ScreenToast / Blog / 7 best free screen recorders for Mac (and the catch)
The 7 best free screen recorders for Mac, and the catch with each
You can record your Mac's screen for free, with no watermark, today — the tool is already installed. The question is what you need on top of that: system audio, a webcam, editing, polish. Every free screen recorder for Mac gives up something. Here's what each one gives up, so you can pick the catch you can live with.
1. macOS Screenshot toolbar — the one you already have
Catch: no system audio, no editing.
Press Shift-Command-5. Record the full screen or a selection, choose a microphone and a timer under Options, and optionally show mouse clicks. No watermark, no time limit.
2. QuickTime Player — the same, plus a trim
Catch: same as above.
File → New Screen Recording opens the same toolbar. You get QuickTime's trim and split afterwards, and a floating webcam window if you open a Movie Recording alongside.
3. OBS Studio — free with no limits
Catch: complex, and no editing at all.
Open source, no watermark, no time limit, records system audio on recent macOS with an audio capture source, and streams. Expect to spend half an hour on setup.
4. Cap — free with an editor
Catch: personal use only on the free plan.
Open source, one-click recording, and a Studio Mode editor with zooms and backgrounds. For commercial use you'll need the Desktop licence ($29/year or $58 lifetime).
5. Loom Starter — free with a share link
Catch: 5-minute recordings, 25 videos, everything uploaded.
Ideal for quick messages to a colleague. Not for anything you'll publish.
6. iMovie — free editing for any of the above
Catch: it's an editor, not a recorder.
Pair the built-in recorder with iMovie for trims, titles and music. Zooms are possible with the Ken Burns effect but fiddly.
7. ScreenToast's free tier — free polish, pay to export
Catch: exporting needs Pro ($59/year or $7/month).
Recording and editing are free with no time limit and no sign-in, including Auto Polish, which adds zooms, smooths the cursor and adds a background. It's the way to find out whether automatic polish is worth paying for before you spend a cent. We list it last because, honestly, it isn't free if you need the file.
Free Mac screen recorders compared
| Watermark | Time limit | System audio | Editing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screenshot toolbar | No | No | No | No |
| QuickTime | No | No | No | Trim |
| OBS Studio | No | No | Yes | No |
| Cap (free) | No | 5-min links | Yes | Yes |
| Loom Starter | No | 5 min | Yes | Light |
Our pick: start with the built-in recorder. If you need system audio, move to OBS. If you need it to look good without editing, try an auto-polishing recorder's free tier before buying anything.
Plans and limits checked on each vendor's own website on 20 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free screen recorder for Mac?
For no limits at all, OBS Studio. For zero setup, the built-in recorder (Shift-Command-5). For a free recorder with an editor and zooms, Cap's free plan (personal use).
Is there a free screen recorder for Mac without a watermark?
Yes: the built-in recorder, QuickTime and OBS Studio never add a watermark. See our list of Mac screen recorders with no watermark.
Can I record internal audio for free on a Mac?
Yes, with OBS Studio, or with the built-in recorder plus a free virtual audio driver like BlackHole.
Try ScreenToast free.
Record and edit as much as you like, with no sign-in and no trial clock. Pro is $4.92 a month, billed yearly, when you're ready to export.
macOS 14 or later · Apple silicon and Intel · Under 10 MB