11 Best HD Screen Recorders in 2024 [Updated]

Learning Portal
11 Best HD Screen Recorders in 2024 [Updated] – Movavi

February 5, 2024

8 927

All of the different types of HD recorders have their own features, quirks, and compatibility. We’ve reviewed a wide selection of the best HD screen recorders for a PC and mobile devices to suit different users, ensuring you can get a program that suits your unique requirements.

Quick summary

Editor’s choice for high-quality desktop recording: Movavi Screen Recorder

Download for Free

For easily recording on your iPhone: Screen Recorder for iPhone

For recording HD videos on your Android device: AZ Recorder

At Movavi, we’re committed to providing you with verified information only. Here’s what we do to ensure this:

When selecting products to include in our reviews, we research both demand and popularity.
All products mentioned in this article have been tested by Movavi Content Team.
When testing, we aim to highlight the best features of a product and what it’s best suited for.
We study user reviews from popular review platforms and make use of this information when writing our product reviews.
We collect feedback from our users and analyze their opinions of Movavi software as well as products from other companies.

Best high-quality screen recorder software

The following are some of the best high-quality screen recorders for PCs and Macs that are worth the download. We aren't ranking these in any particular order, as each can give you the results you want based on your preferences. They're all effective at capturing Full HD (1920 × 1080) videos with some additional features that make them stand apart.

Movavi Screen Recorder

Download for Free

Best for:
recording high-quality videos and streams on computers
OS:
Windows, macOS
TrustedBay review:
4.8 out of 5
Price:
free trial, full version for HK$269

Movavi Screen Recorder is one of the best screen recorders in HD with a free trial that makes it easy to capture nearly any video. It features a simple, easy-to-use interface that enables you to capture either the full screen or a specific region. You can also trim the video file once done and easily share it on multiple platforms. If you're looking for something simple and intuitive, this HD screen capture tool is a great choice.

Features

Show anything you type and click to explain complex content in simple details
Easy to set up and grab from screen or webcam in 4K
Dig deeper by drawing notes, shapes, and figures on videos in real time
Edit screenshots – add text, arrows, or frames to highlight important elements

Pros:

Customize footage and create videos on the go with the help of the program’s intuitive interface
Take screenshots of a single window, a full page, or just part of it
Grab webcam footage or just the audio stream to create training videos, instructions, and engaging podcasts
Easy to share videos on multiple platforms, including YouTube and Google Drive

Cons:

Subscription removes software limitations and unlocks even more possibilities

Bandicam

Best for:
4K UHD recording
OS:
Windows
Trustpilot review:
3.4 out of 5, 25 reviews
Price:
$39.95

If you want something even more powerful than a conventional 1080p screen recorder, Bandicam can capture 4K UHD video at a high FPS. You can use it for gaming, videos, or even external devices, and it works with many encoding and codec options depending on your preferences. You'll get some of the best quality of recordings with this high quality video recorder for a PC.

Features

4K UHD video recording capabilities
Voice mixing feature
A wide variety of codec and encoding options

Pros:

Includes H.264 encoder
Records high-quality 4K video
Can use with screens or external devices
Comes with many options for encoding
Great performance with small files

Cons:

Incompatible with live streaming
No video-editing features

Download Bandicam

Icecream Screen Recorder

Best for:
easy control panel switching
OS:
Windows, macOS
G2 review:
4.1 out of 5, 21 reviews
Price:
free version, pro version for $29.95

Icecream Screen Recorder is a good quality screen recorder free to use for easy capturing. You can also capture screenshots in addition to video, and you can record external devices, including your webcam. It also records audio from your computer or microphone.

Features

Simple control panel
Switch control that allows you to switch from the control panel to your PC desktop
Editing options available after you've completed recording

Pros:

Easy to pick up and use
Immediate editing capabilities after recording
Supports many video and audio file formats
Easily switch between your desktop and the control panel

Cons:

Can only record up to 10 minutes using the free version

Download Icecream Screen Recorder

Capture your screen and stream for free

OBS Studio

PCWorld rating:

Bestseller

Record your screen and webcam in HD with ease

Movavi Screen Recorder

G2 rating:

4.5

Download for Free

Record from your browser in high quality

ScreenPal

G2 rating:

4.3

Best for:
taking quick snapshots
OS:
Windows, macOS
Price:
$42.95

AceThinker Screen Grabber Premium is another top-rated high resolution screen recorder to capture whatever activity on your computer, including desktop screen, streaming video, music, calls, presentations, mouse movement, and more. You can record the full screen, capture only a selected region, record webcam, or even record only audio. The screencast can be captured and saved in the 1080p video quality and even 4K for the best viewing experience. Whenever you want to screen-record an HD video, Screen Grabber Premium is a nice option.

