream Screen Recorder | Cross-platform users | – Easy to use and quick screen recorder – Low system requirements on all supported platforms |
– Recording time limit of 5 minutes, and only WebM exports |
| FlashBack Express | Fast recordings and quick edits | – Multiple output formats – Well-designed interface |
– 720p recording for the free version |
| Free Cam | Users looking for a minimalistic recorder | – Simplicity – Built-in trimmer |
– HD-quality and desktop-only recording unless you pay |
| Debut Video Capture | Capturing separate audio and video sources | – Scheduled recordings – Ability to record from IP cameras |
– Trouble recording on macOS devices |
| Ezvid | Audio-focused content creators | – Extensive audio effect library – Swift and user-friendly recorder |
– Clips are uploaded to YouTube and can't be saved to a PC |
How We Test the Best Free Screen Recorder With Webcam
Compiling the list of the ten best free screen and webcam recorders took a lot of work. Dozens of tools had to be considered, and below are the aspects we tested before making the top ten list of free screen and camera recorders:
- Recording Capabilities - Can the tool record multiple screens? Can it record system sounds, mic audio, or both? Does it support high-quality, high-res, and high-FPS screen recordings? These are all features we considered.
- Interface User-Friendliness - While fantastic recording capabilities are an advantage, if the user struggles to find options or use the tool, that's not a good look for the app and does not indicate a user-friendly design.
- Built-In Editing Features - If a free screen and webcam recorder tool comes with editing features, that's a plus in our book, and it's even more significant if these features include anything besides trimming and cutting.
It's worth noting that advanced features, such as scheduled recording capabilities, mouse and click highlighting, the ability to simultaneously record system sounds and microphone audio, and built-in sharing features, were also considered for this list.
Should You Use Free Screen and Camera Recorders?
Now that we've shown you the ten best free screen and webcam recorders, you might wonder whether these free tools will suit your needs or whether you should get a professional, paid software solution.
The truth is that free screen and camera recorders have improved dramatically over the last few years. Many of these programs provide features that will suit most users' needs. A few even offer tools and options you'd usually find in professional-grade, expensive recording tools.
On the other hand, if HD-quality recordings, time limits, and watermarks annoy you, or you're looking for an all-in-one recording and editing tool, investing in a monthly or yearly subscription for a professional, paid screen and webcam recorder will undoubtedly better suit your needs. And if you don't like it or find it unhelpful, you can cancel your subscription and get your money back.
Conclusion
Whether you're a content creator, educator, gamer, streamer, social media influencer, or a business person trying to create HR-related videos, you most likely want to simultaneously record your screen and camera for these videos.
Fortunately, free screen and webcam recorders have drastically improved in the last decade, and there's plenty of choice today. Yet, quality free screen and camera recorders are few and far between, and finding them in a vast sea of options can be challenging.
We've tried and tested these tools, so you don't have to, and the results are in.
The top ten free screen and camera recorders include DemoCreator, OBS Studio, Filmora, Apowersoft, ShareX, Icecream Screen Recorder, FlashBack Express, Free Cam, Debut Video Capture, and Ezvid.
We've shown you their top features, strengths, and weaknesses and compared these tools to make your choice more manageable. Good luck with your video recording journey.
