Need a free online screen recorder that works in your browser? Most tools that let you record your screen without downloading software hit you with watermarks or 5-minute limits. Ten tools at a glance: Capme focuses on privacy, while Loom leans into team sharing.
Only two (Capme & ClipChamp) offer truly free, unlimited recording with no watermarks. The rest either cap your time (Loom's 5 minutes), add watermarks (most tools), or delete your videos after 30 days. If you need something that runs in the browser with no install, the list gets short fast.
Quick Comparison
Free tier limitations at a glance
| Tool | Free Plan | Watermark | Time Limit | Privacy | Best For | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||
| Loom | 25 videos max | Yes | 5 min per video | Cloud uploads | Team collaboration | ||||||
| ClipChamp | Unlimited | None | None | Microsoft cloud | Windows 11 users | ||||||
| ScreenPal | Unlimited | Yes | 15 min per video | Cloud uploads | Education | ||||||
| Veed.io | 10 min/month total | Yes | 10 min monthly cap | Cloud uploads | Social media clips | ||||||
| RecordCast | 5 min videos | Yes | 5 min per video | Cloud uploads | Basic recording | ||||||
* Comparison based on free tier features as of October 2025. Features and limitations may change.
Next, you'll find what each tool offers, where it falls short, and when it fits best.
1. Capme - Best for Privacy-Conscious Teams
Local recording, automatic branding, zero account friction
Capme's recording interface - no time limits, no watermarks, all recordings stay local
What makes it different: Capme is the only tool that records everything locally in your browser with zero server uploads. You open the studio, hit record, and download the file - no account, no processing delays, no monthly bill. It's built for teams in regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal) or anyone who needs GDPR/CCPA compliance by design.
Currently free during beta: All features are unlocked - unlimited recordings, up to 1080p, custom branding (logos, backgrounds, lower thirds), and a built-in teleprompter. No watermarks, no time caps, no surprise limits when you hit "Stop Recording."
Choose Capme when:
Budget is a priority
Need professional video recording without monthly per-user costs eating into your budget.
Privacy is non-negotiable
Recording sensitive content that must stay on your devices without third-party server uploads.
Speed matters
Need to record and download instantly without waiting for uploads or processing.
Branding is essential
Want automatic logo/background overlays on every recording without paying for premium.
What's Missing:
Team workspaces
No shared dashboards or team folders. You manage files yourself via Google Drive, Dropbox, or email.
Viewer analytics
Can't track who watched or for how long. Host on YouTube/Vimeo if you need view tracking.
Instant shareable links
You download the file and share it yourself. No auto-generated links like Loom provides.
Best For
- Teams in regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal) that can't upload sensitive content to third-party servers
- Anyone who needs GDPR/CCPA compliance without vendor risk assessments or data processing agreements
- Internal company updates that should stay inside trusted channels (not on third-party platforms)
- Users who want professional branding (logos, backgrounds) without paying for it or editing manually
Your first video in 3 minutes
Open studio. Hit record. Download. Done.
NO ACCOUNT NEEDED · INSTANT ACCESS · 100% PRIVATE
2. Loom - Best for Team Collaboration
Instant shareable links, team workspaces, viewer analytics
Loom's 5-minute limit warning and watermark on free plan recordings
What makes it different: Loom has 25 million users because the workflow is frictionless - record, get a link, paste it in Slack. The video uploads to their AWS infrastructure while you keep working. Teammates click the link and watch instantly. No file downloading, no "where did you put it?" conversations. Every video is stored on Loom's servers. When the free tier isn’t enough, plans start at $15/user/month.
What's Included in the Free Plan
25 videos maximum (total, not per month)
Once you hit 25, you have to delete old videos or upgrade. It's not 25 new videos each month - it's 25 videos in your account, ever.
5-minute recording limit per video
Good for quick demos or updates. Not enough for full training sessions or detailed walkthroughs.
Basic editing (trim)
You can cut the beginning or end. No advanced editing, no branding customization.
Instant shareable links
That's the real draw. Copy the link, paste it anywhere, and people can watch right away.
Viewer analytics
See who watched, how long, and where they stopped.
Free Plan Limitations
Loom watermark on all videos
Big "Made with Loom" branding. Removed on paid plans ($15/user/month).
25-video cap is permanent
Not "25 per month." Once you have 25 videos, you're stuck. Delete old ones or pay.
5-minute limit per video
Very restrictive. Most demos or tutorials run longer.