Features

Record screen along with audio in high quality
Record gameplay on PC with webcam
Record audio from system and microphone
Take snapshots and edit them afterward
Export in multiple output video and audio formats

Pros:

User-friendly interface, comprehensive even for novices
Multiple recording modes for different capture needs
Annotate recordings in real-time to make the video attractive
Directly share the screencast to social platforms
Schedule a recording task to save your time

Cons:

Very limited video editing features after the recording
The recording is limited to 3 minutes in the free trial version

Download AceThinker Screen Grabber Premium

liteCam HD

Best for:
Windows gamers
OS:
Windows
CNET review:
4 out of 5
Price:
$19.99, pro version for $29.99

If you're a gamer in need of a great HD video recorder for a PC that can capture videos in the best quality, with the ability to export compressed files without any loss of quality, liteCam HD is a good tool. You can easily capture and edit videos using this game recorder, and you can extract audio and edit it separately.

Features

Ability to trim files using the preview option
Can extract audio to edit it on its own
File compression capabilities without compromising quality

Pros:

Can edit videos after recording
Ability to edit audio separately
Captures high-quality video with consistent quality after compression

Cons:

Only available for Windows

Download liteCam HD

OBS Studio

Best for:
best Linux support
OS:
macOS, Linux, Windows
TechRadar review:
4 out of 5
Price:
free

OBS Studio is an HD screen recorder with many features that can help fully customize your recording experience. You can add transitions to your videos for more seamless editing, apply filters, choose from different themes, and use real-time video and audio mixing, all with consistent quality while recording and editing. This is a completely free HD screen recorder for Windows 10, macOS, and Linux.

Features

A wide variety of recording options including filters and audio mixing
Enables live streaming in addition to recording
Over 20 plugins

Pros:

Allows for recording along with streaming
Ideal for recording gaming sessions in good quality
Free to download and compatible with most platforms
Comes with many features to optimize recording and editing

Cons:

Lack of video-editing tools

Download OBS Studio

Capture your screen and stream for free

OBS Studio

PCWorld rating:

Bestseller

Record your screen and webcam in HD with ease

Movavi Screen Recorder

G2 rating:

4.5

Download for Free

Record from your browser in high quality

ScreenPal

G2 rating:

4.3

Best for:
text-to-speech feature
OS:
Windows
TechRadar review:
3 out of 5
Price:
free

This HD screen recorder is easy to use and comes complete with an editing tool. You can use it to capture both video and voice recordings through your microphone, or you can add narration via the text-to-speech option. If you want to make instructional or informational videos, this HD screen capture software is ideal.

Features

A built-in editor that comes with several features
Slideshow features
Ability to record audio with a mic or through text-to-speech

Pros:

Comes with an editor with multiple features
Audio recording makes it great for adding narration and commentary
Easy to use with a simple interface

Cons:

No ability to save and only exports to YouTube

Download Ezvid

FlashBack Express

Best for:
webcam capture
OS:
Windows
G2 review:
4,3 out of 5, 3 reviews
Price:
free

Flashback Express is a reliable HD screen recorder if you're in need of a quick solution. Its simplicity makes it a great screen recorder if you need to make a video in a snap.

Features

Can add webcam footage and voice-over to recordings
Includes sharing option

Pros:

Can capture webcam
Captures videos without watermarks
Video length is not limited

Cons:

Minimal video-editing tools

Download Flashback Express

CamStudio

Best for:
VoIP capture
OS:
Windows
SourceForge review:
3 out of 5, 242 reviews
Price:
free

If you need a comprehensive HD screen-recording software, CamStudio has everything you need. It started as a simple open-source product but grew into one of the most widely used. It allows for full-screen video recording along with adjustable regions, live streaming to PIP, and audio recording through your computer or microphone.

Features

Full-screen or adjustable capture area
Live streaming capabilities
VoIP and audio recording
Basic video editing tools

Pros:

Unlimited amount of recording time
Various basic editing tools
Easy to use
Adjustable recording with audio

Cons:

Reports that the program spreads malware and viruses when downloaded
Can only export AVI video files
No advanced video-editing features
No scheduled recording option

Download CamStudio

Capture your screen and stream for free

OBS Studio

PCWorld rating:

Bestseller

Record your screen and webcam in HD with ease

Movavi Screen Recorder

G2 rating:

4.5

Download for Free

Record from your browser in high quality

ScreenPal

G2 rating:

4.3

Best for:
chroma key feature
OS:
Windows, macOS
Capterra review:
4.1 out of 5, 48 reviews
Price:
free version, pro lifetime version for $200

For a HD screen recorder with many editing features, XSplit Broadcaster is a good choice. This powerful live streaming software includes various advanced editing features, enables you to edit videos before streaming, and it allows for adjustable recording areas.

