12 Best Linux Screen Recorders in 2024 [Updated]

Here, we provide you with:

  • Reviews & ratings
  • Detailed overviews
  • Tips for choosing the right program for you


For Windows and Mac, try Movavi Screen Recorder.

Edited by Ben Jacklin
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You want to record your video tutorials or gaming sessions to share? Then you may need to know how to choose the most suitable screen recording tool. We have summarized here the best Linux screen recorders that can be used for either business or personal purposes. All of them are free and open-source.

Software

Rating

Best for

OS

4.5/5 stars

HD screen recording

Ubuntu

4.0/5 stars

Layering vocal tracks

All Linux distributions, Windows, Mac

Show more

There are many different options if you are looking for the best screen recorder for Linux. Read on to explore the features of the Ubuntu screen recorders available. Browse our research and tips to decide which tool fits your needs better.

If you’re considering options for other OSes, get the ultimate screen capture and video recording on Windows and Mac with Movavi Screen Recorder. The program lets you capture screen, webcam, system sounds, and microphone. Useful features include scheduled recordings, drawing on videos, keystrokes, and mouse cursor highlights. You can also cut out unnecessary parts from your recording.

Features

  • Capture on-screen activity, complete with keystrokes and mouse actions
  • Set the recording parameters in a couple of clicks and record your screen in HD and 4K 
  • Draw shapes and notes on video to guide viewer’s attention to the elements
  • Grab sound from any source: system, microphone, or speaker feeds
  • Get the clearest sound: reduce ambient noise from traffic, wind, or stray chatter
  • Schedule recording of must-attend meetings or live events even when you’re away to watch them later

At Movavi, we’re committed to providing you with verified information only. Here’s what we do to ensure this:

  • When selecting products to include in our reviews, we research both demand and popularity.

  • All products mentioned in this article have been tested by Movavi Content Team.

  • When testing, we aim to highlight the best features of a product and what it’s best suited for.

  • We study user reviews from popular review platforms and make use of this information when writing our product reviews.

  • We collect feedback from our users and analyze their opinions of Movavi software as well as products from other companies.

Best screen recorders for Linux

Best for: layering vocal tracks

OBS Studio

This free, cross-platform, open-source Linux screen recording software is easy-to-use and packed full of features. Use it to record online conferences, host online tutorials, and stream/broadcast your content across various platforms. Easily arrange and configure it to suit your personal and professional needs, record and edit, or live stream your video. Post-production tools include filters for video sources and audio mixer filters. Easy to download, install, and operate, it is considered to be the most advanced screencasting software for Linux.

Key features:

  • Editing tools and audio layering options
  • Lots of plugins
  • Customizable interface
  • Hotkeys
  • HD sound quality

Pros:

  • Lots of features

  • Simple but powerful interface

  • Easy keyboard shortcuts

  • Easily switch between sources when recording

  • No watermark

  • Free

Cons:

  • Steep learning curve when getting to know the software

  • No dedicated customer support team

  • Sometimes uses a lot of memory and creates lag

  • Filters are basic and not very effective

  • No “undo” function

Best for: streaming and recording games

SimpleScreenRecorder

Available on Ubuntu 20.04, as well as other systems, this free screen recording software for Linux is recommended for gamers to record their experience. It is still under development, with some issues to iron out, but overall, it is a promising option for Linux gamers. With only three windows, this app is easy to use, and the default options are usually the best ones to use.

Key features:

  • Choose between recording full screen or a part of the screen
  • Sync video and audio
  • Fully multi-threaded

Pros:

  • Easy-to-install

  • Users can store profiles with their created settings

  • Choose the file format for export

  • Easily records desktop – full screen or selection

  • Scale the resolution rate of the screen recording

  • Record with or without audio

  • Provides statistics while recording

  • Free

Cons:

  • Still under development

  • Some issues when trying to record in OpenGL window/apps

  • No webcam recording support

Best for: making screenshots on Ubuntu

recordMyDesktop

This free open-source Ubuntu screen recording and screenshot software is easy to use. Its intuitive interface provides full control as it records your desktop audio and video activity. While it has now been discontinued, it is still available from the official Ubuntu repository.

Key features:

  • Screen recording
  • Screenshots
  • Screenshot annotation
  • Video annotation

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface

  • Simple audio/video recorder

  • Free

  • Low use of computer resources

Cons:

  • Recording a single window is not possible, only fullscreen

  • Only produces files in open formats

  • No webcam recording support

  • Audio recording must go through ALSA, OSS, or the JACK audio server

Best for: recording a webcam

VokoscreenNG

Previously known as Vokoscreen, the new and improved VokoscreenNG is free, open-source Linux video capture software ideal for easy screencasting projects. You can record your desktop, a specific area, or window, and even record directly from the webcam.

Key features:

  • Screen recording
  • Audio recording
  • Text overlays
  • Webcam casts
  • Add a delay before recording and set recording duration

Pros:

  • User-friendly

  • Excellent customer support

  • Free

  • Choose your output video format

Cons:

  • No ‘easy install’ packages yet available

  • Still in development

Best for: editing video recordings

ScreenStudio

  • OS:

    Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Windows, Mac

This free and open-source, cross-platform video recorder for Linux allows you to record or stream your desktop audio and video activity. You can also record directly from your webcam. Take advantage of the many features to enhance your recording with text overlays, video fades, and even background music before sharing your video file online. While it is no longer being developed, it is still available for use.

