A screen recorder is software which lets you capture a digital recording of computer screen output, typically carrying audio narration.
Screen recording (also known as screencasting) takes a series of screenshots of a running application, recording the user’s actions, and creating a video file. The movies can be output in a variety of different formats. This type of software was brought into prominence by the commercial Windows application Lotus ScreenCam in 1994, followed by TechSmith Camtasia and Adobe Captivate.
Screen recorders have a wide variety of uses. This type of software is also often used to demonstrate operating systems, software actions, website features, troubleshooting, and evaluating technical skills.
The purpose of this article is to identify high quality open source screen recorder tools that makes it a breeze to create screencasts. Thanks to this software, anyone can make their own videos.
Here’s our verdict captured in a legendary LinuxLinks-style ratings chart. As you can see, there are a wide range to choose the most suitable screen recording tool for your needs. Only free and open source software is eligible for inclusion.
| Screen Recorders | |
|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Complete video recording and live streaming solution |
| GPU Screen Recorder | Minimizes system performance by recording using the GPU only |
| vokoscreenNG | Easy to use screencast creator |
| Kooha | Simple GTK-based app to “elegantly record your screen” |
| screenkey | Screencasting software inspired by Screenflick |
| FFmpeg | Record, convert and stream audio and video |
| SimpleScreenRecorder | Easy to use screencast creator |
| wf-recorder | Utility for wlroots-based Wayland compositors |
| Casterr | Screen recorder, editor and video browse |
| Green Recorder | Simple screen recorder supporting Xorg and Wayland |
| Blue Recorder | Simple screen recorder written in Rust |
| wl-screenrec | wlroots screen recording, featuring hardware encoding |
| peek | Animated GIF screen recorder |
| wayfarer | Screen recorder for GNOME / Wayland / Pipewire |
| ScreenStudio | Streaming made easy |
| Kazam | Well designed and easy to use interface |
If you are running GNOME Shell, you already have an environment framework to record your desktop. Simply press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+R to start recording a screencast. GNOME’s screencasting works well, uses few resources, and is effortless to use. KDE Plasma users are also catered for: Spectacle, KDE’s screenshot utility, includes simple screen recording on Wayland, although it is best suited to quick silent captures rather than full narrated screencasts.
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If I recall correctly, spectacle from KDE has screen recording functionality and it might be installed by default for KDE users
You are correct BobsYourUncle. Spectacle is primarily presented by KDE as a screenshot utility, even though it gained Wayland video recording in Spectacle 23.04. Its recording support is useful, but limited.
I’ve added it alongside the GNOME note.