Screen Studio alternatives for Mac
We make Zoomer, so it is listed first.
Screen Studio has no free plan: the app works without one, but exporting video needs a paid plan, at $29 a month or $108 a year. Zoomer is a Mac recorder with automatic zooms on clicks and a Free plan with no time limit. Recordly and OpenScreen are free and open source, Cap is free for personal use, and FocuSee, Canvid, CleanShot X, and Tella are paid.
Prices checked 2026-10-21.
At a glance
| App | Price | Platforms | Free option | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoomer | $20 a month or $160 a year | macOS 13+ | Yes | No |
| Recordly | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes | Yes |
| OpenScreen | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Cap | $29 a year or $58 once | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes | Yes |
| FocuSee | $19.99 a month or $49.99 a year | macOS, Windows | Not listed | Not listed |
| Canvid | $75 once or $84 a year | macOS, Windows | Not listed | Not listed |
| CleanShot X | $35 once or $10 per user a month, billed yearly | macOS 13+ | Not listed | Not listed |
| Tella | $13 per user a month, billed yearly | macOS, Windows, Chrome | No | Not listed |
| Screen Studio | $29 a month or $108 a year | macOS | No | Not listed |
Prices in USD, checked 2026-10-21. A dash means the product's website does not list it. Zoomer is not affiliated with Screen Studio or the other products on this page. Sources: Recordly, OpenScreen, Cap, FocuSee, Canvid, CleanShot X, Tella, Screen Studio.
The apps
1. Zoomer
A Mac recorder with automatic zooms on clicks and an editor for cuts, cursor effects, and motion blur, plus screenshots with annotation and text recognition. Zoomer Pro comes with Labs Pro and adds recording links and 4K export.
2. Recordly
An open-source (AGPL-3.0) Screen Studio clone that suggests automatic zooms.
3. OpenScreen
A free, open-source (MIT) recorder with automatic zooms on clicks and manual zoom. Commercial use is allowed.
4. Cap
An open-source (AGPLv3 core) recorder in the style of Loom, with Instant and Studio modes. Free for personal use; commercial use needs the Desktop License.
5. FocuSee
A recorder with automatic zoom, AI captions, avatars, and voice enhancement.
6. Canvid
An AI-enhanced screen recorder for Windows and Mac with automatic zoom.
7. CleanShot X
A screenshot and recording app. Its Studio Mode adds animated zooms with motion blur. Also in Setapp.
8. Tella
Records, edits with AI, and hosts and shares videos in one workspace. It has a trial and no free plan.
Zoomer and Screen Studio run only on macOS. Cap, Recordly, OpenScreen, FocuSee, Canvid, and Tella also have Windows apps.
For a closer look at Zoomer and Screen Studio, read Zoomer vs Screen Studio and Screen Studio pricing.
When Screen Studio is the better choice
- You want to edit by transcript. Screen Studio has transcript-based editing with filler-word and pause removal. Zoomer has no transcript editing.
- You need captions. Screen Studio makes captions on your Mac. Zoomer has no automatic captions.
- You need cleaner voice audio. Screen Studio has noise reduction. Zoomer does not reduce voice noise.
- You record an iPhone or iPad. Screen Studio records their screens over USB. Zoomer does not record iPhone or iPad screens.
- You pay yearly and want the lower price. Screen Studio costs $108 a year. Labs Pro, which includes Zoomer Pro, costs $160 a year.
Questions
What is a good free alternative to Screen Studio?
Recordly and OpenScreen are free and open source, and both run on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Cap is free for personal use. Zoomer has a Free plan with no time limit: recordings up to 10 minutes, and exports with a watermark at up to 1080p and 30 fps.
Does Screen Studio have a free version?
No. The app works without a plan, but exporting video needs a paid plan. Plans cost $29 a month or $108 a year (checked 2026-10-21).
Can I purchase Screen Studio as a one-time purchase?
No. Screen Studio stopped selling its $229 one-time license to new buyers in October 2025. People who already own one get free updates through 2027-09-25.
Is there a screen recorder that automatically zooms in?
Yes. Zoomer and OpenScreen add zooms on your clicks. Screen Studio, FocuSee, and Canvid also zoom automatically, Recordly suggests zooms, and the Studio Mode in CleanShot X adds animated zooms.
Is Cap screen recorder free?
Cap is free for personal use. Commercial use needs the Desktop License, at $29 a year or $58 once. The Pro plan costs $12 per user a month, or $8.16 per user a month billed yearly.