7 Best Screen Recording Tools for Async Video

Screen and video recording tools for tutorials, async updates, and documentation. Compare editing, sharing, and collaboration features.

Last updated: January 31, 2026Reviewed 12+ tools

7 Best Screen Recording Tools comparison dashboard

Feature Comparison

ToolStarting PriceBuilt-in EditorWebcam OverlayInstant SharingView AnalyticsOur Rating
LoomFree/$159.5/10
ScreenPalFree/$39.1/10
Camtasia$3139.0/10
CleanShot X$298.8/10
OBS StudioFree8.6/10
TellaFree/$198.5/10
VidyardFree/$198.4/10

Deep Dives

1

Loom

Best Overall
Loom recording and sharing

Loom is the leader in async video communication. Record your screen with webcam, share instantly with a link, and see who watched. Comments and reactions make it interactive. The fastest way to replace meetings with video.

Starting priceFree/$15

Strengths

  • Instant link sharing
  • Comments and reactions
  • View analytics
  • Team workspace

Limitations

  • Limited editing
  • Per-user pricing
Who it's for: Ideal for teams replacing meetings with async video and needing quick sharing.
Visit Loom
2

ScreenPal

Best for Beginners
ScreenPal editor

ScreenPal (formerly Screencast-O-Matic) offers screen recording with a powerful built-in video editor. Add annotations, trim clips, and create polished tutorials without external software. Great value at the price.

Starting priceFree/$3

Strengths

  • Excellent built-in editor
  • Very affordable
  • Great for tutorials
  • Annotations and effects

Limitations

  • Less focused on sharing
  • Interface less modern
Who it's for: Best for educators and creators making tutorials who need editing built-in.
Visit ScreenPal
3

Camtasia

Best for Enterprise
Camtasia professional editing

Camtasia is the professional choice for video production with full editing capabilities. Create polished training videos, demos, and presentations with templates, animations, and effects.

Starting price$313

Strengths

  • Professional editing suite
  • Templates and assets
  • Animations and effects
  • Industry standard

Limitations

  • One-time purchase cost
  • Learning curve
Who it's for: Perfect for professionals creating polished training videos and demos.
Visit Camtasia
4

CleanShot X

CleanShot X Mac capture

CleanShot X is the best Mac screenshot and screen recording tool. Capture scrolling screenshots, record GIFs or videos, annotate instantly, and upload to the cloud. One-time purchase with no subscription.

Starting price$29

Strengths

  • Best Mac capture tool
  • Scrolling screenshots
  • Built-in annotations
  • One-time purchase

Limitations

  • Mac only
  • Less video editing
Who it's for: Essential for Mac users who need the best screenshot and quick recording tool.
Visit CleanShot X
5

OBS Studio

Best for Budget
OBS Studio interface

OBS Studio is free, open-source, and incredibly powerful for recording and streaming. While it has a learning curve, it offers professional-grade capabilities used by streamers and content creators worldwide.

Starting priceFree

Strengths

  • Completely free
  • Professional capabilities
  • Streaming support
  • Highly customizable

Limitations

  • Steep learning curve
  • No built-in editing
Who it's for: Great for power users and streamers who want free, professional recording.
Visit OBS
6

Tella

Tella polished video layouts

Tella creates beautiful, polished async videos with presenter layouts, backgrounds, and a built-in teleprompter. The focus is on looking professional without video editing skills.

Starting priceFree/$19

Strengths

  • Beautiful layouts
  • Built-in teleprompter
  • Professional look easy
  • Great backgrounds

Limitations

  • Newer platform
  • Limited editing
Who it's for: Perfect for professionals wanting polished async videos without editing skills.
Visit Tella
7

Vidyard

Vidyard sales video

Vidyard focuses on video for sales with CRM integrations, viewer analytics, and personalization. Sales reps can track who watched their videos and for how long.

Starting priceFree/$19

Strengths

  • Sales-focused features
  • CRM integration
  • Detailed analytics
  • Video personalization

Limitations

  • Sales-specific
  • Less general purpose
Who it's for: Ideal for sales teams using video in outreach who need tracking and CRM integration.
Visit Vidyard

How We Evaluated

Our team recorded videos with each tool. Here's what we measured:

  • Recording Quality (25%)Video and audio quality, options.
  • Editing Features (25%)Trimming, annotations, and polish.
  • Ease of Use (20%)Recording workflow and learning curve.
  • Sharing & Hosting (15%)Link sharing, embedding, and hosting.
  • Value for Money (15%)Pricing relative to features.

How to Choose

  • Choose Loom if you need Async communication.
  • Choose ScreenPal if you need Tutorial creation.
  • Choose Camtasia if you need Professional production.
  • Choose CleanShot X if you need Mac screenshots.
  • Choose OBS Studio if you need Free & powerful.

Common Questions

OBS Studio is the most powerful free option. Loom and ScreenPal have generous free tiers for simpler needs.

Yes, Loom, ScreenPal, Camtasia, and Tella all support webcam overlay while recording your screen.

ScreenPal and Camtasia are best for tutorials with their built-in editing and annotation tools.

Loom, Tella, and Vidyard host your videos. Camtasia and OBS export files you host yourself.