Replacing your meetings with video and screen capture tools like Snagit is a great way to improve team productivity. It can also reduce the stress and inefficiencies of scheduling and attending in-person meetings.
According to screen recording software Loom’s meeting statistics, 48% of workers prefer communicating with coworkers through recorded video messaging instead of booking a meeting. But what if the screen capture tool you’re using is actually costing your team more time and money than intended?
While it’s packed with features, Snagit’s pricing is on the high side, and some issues could hamper your team’s productivity. Learn why Snagit might not be an ideal way to record your computer screen and discover seven free Snagit alternatives that improve efficiency without blowing your budget.
5 ways Snagit screen capture software falls short
Snagit is a popular screen capture tool from TechSmith that offers multiple features to enhance your screenshots and recordings. These include image cropping, highlights, mouse click animations, and video clip stitching. But despite its benefits, Snagit falls short in a few ways.
Cost: Starting at $62.99 per user, Snagit business license prices increase quickly—it’s more expensive than many of the best screen recorder tools. A recent announcement from TechSmith notes that the next version, Snagit 2025, is available only with a recurring subscription despite the company offering a perpetual license in the past.
Snagit 2024 performance issues: Reddit users noted the latest Snagit update, 2024, is slow to open and uses a large amount of CPU power—up to 30%—even while running in the background.
Outdated interface: Many users also complain about Snagit’s dated look, and some also note that a few of the annotation graphics look dated as well.
No Linux support: Snagit works on Windows and macOS only, meaning Linux users are left in the dark.
Limited video editing features: Snagit is primarily a screen capture tool and lacks many video editing features compared to alternatives. Its editing features are limited to trimming and stitching tools.
Snagit also doesn’t offer cloud-based storage but saves all screen captures to your device. This makes sharing more difficult since you’ll need to upload or attach your recordings to emails and messages instead of sharing them with a link.
7 best free Snagit alternatives for screen capture and recording
These seven free screen capture tools and Snagit alternatives boost team productivity without overwhelming your budget.
1. Loom
Loom offers essential screen recording features like instantly generated sharing links, video editing tools, and integrations with platforms like Slack, Gmail, and Calendly. It also includes annotation features, like a drawing tool and highlighted mouse clicks, to help viewers follow along with your recording. You can even add a clickable CTA button in your videos so viewers can easily take next steps.
Advanced features include a video trimmer that edits your video when you update your transcript—just edit your transcript like you would a Google Doc and let Loom do the rest. Loom AI also improves efficiency by generating video titles and summaries while automatically removing filler words and awkward silences as you’re recording.
Loom costs much less than Snagit and offers a free plan that allows you to record 25 videos of up to five minutes each. Plus, you can use it on macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android—or download the Chrome browser extension for quick access.
Features:
Record in one take: Create high-quality videos without special skills using features like Live Rewind, Edit by Transcript, and Loom AI.
Capturing screenshots: Capture your entire screen, a portion of your screen, or your screen—the choice is yours.
Easy-to-use video editor: Splice, trim, and stitch your Loom videos to perfection, or add helpful context with drawing tools.
Instantly ready to share: Finished recording? Your Loom video is ready to share with a link—and you can revisit or reshare it at any time in your video library.
Encourages feedback: Loom lets viewers share feedback directly on your video with time-stamped comments and emoji reactions.
Pros:
Loom works on Windows, Mac, and mobile devices, plus Google Chrome.
Loom AI automatically creates video titles and summaries while also optimizing your videos to remove filler words and silences.
Pricing is budget-friendly—no complicated licenses or maintenance agreements.
Cons:
The free plan only allows 25 videos of up to five minutes each.
Pricing: Free; paid plans start at $12.50 per user per month when paid annually.
2. ScreenRec
ScreenRec is a solid Snagit alternative if you don’t need extensive editing capabilities or a way to record lengthy videos.
Features:
Annotation tools: Highlight important information with arrows, shapes, and comments.
Sharing links: Grab a link to your latest recording and share it with teammates.
Offline recording: No internet? No problem. Record offline and save your video on your device. ScreenRec uploads it to your cloud library once you’re back online.
Pros:
Free recordings don’t get a watermark like they do with some alternatives.
There’s 2GB of cloud storage included in the free plan.
ScreenRec offers Windows, Mac, and Linux versions.
Cons:
The free version limits video resolution to 720p.
Unless you create an account, your recording length limit is set at five minutes.
Pricing: Free; paid business plans start at $49 per month when paid annually.
3. Screencastify
Screencastify’s free plan is useful for quick screen recordings that need basic editing.
Features:
Google Drive and YouTube integration: Automatically save your Screencastify recordings to your Google Drive or YouTube channel.
Interactive questions: Test employee knowledge or create a fun icebreaker session by letting viewers select their answer right inside your video.
Basic editing tools: Combine your videos, zoom in on specific elements, create title cards, and adjust audio with Screencastify’s editor.
Pros:
Screencastify records your videos in up to 1080p video resolution.
Interactive questions help you engage audiences.
Low-cost paid plans are available with additional features.
Cons:
The free plan limits recording to only 10 videos of up to 30 minutes each.
Captions aren’t included with the free plan.
Pricing: Free; paid plans start at $7 per user per month when paid annually.
Should you choose Loom or Screencastify? The Loom vs. Screencastify guide compares these two screen recording tools side by side.
4. OBS Studio
Another open-source option, OBS Studio doesn’t hold back on screen recording features.
Features:
Multiple screen capture modes: Along with recording your screen and webcam, OBS Studio lets you crop your recording to a specific part of your screen—or livestream and screencast.
