Alternatives to Cap
An open-source screen recorder and Loom alternative with local editing, instant share links and the option to use your own storage. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Cap
An open-source screen recorder and Loom alternative with local editing, instant share links and the option to use your own storage.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Cap.
Loom
Async video messaging tool for quick screen and webcam recordings.
Loom offers the same quick screen and webcam recording with share links and adds a web version, but it is closed source and storage limits require a paid plan.
OBS Studio
The standard free tool for recording a screen and for live streaming, built around scenes and sources.
OBS Studio is free under GPL-2.0, runs on Linux as well, and adds live streaming and scenes, but it has no instant share links and a real learning curve.
Camtasia
Professional screen recorder and video editor for tutorials and demos.
Camtasia provides a fuller recording and editing suite for structured tutorials on Windows and macOS, but it is paid, closed source and heavier for quick captures.
ScreenFlow
Mac-only screen recording and editing tool for tutorials and courses.
ScreenFlow combines recording and editing for course content, but it is Mac only, closed source and paid after the trial, with no self-hosted sharing option.
Kap
Open source Mac screen recorder that exports to GIF, MP4 or WebM.
Kap is a free open source Mac recorder exporting GIF, MP4 or WebM, but it drops Windows support, share links and has fewer editing features.
Nimbus Screenshot
Screenshot and screen recording extension with annotation.
Nimbus Screenshot records the screen with webcam from a browser extension and adds screenshots, but it is closed source and longer recordings need an account or paid plan.
Jumpshare
A screen recorder for macOS, Windows and Chrome that records, edits and shares videos by link.
Jumpshare records screen and webcam up to 4K with trimming and link sharing, adds a Chrome extension, but is proprietary and depends on its hosted service.
Tella
A screen recorder for Mac, Windows and the web that records, edits and shares videos.
Tella records, edits with AI assistance and shares videos on Mac, Windows and web, but is a paid proprietary service without self-hosting.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Cap as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Droplr
A screenshot and screen recording app that saves captures to the cloud and shares them as links.
Cap is open source under AGPL-3.0 with instant share links and the option to use your own S3 bucket or self-host, on Windows and macOS.
Screen Studio
A macOS screen recorder that adds automatic zooms and smoothed cursor movement to recordings.
Cap is open source under AGPL-3.0 on macOS and Windows, with Studio Mode adding zooms and backgrounds locally and optional instant share links.
ScreenApp
A screen and audio recorder with AI transcription, summaries and meeting notes across desktop, mobile and browser.
Cap is open source under AGPL-3.0 for macOS and Windows, sharing instant links with the option to store recordings locally, on your own S3 bucket or self-hosted.
Screencastify
A browser-based screen recorder for Chrome and Edge for recording, editing and sharing videos.
Cap is an open-source AGPL-3.0 desktop recorder for Windows and macOS that can store videos locally, in your own S3 bucket or on a self-hosted platform.
Screenity
An open-source Chrome extension for recording the screen, with annotation and editing tools.
Cap stays open source under AGPL-3.0 but moves recording to a Windows or macOS desktop app, with local editing and optional self-hosted storage.
ScreenRec
A screen recorder and screenshot tool for Windows and Mac with instant cloud sharing.
Cap is open source under AGPL-3.0 and gives instant share links while letting you keep files local, use your own S3 bucket or self-host.
Zight
A screen capture service that turns screen recordings, screenshots and AI guides into shareable links.
Cap is open source under AGPL-3.0 for Windows and macOS, and can store recordings in your own S3 bucket or be self-hosted instead of a vendor cloud.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
ShareX
A Windows capture tool that screenshots, records, annotates and uploads, all driven by hotkeys.
BrowserStack Bug Capture
A browser extension that records bugs on screen and attaches console logs, network requests and system information.
Carnac
Show pressed keys during Windows demonstrations and recordings.
Keyviz
Show keyboard shortcuts and mouse actions during demonstrations.
