Short answer: Screen Studio has no free tier and costs $29 a month or $9 a month billed yearly, on Mac only. There are now several free ways to get the same auto-zoom look, and the right one depends on your computer and on whether you will use the videos for work. On a Mac, Silk's free tier is the most generous (4K, no watermark). For open source, Recordly. On Windows with no install, or for commercial use with a full editor, Girato's free tier. Each is checked below on its own page.
The free options (checked 29 Oct 2026)
| Platforms | Free tier | Open source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girato | Windows, Mac, browser | Full editor, 1080p, commercial use; small badge after two exports | No |
| Recordly | Windows, Mac, Linux | Everything, no paid tier | Yes, AGPL 3.0 |
| OpenScreen | Windows, Mac, Linux | Everything, no watermark | Yes, MIT; now community-maintained |
| Cap | Windows, Mac, Linux | 4K, personal use only | Yes, AGPL 3.0 |
| Silk | macOS 14+ only | 4K60, no watermark, local transcript | No |
| Pane Studio | Windows only (beta) | 720p30, no watermark, commercial use | No |
| Cursorful | Browser extension; Mac and Windows apps | No watermark, non-commercial only, below 4K | No |
| OBS Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Everything, but no auto-zoom or editor | Yes, GPL |
Decided?Start free in your browser or get lifetime, $99 once
The open-source picks
Recordly (AGPL 3.0) is the active open-source option: installers for Windows, Apple silicon Macs and Linux, zoom suggestions from your cursor, smoothing, backgrounds and a webcam bubble. OpenScreen (MIT) ships installers and has grown fast; its creator archived the original repository on 17 Oct 2026, and it continues as a community-maintained project at getopenscreen.com. Cap is open source too, but its free tier is for personal use; commercial use needs its $29 a year or $58 one-time Desktop licence. See Recordly vs Girato and OpenScreen vs Girato.
The free tiers of paid apps
Silk gives Mac users 4K exports with no watermark and a local transcript; writing chapters into the file and burned-in captions need its $69 licence. Pane Studio exports 720p with no watermark on Windows. Cursorful is free for non-commercial use. Girato is the only one here that also runs in a browser tab with no install, and its free tier allows commercial use with the full editor, transcript editing and chapters. Its free exports carry a small badge after 3 clean ones a month, and Pro or the $99 lifetime removes it.
How to choose
Mac and want the best free export: Silk. Want the code: Recordly. Windows, or a work computer where you cannot install software: try Girato in the browser first. Already have OBS: it records well, but you will still need an editor.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free version of Screen Studio?
- No. Screen Studio's site lists only paid plans.
- $29 a month, or $9 a month billed yearly.
- It runs only on macOS (checked 29 Oct 2026).
What is the best open-source Screen Studio alternative?
- Recordly: AGPL 3.0, v1.4.0 released 8 Sep 2026.
- OpenScreen: MIT.
- OpenScreen's original repository was archived on 17 Oct 2026.
- It now continues as a community-maintained project.
Which free option has no watermark?
- Recordly, OpenScreen and Silk (Mac).
- Pane Studio (Windows, 720p).
- Cursorful (non-commercial).
- Girato gives 3 badge-free exports a month, of any length.
- After that, Girato's free exports carry a small one.
Is there a free Screen Studio alternative for Windows?
- Yes: Girato, also in the browser.
- Recordly.
- Cap, for personal use.
- Pane Studio, at 720p.
See it on your screen
- Record and edit in your browser, nothing to install
- Desktop apps zoom on every click
- Free to start, no time limit