Short answer: Screencastify's free plan allows up to 10 videos of up to 30 minutes, with a Castify watermark, and stores videos in the cloud by default. Girato's browser version is the closest free swap with no video count and no upload: no install, no account, and 3 watermark-free exports a month at any length.
- No video limit, no length limit
- No install, no account
- Zoom, blur, titles and captions included
Free plans side by side
| Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screencastify | Up to 10 videos, up to 30 minutes, Castify watermark | $7 a user a month billed yearly, $18 monthly | Chrome and Edge extension |
| Loom | 25 videos, 5-minute screen recordings | $15 a user a month billed yearly, $18 monthly | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Clipchamp | Recordings up to 30 minutes, 1080p export, no watermark | 4K export with Microsoft 365 Personal or Family | Preinstalled on Windows 11 |
| Girato | No length or video limit, 3 watermark-free exports a month at 1080p | $8 a month billed yearly, $12 monthly, or $99 once | A browser tab, Windows, Mac |
Prices and limits were read on each tool's own pricing page on 9 November 2026. Screencastify's paid plans raise the recording limit to 60 minutes (Starter) and 180 minutes (Pro).
Where your videos are stored
Screencastify asks at setup whether to store recordings in Google Drive or its own Castify Storage, and its help centre says you can switch between that cloud storage and your local device at any time. Drive storage is handy if your school or team already shares through Drive. Girato saves the exported file to your own computer and uploads nothing, so it suits screens with student, customer or company data you would rather not put in another cloud account.
Which one fits
- Stay with Screencastify if your class or team lives in Google Drive and 10 short videos is enough.
- Loom if you send quick video messages and the 5-minute free limit works for you.
- Clipchamp if you are on Windows 11 and want a recorder and editor that is already installed.
- Girato if you want no count or length limits, nothing uploaded, and a finished look: a zoom on each click, blur, titles and captions made on your device.
Switching takes a minute
- Open girato.app/app in Chrome or Edge, the same browsers Screencastify runs in.
- Pick a tab, a window or the screen, and turn on the microphone.
- Record, then trim, zoom and caption in the same tab.
- Export MP4 and share it however you like, including from your own Google Drive if you prefer.
Old Screencastify videos can come too: download one and open it with Import video to add zooms, blur or captions.
Frequently asked questions
Is Screencastify free?
- Yes, a free plan exists
- Up to 10 videos, up to 30 minutes
- It carries a Castify watermark
- Paid from $7 a user a month, billed yearly
What is the best free alternative to Screencastify?
- Girato: no count, nothing uploaded
- 3 watermark-free exports a month
- Clipchamp: preinstalled on Windows 11
- Clipchamp exports 1080p, no watermark
Where does Screencastify store my videos?
- In the cloud by default
- Google Drive or Castify Storage, chosen at setup
- A local-device option in its settings
- Girato saves to your own computer
Can I edit my old Screencastify videos in Girato?
- Yes, download the video first
- Open it with Import video
- Add zooms, blur, titles, captions
- Zooms are added by hand on imports
Sources
- Screencastify pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026
- Screencastify help: Changing the default storage location, checked 9 Nov 2026
- Screencastify home (Chrome and Edge extensions), checked 9 Nov 2026
- Loom pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026
- Clipchamp pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026
- Microsoft Support: Clipchamp maximum recording length, checked 9 Nov 2026
- Microsoft Support: Clipchamp is preinstalled on Windows 11, checked 9 Nov 2026
- Girato pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026
Try the swap
- Same browsers, no extension
- No video count, nothing uploaded
- Zoom, blur and captions