Best Free Stream Recorder for Chrome
There are plenty of reasons that you may find a screen recorder useful. Many are available as software downloads, but there are also plenty of options that you can run through your browser as a Google Chrome extension.
The global video streaming market reached a size of $59.14 billion in 2021.
Streaming content on the web is now more popular than ever, and with good reason. Many people are using their internet browser to do a lot of streaming. However, using outdated browsers (like the one that came with your computer that still has Windows 8 on it) can create glitches and dropouts.
It's possible to record live streams, as well as anything else you have displaying on your screen using a stream recorder for Chrome. There's a range of ways to do this, and some of the bests are through Google Chrome extensions.
To help you find the right stream recorder for Chrome, we've compiled a rundown of some of the best options available.
What Is a Screen Recorder?
A screen recorder is a tool that you can use to record the screen of a computer or other device while it's in use. This means you can record everything that's displayed along with any movements or interactions that you make.
Screen recorders are available for smartphones, computers, and even tablets. You can set them up to record the whole screen or just a portion. If you're using a computer with multiple monitors, you can often record just one monitor, or all of them at once.
There are various reasons that people use screen recorders such as:
- Tutorial videos
- Walk-through solutions for devices
- Showing bugs on a website
- Discussing work with team members
- Creating welcome messages for new employers or customers
There are plenty of other reasons that you may find a screen recorder useful. Many are available as software downloads, but there are also plenty of options that you can run through your browser as a Google Chrome extension.
Things to Look for in a Stream Recorder Chrome Extension
When looking for a screen recorder, there are plenty of different choices, and they all offer a variety of options and features. To find the best screen capturing tool for you, there are several factors that you should take into consideration.
Reviews
This is one of the best places to start when looking at any recording software. Other people's experiences can give you an idea of how good a tool is. Note that there will always be some strongly negative reviews for any tool, so take a look at some different opinions to get a clearer idea of how good the screen recorder is overall.
Features
Some tools can be more basic, while others are very advanced. They might include additional tools like a video editor or voice audio recorder.
You might just need something simple, so going with a standard tool may be the best option as they're often cheaper and easier to use. If you need some more specialized features, you'll need to take a more in-depth look to find the best tool for you.
User Friendliness
Many developers try to make their platforms as easy to use as possible. When things are overcomplicated, it can take a long time to learn how to use a tool properly, which isn't ideal.
Compatibility
For a Chrome extension, you should have no problems in terms of operating and recording, as long as the developer keeps the tool up to date. You also want to check that the screen recorder outputs videos in a suitable format.
Some screen recorders may have issues recording certain things. If you want to record video streams, for example, then you should check to make sure a tool works as a stream recorder.
Pricing
Generally, with a screen recorder, you get what you pay for. Free options are available, but these can be more limited, so it's important to compare your options.
If you need something advanced, you can expect to have to pay. You don't want to go beyond your budget for something fancy if it's more than what you need.
Best Free Stream Recorders for Chrome
With all of the chrome screen recorder plugins available, it can be hard to narrow down the best one for you. We've compiled a list of some of the best screen recording options to give you some ideas about what to go with.
1. Loom for Chrome
Loom is one of the easiest-to-use screen recorders around. You can start recording with a single click, and it's just as easy to share your saved videos.
With Loom you can record your screen, your camera, or both simultaneously. You can also choose between recording your entire screen or a single window. If you're recording your camera at the same time you can move the camera output around the screen as you please.
Loom pricing starts at $8 per month, but they also have a free version so you can try it out before subscribing. The free version is limited to 5-minute videos.
2. Nimbus Capture
Nimbus is a well-rounded tool that can record Chrome tabs or your desktop. On top of standard recording, it has a "select and scroll" mode which you can use to catch screenshots while scrolling. It also has useful additions like customizable hotkeys, and it integrates seamlessly with Google Drive and Slack.
Nimbus also includes a lot of advanced editing options such as blur tools, annotations, and stickers. Like Loom, this has a free version, but you'll need to get a subscription to unlock certain features like unlimited recordings, video trimming, and editing tools. The Pro version starts at $3.50 per month.
3. Screencastify
Screencastify has over 10 million downloads, making it one of the most popular screen capture Chrome extensions around. You can integrate it with your Google account to save your recordings straight to your Google Drive.
It supports 1-click recording for a single tab or your entire desktop, and you can record audio with it. This can be audio from your device, or through your microphone if you want to narrate your recording. You can also simultaneously record your webcam which will display in the bottom right corner of the video.
Screencastify features a solid range of video editing options such as trimming, merging and cropping. The free version doesn't include any of the editing tools and only allows for videos to be a maximum of 5 minutes. The paid version starts at $49 per year.
4. Screen Recorder
Screen Recorder has a more minimalistic design and keeps things very simple. There's no need to sign up to use the free version, which (unlike most free screen recorders) won't put a watermark over your recordings.
Another advantage it has over other extensions is that it works well in offline mode and saves videos locally. Many other screen recorders struggle with this, which may be an issue if you have limited connectivity or want to use it while traveling.
If you're trying to record a live stream, you'll presumably have a good enough connection to use most standard screen recorders, but for other purposes, this can be a better option. One of the main drawbacks of Screen Recorder is that it doesn't currently support screen & camera mode.
5. Vidyard
As with many of the extensions on this list and various other options that are available, free versions generally have a short time limit. With Vidyard, screen recordings can be up to an hour-long without a subscription, and this includes HD videos.
It also supports mic recording, and you can connect multiple recorded videos together into a playlist that you can share. It includes a 3 second animated GIF feature for video previews. Note that Vidyard isn't the easiest software to use, and the developers may collect user data such as IP addresses for advertising.
6. Awesome Screenshot & Screen Recorder
This tool has separate tabs for screenshot and screen recorder modes, so you can easily switch between the two. The screen recorder lets you record a single tab, your whole desktop, or your camera (though not at the same time).
It supports video resolutions ranging from 720p up to 4K, and you can share your videos directly to a range of platforms such as Slack, Asana, and Trello. It does, however, lack some more advanced features like video editing, and the free version is limited to 30-second videos.
Uploading From a Screen Recorder Chrome Extension
Whatever stream recorder for Chrome you settle on, you'll then need to find somewhere to host your videos to allow others to view them, and when it comes to online videos, speed is key.
Swarmify offers the world's fastest video hosting so that people can view your videos without having to worry about buffering or playback issues. Our platform will even automatically optimize videos for the device they're being played on. If you want to know more about our services, click here to get started.
