10 Best Free Screen Recorders: No Watermarks, No Time Limits

Need a screen recorder tool that’s free, easy to use, and doesn’t include a watermark? You’re in the right place. 

Whether you’re recording tutorials, walkthroughs, or meetings, we’ve put together a list of the best free screen recorders out there—no strings attached.

10 best screen recorders

Ready to find exactly what you need out of our top picks for best screen recorders? Here’s a quick overview, followed by a breakdown of what each one offers.

Riverside

Best for: Fast, easy screen recordings 

Compatibility: Windows. macOS, Linux

Looking for a fast, easy screen recorder that’s completely free—with no time limits or watermarks? Try Riverside’s free online screen recorder!

You can record your screen, or your screen and webcam. Just select the tab, window or screen you want to capture, click “Record,” and you’re good to go. 

When you’re done recording, you’ll get a clean, watermark-free MP4 file. Riverside’s tool has no time limits, and you can use it as often as you want. 

Want to take it further? Sign up for a free Riverside account, to edit your recording with AI tools, instantly add captions and branding, and make your recording more professional. 

Pros

• Record in HD quality: 720p video and 44.1 kHz audio.
• Simple, intuitive interface.
• Record screen only, or screen and webcam.
• No watermark, no time limits.
• Use a free Riverside account to edit your video, or screen record with remote guests.
• Instant cloud sharing with a link.

‍Cons

• Only works on desktop computers.
• Can’t record system audio.

OBS Studio

Best for: Professional screen recording or livestreaming

Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux

OBS Studio is a powerful open source video recording software that can also capture screen, audio, and webcam. It has no watermarks, no time time limits, and supports recording in up to 4K. It’s optimized for more challenging screen captures like gameplay recording.

Using OBS can be somewhat of a technical nightmare, though. Just setting up a simple screen recording involves installing the software, setting up a new “scene,” choosing your capture sources for display and audio, and tweaking many settings. While OBS is great for advanced users, it’s probably overkill if you’re looking for something quick and simple.

Pros

• High-quality recordings in up to 4K.
• Record screen, webcam, mic, and system audio simultaneously.
• Separate audio and video tracks for easier editing.
• Excellent livestreaming capabilities.

Cons

• Steep learning curve.
• Interface is not very user-friendly.
• No built-in editor.
• CPU-intensive—can cause performance drops on older or lower-end computers.
• Manual setup required.

Loom

Best for: Recording meetings

Compatibility: Windows, macOS

Loom is a very popular option for instant screen recordings and quick tutorials with no watermark. You can use it via Chrome extension, desktop or mobile app, and all it takes is just a few clicks.

Loom includes some useful features on the free plan, including automatic transcription in 50+ languages, virtual backgrounds, and noise suppression. However, the free plan only allows videos of up to five minutes. Plus, since all recordings are stored in the cloud, you can only share them with a link, with the Loom branding appearing on that page (but not on the video itself).

Pros

• Quick and easy to use.
• Record in 720p video and 48 kHz audio.
• Automatic transcription in 50+ languages.
• Mobile app available.
• Includes basic editing features like trimming, emojis, and CTAs.

Cons

• 5-minute video limit on free plan (for a maximum of 25 saved videos). 
• Videos can’t be downloaded.
• Loom branding appears on video pages in the free plan.

ShareX

Best for: Workflow documentation, QA testing, GIF making

Compatibility: Windows

ShareX is an open-source screen capture and recording tool for Windows with some advanced features like a GIF creator and image effects. It’s completely free, with no watermarks or time limits, and supports up to 4K video recording, but only works on Windows devices.. 

Unfortunately, ShareX isn’t for beginners and has a very outdated interface. Also, despite all the advanced features it offers, the only editing feature is basic trimming.

Pros

• Record in up to 4K.
• Free, no watermarks or time limits.
• Advanced screenshot functionality (only a region of your screen, window, full screen, scrolling capture, etc.).
• Integrates with 80+ services, including FTP, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Imgur.
• Task automation to set up custom workflows.

Cons

• Steep learning curve.
• Outdated, complicated UI.
• Only works on Windows devices.
• Only records one audio input at a time.
• Underwhelming built-in editor: only trimming.

ScreenRec

Best for: Business training and remote support

Compatibility: Windows, Linux, macOS

ScreenRec is a free screen recorder that captures your screen, audio, and webcam with no watermarks or time limits, even on the free plan. It’s especially popular for business training and remote support due to its secure, shareable links with built-in viewer analytics. It’s also very easy to use: just clickAlt+S to start recording. 

ScreenRec’s main catch is that you must create a free account if you want to record more than 5 minutes at a time. 

Pros

• Very easy to use.
• Free, no time limits, no watermarks.
• Record in up to 4K video.
• Lightweight—run smoothly even on older PCs.
• Instant shareable link with viewer insights.
• Downloadable MP4 files + 2GB free cloud storage.

Cons

• No editing tools.
• Can’t balance mic and system audio independently.
• Requires a free account to record over 5 minutes.

Flashback Express

Best for: Presentations and webinars

Compatibility: Windows

Flashback Express is a  Windows-only screen recorder that supports both screen and webcam capture, and records both system and mic audio. Its most interesting feature is scheduled recording, which allows you to automatically start and stop recordings at preset times, making it especially handy for presentations and webinars.Just note that some users report issues with audio echo during automatic recording.

Flashback Express is free, easy to use and doesn’t impose watermarks or time limits.

Pros

• Scheduled recordings.
• Unlimited recording length, no watermarks.
• Screen annotation for emphasizing key points in your videos.
• Track cursor feature makes it easier for viewers to follow along.
• Editing features like trim, cut, crop, and split. Can also add stickers and b-roll.

