The 5 Best Screen Recorders on Earth Today: Ranked and Reviewed

Key Points

• Our choice for the #1 Best Overall screen recorder is the EVGA XR1 Pro.
• Screen recorders let you record either an input or the screen of your computer with ease.
• A screen recorder will let you save the content appearing on your screen as a video, or even stream it to the internet.
• It is important to look at the price of screen recorders, what resolution they can record, what sources they record, and what devices they are compatible with. 

Screen recorders provide an easy way to record video and audio output from a computer or gaming console. This is commonly done via a small box known as a capture card.

They connect to the output with an HDMI cable and then to the computer with a USB cable. To actually save the video, you then need to use screen recording software.

You can actually use these programs to directly record your computer’s screen. There are also a number of programs that you can use to capture your computer’s screen. Both Mac and Windows offer screen recorders built into the operating system.

Now, let’s take an in-depth look at some of the best screen recorders on the market.

History Computer’s Top Picks for the Best Screen Recorders

#1 Best Overall Screen Recorder: EVGA XR1 Pro

Best Overall

EVGA XR1 Pro Capture Card

$119.97

• Captures and records up to 1440p @ 60fps or 4k @ 30fps
• True 1440p@144hz HDR / 4k 60hz HDR pass-through
• Built-in audio mixer controls 

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12/03/2023 04:30 pm GMT

The #1 best screen recorder you can purchase today is the EVGA XR1 Pro. If you haven’t kept up with capture cards or screen recording technology, then you may be surprised to see that EVGA is now making these devices.

That’s because, in the last few years, the well-known PC component manufacturer has branched into the screen recording business.

The EVGA XR1 Pro is a pretty standard screen recorder. You connect an HDMI cable to the screen you wish to record. Then, you have the option to output that video signal via another HDMI cable.

Finally, you must connect the capture card to a computer in order to view and record the signal. You also have the option to connect a microphone so you can add audio over the HDMI signal’s audio.

What puts the EVGA XR1 in our top spot is its ability to record 1440p at 60FPS or 4K at 30FPS. There are other devices that can achieve this feat, but they are more expensive and have fewer features.

This is particularly true since Elgato discontinued its 4K60 S+ capture card, leaving the XR1 Pro as one of the few options to record in 4K. It also supports variable refresh rate passthrough, which is great for recording PC gameplay.

The XR1 Pro cannot record directly to a USB or SD storage device like some high-end screen recorders. However, it will work with popular streaming and recording software like OBS Studio or Streamlabs OBS. The box also has a knob at the top, which allows you to easily control settings like audio.

Best Internal Screen Recorder: Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2

Best Internal Screen Recorder

Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2

$197.99

• Capture 4K@60Hz
• HDR10
• Record footage directly to your hard drive
• PCIE x 8, PCIE x 4, PCIE x 16 hardware interface
• 240Hz Passthrough

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12/03/2023 03:17 pm GMT

The best internal screen recorder is the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2. It works a little differently than other screen recorders in that it utilizes a PCI-e slot on your computer’s motherboard. This means that it not only requires an extra slot but that it also will not work with a laptop.

The MK.2 behind the 4K60 Pro’s title indicates that it is the second generation. The biggest change with this newer card is that it is much smaller. Otherwise, it is still capable of 4K recording at 60FPS.

The only other major change is the price, since the MK.2 has an MSRP of only $250 compared to the $399 price tag on the original version. Besides the fact that it goes inside your computer, it otherwise works like any other capture card from Elgato.

Once connected, you can plug an HDMI cable in to capture the signal. Just like an external capture card, it also features an HDMI output. To use the 4K60 Pro as a screen recorder, you will need to install recording software like OBS.

With OBS installed, you can connect your input and output to the computer. It is important to note that the 4K60 Pro is designed to record content from a camera or game console.

More specifically, it cannot record the content on the computer you are using. To do so, you would need one computer to output and another to record. However, you can run multiple cards on a single computer.

Best Screen Recording Software: Camtasia

Best Screen Recording Software

Camtasia 2023

$249.00

• Great for creating educational content, tutorials, walkthroughs, social media content, etc.
• Screen recorder and video editor in one
• Features media path animations, filters and vignettes, AI background removal, and more

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12/03/2023 04:30 pm GMT

The best software for recording your computer’s screen is Camtasia. This unique screen recording software is an all-in-one option for making videos from start to finish.

Unlike all of the previously mentioned options, it is not a physical device, and it does not require an additional computer to record what is happening on your screen.

Camtasia can record what is happening in real time, which is why many YouTube content creators and teachers use the software. It is the perfect solution for people wanting to make tutorials.

When you launch the recording software, a small settings window opens, which allows you to record either the entire screen or a portion of it.

There are also other ways to customize the recording, such as changing audio and microphone inputs. Once you start recording, you can proceed to use the computer like normal, as Camtasia records in the background.

When you end the recording session, the file will be saved. In addition, the full Camtasia software will launch. The Camtasia software includes a full-featured editing suite. You can also use Camtasia’s editor as a standalone program for editing other videos.

