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Quick Answer
Here are 12 screen recording tools suitable for recording YouTube videos. These tools are available for computer systems or mobile devices. The most recommended tool is VideoSolo Screen Recorder. Other options include Apowersoft, DemoCreator, Bandicam, Camtasia, and more. Their features, prices, and free limitations vary from one another. Note that distributing recorded content may violate the platform’s copyright policies.
YouTube is the largest online video platform in the world. It becomes our go-to solution to watch and share the latest videos. It is disappointed that some of the YouTube video you like might disappear for reasons or can be deleted by its creator. In this case, a powerful YouTube recorder can be more flexible to record a whole video and save them as your collection. Here we compiled the best 13 YouTube recorder for you, just keep reading on and we believe you can find the one that fits you.
Table Comparison of 12 YouTube Recorders
How We Test
We used the same YouTube video on Windows, Mac, and Android to test the following recording tools. Based on overall recording stability, ease of use, and ratings from authoritative websites, we assigned a score from 1 to 5 stars. This test is merely for comparing products. Recording and distributing copyrighted YouTube content is illegal.
| Tool | Rating | OS | Free/Trial limit | Scheduled Recording | Edit Video | Output Formats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VideoSolo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.7/5 | Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP (32 bit/64 bit), Mac OS X 10.12~26 | Unlimited recording, but saves 3 min per clip | ✅ | Advanced trimmer, merger, compressor, and real-time annotation | MP4, MOV, MKV, WEBM, MP3, AAC, etc. |
| Apowersoft | ⭐⭐⭐⭐4.0/5 | Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android | 3 min limit for desktop app | ✅ | Basic trim, crop | MP4, AVI, MOV, FLV, WMV, GIF |
| DemoCreator | ⭐⭐⭐⭐4.2/5 | Windows 11/10/7 (64-bit), macOS 10.15 or above | Watermark | ✅ | Full-featured editor, AI caption | MP4, MOV, AVI, GIF |
| Ezvid | ⭐⭐⭐3.6/5 | Windows XP SP3~10, Windows 11 using compatibility mode | Up to 45 mins | ❌ | Simple timeline, background music | WMV |
| TinyTake | ⭐⭐⭐3.7/5 | Windows 7~11 | 5 min per clip; paid up to 2 hours | ❌ | Basic annotation only | MP4 |
| Bandicam | ⭐⭐⭐⭐4.7/5 | Windows 11/10 (64-bit), macOS 13.3 or later | 10 min limit + watermark | ✅ | Minimal trimming only | MP4, AVI |
| Screenpal | ⭐⭐⭐⭐4.1/5 | Windows 7/8/10/11, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android | Limited resolution, watermark | ✅ | Editor, auto captions, annotations | MP4, MOV, GIF |
| Camtasia | ⭐⭐⭐⭐4.5/5 | Windows 10/11 (64-bit), macOS 14 Sonoma or later | Watermark | ❌ | Non-linear editor, templates, animations | MP4, MOV, AVI, GIF |
| Icecream | ⭐⭐⭐⭐4.0/5 | Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, macOS 10.9 or later, and Android | only exports WEBM | ✅ | Basic trim | WEBM, MP4, MKV |
| QuickTime Player | ⭐⭐⭐3.5/5 | All modern macOS | None | ❌ | Basic trim | MOV |
| AZ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐4.3/5 | Android 10 and newer, iOS 13.0 or later, Windows 10/11 | Ads | ❌ | Basic trim | MP4, WEBM |
| Mobizen | ⭐⭐⭐⭐4.2/5 | Android OS 4.4 or higher | Watermark | ❌ | Trim, filter | MP4 |
Top 12 YouTube Recording Software for Windows/Mac
VideoSolo Screen Recorder
Best For: cross-platform, stable recording of YouTube videos. Suitable for ordinary creators who need scheduled recordings and real-time annotations.
VideoSolo Screen Recorder is one of the most popular video recorder tools on the market. This video recorder can help you capture your favorite YouTube videos without effort and save the recordings as high-quality videos. It's noted that during the screen recording, there is a built-in drawing panel for you to add real-time annotations, drawings, and texts to make the video more eye-catching.
pros
- HD video quality to save captured videos;
- Selectable recording mode to get started;
- Scheduled recording available;
- Draw, annotate and highlight screen in a real-time;
- Custom watermark and Webcam mode are available.
Cons
- Available to record 3 minutes only while experiencing the free trial.
Testing Experience
During the recording, the average CPU usage was 8%. The performance remained stable, and the load did not increase continuously. The final 10-minute MP4 file is about 420MB, and the quality of the video is well maintained.
Apowersoft Screen Recorder
Best For: those who don’t want to install heavy software and prefer flexible recording options.
Apowersoft Screen Recorder brings the easy-to-grasp functionality enabling users to easily record any YouTube Video with optional recording modes. It is able to freely customize the recording area and select to track the mouse based on personal requirements. Additionally, Apowersoft Screen Recorder enables to record videos together with webcam or audio if users need. The running performance would not be lagged behind thanks to its lightweight body.
pros
- A variety of mainstream formats available;
- Real-time editing feature supported;
- Scheduled recording available;
- Schedule the recording task without keeping eyes on it.