Cons

• Windows only.
• Automatic recording of mic and internal audio may cause echo.

Screenify

Best for: Branded content

Compatibility: Windows, macOS

If you’re looking for a higher-quality screen recording, Screenify offers a free option that supports up to 4K with unlimited recording duration and no watermarks. It lets you capture full screen, selected area, specific windows, or webcam overlay. It’s efficient and fast, and you can even add your brand’s logo as a watermark. 

Screenify is a solid option, but it lacks a full editing suit, offering only trimming and simple annotations.

Pros

• Records in up to 4K.
• Capture both system audio and microphone with noise reduction.
• Export in multiple formats for audio and video.
• Can add your own watermark.

Cons

• Only basic editing.
• No cloud storage or shareable links.

Screencastify

Best for: Instructional videos and virtual classrooms

Compatibility: Chrome extension, works with most OSs

Screencastify is a popular Chrome-based screen recorder built with teachers and students in mind. It’s lightweight and easy to use, and includes sharing tools like adding text to video and drawing with a pen. It integrates with the Google ecosystem, so you can save your recordings directly to Drive or Google Classroom, and even includes auto-captioning.

Free users can record only up to 30 minutes per video up to a maximum of 10 videos, with no watermark except for videos exported to YouTube.

Pros

• Record in up to 1080p.
• One-click recording.
• Integrates well with Google Drive and Classroom.
• Editing tools with trim, crop, merge, text, and annotations.
• Export in MP4, GIF, MP3 or directly to YouTube.
• Automatic captioning available..

Cons

• 30-minute time limit.
• Can record only up to 10 videos. 
• YouTube exports include a watermark.

XRecorder

Best for: Recording gameplay, YouTube live streams

Compatibility: Android, iOS

XRecorder is a popular mobile screen recording app for Android and iOS. It supports up to 1080p resolution, and it’s designed for gamers and content creators on the go. It can record both mic and system audio simultaneously and includes a floating toolbar so you can control recordings without leaving your app. The facecam overlay is customizable, with a draggable, resizable window to fit your content. You can record as long as you need, but the built-in editor adds a watermark unless you watch an ad.

Pros

• Record in 1080p with mic + system audio
• Free, no time limits.
• YouTube and RTMP live streaming for gaming.
• Video editor allows you to trim, cut, split, add music, and control speed.
• Unique floating toolbar with recording controls.

Cons

• You must watch an ad to remove the editor’s watermark.
• Longer recordings may be split due to file size limitations.
• Only works on mobile.

Vmaker

Best for:
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Chrome

Vmaker is a free screen that allows you to record your screen, webcam, mic, and system audio with no watermark. It also includes built-in drawing tools so  you can annotate by drawing and highlighting directly on your screen capture. The free plan also includes AI avatars and auto subtitling, as well as some generative AI credits.

The free plan limits videos to 7 minutes, but editing (trim, crop, merge, etc.) is included.

Pros

• Record in 720p HD, no watermarks.
• Noise reduction tools for better audio clarity.
• Annotation and drawing features.
• Editing features for trimming, cropping, splitting and merging.
• Mobile app available.
• AI-powered virtual backgrounds, automatic subtitles, and avatars.

Cons

• 7-minute video time limit on free plan.
• Editing tools only available on desktop.

Tips for choosing a free screen recorder

Still deciding which tool to use? Here are some tips to help you pick the right screen recorder for your needs.

Define your use case

Figure out why you need this tool and how you plan to use it to narrow down the key features you should look for. For example:

• Tutorials or demos: Look for webcam overlay and annotations.
• Gameplay: Prioritize 1080p+ resolution and system audio.
• Team updates or training: Cloud sharing and viewer analytics can help a lot.
• Content creation and branded videos: Editing tools and branding options are a must if your video needs to look polished.

Check device compatibility

Not every tool  works on every OS. On the other hand, if you need screen-recording on mobile, look for native Android or iOS apps.

Consider ease of use

Some tools, like Riverside, will get you recording in a couple of clicks. Others, like OBS or ShareX, require very technical setups. Remember to balance ease of use against the functionality and level of customization that you need.

Don’t forget scalability

If you think you’ll be using a screen recorder a lot, consider one that can grow with you. Can you upgrade to record in higher resolution or have more storage space? Are advanced editing tools available on paid plans?

With Riverside, you can use our free screen recorder as much as you want, and sign up for a free account to get access to even higher quality screen recording and AI editing tools.

FAQs about free screen recorders

Is a screen recorder safe?

Screen recorders downloaded from unofficial sources can expose you to data leaks, cloud risks, or malware. Stick to reputable tools and be mindful of what you’re capturing, especially if it’s stored on the cloud. Riverside’s screen capture tool is browser based—no downloads, no risk.!

How can I record my screen without paying?

Just use one of the free tools listed above! We recommend Riverside because it records in HD audio and video, it’s easy to use, and you can upload your recording to a free account to access a full suite of video editing tools.

What is the longest time you can screen record?

It depends on the tool and whether it’s free or not. Some free tools have time limits, others do not. With Riverside’s free screen recorder, you can record as long as you like.

How can I record myself and my screen at the same time for free?

Many (but not all) screen recorders allow you to record both screen and your webcam as an overlay in one corner. With Riverside, just select “Screen and Webcam” and your webcam will appear as a picture-in-picture overlay in the bottom left corner of your screen.

What is the best watermark remover?

Most video editors can be used to remove or hide watermarks with complicated and often clunky workarounds. You could crop them out (depending on their placement), add a blur or overlay box to hide them, or cover them with another logo. The best option, however, is to create a video without a watermark in the first place, using one of the free tools above.

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