Alternatives / ScreenFlow
Looking for an open source ScreenFlow alternative? We compared 6 open source screen recorders by license, platforms, and maintenance. OBS Studio is the standard, Cap is a polished recorder with sharing, and ShareX, Screenity, and Kap cover narrower needs.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Recording and live streaming standard | GPL-2.0 |
| ShareX | Windows capture with automation | GPL-3.0 |
| Cap | Recorder with editor and link sharing | AGPL-3.0 (+ MIT crates) |
| Screenity | Chrome extension recorder | GPL-3.0 |
| Kap | Mac recorder exporting GIFs (stale) | MIT |
| Snapify | Team link sharing (stale) | AGPL-3.0 |
We looked for open-source tools that record the screen like ScreenFlow. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and platforms in its repository. None has ScreenFlow's full timeline editor. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Cap is a cross-platform recorder for macOS, Windows, and Linux with local 4K recording, a built-in editor, link sharing, and self-hosting. Cloud storage, AI features, and team tools need the paid Pro tier. OBS Studio records and streams with scenes, plugins, and a Studio Mode.
ShareX is a lightweight Windows capture tool with OCR and many upload destinations. Screenity is a Chrome extension recorder with annotation and no time limits. Kap is a macOS recorder that exports MP4, WebM, and GIF.
Snapify offers instant link sharing with a branded player, self-hosted or cloud, but its last commit was in November 2024.
Kap's last commit was in November 2024. Cap is AGPL-3.0 with MIT crates. OBS Studio is GPL-2.0, ShareX and Screenity are GPL-3.0, and Kap is MIT.
OBS Studio, Cap, ShareX, and Screenity had commits within weeks of this update.
ScreenFlow is a proprietary Mac app sold as a license. Open-source recorders are free and cross-platform, but editing is usually limited and you may need a separate editor.
OBS Studio provides high-quality video recording and live streaming on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It includes real-time capture, scenes and sources, an audio mixer, studio mode, multiview, hotkeys, and a plugin API.
Pricing: Free and open source.
ShareX captures or records any area of the screen and shares it with a keypress. It supports 80+ upload destinations, a color picker, ruler, QR code generator, OCR, and customizable workflows.
Pricing: Free and open source.
Cap is a cross-platform recorder for asynchronous work with instant, studio, and screenshot modes. Studio mode records up to 4K/60fps with a built-in editor, auto-zoom, blur, scene switching, backgrounds, color grades, and captions. Instant mode gives shareable links with transcripts and chapters. It can be self-hosted with S3-compatible storage and offers a CLI and MCP server.
Pricing: Free tier and open-source self-hosting; Cap Pro and cloud plans are paid.
Kap captures the screen on macOS and exports MP4, WebM, or GIF with a built-in editor, customizable shortcuts, and a plugin system. It is built with web technology and has minimal system impact, but its last release dates from 2022.
Pricing: Free and open source.
Screenity records, annotates, and edits screen recordings in the browser with no limits or sign-up. It includes drawing while recording, built-in editing, custom timers, camera effects, multiple export formats, and local saving.
Pricing: Free, no account required.
Snapify is an AGPL-3.0 web app for recording and sharing screen recordings, with one-click recording, instant sharing, and a customizable video player. It can be self-hosted or used through a cloud service. Its repository has had no commits since November 2024.
Pricing: Free to self-host; cloud plans may be offered separately.
| Alternative | Type | License | Platforms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Recorder and streamer | GPL-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux | Streams and long recordings |
| ShareX | Screen capture | GPL-3.0 | Windows | Quick captures |
| Cap | Screen recorder | AGPL-3.0 (+ MIT crates) | macOS, Windows, Linux | Closest replacement |
| Screenity | Browser recorder | GPL-3.0 | Chrome | Browser tutorials |
| Kap | Screen recorder | MIT | macOS | Short clips |
| Snapify | Screen recorder | AGPL-3.0 | Yes | Check maintenance first |
Want recording and streaming
OBS Studio supports scenes, plugins, and streaming to Twitch and YouTube.
Want a recorder with a built-in editor
Cap records locally in 4K and shares by link, with a paid Pro tier.
Want browser recording
Screenity records from Chrome with annotation and no time limits.