Features

Provides a projector mode
Advanced video-editing features
Green screen option

Pros:

Adjustability when recording, including the recording space and timing
Ability to add transitions
Supports various capture cards and webcams
Can upload directly to YouTube

Cons:

Lack of customization options

Download XSplit Broadcaster

ScreenPal

Best for:
browser-based capture
OS:
Windows, macOS
G2 review:
4.3 out of 5, 44 reviews
Price:
free version, pro monthly subscription for $4

If you would rather use web-based software for screen recording, ScreenPal can give you what you need from your browser. You can also download the application if you purchase the paid version. Although the free version is limited, you can still use it to record high-quality videos up to 15 minutes long and access basic editing and publishing features.

Features

Video-editing tools
Offline application and web-based options
Can record audio with the paid version

Pros:

Variety of editing tools
Can use both online and offline with the paid version
Sharing and video-hosting capabilities

Cons:

Free version is very limited compared to the paid version

Download ScreenPal

Best screen recorders for HD capture on smartphones

Screen Recorder for iPhone

Best for:
HD screen recording on iOS
OS:
iOS
App Store rating:
4.6 out of 5, 4.2K reviews
Price:
$2.99/month or $9.99 lifetime membership

Screen Recorder for iPhone is a powerful and user-friendly application that allows you to effortlessly record high-definition videos of your iPhone's screen. Whether you want to capture gameplay, create tutorials, record video calls, or demonstrate app features, this app provides a seamless recording experience. Enhance your screen recordings by enabling the facecam feature, which overlays your front-facing camera's feed onto the video. You can also record system audio and microphone audio simultaneously, allowing you to narrate your recordings or include external audio sources.

Features:

HD screen recording
Facecam and audio capture
Livestreaming to multiple platforms

Pros:

Easy for novice and advanced users to navigate and operate
Recording videos with the high resolution
Audio recording
No time limit and watermarks

Cons:

Not working on all apps
Battery-draining
May take up a lot of storage space

Capture your screen on iPhone

Screen Recorder for iPhone

Editor's rating:

4.2

Bestseller

Record your screen and webcam in HD with ease

Movavi Screen Recorder

G2 rating:

4.5

Download for Free

Record audio and screen on Android

AZ Recorder

Editor's rating:

4.1

Best for:
high-quality screen recording on Android devices
OS:
Android
Google Play rating:
4.5 out of 5, 1.67M reviews
Price:
free limited functionality, or $2.99/month to unlock all features

AZ Recorder is a HD screen recorder that allows you to record everything that happens on your Android device's screen without having the device rooted. Create captivating vlogs or record presentations by incorporating the front-facing camera. AZ Recorder lets you record yourself simultaneously with the screen, making it perfect for video reactions, reactions, or video tutorials. After capturing your videos, AZ Recorder provides a built-in video editor with various tools for basic editing tasks. Trim, crop, merge, and add text or audio to your recordings directly within the app, allowing you to refine your content without additional software. The app requires Android 5.0 or higher to work.

Features:

Floating window feature to record without interrupting your workflow
Front-facing camera recording
Editing tools, including trimming, cropping, and merging

Pros:

No watermarks, frame loss, or video limit
Very easy to use
Has built-in video-editing tools
Reliable and high-quality screen recording with audio

Cons:

Contains ads
In-app purchases
Some users report that the app crashes frequently

How to record a high-quality screen recording with Movavi Screen Recorder

Here’s a simple guide on how to record your screen in high quality using Movavi Screen Recorder:

Step 1. Download and install the program

Download the .exe file and follow the installation instructions.

Step 2. Tweak your recording options

Click the Cogwheel icon and adjust your recording parameters.

Step 3. Start the recording process

Click Screen recording, then select the part of the screen you want to record, and click REC.

Step 4. Stop and save your video

Click Stop to finish the process, then Export, where you can change the video quality. After you’ve finished, click Save.

