13 Ways to Record a Streaming Video for Free
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- Record your streams for watching later
- Add highlights and callouts
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Wondering how to record your streaming video for free? You can use different types of streaming recorders: desktop screen recorders, online tools, browser extensions, iOS apps, and Android apps.
Best for making screencasts: Movavi Screen Recorder
Best for recording online: Screencapture.com
Best for creating video messages: Loom
In this article, we’ll review 13 streaming video recorders. Whether you want to record streams from your PC, smartphone, or online, you can find the appropriate software here. You can also check out a step-by-step guide on how to screen record streaming services with Movavi Screen Recorder.
Our goal is to provide you with only verified information. To ensure this, Movavi Content Team does the following:
When selecting products to include in our reviews, we research both demand and popularity.
The team tests all the products mentioned in this article.
When testing, we compare the key characteristics of the products, which include selecting capture area, schedule recording, showing keystrokes and mouse, and other significant features.
We study user reviews from popular review platforms and make use of this information when writing our product reviews.
We collect feedback from our users and analyze their opinions of Movavi software as well as products from other companies.
Best desktop live stream recorders
Desktop software offers you some of the best streaming video recorders. If you're looking for ways to save a streaming video of your own, desktop software can offer the features needed to take your content from the Internet directly to your PC.
Movavi Screen Recorder
OS:
Windows 7/8/10/11, Mac OS Х 10.13 or higher
Best for:
Making screencasts
4.5 out of 5 stars, 47 reviews
Movavi Screen Recorder offers the ability to easily set up recording parameters, grab audio and video, and edit the recording and save the file. By setting up recording parameters, you can choose the specific capture error, which means you'll capture only the area you actually want to keep from your screen.
Movavi’s live stream recorder does not require clunky hardware or cumbersome add-ons. Instead, it makes it simple to capture screen activity and save it to popular video formats.
Main features:
Pros:
Easy to set up and grab from a screen or webcam in 4K
Schedule to record at any time, even when you’re away
Smooth running on any Windows or Mac computers
Cons:
No limits to your creativity in the full version of the program
ScreenRec
OS:
Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10, Linux
Best for:
Boosting productivity
4.1 out of 5 stars, 40 reviews
ScreenRec is a free app for capturing any screen activity on Windows 10 or lower, as well as on Linux. Although it was mainly designed as a productivity app, you can easily use it as an Internet video recorder. With its small size and simple interface, it’s a great choice even for those who have weak PCs or are not that savvy in stream recording software. For a more demanding user, ScreenRec provides recording videos in 4K and analytics to see how your videos are watched. It also promises complete privacy, which is important for a cloud-based service. The app has over 90,000 active users.
Main features:
Pros:
No watermarks or time limits
Lightweight screen recorder
Absolutely free
Cons:
If you don’t create an account, cloud sharing and recording for more than 5 minutes are unavailable
Follow the link below to download ScreenRec:
Zight
OS:
Windows, macOS, Linux
Best for:
Creating GIFs and demo videos
4.7 out of 5 stars, 1,097 reviews
Zight makes it easy to instantly capture and share material directly from your screen. With this software, recording a live stream on your PC is easy. Zight is screen recording software for Mac, Windows, Chrome, and iOS. It focuses on making meetings easier and more streamlined: instead of sitting through the whole video, you can use Zight's streaming video capture software to record the meeting for you, then go back later to check context and look for more information.
Main features:
Pros:
Convenient hotkeys
Some features are specifically designed to solve business issues
The app enables users to create call-to-action buttons
Cons:
The free plan doesn’t include some of the advanced features
Follow the link below to download Zight:
OBS Studio
OS:
Windows 8.1/10/11, macOS 10.13 and above, Linux
Best for:
Video recording and live streaming
4 out of 5 stars
If you're looking for freeware that will allow you to capture an online video of your own, OBS Studio provides you with an easy solution. The platform provides high-performance, real-time video and audio capturing and mixing, which makes it easy to make scenes made up of information from multiple sources. You can seamlessly switch between an unlimited number of scenes.
OBS supports multiple streaming platforms, which makes it ideal for users who may want to integrate those platforms as they create professional-quality productions. This open-source program is free, convenient, and makes it easy to record your screen.