Key features:

  • Record or stream your webcam
  • Image and text overlay
  • Background music
  • Video transitions
  • Unlimited layers of video sources

Pros:

  • Easy to install on Ubuntu 16.04 and Linux Mint 18 from PPA

  • Simple to use

  • Several options for file and streaming support

  • Free

Cons:

  • No longer being developed

  • Large dependency required

Best for: HD sound recording

Green Recorder

  • OS:

    all Linux distributions

This is a simple Linux screen recording tool, and it supports simultaneously recording audio and video on almost all Linux interfaces. With one of the smoothest approaches to recording high-quality audio and video, this application is intuitive and user-friendly. While it is no longer being developed, it is still available for use.

Key features:

  • Supports GIF format
  • Choose the audio input source
  • Intuitive graphical interface
  • Simple, precise codes
  • High-quality audio and video recordings

Pros:

  • Easy to install on Ubuntu

  • A light option

  • Simple

  • Intuitive

  • Free

Cons:

  • Cannot select an area to record

  • No webcam recording option

  • Operates with Python 2 but not Python 3

  • No longer being developed

Best for: making short, silent screencasts

Peek

Peek is a Linux screen capture and video recording app that lets you capture your desktop session to an animated GIF. Recordings are created from a user-defined screen area. The app is optimized for generating animated GIF files, but also can record to MP4 or WebM.

Peek is not an advanced tool with plenty of extended features, but rather software that focuses on the single task of making small, silent screencasts of a custom area of the screen.

Key features:

  • Screen recording
  • Recording a custom region or window of your screen
  • Delay timer support
  • Frame rate settings

Pros:

  • Free

  • Extremely lightweight

  • No crashing

  • A modern and straightforward interface

Cons:

  • No webcam recording option

  • Only Linux with X11 is supported

Best for: recording desktop sessions to GIFs

Shutter

Shutter is a full-featured screen capture tool that lets you record a screen on Ubuntu and other Linux-based OSes. With Shutter, you can capture the full screen or a specific area on your screen – apply different effects to the recording, add shapes and arrows to highlight important moments, and then upload to a web-based image hosting service, all within a single window.

Key features:

  • Screen recording
  • Recording a custom region or window of your screen
  • Multi-monitor settings
  • Basic editing features
  • Many plugins are available

Pros:

  • Free and open-source

  • Regular updates

  • One-click sharing to social media

Cons:

  • Sometimes lagging

  • Its session manager seems a bit annoying

Best for: capturing presentations

Freeseer

Freeseer is a cross-platform FOSS tool that captures or streams your desktop. It was developed for capturing presentations, and has been effectively used at a variety of free-software events to record hundreds of speeches. Though made for capturing presentations, the app can also be used for recording lectures, video recording on Linux, and much more.

Freeseer is based on open standards; it supports royalty-free video and audio codecs.

Key features:

  • Screen recording
  • HD sound quality
  • Delay timer support
  • Basic editing features

Pros:

  • An easy-to-understand recordings preview

  • A smooth and fast experience

  • Configurable plugins

Cons:

  • No webcam recording option

  • A bit outdated UI

Best Ubuntu screen recorders

Best for: HD screen recording

Kazam

Kazam is known as a user-friendly option for capturing screenshots and screencasts or video recording on Ubuntu. You can set this software for Ubuntu to record your screen, window, or a specific area, and you can record audio from the computer microphone, speakers, or any sound input device supported by PulseAudio.

Key features:

  • Records HD screen
  • Live screen recording on Ubuntu
  • Screen and audio recording
  • Supports multiple video output formats
  • Webcam overlays

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface

  • Easy autosave option

  • Option of time delay for screen capture

  • Free

Cons:

  • Poor quality screencast playback when recording more than one screen location

  • Overall, screen captures are better quality than screencasts

Best for: trimming tools

Gifine

  • OS:

    Ubuntu

This free video recorder for Ubuntu allows you to record a selected area on your screen, edit and trim the video, and then export it as a GIF or MP4 video.

Key features:

  • Record your screen or upload a directory of frames
  • Editing/trimming tools

Pros:

  • Edit or trim a GIF before exporting it

  • Quick and intuitive

  • Free

Cons:

  • Requires dependencies before installation

  • Takes a little while for the file to convert to a GIF format

Best for: command-line management

Byzanz

  • OS:

    Ubuntu

Byzanz is screen and video capture software that records your desktop screen activity to an animated GIF. You can capture your entire screen, a specific window, or a selected area. This Ubuntu screen recording software lets you make recordings directly from the command line. In addition, it allows you to record to Byzanz' internal debugging format. This can be useful for benchmarking Byzanz or in case you want to convert videos recorded to multiple formats later.

