8 free screen recorders with no watermark
By the Ethical Tube teamUpdated 4 min read
The short answer
Ethical Tube, OBS Studio, and ShareX record with no watermark and no time limit, and the recorders built into macOS, Windows 11, and ChromeOS add no watermark either. Clipchamp and ScreenPal are watermark-free too, but stop each recording at 30 and 15 minutes.
A watermark is how many free screen recorders push you to upgrade. Screencastify's free plan puts one on every video, and Vidyard brands every video made on a free account.
These eight don't. Each one is free, records your screen with your voice, and saves a clean video. We checked every claim on the maker's own website or help center.
We make Ethical Tube, so it's first on this list. We've described every tool, ours included, with its real limits.
The free plans at a glance
| Tool | Free plan | Watermark | Account | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethical Tube | No time limit or video cap | None | Not needed | Chrome or Edge on a computer |
| OBS Studio | No time limit | None | Not needed | Windows, Mac, and Linux |
| ShareX | No time limit | None | Not needed | Windows |
| Clipchamp | 30 minutes per recording; 1080p exports | None | Microsoft account | Chrome, Edge, or the Windows app |
| ScreenPal | 15 minutes per recording | None | Not needed to record | Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and mobile |
| macOS Screenshot app | Included with macOS | None | Not needed | Mac |
| Windows Snipping Tool | Included with Windows 11 | None | Not needed | Windows 11 |
| ChromeOS screen recorder | Included with ChromeOS | None | Not needed | Chromebooks |
Checked on on each company's own website. See sources.
1. Ethical Tube
Best for: Recording in the browser with nothing to install
Ethical Tube is a free screen recorder that runs in your browser. It records your entire screen or one app with your microphone and saves the video to your computer exactly as you made it, with no watermark, time limit, or account.
- Free plan
- No time limit or video cap
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Not needed
- Works on
- Chrome or Edge on a computer
- Paid plans
- None, everything is free
What we like
- No watermark, time limit, or video cap
- Works in Chrome or Edge on any computer
- Nothing is uploaded
Watch out for
- No editing or share links
2. OBS Studio
Best for: Full control on Windows, Mac, or Linux
OBS Studio is free, open-source software for recording and live streaming. Combine your screen, app windows, webcam, images, and text into scenes, mix audio from several sources, and record for as long as you like.
- Free plan
- No time limit
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Not needed
- Works on
- Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Paid plans
- None, it's free and open source
What we like
- No watermark or time limit
- Scenes, transitions, and an audio mixer
- Windows, Mac, and Linux
Watch out for
- Takes time to learn
- No built-in editor
4. Clipchamp
Best for: Editing your recording before you share it
Clipchamp is Microsoft's free video editor, with a screen and webcam recorder built in. Recordings run up to 30 minutes, and free exports are up to 1080p with no watermark.
- Free plan
- 30 minutes per recording; 1080p exports
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Microsoft account
- Works on
- Chrome, Edge, or the Windows app
- Paid plans
- 4K exports with Microsoft 365 Personal or Family
What we like
- No watermark on 1080p exports
- Full editor with free AI subtitles
- Works in the browser or as a Windows app
Watch out for
- Recordings stop at 30 minutes
- Needs a Microsoft account
5. ScreenPal
Best for: Screen and webcam together
ScreenPal says its recorder never adds a watermark, on free or paid plans. The free version records your screen, your webcam, or both for up to 15 minutes, needs no account, and saves MP4 files to your computer.
- Free plan
- 15 minutes per recording
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Not needed to record
- Works on
- Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and mobile
- Paid plans
- From $4 a month
What we like
- No watermark or account
- Screen and webcam together
- Unlimited recordings
Watch out for
- 15 minutes per recording
- System audio needs a paid plan
6. macOS Screenshot app
Best for: Mac users who want nothing extra
Press Shift-Command-5 on a Mac to open the Screenshot app. Record the entire screen, a window, or part of it, choose a microphone under Options, and the video saves to your desktop. Window recording needs macOS Tahoe 26 or later, and system audio needs macOS 27 or later.