Main features:
The ability to use window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, and capture cards
An intuitive audio mixer with multiple options
Multiple, easy-to-use configuration options
Easy layout rearranging
Pros:
OBS supports recording from multiple sources
The program supports streaming and recording in HD
Video-editing tools are included
Highly customizable
Cons:
Can be a bit confusing for beginners
Follow the link below to download OBS Studio:
VLC
OS:
Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10, Mac OS X 10.7.5, Linux
Best for:
Recording the entire screen without audio
4.7 out of 5 stars, 496 reviews
VLC offers a free, open-source platform that is billed as being simple, fast, and powerful. It is primarily a media player, but you can also use it for recording your streaming video. This platform runs on all platforms, from Windows and Linux to Mac OS X and Android: in short, a variety of options. It's completely free: it contains no spyware, no ads, and no user tracking. It also plays files, discs, webcams, devices, and streams and makes it easy to download and use the platform. Users do note that the VLC media player has a very basic interface and does not have the visual appeal of newer design apps.
Main features:
Pros:
Free-to-use
Supports many video formats
Cons:
No microphone recording
No screenshotting function
No customization of the capture area size
Follow the link below to download VLC:
Best streaming video recorders online
In many cases, you may find yourself wondering how to capture streaming video online. You may not want to record the meeting on your PC, or you might simply want to store it on the web. If you want to grab screen videos using an online tool, try some of these programs.
Screencapture.com
OS:
Web-based, supported by Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera
Best for:
Making fast recordings online
4.6 out of 5 stars, 353 reviews
Screencapture.com is a free online streaming video recorder that works on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. It offers the advantage of easy recording direct to the Internet, where you can easily copy your files or share them with others. Screencapture.com makes it easy to capture your browser activity or your computer desktop, record sound, or include your face in a recording via webcam. This new, free tool does add a small watermark to the recording, which some users do not like.
Main features:
Doesn't require a download
Offers a high degree of privacy and security
Saves video fast, in HD
Pros:
Simple interface
Multifunctionality
No lengthy or complex pre-recording settings
Cons:
A single output format – MP4
No video-editing tools
The free version watermarks the recordings
Follow the link below to access this online streaming video recorder:
Screenapp.io
OS:
Web-based, supported by Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera
Best for:
Easy and quick recordings
Rating:
N/A
Screenapp.io is an online video stream recorder with a large number of five-star reviews and an average of 60,000 successful recordings every month. It's 100% free, with no registration or payment required, and allows for instant live video recording: no software downloads, no extensions, and nothing to clutter up your PC or make your usual tasks more difficult than usual. This platform also makes it easy to quickly download your recordings to your computer. While this ripper does make it easy to record your web stream online, it might not be the best way to handle longer recordings: its recording time is limited to about 15 minutes.
Main features:
Free and quick recordings
Allows its users to record multiple windows
Pros:
Easy screen record
Simple trimming features
Cons:
The free version has limitations
Follow the link below to access this online streaming video recorder:
How to record a streaming video for free with browser extensions
Do you use Google Chrome as your web browser? If so, you might find that the best streaming video recorder for your needs is a Chrome extension.
Loom
OS:
Web-based, supported by Google Chrome
Best for:
Creating video messages
4.7 out of 5 stars, 10,049 reviews
Loom provides extensive recording options that are compatible with your device and the platform you already use. It bills itself as being perfect for onboarding new employees, troubleshooting customer issues, or managing code reviews. It lets you record your screen, voice, and face, then instantly share your video in less time than it typically takes to put together an email: the ideal way to share content straight from your device to someone else's. Loom is a great solution for modern workers, many of whom are looking for new ways to communicate while working from home. It's free to use and easy to get started with.
Customer service for Loom is, according to reviewers, somewhat lacking compared to other platforms. However, Loom has a huge number of monthly users and downloads being one of the most popular streaming video recorders on Chrome.
Main features:
A free, easy-to-use platform trusted by millions of users
A free-to-use platform that includes up to 25 collaborators
Integration with various business services
Pros:
Helps to organize and simplify work processes
Free-to-use
Cons:
Lacks customer support or guidance
It might be choppy at times
Follow the link below to install this extension:
Screencastify
OS:
Web-based, supported by Google Chrome
Best for:
Educational purposes
4 out of 5 stars, 11,693 reviews
Screencastify bills itself as a user-friendly tool. It offers a simple, intuitive platform that functions as a Chrome extension. Millions of users engage with Screencastify to record, edit, and share videos – and it's easy to get started. In fact, the platform is so simple that it takes no time at all to get started using it.