Key features:

  • Screen recording
  • Audio recording
  • Recording a custom region or window of your screen
  • A command-line interface
  • Customizing the height and width of the recording

Pros:

  • Free

  • Easy to install on Ubuntu

  • Intuitive

  • Extremely lightweight

Cons:

  • No webcam recording option

  • No longer being developed

Linux screen recording software: How to choose

When choosing the screen recorder with audio that best suits your personal and professional needs, there are a few points to consider. Depending on your computer setup, you may need to make sure the software supports multiple video and audio output formats. What file format do you require? Do your due diligence on the quality of the final recording? Does the Linux screen recording software you are considering record in HD? Are you sure you can capture your desktop activity and also record from your webcam? In terms of audio, check the audio input functionalities and make sure you have the choice between recording via your microphone and through the computer audio.

Are you planning on sharing your video clip online? Streaming or broadcasting it? Or will you edit it and upload it to an online platform? Is your file secure? Are you producing a video as part of a paid, professional project? Are you looking for an encoder and renderer? If so, think of choosing a software option that allows you to create your video without a watermark. These are all important details to take into account when choosing the Linux screen recording software that is the best fit for your projects.

What is the safest Linux screen recording software?

All Linux video recording software options are well-protected by the Linux operating system, which is more secure than other popular operating systems.

A built-in Linux screen recorder

There is a built-in Linux screen recorder available in Ubuntu, integrated into the GNOME Shell desktop. It is a good option for simple screen captures that don’t require audio. To access it, you can use the following keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R. When a red dot appears on the top right-hand side of your screen, you are recording.

Comparing recording software capabilities

Based on your requirements, you will have to select the most appropriate Linux screen recorder software. Do you plan to record just your browser and desktop activity or your webcam video too? Are you planning to stream your video or record and edit it, then share it online by uploading it to a platform? Do you need to simultaneously record audio and video? Do you want to enhance your video with fade in/fade out, background music? Are you looking for a tool that is minimalist and easy to use for quick screen captures on Linux? Or are you creating an animated GIF video?

Screen recording apps vs. online screen recorders

You will have the choice between screen recording apps that you download and install to your computer and online screen recorder software. The apps often offer more features but take up more space and memory, potentially leading to lag. They also allow you to record offline. On the other hand, online screen recorders for Linux are easy to access, always up to date, and can be used on multiple devices.

Summary

Today, the use of technology is deeply ingrained in our daily personal and professional lives. We are constantly seeking to acquire new skills and technical capabilities to create new projects. If you are a Linux fan, and you want to put together an online tutorial, YouTube video, animated GIF clip, or simply record an online meeting or call, you need to choose the best screen recorder for Linux systems. Deciding on the right Linux screen recording software is an important part of successfully recording rendered scenes, webcam visuals, or desktop audio and video activity. Once you have narrowed down your selection, it is a good idea to test drive a few of these free, open-source software options to see which one best meets your requirements. If you are a beginner, start off small and choose the most user-friendly option. As you become more confident, you might find you want to try out a more advanced option with additional post-production features.

Movavi Screen Recorder

The perfect way to record anything from your screen

Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best screen recorder for Ubuntu?

Use any of the following software to record your screen:

  • OBS Studio – best for layering vocal tracks
  • SimpleScreenRecorder – best for streaming and recording games
  • recordMyDesktop – best for making screenshots on Ubuntu
  • VokoscreenNG – best for recording a webcam
  • ScreenStudio – best for editing video recordings
  • Green recorder – best for HD sound recording
  • Peek – best for making short, silent screencasts
  • Shutter – best for recording desktop sessions to GIFs
  • Freeseer – best for capturing presentations 
  • Kazam – best for HD screen recording
  • Gifine – best for trimming tools
  • Byzanz – best for command-line management

Does Linux have a built-in screen recorder?

There is a hidden, built-in screen recorder on Ubuntu. It is part of the GNOME Shell desktop. It is an ideal option for quick screen captures without audio. You won’t find it in the menu, but to use the built-in screen recorder, you can use the following keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R. You will see a red dot appear on the top right-hand side of your screen that indicates you are recording. A recording will stop after 30 seconds (but can be reconfigured).

How do I record my screen on Linux Mint?

To record your screen on Linux Mint, use Kazam. 

  1. Download, install, and launch the app. 
    Download Kazam
  2. Set the capture parameters. You can specify which part of the screen to record, what sound source to capture, and whether to include mouse clicks and cursor. 
  3. Click Capture to start recording. 
  4. Hit Finish recording when needed and choose Save for later.

Which is the safest screen recorder app for Linux?

All Linux screen grabbers are well-protected by the Linux operating system, which is more secure than other popular platforms.

How do I record my screen with OBS on Linux?

To record your screen with OBS, follow the steps below.

  1. Download and run the program.
    Get OBS 
  2. In the Sources section, click the + icon and select Screen Capture from the menu. Click OK.
  3. Click Start Recording to launch the screen capture.

Movavi Screen Recorder

The perfect way to record anything from your screen

An easy way to record from your screen in HD. Make video footage of any application, record online streaming video, webinars, even Skype calls, and save clips in all popular formats.

4.620,293 reviews
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