Cons
- Available to record 3 minutes only while experiencing the free trial.
Compare with Apowersoft Screen Recorder, VideoSolo Screen Recorder provides no watermark or add custom watermark and almost no feature limitation for free trial. Just download and try it.
Wondersahre DemoCreator
Best For: bloggers who want to add effects and subtitles after recording, thereby creating fun tutorial videos quickly.
Compared to the general lightweight screen recording tool, DemoCreator would focus much on the editing side, enabling users to bring their idea to the captured YouTube videos, thus creating amazing works for sharing. The recording feature provided by DemoCreator is able to capture in HD quality, which enables gamers to record the gameplay moments for sharing online with better visual effect. You will be amazed by DemoCreator's powerful editing features.
pros
- Enable to record system and microphone sound simultaneously;
- Creative editing tools provided;
- 1,000+ video effect packs provided in the library for accessing.
Cons
- Trial version will export the recordings with watermark added.
Compare with DemoCreator, VideoSolo Screen Recorder provides no watermark or add custom watermark and almost no feature limitation for free trial. Just download and try it.
User Review
DemoCreator is a great platform which provides a great variety of AI tools to help an instructor to create great e-learning courses!! The only bad is that it consumes too much space. It would be much better if it were a cloud service.
Ezvid Screen Recorder
Best For: Windows users who want free music and easy editing capabilities to produce quick videos.
Ezvid has established for years and provided plenty of users the full-featured services to record and edit videos for uploading to streaming websites, such as YouTube, Facebook, etc. for content sharing. Compared to screen capture software, Ezvid focuses much on the video creation after recording. Thus, this software would be more suitable for users who pay high attention to the after-record editing operations.
pros
- Fast and smooth screen capturing performance;
- Available to record facecam and voice synthesis;
- Instant editing supported;
- Free music tracks provided;
Cons
- Only available for Windows system.
TinyTake
Best For: office workers who need long-term recording sessions and occasional short shares. Ideal for cloud-based sharing.
TinyTake provides an outperforming screen recording on computer desktop only for Windows users without hassle. For Mac users, TinyTake has a standalone Mac version, which was rebranded by its developer (MangoApps) as Mango Recorder. The longest duration provided by TinyTake to record a video is able to reach 120 minutes in maximum, which is absolutely sufficient to record a 2-hour long movie with high quality. TinyTake also includes editing features so users are available to edit the recordings before saving at once.
pros
- Clean and intuitive user interface;
- Annotate the recordings easily;
- Available to publish captured recordings online;
- Useful recording editing features;
Cons
- 5-minute recording limit set for free version;
- Limited online web gallery storage.
Bandicam
Best For: Windows gamers who need high frame rates and low resource usage for gaming or YouTube streaming.
Bandicam is an easy-to-use no lag screen recording software that enable you to capture everything you want on your screen. You can record YouTube video, webinars, games, and Skype calls with the option to add narration from your microphone and video from your webcam, and share on YouTube or Vimeo. It is also a low-end PC screen recorder that help you do screen recording activities without slow down the PC's speed.
Just like other no lag reorders, you can conveniently record system audio and your voice with Bandicam and it requires no complicated operations. Other features such as task schedule and chroma key will also let you record the PC screen much flexibly.
pros
- It can operate continuously (24/7) to record and save long-term work;
- Schedule recording;
- Capture up to 480 fps video.
Cons
- 10-minute recording limit and watermark in free trial;
- Not available for Mac.
VideoSolo Screen Recorder supports both Windows and Mac system. No water mark or add custom watermark and almost no feature limitation for free trial. Just download and try it.
ScreenPal
Best For: educational instructors who need automatic subtitles and annotations. Cost-effective for teaching-related recordings.
ScreenPal is a powerful screen record software highly compatible with multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Chromebook. With the simple and intuitive functionality, it will be suitable for recording YouTube screens. By combining both recording and editing features inside one software, ScreenPal is also a good helper to create video tutorials without hassle.
pros
- Fast way to capture screen by recording and taking snapshots;
- Annotations, effects, automated captions, etc. for editing;
- Stock library provided.
Cons
- A batch of features locked under free trial;
- Login required.
VideoSolo Screen Recorder provides multiple recording modes and output formats. No water mark or add custom watermark and almost no feature limitation for free trial. Just download and try it.
Camtasia
Best For: corporate training and software demonstrations. Offers integrated recording, professional editing, and template creation tools.
Developed by TechSmith, Camtasia is a trustworthy screen recorder as well as video editor for capturing screen. With the well compatibility with Windows and Mac, Camtasia is able to run smoothly without occupying high CPU. It will be suitable for you to create YouTube video as well as all kinds of videos for uploading to different platforms.
pros
- Preset templates to create videos;
- Customized recording settings to capture video, webcam, and audio;
- Instant upload to online websites for sharing.
