Screen recording software running on a computer screen
Here’s the test I’d apply to any “best free screen recorder” list before trusting it: does it tell you the catch? Most tools in this category that call themselves free have one — a watermark, a time cap, a resolution ceiling — and a roundup that doesn’t mention it isn’t actually helping you compare anything. So for each entry below, the catch (or lack of one) comes first, not buried in paragraph three.
The two categories, sorted honestly
Genuinely free, no catch: OBS, ShareX, Xbox Game Bar, QuickTime, Kazam
Free tier of paid software, real catch attached: Bandicam, Icecream Screen Recorder, Loom
1. OBS Studio — no catch
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux. Catch: none. Open-source, no watermark, no time limit, no paid tier exists to unlock anything from. The only cost is setup time — the auto-config wizard gets you recording quickly, but tuning it for your specific hardware (encoder choice, bitrate) takes longer. See our OBS vs Bandicam comparison for what that setup process actually involves.
2. ShareX — no catch
Platform: Windows only. Catch: none. Screenshot-focused, open-source, with solid screen recording as a secondary feature. Less polished than OBS but meaningfully faster to get started with if screenshots are your primary need.
3. Xbox Game Bar — no catch
Platform: Windows 10/11, pre-installed. Catch: can’t record the desktop or File Explorer — a real limitation, not a watermark or time cap, but worth knowing. See our Windows 11 built-in recording guide for the workaround.
4. QuickTime Player — no catch
Platform: Mac, pre-installed. Catch: none for recording itself, though there’s genuinely no editing beyond a basic trim. No watermark, no time limit.
5. Kazam — no catch
Platform: Linux. Catch: none — open-source and unrestricted, the closest Linux equivalent to what ShareX offers on Windows. Worth including here since most “best free screen recorder” lists skip Linux entirely.
6. Bandicam — real catch
Platform: Windows. Catch: free tier caps recordings at 10 minutes with a watermark. Genuinely well-built software once paid ($39.99 one-time), but calling the free tier unrestricted would be misleading.
7. Icecream Screen Recorder — real catch
Platform: Windows, Mac. Catch: free tier limits recording length and adds a watermark to video (screenshots are unrestricted). The paid Pro version removes both.
8. Loom — real catch
Platform: Windows, Mac, browser extension. Catch: free tier historically caps the number of stored videos and recording length per video, with recordings stored in the cloud rather than saved locally by default. Excellent for quick async video messages to a team; the free tier is genuinely usable but bounded.
Full comparison
| Platform | Watermark | Time limit | Setup effort | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBS | Win/Mac/Linux | None | None | High |
| ShareX | Windows | None | None | Low |
| Xbox Game Bar | Windows | None | Session-limited | None |
| QuickTime | Mac | None | None | None |
| Kazam | Linux | None | None | Low |
| Bandicam | Windows | Free tier | 10 min (free) | Low |
| Icecream Screen Recorder | Win/Mac | Free tier | Limited (free) | Low |
| Loom | Win/Mac/browser | None | Storage-limited | None |
Which one for which situation
If you’re recording regularly and have a few minutes to spend on setup once: OBS, no contest, given it has no restrictions at all. If you need something right now with zero install: Xbox Game Bar or QuickTime, depending on your OS. If you’re sending quick async video updates to coworkers rather than producing standalone content: Loom’s cloud-and-link workflow fits that specific case better than a local-file recorder would, free-tier limits aside.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best completely free screen recorder with no watermark?
OBS Studio, ShareX, Xbox Game Bar, QuickTime, and Kazam all have zero watermark and zero time limit, spanning Windows, Mac, and Linux between them.
Do free versions of paid screen recorders always have watermarks?
Not always, but most do, or they cap recording length instead. Bandicam and Icecream Screen Recorder both do; check any specific tool’s terms before assuming full functionality.
Is there a free screen recorder that doesn’t need any installation?
Yes — Xbox Game Bar on Windows and QuickTime Player on Mac are both pre-installed and require no download.
Is OBS actually free, or is there a hidden catch?
Genuinely free — open-source, no paid tier exists, no watermark, no time limit. The only real cost is setup time.
What’s a good free screen recorder for sending quick video messages to coworkers?
Loom is built specifically for that use case — record, get a shareable link instantly, no file to send. The free tier has storage limits worth checking against how often you’ll use it.
Related reading: OBS vs Bandicam: which one actually fits you · How to record your screen on Windows 11 (no extra software) · 8 free screen recorders with no watermark — 2025 update