Best free option: Cap (Strong). Switching saves about $180 USD a year.
$179.88 USDa year
$247.98 CAD
Every pick below has a free version.
5 alternatives
Covers most of the same work, with trade-offs noted on each card.
Best for recording and polishing screen demos
Records and edits in one app on Windows, macOS and Linux. The free app is for personal use; commercial use needs a paid Desktop License or Pro. Free version: The free app is for personal use, with 5-minute share links. Commercial use needs a Desktop License; cloud features need Pro.
Best for editing tutorials in an open-source editor
An editor first. Use OBS or Cap to record. Free on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Best for simple cross-platform editing without an account
An editor first. Use OBS or Cap to record. Free on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Best for recording the screen with no limits
A recorder only. Pair it with Kdenlive or Shotcut to edit the footage. Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Right for specific needs, or not yet mature enough to recommend widely.
Best for quick screen captures and GIFs on Windows
Windows only. Strong for screenshots and sharing; it does not edit video.
Sponsor this page: $149 for 30 days. Sponsors appear above the ranking, labeled; the ranking itself is not for sale.
How each alternative covers what people use Camtasia for. Numbers link to editor notes.
| Feature | Cap | Kdenlive | Shotcut | OBS Studio | ShareX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recording | |||||
| Screen and webcam recording | YesNote 1Screen, camera and mic on separate tracks up to 4K 60 fps | PartialNote 2A record monitor captures screen and webcam; options vary by platform | PartialNote 3Can capture the screen and webcam with basic options | YesNote 4Screen, window, webcam and capture card sources with scenes | PartialNote 5Records the screen to MP4 or GIF; no webcam overlay |
| Editing | |||||
| Multitrack timeline editing | PartialNote 6Trim, split, reorder and speed changes; no multitrack timeline | Yes | Yes | NoNote 7Records only; there is no editor | NoNote 8No video editor |
| Effects | |||||
| Cursor effects, zoom and pan | YesNote 9Auto and manual zooms with cursor smoothing and click effects | PartialNote 10Keyframed zoom and pan; no cursor effects | PartialNote 11Keyframed size and position filters; no cursor effects | NoNote 12No post-recording zoom or cursor effects | NoNote 13No zoom or cursor effects |
| Callouts and annotations | PartialNote 14Blur and highlight masks and animated text; no callout library | PartialNote 15Titles and shapes through effects | PartialNote 16Text and shape filters | No | NoNote 17Annotation tools apply to screenshots, not videos |
| Captions | |||||
| Captions and transcription | YesNote 18Local transcription in 19 languages with styled captions | YesNote 19Subtitle tracks with speech to text | PartialNote 20Caption tracks with SRT and WebVTT; speech to text is optional | No | No |
| Training | |||||
| Quizzes and SCORM export | No | No | No | No | No |
| Parity score | 67% | 58% | 50% | 17% | 8% |
Not covered by any free alternative yet: Callouts and annotations, Quizzes and SCORM export. See all feature gaps
Switching saves about $180 USD / $248 CAD a year. Prices checked .
Based on Camtasia Essentials, annual plan. Price source.
Last verified . Ranking: tier first, then the published score.
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Camtasia is a product of TechSmith, named here for comparison only. Platforms listed for Camtasia: Windows, macOS.