Cons
- Expensive for budget-limited users to afford.
Compare with Camtasia, VideoSolo Screen Recorder are affordable and also no feature limitation in free trial. Why not just download and try it now?
Icecream Screen Recorder
Best For: beginners. Simple interface makes it easy to create basic recordings quickly.
Icecream Screen Recorder focuses on providing the easy-to-grasp screen recording feature to users like VideoSolo does. No matter what type of screen activities, Icecream Screen Recorder is able to capture and output in good video quality. Audio and webcam are both available to be recorded along with the video, too. You will quickly grasp the tool for its intuitive user interface and clear functionality to capture your YouTube video.
pros
- Clean and intuitive user interface as well as functionality;
- Available to control the speed of the recordings;
- Adjustable recording area;
- Apply watermark to the recording.
Cons
- Only WEBM format supported to output recordings in free trial.
VideoSolo Screen Recorder support multiple recording modes and output formats available (7 video formats, 5 screenshot formats, 4 audio formats and etc.) Why not just download and try it now?
QuickTime Player
Best For: Mac users. No cost, no download needed. Useful for quick, simple YouTube recordings.
Developed by Apple as the official media player for macOS, QuickTime can also serve as a screen capture tool. Though it has not been designed primarily for this function, it offers reliable recording functions. It is a reliable default app on Mac for video playback as well as screen capture. Also, you don't have to pay a penny but to record your screen with no time limit.
pros
- Record entire screen or a part of the screen;
- No need to download;
- Compatible with almost all versions of Mac devices.
Cons
- Limited tools and features.
Compare with Quicktime Player, VideoSolo Screen Recorder is a full-featured screen recorder and almost no feature limitation for free trial. It also supports both Windows and Mac system. Just download and try it.
YouTube Screen Recorder Apps for Mobile
If you want to record and share videos on your phones, and looking for a free and reliable YouTube recorder for your cellphone, check the recommended Apps below. It's worth mentioning that VideoSolo Screen Recorder is a powerful recording tools that not only can you record YouTube video on Windows and Mac but also can project your phone to the computer for recording via WIFI.
Az Screen Recorder
Best For: Android users. Allows customization of bitrate and resolution for stable mobile recording.
Az Screen Recorder is an easy-to-use recorder for Android users. There are options to adjust the resolution, bit rate and orientation, as well as add a time limit, pause the recording, or stop it altogether when the screen goes off. Android users can use this app to record YouTube videos, video calls, game videos, live shows, etc.
pros
- Webcam is available while recording videos;
- Annotate and drawing tools can be deployed;
- Smooth and good quality playback.
Cons
- No countdown timer.
Mobizen Screen Recorder
Best For: Android game bloggers. Supports watermark-free recording and facecam integration.
Mobizen Screen Recorder is an easy-to-use and convenient screen recorder that allows you to record, capture and edit. You can record you youtube video without watermark and with clean recording mode. It also provides a variety of video editing features so you can trim and cut your video as you like.
pros
- Annotations and drawing tools are available;
- Multiple video editing features;
- Free of watermark.
Cons
- Only work with Android.
User Review
Used to use it a lot on my old tablet when I was younger, and it worked fine. So I downloaded it on my phone a few years back for yt and whatnot, and it also worked fine for a while, but as of late it either counts down the recording and then immediately crashes [not saving the recording either] OR [and this is an issue I just had which made me delete it] stops recording the visuals entirely.
FAQs about YouTube Recording Software
How can I Record Video from YouTube?
Step 1. Install VideoSolo Screen Recorder and launch it
If you want to record the video and audio of a YouTube live stream simultaneously, you should choose “Video Recorder”.
Step 2. Customize recording area
As you proceed to Video Recorder, you may choose to record the full screen, or customize the recording area by selecting a region/window or some fixed dimensions.
Step 3. Choose output format and quality
Now, go to “Preferences” by clicking the gear-icon on the interface. On the pop-up window, click on the Output tab. Here you can change the location for your output files. Also, you can alter the video output format, video quality, frame rate, audio format and audio quality.
Step 4. Start recording with VideoSolo
Once you've adjusted the output settings, click on the red “REC” button to begin recording a YouTube video. During the recording process, you will be able to capture the full screen of the YouTube live stream video if you select to hide the floating bar. Once you finished recording, click the square button and the video will be saved in your device.
How to Upload Video to YouTube？
Sign in to YouTube Studio
In the top-right corner, click Create, then Upload Videos
Select the file you'd like to upload; you can upload up to 15 videos at a time, be sure to click Edit on each file to edit your video details
Note: If you close the upload experience before you finish choosing your settings, your video will be saved as a draft on you Content page.
Conclusion
From the above listed 13 recording tools, there are not always all are suitable for your unique needs. Therefore, you should choose a recorder with the features and capabilities you need that's reliable. In this regard, VideoSolo Screen Recorder is a prior option as it is easy to use and offers a wide range of features as well as functional that can cater your need.
More Readings
Capture screen activities, audio, webcam, gameplay, and mobile screens on Windows and Mac with high quality.