No custom branding
Can't add your logo or background. Business plan required.
Videos stored on Loom servers
All recordings upload to AWS. Not suitable for regulated industries or sensitive content.
Paid Plans
Business: $15/user/month (annual billing) - Removes watermark, unlimited videos, team workspaces, custom branding, priority support. For a 10-person team, that's $1,800/year.
Business + AI: $20/user/month - Adds AI-generated titles, summaries, and chapter detection.
Best For
- Teams already in cloud-first workflows who need instant shareable links and don't worry about where videos are hosted
- Users who need viewer analytics to see who watched and how much they engaged
- Organizations with budget for $15/user/month and value convenience over privacy control
Why teams choose Capme over Loom
See the full technical breakdown and cost calculator.
See Detailed Comparison3. ClipChamp - Best for Microsoft Ecosystem
Built into Windows 11, integrates with Microsoft 365
ClipChamp requires a Microsoft account but offers unlimited recording with no watermark
What makes it different: ClipChamp is built into Windows 11 and owned by Microsoft. If you're already in the Microsoft ecosystem (OneDrive, Teams, Office 365), it's convenient. No watermark on the free tier, but you need a Microsoft account and videos upload to OneDrive.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- Unlimited recordings, no time limits
- No watermark (requires Microsoft account)
- Basic video editing
- Export up to 1080p
Limitations
- Microsoft account required
- Limited export options on free tier
- Videos upload to Microsoft cloud (OneDrive)
- No teleprompter or advanced features
Best for: Windows 11 users, Microsoft 365 subscribers, users who need basic editing bundled in.
4. ScreenPal (formerly Screencast-O-Matic) - Best for Education
Popular in schools, screen drawing tools
ScreenPal adds a watermark to all free recordings with 15-minute limit
Free plan: 15-minute recording limit, watermark on videos, 720p max quality, videos hosted on their servers.
Paid plans: Deluxe ($4/month removes watermark and time limit), Max ($10/month adds advanced features and AI tools).
Best for: Teachers creating quick lessons, students on tight budgets, education-focused workflows with built-in quiz features.
5. Veed.io - Best for Social Media Content
Heavy editing focus, captions, templates
Veed.io limits free users to 10 minutes of recording per month total
Free plan: 10 minutes of recording per month (total), watermark, 720p export, auto-captions limited.
What makes it different: Veed focuses on video editing and social media optimization - captions, templates, aspect ratio resizing for Instagram/TikTok. Screen recording is secondary.
Best for: Social media creators, marketing teams making short clips, users who need heavy editing tools.
6-10. More Free Options (Quick Summaries)
Additional tools with varying limitations
6. Jumpshare - Best for File Sharing + Recording
Free plan: 2GB storage (total), watermark, files deleted after 30 days. Best for: Users who need file sharing plus occasional screen recording. Visit Jumpshare
7. RecordCast - Best for Simplicity
Free plan: 5-minute video limit, 480p quality, maximum 12 projects, watermark. Plus plan ($3.99/month) removes intro and adds 30-minute limit. Best for: Short recordings, users who prioritize simplicity over features. No account required. Visit RecordCast
8. Screencastify - Best for Chromebook Users
Free plan: 10 recordings per month, 5-minute limit, watermark. Chrome extension only. Best for: Teachers using Google Classroom, Chromebook users. Visit Screencastify
9. Apowersoft - Best for Quick Tests
Free plan: 3-minute recording limit, watermark. Essentially a trial version. Best for: Testing if screen recording works, very short clips. Visit Apowersoft
10. Browser Built-In Screen Recorder
What it is: Built into Chromium browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave) via native API. Completely free, no watermark, no time limits, local recording. Limitations: No webcam overlay, no editing or branding, very basic. Best for: Bug reports, internal documentation, and quick captures with no extras.
No Download Required
Record in your browser with zero install
You can start recording right in your browser without installing anything. Capme runs fully in-browser and saves files locally, so nothing is uploaded during capture.
Can I record my screen without downloading software?
Which free online screen recorder has no time limit?
Is there a free screen recorder with no watermark?
Why Choose a Browser-Based Recorder?
When online tools make sense vs. desktop software
Browser-based recorders are fast to start. When you need to capture something right now - a bug in production, a client demo in 5 minutes, or a quick walkthrough - there’s no installation or setup. Open your browser and hit record.
