How we rank: Screen recording and video messaging
The Score (0–100) is a weighted sum of the factors below. Each factor is the weighted average of its metrics; each metric is calculated from one published fact. Missing facts score zero, and a service is ranked only when enough of its Score is backed by facts.
A service is ranked only when at least 70% of its Score is backed by verified facts.
← Best Screen Recorders 2026: Video Messaging Tools Compared
Price 30%
Monthly list price in USD of the cheapest plan that one person can buy, with monthly billing: $0 scores 100, $30 or more scores 0 (weight 3). Fully free software with no paid plans counts as $0. Annual-billing prices, one-time licences and promotions are not used; if the official page shows the monthly price only after a script runs, or only in a local currency, the fact stays empty. Also a permanent free plan or free version (weight 2); a free trial does not count.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Cheapest plan, monthly billing | Linear from 0 (100) to 30 (0) — lower is better |
| Free plan or free version | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Recording and sharing 30%
Five checks of equal weight: recording or export in 4K; recording your webcam together with the screen; a built-in editor (at least trimming or cutting); automatic captions or transcripts; and view tracking for shared videos — view counts, viewer insights or a notification when someone watches. A fact shows that the feature exists on some plan, not that the cheapest plan has it.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| 4K recording or export | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Webcam with screen | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Built-in editor | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Automatic captions or transcript | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| View tracking for shared videos | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Platforms 15%
Four checks of equal weight: an app for Windows, an app for macOS, recording from the browser (a Chrome extension or a web recorder) and a mobile app for iOS or Android. More ways to record means fewer installs for you and the people you send videos to.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Windows app | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Mac app | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Browser recorder or Chrome extension | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Mobile app (iOS or Android) | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Privacy and security 15%
Three checks of equal weight: the vendor says your recordings are not used to train its AI models by default — no training at all, or only if you opt in; a SOC 2 audit or ISO 27001 certificate stated on an official page; and single sign-on (SAML or similar) on some plan. Statements that cover only third-party AI providers are not enough. We record the vendor's statement; we do not audit it.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Not used for AI training by default | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| SOC 2 or ISO 27001 stated | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Single sign-on (SAML) | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Track record 10%
How long the company or product has been running: 15 years or more scores 100 (weight 1), and whether it publishes a public status page (weight 1).
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Founded | Full score at 15+ years |
| Public status page | Yes = 100, No = 0 |