Screencastify is a simple way to deliver a simple, more effective message. Rather than having to type up long emails, you can capture your screen and easily share that information with other users. It does not, however, work as well on recordings that aren't in web browsers, according to some reviewers.
Main features:
Basic editing allows trimming of videos
Export as MP4, GIF, or MP3
Share recordings via the Google Drive link
Pros:
Simple and easy to use
Easy trimming
No registration for storing or downloading videos
Cons:
Not great for high-resolution recording
Follow the link below to install this extension:
Best streaming recorders on iOS
Are you using iOS to record your screen? Using a phone or tablet is a little different from using a desktop device. You may not want as many features, or you might want to streamline use when you're tapping rather than clicking or using your keyboard. Fortunately, there are streaming video recorders that you can easily use directly from your iOS device.
Record it!
OS:
iOS 12.0 or later
Best for:
MP4 recording on an iPhone
4.6 out of 5 stars, 264,4K reviews
Record it! has the best rating in the App Store, and with good reason. Out of more than 1.7 million reviews, it holds a whopping 4.6 stars. Record it! is ideal for recording games and apps for tutorials, game walkthroughs, video demos, and training demonstrations. You can add commentary as you go or put it in later in your app to make a cohesive, easy-to-follow video.
Main features:
Face Cam reactions
Keep recordings organized in the app
Pros:
Records entire screen
Includes a powerful video editor
Easy sharing
Cons:
The file-saving process is slow on some devices
Some users report issues with audio quality
Follow the link below to install this app:
Go Record
OS:
iOS 11.0 or later
Best for:
Recording videos for YouTube
4.5 out of 5 stars, 56,6K reviews
While not as high as Record it!, Go Record does offer a high average rating, with 4.5 stars out of 39.6 K reviews.
This simple platform makes it easy to put together screen recordings and capture reactions all at the same time. As a result, you can streamline your digital video recordings and easily figure out how to capture a video. This program is simple, intuitive, and easy to put together on your iOS device.
Main features:
One tap screen recording, making it easy to start the process
Face Cam addition so you can put in your reactions
Pros:
Easy-to-add audio commentary
Easy uploading to YouTube
Cons:
Features of the free version are limited
Follow the link below to install this app:
How to capture a streaming video on Android devices
Don't worry, Android users: there’s live streaming video capture software available for you, too. If you want to save your stream to an Android device, these platforms are simple, highly rated, and offer the high-quality recording you need.
Mobizen
OS:
Android 4.4 or later
Best for:
Making recordings with intros and outros
4 out of 5 stars, 3,235,446 reviews
While Mobizen does offer an option that will allow you to record videos for free, the app does contain in-app purchases and ads, which can prove clunky and distracting for some users.
While Mobizen is a highly popular screen capture software, it does come with some clunky features. Sometimes, the in-app ads start along with the streaming video recorder, which can disrupt the recording experience. Sometimes, that may mean losing some of the content, which can't always be retrieved. The screen recorder also takes up a number of assets on your Android device, which means that it may cause frustrating lags in videos and games. Nevertheless, it does remain an easy, fun way to quickly record videos, especially if you're looking into it for personal or leisure purposes.
Main features:
Allows you to put in intro or outro videos with a few short taps
Records your reactions freely, including both your face and the sound of your voice, thanks to Face Cam
Pros:
Offers a highly effective screen recording profile
Allows you to edit, trim, and cut your images
Records a clean screen without a watermark
Cons:
Ads appear from time to time
Follow the link below to install this app:
AZ Screen Recorder
OS:
Android 5.0 or later
Best for:
Creating GIF animations on Android
4.6 out of 5 stars, 1,558,604 reviews
AZ Screen Recorder offers all the features that many users are looking for in their screen recording software. It makes it simple to start recording: just one tap makes it easy to get started. The app delivers high-quality videos with clear sound, so they're easy to follow, highly professional, and ideal for your needs.