Unfortunately, Camtasia isn’t the best for recording gameplay since it can be a little finicky with certain windows. Additionally, it is very expensive, with the full version costing a couple of hundred dollars.

Best Compact Screen Recorder: Elgato Cam Link 4K

Best Compact Option

Elgato Cam Link 4K

$99.99

• Lets you record in 4K at 30 fps
• Ultra-Low Latency Technology
• No time restrictions

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12/03/2023 04:31 pm GMT

The best screen recorder for people on the go is the Elgato Cam Link 4K. Screen recorders and capture cards are notoriously bulky, with a maze of wires coming out of them.

Fortunately, Elgato’s Cam Link is a great portable option for people who need to keep a recording device with them. However, with the device’s compact size comes some tradeoffs.

The Cam Link 4K is a simple USB device that plugs into any USB-A port on your computer. The other end of the device has an HDMI port that you can easily plug an input into.

As the name implies, most people use this to capture video directly from a camera. This allows them to use a high-end DSLR as a webcam for streaming.

However, it functions similarly to other screen recorders, so you can record video from another computer or a game console. Obviously, you can’t use it to record the screen on the device that it is plugged into.

But you could also use it with a laptop and have it record the screen on a desktop. This is a great option for people who want to control their recording separately from what they are actually recording.

For instance, gamers can record and manage their stream on a laptop, so they don’t have to worry about a screen recorder running in the background and potentially slowing down their game.

The problem is that the Elgato Cam Link does not have an HDMI output, so you would need to use it with a device that has multiple outputs. Even so, it is still a great value for streaming 4K at 30FPS.

Best Free Screen Recorder: OBS Studio

You can use OBS Studio as a free alternative for screen recording. Open Broadcaster Software is a completely free and open-source program, meaning there are no trials or watermarks, and you can use it for commercial productions.

We’ve already mentioned OBS Studio briefly because you can use it in conjunction with screen recording capture cards. However, it also works as a screen recorder to capture videos on your computer.

You can even choose to record specific windows. It is possible to connect webcams and other cameras to OBS to integrate their video feeds into your recording.

Speaking of integrating different inputs, OBS Studio is perfect for combining multiple audio and video inputs. For instance, adding your own dialogue over your computer’s audio.

Similarly, you can add a picture-in-picture webcam box to your screen recording. All of these ways to combine inputs are why it is so loved by gamers.

Another great option in OBS is the ability to add overlays to give your videos some pizzazz. If you take your time to set everything up in OBS Studio, you shouldn’t have to do much post-production work.

The Elgato Stream Deck is one of the ways that you can add even more video effects while recording. In addition to recording, you can also stream live from OBS Studio to YouTube and Twitch.

How to Pick the Best Screen Recorder: Step by Step

When choosing a screen recorder, be sure to consider these four main factors:

• Source
• Resolution
• Price
• Compatibility

Let’s review each of these criteria in more detail.

Source

You first need to determine what screen you will be recording. If you just need to capture your computer screen for a tutorial, then a program like OBS Studio or Camtasia is the easiest option.

However, if you need to record another device, like a game console, then a capture card will come in handy. There are also devices to record other types of inputs, like RCA. 

Resolution

The next thing you will want to look at carefully is the resolution. This will dictate how good of a picture you record at. Most devices and software record at least 1080p, but there are some that go up to 4K.

Be sure to also look at the frames per second, or FPS, at varying resolutions. Some recording devices also have a different pass-through resolution, which allows a higher resolution to output to a TV or monitor.

Price

Price will likely be a concern when it comes to screen recording because costs vary widely. Some 4K capture devices can go well above $500.

Of course, there are also free options to record your computer’s screen, like OBS Studio. Just be cautious when looking at budget capture cards since many overstate their resolution.

Compatibility

Since there are so many different options for screen recording, it is important that you choose a device or software that works with your computer. For instance, some options may not be compatible with Macs.

Similarly, you may need other adapters or splitters to connect a capture card to your computer. Think about exactly how you will set up your screen recording to ensure there won’t be compatibility issues.

What to Know Before Buying a Screen Recorder

Screen recorders are certainly useful tools, but you may not actually need to purchase anything. Unless you need to record the screen of a game console or a camera, then you can likely use free software on your computer.

This software can record exactly what is happening on your entire screen or in just a portion of it. Options like OBS Studio are very powerful and will likely be more than enough for recording or streaming content.

If you are in a bind and need to make a quick recording, then you can always use the Snipping tool in Windows. Even if you do use a capture card, you will still need to run software on a computer to record the video input.

Using a Screen Recorder: What it’s Like

Screen recorders are pretty straightforward, but there may be a little confusion the first time you use one. If you are using a capture card or recording a screen with OBS Studio, then you will need to create a scene.

To do so, you will need to select whether it will record something on the computer screen or from a capture card. From there, you can modify advanced features like adding overlays.

If you are using a capture card, then you will need to connect all of the necessary cables. Also, don’t forget to test that everything is working properly before making a final recording. When you are finished recording, you will still need to edit the video and save it for later use.

Summary Table

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