Audio and video filters: Enhance recordings with filters like color correction, image sharpening, and noise suppression.
Customizable hotkeys: Adjust your recording on the fly by setting hotkeys for starting or stopping your recording, muting audio, and more.
Pros:
You can record for a wide variety of audio and video formats.
OBS Studio works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
There are no restrictions on video recording resolution, length, or the number of recordings.
Cons:
Some users may feel overwhelmed by the numerous options and complex interface.
You’ll need to dedicate time to initial setup to optimize settings and create transitions.
Pricing: Free.
5. TinyTake Capture
TinyTake Capture is a simple screen capture and recording tool with built-in drawing tools and quick sharing options.
Features:
Built-in annotation tools: Draw shapes, lines, and arrows on your recordings or add text and highlights.
Customizable recording settings: Capture your full screen, a single window, a specific region, or your webcam while you record.
Quick sharing options: Choose to save your recordings locally or to the cloud, send them to the printer, copy the recording, or share it via email—all in one click.
Pros:
The easy-to-use interface mimics common image editing tools.
You can save recordings to your device or the cloud.
TinyTake works on both Windows and Mac.
Cons:
The free plan limits users to five-minute recordings.
The free plan includes ads.
Pricing: Free; paid plans start at $29.95 per year.
6. Zight (formerly CloudApp)
Zight offers a user-friendly way to capture screenshots and screen recordings, complete with helpful sharing and editing tools.
Features:
Video editor: Stitch two clips together or trim a longer recording with built-in editing tools.
GIF creator: Create short-form GIFs to record bugs as they happen or demonstrate a single step in a tutorial.
Sharing permissions: Choose who can view your screen recordings by adjusting link permissions.
Pros:
Sharing features let you create shareable links and adjust permissions as needed.
Integrations keep you in sync with multiple apps, including Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Jira.
Zight complies with GDPR and SOC 2 Type 2 security requirements.
Cons:
There are no annotations, cropping, or redaction features on the free plan.
Free recordings max out at five minutes and 720p resolution.
Pricing: Free; paid business plans start at $8 per month when paid annually.
Which is better, Loom or Zight? Find out which screen recorder offers the best features for your team in the Loom vs. Zight comparison post.
7. Greenshot
A free, open-source Snagit alternative, Greenshot offers a heap of options for capturing your screen and editing your screenshots.
Features:
Customizable hotkeys: Set Greenshot to take a screen capture when you press certain keys.
Simple image editing: Accomplish straightforward editing with arrows, notes, blurring, and cropping.
Unique integrations: Use plugins to send images to Imgur, Box, or your printer.
Pros:
Customizable settings and personal hotkeys streamline your editing workflow.
You can set up plugins for popular remote team tools like Jira, Dropbox, and Microsoft Office.
Greenshot works with both Windows and Mac.
Cons:
There are no Linux or mobile versions, and Greenshot charges a one-time fee for the Mac app.
You can only capture static images, no screen recording videos or scrolling screen captures.
Pricing: Free; the Mac app has a $1.99 one-time fee.
Need a quick screenshot solution? Both Windows and Mac have built-in tools for grabbing screenshots. Check out these guides to learn how to take a Mac screen capture and create a screen capture on Windows.
How to choose the right screen capture tool
Price isn’t the only consideration when choosing a Snagit replacement. Look for these key features, too:
Screen capture options: Look for tools that capture your full screen, a specific window, or a selected region of your screen. You also want a tool that records your webcam and system audio to create informative and engaging videos.
Annotation tools: Select software that lets you add text, arrows, and other shapes. The ability to highlight or blur certain content is also helpful for focusing on specific details and removing sensitive information.
Collaboration features: Sharing links and cloud-based video libraries let your team quickly find and share recordings, while the ability to add comments and emojis improves communication.
AI capabilities: Select tools that use AI to automatically tackle otherwise tedious tasks like writing video titles, summaries, and transcribing audio content. AI like Loom’s greatly improves efficiency and adds a professional touch to your screen captures.
Intuitive interface: Increase tool adoption rates by choosing one that’s easy to use with minimal setup time. For teams tackling a video marketing strategy and other recording-intensive tasks, look for apps with customizable hotkeys to boost efficiency.
Compatibility: Choose an app that works with both Windows and Mac—and look for Linux compatibility if a coworker prefers its command-line interface. Additionally, mobile apps and browser extensions can improve existing workflow efficiency.
Security: Choose a tool that lets you set video-sharing permissions, or at least decide whether your videos are publicly viewable. Certain teams may also need to look for apps that comply with HIPAA and other data protection regulations.
It’s best to balance features with cost and ease of use. For example, you might need to skip certain advanced features in order to keep costs down—or move up to a paid plan to gain more security settings.
When do you need editing capabilities?
The ability to edit your screen recordings comes in handy during a few situations, including:
Removing mistakes or pauses during tutorials and instructional content
Stitching together different screen recordings to create a single video
Adding intros, outros, scene transitions, and branding to your videos
Adjusting audio to remove background noises or boost volume
Editing tools can take the quality of your screen recordings up a notch, but you shouldn’t need special training to use them. Look for tools like Loom that automatically optimize your recording’s video and audio output by removing background noises and adjusting lighting.
Screen capture and record within budget using Loom
Loom captures your webcam, screen, and system audio in one click, letting teams efficiently communicate across time zones and locations. Its easy-to-use video editing tools let you polish your final product to create anything and everything, from high-quality employee training, product videos, and demos to sales outreach messaging.
Try the Loom screen recorder for free today and find out why it’s a cost-effective and feature-rich Snagit alternative.