13 Ways to Record a Streaming Video for Free

Try Movavi Screen Recorder!

  • Record your streams for watching later
  • Add highlights and callouts
  • Share videos in two clicks
Edited by Ben Jacklin
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Wondering how to record your streaming video for free? You can use different types of streaming recorders: desktop screen recorders, online tools, browser extensions, iOS apps, and Android apps.

In this article, we’ll review 13 streaming video recorders. Whether you want to record streams from your PC, smartphone, or online, you can find the appropriate software here. You can also check out a step-by-step guide on how to screen record streaming services with Movavi Screen Recorder.

Our goal is to provide you with only verified information. To ensure this, Movavi Content Team does the following:

  • When selecting products to include in our reviews, we research both demand and popularity.

  • The team tests all the products mentioned in this article.

  • When testing, we compare the key characteristics of the products, which include selecting capture area, schedule recording, showing keystrokes and mouse, and other significant features.

  • 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.

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Best desktop live stream recorders

Desktop software offers you some of the best streaming video recorders. If you're looking for ways to save a streaming video of your own, desktop software can offer the features needed to take your content from the Internet directly to your PC.

Movavi Screen Recorder

  • OS:

    Windows 7/8/10/11, Mac OS Х 10.13 or higher

  • Best for:

    Making screencasts

  • Rating:

    4.5 out of 5 stars, 47 reviews

Movavi Screen Recorder offers the ability to easily set up recording parameters, grab audio and video, and edit the recording and save the file. By setting up recording parameters, you can choose the specific capture error, which means you'll capture only the area you actually want to keep from your screen.

Movavi’s live stream recorder does not require clunky hardware or cumbersome add-ons. Instead, it makes it simple to capture screen activity and save it to popular video formats.

Main features:

  • Save anything from your screen to boost your day-to-day productivity
  • Leave no sound behind – grab system audio, record mic and speaker feeds, and leave them clean and noise-free
  • Include anything you type and click to explain complex content in easy-to-follow detail
  • Draw on your video while recording and highlight important elements using shapes
  • Take meaningful screenshots: capture a single window, a full page, or just a part of it
  • Upload your videos to YouTube and Google Drive right from the app to streamline your work environment

Pros:

  • Easy to set up and grab from a screen or webcam in 4K

  • Schedule to record at any time, even when you’re away

  • Smooth running on any Windows or Mac computers

Cons:

  • No limits to your creativity in the full version of the program

ScreenRec

  • OS:

    Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10, Linux

  • Best for:

    Boosting productivity

  • Rating:

    4.1 out of 5 stars, 40 reviews

ScreenRec is a free app for capturing any screen activity on Windows 10 or lower, as well as on Linux. Although it was mainly designed as a productivity app, you can easily use it as an Internet video recorder. With its small size and simple interface, it’s a great choice even for those who have weak PCs or are not that savvy in stream recording software. For a more demanding user, ScreenRec provides recording videos in 4K and analytics to see how your videos are watched. It also promises complete privacy, which is important for a cloud-based service. The app has over 90,000 active users.

Main features:

  • Taking informative screenshots by adding arrows, shapes, and bubbles
  • Recording your screen activity with system sound, microphone, and webcam
  • Sharing your screenshots and recordings via a cloud service
  • Hosting your materials in an online gallery

Pros:

  • No watermarks or time limits

  • Lightweight screen recorder

  • Absolutely free

Cons:

  • If you don’t create an account, cloud sharing and recording for more than 5 minutes are unavailable

Follow the link below to download ScreenRec:

Go to the program’s website

Zight

  • OS:

    Windows, macOS, Linux

  • Best for:

    Creating GIFs and demo videos

  • Rating:

    4.7 out of 5 stars, 1,097 reviews

Zight makes it easy to instantly capture and share material directly from your screen. With this software, recording a live stream on your PC is easy. Zight is screen recording software for Mac, Windows, Chrome, and iOS. It focuses on making meetings easier and more streamlined: instead of sitting through the whole video, you can use Zight's streaming video capture software to record the meeting for you, then go back later to check context and look for more information.

Main features:

  • Capture or record your webcast
  • Share pictures, GIFs, and videos through a convenient link
  • Create GIFs based on your captured content

Pros:

  • Convenient hotkeys

  • Some features are specifically designed to solve business issues

  • The app enables users to create call-to-action buttons

Cons:

  • The free plan doesn’t include some of the advanced features

Follow the link below to download Zight:

Go to the program’s website

OBS Studio

  • OS:

    Windows 8.1/10/11, macOS 10.13 and above, Linux

  • Best for:

    Video recording and live streaming

  • Rating:

    4 out of 5 stars

If you're looking for freeware that will allow you to capture an online video of your own, OBS Studio provides you with an easy solution. The platform provides high-performance, real-time video and audio capturing and mixing, which makes it easy to make scenes made up of information from multiple sources. You can seamlessly switch between an unlimited number of scenes.

OBS supports multiple streaming platforms, which makes it ideal for users who may want to integrate those platforms as they create professional-quality productions. This open-source program is free, convenient, and makes it easy to record your screen.

Main features:

  • The ability to use window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, and capture cards

  • An intuitive audio mixer with multiple options

  • Multiple, easy-to-use configuration options

  • Easy layout rearranging

Pros:

  • OBS supports recording from multiple sources

  • The program supports streaming and recording in HD

  • