Cap

Open source screen recorder: share a link the moment you stop or polish the recording in a built-in editor

Screen RecorderOpen SourceLoom Alternative

Cap is a free, open source screen recorder for Mac, Windows and Linux and an alternative to Loom. Instant Mode uploads while you record, so a share link is on your clipboard the moment you stop and viewers watch in the browser with no account. Studio Mode records locally in up to 4K with separate screen, camera and microphone tracks and opens an editor with backgrounds, automatic zoom and cursor effects, and Screenshot Mode captures and beautifies windows. Cap is free for personal use with no time limit on local recordings, a Desktop License adds commercial use for $29 per license per year, and Cap Pro adds unlimited cloud sharing, AI titles, summaries and transcripts, team workspaces and custom domains from $8.16 per user per month billed annually.

Best for: Teams, creators and educators who record walkthroughs, demos and bug reports and want an open source Loom alternative they can share by link, edit or self-host
Pricing: Free for personal use; Desktop License $29 per license per year; Cap Pro $12 per user per month, or $8.16 per month billed annually

Pros

Open source with a free personal plan and no time limit on local recordings
Instant Mode puts a share link on your clipboard the moment you stop, and viewers need no account
Studio Mode records in up to 4K with separate screen, camera and mic tracks and a built-in editor with automatic zoom
Works on Mac, Windows and Linux, and can be self-hosted
Cap Pro adds AI summaries and chapters, transcripts, a custom domain and viewer analytics

Cons

The free plan is for personal use, so commercial use needs the $29 a year Desktop License or Cap Pro
Free and Desktop plans are limited to 25 shareable links a month of up to 5 minutes each
AI titles, summaries, transcripts, custom domains and password protection are only on Cap Pro
Cap Pro is priced per user, so cost grows with team size

Core features

• Instant Mode with a share link on stop
• Studio Mode with a built-in editor, automatic zoom and cursor effects
• Screenshot Mode with one-click beautify
• Record a screen, window, area or camera with microphone and system audio
• Comments, emoji reactions and viewer analytics on share pages
• AI titles, summaries, chapters and transcripts on Cap Pro
• Custom domain, password protected links and embed codes
• Loom video importer
• Self-hosting and an open source codebase

Use cases

1. Record a product demo or bug report and share it as a link
2. Make a polished walkthrough with backgrounds and automatic zoom
3. Create onboarding and training videos for new hires
4. Replace Loom with an open source recorder your team can self-host
5. Turn a recording into a transcript and chaptered summary for docs

How to use

Download Cap for Mac, Windows or Linux. Choose Instant Mode to share fast or Studio Mode to edit first, pick a screen, window, area or camera, and turn on your microphone or system audio. Record, then paste the link in Instant Mode, or polish the recording in the editor with backgrounds and zoom before you export or share. Upgrade to Cap Pro for unlimited cloud links, AI summaries and transcripts, and team workspaces.

Pricing plans

Free

• Free for personal use, no time limit on local recordings
• Studio Mode with the full editor and 4K/60fps export
• Export to any format
• 25 shareable links a month, up to 5 minutes each
• Team workspaces and community support

Desktop License

$29 per license per year (yearly or lifetime)

• Everything in Free
• Commercial usage rights
• 25 shareable links a month, up to 5 minutes each

Cap Pro

$12 per user per month, or $8.16 per month billed annually (save 32%)

• Everything in Desktop License
• Unlimited shareable links, cloud storage and bandwidth
• Auto titles, summaries, clickable chapters and transcriptions
• Custom domain and password protected shares
• Viewer analytics, Loom video importer, custom S3 bucket and Google Drive support
• SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and HIPAA compliance, priority support

FAQ

Is Cap free?

Yes. Cap is free for personal use with no time limit on local recordings. Free and Desktop plans include 25 shareable links a month of up to 5 minutes each.

How much does Cap cost?

A Desktop License is $29 per license per year and adds commercial use. Cap Pro is $12 per user per month, or $8.16 a month billed annually, and adds unlimited cloud sharing, AI features and team tools.

Is Cap open source?

Yes. Cap is open source, and the project says it can be self-hosted.

What is the difference between Instant Mode and Studio Mode?

Instant Mode uploads as you record and copies a share link when you stop. Studio Mode records locally in up to 4K with separate tracks and opens an editor before you share.

Can I import my Loom videos?

Yes. A Loom video importer is included with Cap Pro.

Cap Software, Inc.

Support: hello@cap.so

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