Alternatives / Screen Studio
Looking for an open source Screen Studio alternative? We compared 6 open source screen recorders by license, platforms, editing features, self-hosting, and pricing.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Recording and live streaming | GPL-2.0 |
| ShareX | Capture and sharing on Windows | GPL-3.0 |
| Cap | Polished, shareable recordings | AGPL-3.0 (+ MIT crates) |
| Screenity | Browser-based recording | GPL-3.0 |
| Kap | Lightweight macOS recording and GIFs | MIT |
| Snapify | Self-hosted recording sharing | AGPL-3.0 |
We looked for open-source screen recorders that overlap with Screen Studio's core use: capturing your screen and producing clean, shareable videos. We then verified each project's license and recent activity in its GitHub repository, along with supported platforms, editing features, self-hosting options, and pricing. Few projects match Screen Studio's automatic zoom and cursor polish, so the list mixes full editors, capture utilities, and sharing platforms. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Cap is the closest: its studio mode records up to 4K/60fps and includes auto-zoom, a built-in editor, backgrounds, and captions. OBS Studio, ShareX, Screenity, and Kap record the screen but do not generate Screen Studio's automatic zoom and cursor effects, so expect more manual editing for a polished result.
OBS Studio and Cap run on Windows, macOS, and Linux. ShareX is Windows only, Kap is macOS only, and Screenity is a Chrome extension. Screen Studio itself is macOS, so Windows and Linux users will find the broadest choice in OBS Studio and Cap.
OBS Studio is GPL-2.0, ShareX and Screenity are GPL-3.0, Kap is MIT, and Snapify is AGPL-3.0. Cap is AGPL-3.0 except its cap-camera and scap crates, which are MIT; its cloud and Pro plans are paid, while the code can be self-hosted.
Kap has not had a release since 2022 and its last commit was in November 2024, and Snapify's last commit was in November 2024, so check that they still meet your needs. OBS Studio, ShareX, Screenity, and Cap are actively maintained.
Cap can be self-hosted with Docker Compose, S3-compatible storage, and your own server URL, and Snapify is built around self-hosting shareable recordings. ShareX uploads to more than 80 destinations. OBS Studio, Screenity, and Kap save recordings locally.
Screen Studio is a proprietary macOS app known for automatic zoom, smooth cursor motion, and polished exports, sold as a paid license. Open-source alternatives offer free recording, cross-platform support, and control over where recordings are stored. They differ a lot in approach: OBS Studio is a full recording and streaming suite, Cap is the closest to a polished studio-style workflow, and ShareX, Screenity, and Kap focus on quick capture.
| Alternative | Type | License | Platforms | Self-hosted | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Recording & streaming | GPL-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux | Local app | Free |
| ShareX | Capture & sharing | GPL-3.0 | Windows | Local app | Free |
| Cap | Studio recorder | AGPL-3.0 (+ MIT crates) | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Free tier; Cap Pro paid |
| Screenity | Browser extension | GPL-3.0 | Chrome | Local | Free |
| Kap | Screen recorder | MIT | macOS | Local app | Free |
| Snapify | Recording sharing | AGPL-3.0 | Web | Yes | Free (self-hosted) |
Want the closest open-source Screen Studio alternative
Cap records in studio mode up to 4K/60fps with auto-zoom, a built-in editor, backgrounds, and captions in 19 languages, plus instant shareable links.
Want a full recording and streaming suite
OBS Studio offers scenes, an audio mixer, studio mode, hotkeys, and plugins for recording and live streaming on any desktop OS.
Want quick captures and sharing on Windows
ShareX combines screen capture and recording with 80+ upload destinations, OCR, and customizable workflows.
Want to record from the browser
Screenity records and annotates from Chrome with built-in editing, no account, and local saving.
Want lightweight macOS recording and GIFs
Kap exports MP4, WebM, and GIF with a simple editor and plugins, but it is no longer actively released.
Want to self-host shareable recordings
Snapify is an AGPL-3.0 app for recording and sharing videos, though its repository has been inactive since late 2024.