AZ Screen Recorder also includes a powerful image editing tool, which makes it easy for you to customize the appearance of your videos and screenshots and ensure that you're capturing exactly what you need. Share your reactions, put together stunning tutorials, or offer more information about your daily tasks.
Users note that AZ Screen Recorder is an incredibly useful app, filled with great features. It offers high-quality video recording that's highly reliable. Users do, however, note that it doesn't offer the same high-quality audio recording that it does when it comes to video: it tends to record whatever sound is happening around the phone or device, and sounds tend to make it indiscriminately into the video. While that's an excellent testament to the power of your device's microphone, it might not fit your video recording needs. It's also important to note that AZ Screen Recorder does include ads and in-app purchases.
Main features:
Full HD game recording
Screen recording with Facecam
Internal sound recording
Gameplay recording with external sound
Pros:
Advanced video-, audio-, and image-editing options
Video compression option
Cons:
The free version has annoying ads
Follow the link below to install this app:
How to record a streaming video for free with Movavi Screen Recorder
Step 1. Download, install, and launch the app
Download the appropriate version of Movavi Screen Recorder for your OS and follow the installation instructions. Once the app is installed, open the program.
Step 2. Set the recording parameters
Click Screen recording on the sidebar.
Select the area of the screen that you want to capture. Activate System audio and Microphone to capture the sound.
Step 3. Record your video
Hit the REC button. The recording will start after a short countdown. Click Pause when needed. To finish the recording, click Stop.
Step 4. Save the video
You can use the Scissors to cut out unwanted fragments from your recording. Then click the Export button, choose the output format, and hit Save.
That’s how to record a live stream on a PC!
How to choose a live stream recorder
As you can see, there’s a wide choice of streaming video recorders available for different platforms and devices. The following list has the most important aspects to consider when choosing a recording tool:
Features: Choose a screen recorder according to the result you want to achieve with your screen recordings. If you simply want to record what happens on your screen, any screen capture software will probably meet your needs. If you’re going to do advanced editing or stream live on YouTube, take those features into account as you choose your program.
Ease of use: Some programs are user-friendly and simple. Others are more complicated and have a steeper learning curve. Consider the amount of experience you possess and choose a streaming video recorder accordingly.
OS: Make sure to choose a screen recorder that works on the system you will be using (Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, etc.)
Support: Try to find a program that offers easily accessible user support if you run into problems while streaming.
Reviews: Check out user reviews and articles of professional blogs or magazines to determine how well the program performs before buying it.
Tips on making your own streams
But what about streaming on your own? What if you want to go online and share your own thoughts, impressions, and experiences? Here are a few tips for you:
Choose a platform wisely. Each website has its own restrictions and peculiarities. YouTube is very strict about its copyright policies, while on Twitch you can’t save your content permanently. There are also restreaming options for your content to be broadcast to multiple platforms at the same time. So, before settling on a platform, consider all the pros and cons.
Read the platform’s terms and conditions. Yes, we’re all guilty of skipping those longreads all apps and services throw our way and just agreeing to anything. However, when it comes to putting such content as live streams online, you need to make sure you know what you’re allowed and not allowed to do. If you’re not that good at reading legal documents on your own, at least find a good, comprehensive summary. It’s better to be prepared than landing yourself in hot water.
Define your identity. People watch live streams not only for the content but also for the personality. Find what you’re good at and emphasize it to your audience. With time, you’ll acquire your own set of inside jokes and memes with the viewers. Add a distinctive visual to it, and you get an identity specific to your content and no-one else’s.
Experiment! Nothing in streaming is set in stone. You may change the topics of your content, switch platforms and streaming software, try various formats, nicknames – anything! It may take time for you to find what's most enjoyable for you. And later this may change. Don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. This may show the audience the beauty of your true colors.
Save your streams to your hard drive. You never know when you may need it. For example, you may decide to compile a highlights video from several streams. Can you record your life stream back from the platform? Yes, but it's not convenient and may significantly decrease the final video quality. Also, your video may get taken down for one reason or another, and you may have to edit and re-upload it later. We highly recommend you store your streams on a hard drive so that you won’t lose this content later on.
Conclusion
We hope this article has been useful in helping you choose the right screen recorder. Check out various options and pick the tool that is perfect for you.
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Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.
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