How to choose the best HD screen recorder

Hopefully, you now feel like you have a lot of options for picking the ideal HD screen recorder for your needs. Here are some of the most important things to consider when choosing the highest quality screen recorder:

Usability: ensure that the app or software you choose is easy to use and compatible with the way you wish to record, such as taking video from your browser. A lot of features can make it harder to get to grips with the software. A free trial means you can check out the usability.
HD recording support: make sure that the program supports recording and exporting videos in the HD quality.
Recording settings: settings may include adjustable frame rates, resolution, and audio quality. Being able to fine-tune these settings ensures that your recorded videos are optimized for different purposes, such as online streaming, presentations, or high-quality video production.
Features: you need to ensure that the software has all of the features and can capture video from your desktop as well as other sources such as your browser, plus editing features you may need.
Supported files: which files are produced by the software, and can you export them in the format you want to?
User reviews: always check user reviews to see if there are any common issues, as well as how much people enjoy the software in general.
Support: it’s a good idea to check if support is available – for example, live chat or email support.

Best HD screen recorders

Movavi Screen Recorder – best for recording high-quality videos and streams on computers

Bandicam – best for 4K UHD recording

Icecream Screen Recorder – best for easy control panel switching

AceThinker Screen Grabber – best for taking quick snapshots

liteCam HD – best for Windows gamers

OBS Studio – best for best Linux support

Ezvid – best for text-to-speech feature

FlashBack Express – best for webcam capture

CamStudio – best for VoIP capture

XSplit Broadcaster – best for chroma key feature

ScreenPal – best for browser-based capture

Screen Recorder for iPhone – best for HD screen recording on iOS

AZ Recorder – best for high-quality screen recording on Android devices

Conclusion

We hope this article has been helpful in your choice of an HD recorder. Everyone needs slightly different features, so feel free to check out the programs from our article and choose a Full HD screen recorder that suits you best.

Movavi Screen Recorder

The perfect way to record anything from your screen

Download for Free About the Windows version

Download for Free About the Mac version

Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.

Frequently asked questions

How do I record my screen in HD?

Using Movavi Screen Recorder, you can capture high-quality HD video with ease. All you need to do is install it and use the simple interface to capture, edit, and share your videos.

Take the following steps to use Movavi Screen Recorder to capture nearly any video:

Download the application and follow the instructions provided.
Modify video capture settings by clicking Screen recording. Use the mouse to select the specific area of the screen you would like to record, or capture the full screen.
Click the REC button to begin recording, which will take place after a short countdown to prepare.
Trim the video clips using the intuitive timeline and perform other basic edits. You can then save the project and access your videos by clicking Show in Folder.

How do I record my screen in 1080p?

Movavi Screen Recorder makes it easy to record high-quality HD video in 1080p resolution. All you need to do is download the application and adjust the recording area. You can also edit your videos once you've finished recording, with the ability to trim clips if needed. You can then save your videos or upload them to various platforms, including YouTube and Google Drive.

What is HD video recording?

HD video recording entails capturing videos in a higher resolution and quality than what you would get with standard-definition recordings. Specifically, a high-definition video, as defined in North America, is one with over 480 vertical scan lines. Also, high-quality digital videos contain more pixels than low-resolution videos, which makes for a crisp image. Top-quality full HD videos will have a resolution of 1080p, which means they have 1,920 pixels horizontally and 1,080 pixels vertically, while 4K and other Ultra HD resolutions have a vertical resolution of 1440p.

Does screen recording record in 1080p?

Screen recording can capture in 1080p resolution if the screen being recorded is set to that resolution and the recording software supports it.

What quality is HD recording?

HD recording typically refers to a resolution of 720p (1280 × 720 pixels) or higher. It provides a higher level of detail and clarity than standard definition (SD) recording, typically 480p (640 × 480 pixels).

Can a screen recording be HD?

Yes, a screen recording can be HD. For your recorded videos to be in high definition, you need two things. First, the screen recording software must support the HD quality. Second, your monitor must support 1280x720 or 1920x1080 resolutions. These two types of resolution correspond to HD video quality.

Is there a 4K screen recorder?

There are a lot of screen recorders on the market for every platform imaginable, desktop and mobile alike. To record your screen in 4K or any other resolution, try out Movavi Screen Recorder. Its built-in editing functions let you record and do basic editing in one program.

What is the most high quality screen recorder?

Different screen recorders specialize in different aspects, so there’s no best quality screen recorder. Some programs are more feature heavy and complicated than others. For an all-around HD video recorder that you can use to capture your screen and edit the result right away, try out Movavi Screen Recorder.

Is 720p Full HD?

No, Full HD only refers to the 1920x1080 display resolution. 720p is an high-definition (HD) display resolution that measures 1280x720 pixels and is inferior in quality and sharpness to the Full HD resolution.