- Free plan
- Included with macOS
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Not needed
- Works on
- Mac
- Paid plans
- None, it comes with your Mac
What we like
- Built into every Mac
- Records your microphone
- Can show your clicks
Watch out for
- Mac only
- System audio needs macOS 27 or later
7. Windows Snipping Tool
Best for: Quick clips on Windows 11
Snipping Tool on Windows 11 records any area of your screen, up to the whole thing. Press Windows logo key + Shift + R, drag over the area, and select Start. It records audio with the video, and you can open the result in Clipchamp to edit it.
- Free plan
- Included with Windows 11
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Not needed
- Works on
- Windows 11
- Paid plans
- None, it comes with Windows
What we like
- Built into Windows 11
- Records audio with your video
- Edit in Clipchamp
Watch out for
- Records an area, not a single app
- Windows 11 only
8. ChromeOS screen recorder
Best for: Chromebooks
Every Chromebook can record its screen. Press Shift + Ctrl + Show windows and choose Screen record to capture the full screen, a window, or part of it, with your camera, microphone, and device audio. Videos save as WebM files, and you can make GIFs too.
- Free plan
- Included with ChromeOS
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Not needed
- Works on
- Chromebooks
- Paid plans
- None, it comes with your Chromebook
What we like
- Built into every Chromebook
- Camera, microphone, and device audio
- Records GIFs too
Watch out for
- Chromebooks only
- No editing tools
Free plans that do add a watermark
- Screencastify
- Every video on the free plan carries a watermark, and MP4 and MP3 exports are paid.
- Vidyard
- Every video on a free account carries Vidyard branding. Removing it takes a paid plan.
Which one should you pick?
- You don't want to install anything
- Use the recorder built into your computer, or Ethical Tube in Chrome or Edge.
- You want full control
- OBS Studio, on Windows, Mac, or Linux.
- You want to edit first
- Clipchamp, for recordings up to 30 minutes.
- You want your webcam in the video
- Ethical Tube, ScreenPal, Clipchamp, OBS Studio, or the Chromebook recorder.
How we compared them
- Free for good
- Every tool is free to use, with no trial period.
- No watermark
- Each maker says so, or the tool is free software with no paid version.
- Official sources
- Every claim comes from the maker's own website or help center.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free screen recorder with no watermark?
For quick recordings, use the recorder built into your computer or Ethical Tube in your browser. For scenes, several audio sources, or long recordings, OBS Studio is free, open source, and has no watermark or time limit.
How do I record my screen on Windows without a watermark?
On Windows 11, press Windows logo key + Shift + R to record with Snipping Tool. It doesn't add a watermark. For more control, OBS Studio and ShareX are free and open source.
How do I record my screen on a Mac for free?
Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot app, then choose to record the entire screen, a window, or part of it. Pick a microphone under Options to narrate. The recording saves to your desktop with no watermark.
Is OBS Studio really free?
Yes. OBS Studio is free, open-source software for Windows, Mac, and Linux, with no watermark or time limit.
Which free screen recorders have no time limit?
Ethical Tube, OBS Studio, and ShareX don't limit how long you record. Clipchamp stops each recording at 30 minutes, and ScreenPal's free plan stops at 15.
Sources
We checked every source on . Plans change, so check the company's site before you commit.
- Screencastify
- Pricing
- Vidyard
- Branding on free videos
- OBS Studio
- Official site
- ShareX
- Official site
- Clipchamp
- Pricing, Recording length limit
- macOS Screenshot app
- Apple: Record the screen on Mac
- Windows Snipping Tool
- Microsoft: Use Snipping Tool, Microsoft: Snipping Tool recording with audio
- ChromeOS screen recorder
- Google: Record your Chromebook screen
Product names are trademarks of their owners. Ethical Tube isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any company on this page.