Wondering how to make a screen recording on Mac? Here are the 10 best solutions to try in 2023. From professional-grade tools to user-friendly options, explore the best screen recording software for Mac and unlock your creativity.
Whether you’re looking to create video tutorials, capture your gameplay, or record online meetings, a reliable screen recorder is essential. With so many options available for Mac, finding the perfect solution can be daunting.
Here is a list of Mac’s top 10 best screen recorders in 2023, including free and paid options. In addition, you can check a summary comparison table for a quick overview of the critical features of each tool.
Best Mac Screen Recorder Comparison Table
| Intuitive UI | Screenshots | Live Streaming | Recording Modes | Watermark | Free/Trial | Video Editing | Hotkeys | |
| Movavi Screen Recorder | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Zight | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OBS | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| CleanShot X | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Screenflick | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ScreenFlow | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| QuickTime Player | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TinyTake | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| ActivePresenter | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Monosnap | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
1. Movavi Screen Recorder
Movavi Screen Recorder for Mac is a versatile and feature-rich tool. It’s intuitive interface and robust functionality provide a comprehensive solution for capturing webinars, explainer videos, video meetings, etc.
In addition to basic recording capabilities like capturing a webcam, mic, and system audio simultaneously, recording an entire screen or a specific area, you can automate recording sessions, highlight mouse clicks, draw text, shapes, and arrows to provide explanations, reduce noise, and take scrolling screenshots.
The Good:
- Easy to learn and use
- Flexible recording options
- Draw on the screen
- Noise reduction
- Task scheduler
The Bad:
- Limited free trial version
Price: Free trial, paid plans start at $42.95/year
2. Zight
Zight, formerly known as CloudApp, is a user-friendly tool designed specifically for Mac screen recording. With Zight, capturing your screen has never been easier. It offers multiple recording modes, including full-screen, window, and region capture, allowing you to choose the area you want to record with precision and flexibility.
The software offers a streamlined and intuitive interface, making it accessible to users of all experience levels. It also supports high-quality webcam and audio recording simultaneously.
The Good:
- Simple and user-friendly
- Multiple recording modes
- Cloud sharing
The Bad:
- Limited editing options
- No advanced features
Price: Free, paid plans start at 9.95/month
3. OBS
If you need a free screen recording option, try OBS. It’s a highly acclaimed and widely used open-source screen recorder with an extensive range of powerful customization options and advanced features, ideal for gamers, live streamers, and content creators.
The software allows you to configure various settings, such as video resolution, frame rate, and audio sources, to ensure optimal recording quality. You can also create multiple scenes and switch between them during your recording or live stream.
The Good:
- Open-source and completely free
- Powerful customization options
- Multiple scene recording
- Chroma key
- Supports live streaming
The Bad:
- Steeper learning curve
- The interface may seem overwhelming for beginners
Price: Free
4. CleanShot X
CleanShot X is a Mac screen recording tool with a sleek and intuitive interface, plenty of screen capturing options, and robust annotation tools for high-quality capturing and sharing screen recordings.
Record any area of your screen, emphasize essential details, provide visual cues, or protect sensitive information with text overlays, arrows, shapes, and blur effects. You can also share your recordings via email, instant messaging apps, or cloud storage platforms.
The Good:
- Intuitive interface
- Versatile screen-capturing options
- Great annotation tools
- Quick sharing
The Bad:
- Limited video editing features
- No advanced recording options
Price: No trial but a 30-day money-back guarantee, $29 for Cloud Basic or $8/month for Cloud Pro
5. Screenflick
ScreenFlick is a reliable Mac screen recorder that offers high-quality recording and customizable settings. Whether you’re capturing software demonstrations, online tutorials, or gameplay footage, the software ensures that your recordings maintain sharp visuals and smooth playback.
Users can customize hotkeys and record mouse clicks to better control the recording process. You can also quickly export your recordings to various platforms or save them in different formats.
The Good:
- High-quality screen recording
- Customizable settings
- Easy sharing options
The Bad:
- Limited editing features
- No advanced recording options
Price: Free trial, one-time purchase of $35
6. ScreenFlow
ScreenFlow is a powerful screen recorder for Mac that offers comprehensive video editing features and seamless iOS integration. With its touch callouts feature, you can demonstrate screen touches and gestures for your recordings, making it perfect for creating video tutorials.
The software provides a wide array of editing tools, such as transitions, annotations, text overlays, and audio effects, allowing you to create polished and professional-looking videos.
The Good:
- Seamless recording experience
- Comprehensive video editing tools
- iOS device recording
- Touch callouts for an interactive experience
The Bad:
- Expensive compared to other options
- It may have more features than some users need
Price: Free trial, paid plans start at $169
7. QuickTime Player
QuickTime Player is a convenient screen recorder with basic recording functionality that comes pre-installed on every Mac. While it lacks advanced features, it helps those users who need a simple solution for capturing their screens.
The significant advantage of QuickTime Player is its accessibility. Since it’s a built-in application on Mac devices, there’s no need to download or install any external software.
The Good:
- Straightforward design
- Built-in on Mac devices
- Basic recording functionality
The Bad:
- Very limited in recording and editing options
Price: Free
8. TinyTake
TinyTake is user-friendly screen capture software that offers multiple recording modes for various needs. It also supports capturing screenshots, HD videos, and even GIFs.
The simplicity of TinyTake makes it accessible to users of all experience levels. You can quickly start a recording with just a few clicks, without complex configurations or settings.
The Good:
- Robust screen recording
- Customizable hotkeys
- Annotation and editing tools
- Cloud storage and sharing
The Bad:
- Free version limitations
Price: Free, paid plans start at $29.95/year
9. ActivePresenter
ActivePresenter is a feature-rich screen recorder for Mac with a focus on e-learning needs. Its comprehensive set of tools and editing capabilities makes it an excellent choice for educators, trainers, and anyone creating interactive learning content.
ActivePresenter goes beyond traditional screen recording by offering interactive elements such as quizzes, branching scenarios, and simulations. These features enable you to create immersive e-learning experiences that actively involve learners and enhance their understanding and retention of the material.
The Good:
- Intuitive to use
- e-learning-focused features
- Editing tools and multiple export formats
The Bad:
- Limited advanced recording options
- It may be overkill for basic screen recording tasks
Price: Free, paid plans start at $199
10. Monosnap
Monosnap is one of the best software for quick screen capturing and cloud storage integration. It’s easy to use and has everything you need to capture your screen activity quickly.
The tool is great for recording video tutorials, presentations, or webinars. It also contains some editing features that help you polish your screenshots.
The Good:
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Quick screen capturing
- Cloud storage integration
The Bad:
- Limited features and editing tools
- No advanced recording options
Price: Free, paid plans start at $3/month
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best screen recorder for Mac depends on your needs. Evaluate the pricing plans and determine if the software aligns with your budget. Try out these screen recording options, including free versions or trials, to assess their performance and user-friendliness, and test how well they run on your Mac system. This will help you make an informed decision and choose the best one.
