Screen and window recording
Capture a complete display or an application window through native platform capture APIs. Recording controls include a countdown, pause and resume, system audio, microphone, and webcam options.
OpenScreen
OpenScreen is a free, open-source screen recorder and video editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with local captions and MP4 or GIF export.
Free screen recording and local video editing
OpenScreen is a free, open-source screen recorder and video editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It records a full display or application window, with optional system audio, microphone, webcam, and an editable cursor mode, then opens the take for timeline-based editing.
The product is designed for turning raw screen captures into demos and other shareable recordings without sending the video to a hosted service. Editing tools cover cursor presentation, automatic click-based zooms, transcript-driven cuts, backgrounds, device frames, layouts, cropping, captions, and local MP4 or GIF export. It is released under the MIT license, has no account or watermark, and performs recording, transcription, and rendering on the user's computer.
Key features
Editable cursor
Record the pointer as separate movement data instead of burning it into the screen pixels, then change its size, smoothing, motion blur, click animation, and visual theme during editing.
Timeline and transcript editing
Place zooms from cursor clicks, adjust speed ramps, trim clips, add comments, and make non-destructive edits on the timeline. A transcript can also be edited as text to remove words or silences.
Visual composition and reframing
Apply backgrounds, gradients, padding, shadows, rounded corners, motion blur, device frames, animated backgrounds, and several layout options. The editor supports 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:3, 4:5, 16:10, and 10:16 framing.
On-device captions
Transcribe audio locally with whisper.cpp. After the model's first download, transcription works offline; caption styling includes typeface, size, color, and position before rendering.
Local MP4 and GIF export
Export locally to H.264 MP4 at 24, 30, or 60 fps from 720p through the source resolution, or to GIF, without a watermark.
Practical use cases
Product demos
Capture an application window or full display with system audio, then use click-based zooms, cursor styling, device frames, and backgrounds to create a focused product walkthrough.
Technical tutorials
Record a repeatable technical procedure with microphone narration and an optional webcam track. Trim the timeline, remove silences through transcript editing, and export the finished explanation locally.
Repurposing one recording
Use the editable cursor, captions, aspect-ratio presets, and layout controls to prepare a recording for a documentation page, social post, or presentation format without recording the session again.
Internal documentation
Create privacy-conscious internal walkthroughs by keeping recording, transcription, and rendering on the local computer, while cropping or masking selected regions during editing.
Feedback and async communication
Record a window or display with optional webcam and audio, assemble multiple takes in the editor, and export a watermark-free MP4 or GIF for sharing with colleagues or clients.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free for personal and commercial use under the MIT license.
- Native capture paths for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with optional system audio, microphone, webcam, and editable cursor data.
- Local transcription and rendering keep recordings on the computer and support offline transcription after the initial model download.
- Non-watermarked MP4 and GIF exports with configurable frame rates and resolution options.
- Non-destructive timeline editing, transcript-based cuts, zooms, reframing, backgrounds, device frames, and caption styling.
Cons
- Recording is limited to a whole display or window; there is no region capture at recording time, so cropping is done afterward.
- The Windows executable installer is not code-signed, although a Microsoft Store build is available; Linux and Windows packaged releases are x64, with no packaged ARM64 build.
- Some optional network connections remain, including Google Fonts, update checks, the initial Whisper model download, and services explicitly enabled through user-supplied AI or translation keys.
FAQ
Can OpenScreen be used for commercial work?
Yes. OpenScreen is released under the MIT license and can be used, modified, distributed, and sold, provided the copyright and permission notice is retained with copies of the software.
Does OpenScreen add a watermark?
No. MP4 and GIF exports do not include a watermark, and the app has no paid version that removes one.
Does OpenScreen work offline?
OpenScreen records, transcribes, and renders on the local computer, and it has no upload feature. The first transcription downloads a roughly 264 MB Whisper model; after that, transcription works without a network connection. Some optional connections remain, including Google Fonts, update checks, and any AI provider or caption-translation service that the user explicitly configures.
What can OpenScreen record?
OpenScreen can record a whole display or an application window, with system audio, microphone, webcam, and either an editable cursor overlay or the system cursor. It does not provide region capture during recording; footage can be cropped afterward in the editor.
Which export formats does OpenScreen support?
Exports include MP4 using H.264 at 24, 30, or 60 fps, from 720p up to the source resolution, as well as GIF. Encoding runs on the local computer.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Screen recording and video editing
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- License
- MIT; free for personal and commercial use
- Recording sources
- Whole display or application window
- Outputs
- H.264 MP4 and GIF; no watermark
- Processing model
- Recording, transcription, and rendering run locally
OpenScreen Alternatives
Zella
Zella is a screen recorder and on-device AI video editor for Mac and iPhone. Record, edit, caption, reframe, and export videos locally.
Jupitrr Cut
Jupitrr Cut is a free iOS and Android teleprompter app for scripted videos, with scene retakes, pause trimming, and jump-cut editing.
Tavus
Tavus is an AI video platform for real-time face-to-face agents, digital twins, and AI companions, with APIs and multilingual workflows for developers.
HiringPartner.ai
HiringPartner.ai is an autonomous AI recruiting platform for sourcing, screening, and interviewing candidates 24/7 with ATS-connected workflows and bulk resume uploads.
CAKIE
CAKIE is a Mac app for recording your screen and voice for an AI agent, with transcripts, screenshot highlights, and easy prompt copying.
Video Effects SDK
Video Effects SDK adds real-time webcam effects like background blur, replacement or removal, denoising, framing, beautification, and color grading for live video apps.