The tradeoff: most online tools upload your videos to the cloud. That’s fine for public content. For customer data or unreleased features (GDPR/HIPAA/etc.), keeping files local is safer. Desktop apps save files locally by default. Capme does the same in the browser by keeping recordings on your device.
Browser-based tools work best when: You're on a work computer where you can't install software. You need something that works on any device (Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook). You want zero friction. You're making quick videos, not doing heavy editing.
Desktop software is better when: You need advanced editing (multi-track, transitions, effects). You're recording long sessions (2+ hours). You require specific codecs or formats. Your industry prohibits cloud uploads.
Bottom Line: What You Actually Get for Free
Here's the reality: only Capme and ClipChamp offer truly unlimited recording with no watermarks. Everything else either caps your time (Loom's 5 minutes, Veed.io's 10 minutes per month), adds watermarks (Loom, ScreenPal, RecordCast), or limits your video library (Loom's 25-video cap).
Pick Capme if you want local files and privacy; choose ClipChamp if you’re already on Microsoft 365 and need basic editing. If privacy matters - regulated industries, compliance requirements, customer data, unreleased features - Capme keeps everything on your device with zero cloud uploads. If you’re in the Microsoft ecosystem, ClipChamp integrates with OneDrive and Windows 11. Both offer free plans without watermarks.
If collaboration is your priority, Loom's instant links and viewer analytics can be worth $15/user/month. But if you need unlimited recording without watermarks, your options are Capme (privacy-focused, feature-rich) or ClipChamp (Microsoft-integrated, cloud-based).
🟥Choose Capme if:
- •Privacy is non-negotiable (regulated industries, GDPR/CCPA compliance)
- •You need professional branding (logos, backgrounds) without paying for it
- •No account/signup friction matters to you
- •You want unlimited recording with zero watermarks
- •You need a teleprompter for scripted content
🟦Choose ClipChamp if:
- •You're on Windows 11 and use Microsoft 365
- •You need basic video editing bundled in
- •Microsoft account requirement doesn't bother you
- •You prefer cloud storage over local files
🟨Choose Loom if:
- •You need instant shareable links (paste in Slack/email)
- •Viewer analytics and engagement tracking matter
- •You have budget for $15/user/month
- •Team workspaces and collaboration are priorities
- •5-minute limit works for your use case
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about free online screen recorders
What's the best completely free online screen recorder?
Capme and ClipChamp are the only tools with truly unlimited free plans and no watermarks. Capme excels at privacy and branding (local recording, custom logos, teleprompter), while ClipChamp integrates with Microsoft ecosystems. Most other free tools add watermarks or limit recording time.
Do free online screen recorders have watermarks?
Most do. Loom, ScreenPal, Veed.io, Jumpshare, and RecordCast all add watermarks to free tier recordings. Only Capme, ClipChamp, and basic browser built-ins are completely watermark-free on the free plan.
Are online screen recorders safe?
It depends on where your videos are stored. Tools like Capme keep recordings local on your device with zero server uploads. Others like Loom, Veed.io, and ScreenPal upload to cloud servers, which may not comply with GDPR, CCPA, or internal security policies. Check each tool's privacy policy if data control matters.
Can I record without creating an account?
Capme, Apowersoft, and RecordCast allow recording without signup. Most others (Loom, ClipChamp, Screencastify) require account creation before you can start recording.
Which online recorder is best for privacy?
Capme is the only tool that processes everything locally in your browser with zero server uploads during recording. This makes it ideal for regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal) or any situation where sensitive content shouldn't touch third-party servers.
Do online recorders work on Mac?
Yes, all browser-based tools work on Mac. Capme, Loom, ClipChamp, and others support Safari and Chrome on macOS. No separate Mac app download needed - just open the browser.
What's the best free Loom alternative?
Capme is the best privacy-focused alternative with unlimited recording, no watermarks, and automatic branding. ClipChamp works well for Windows users integrated with Microsoft 365. ScreenPal fits education budgets. It depends on your priority: privacy (Capme), Microsoft ecosystem (ClipChamp), or education features (ScreenPal).
Can I add my logo to free recordings?
Only Capme includes custom branding (logos, backgrounds, lower thirds) in the free plan. All other tools either don't offer branding features or charge for them in paid tiers.
Disclaimer: This comparison of free online screen recorders is based on publicly available pricing pages and feature documentation as of October 31, 2025. Features, limitations, and pricing may change without notice. We recommend verifying current details on each tool's official website before making a decision. Trademarks and logos are property of their respective owners.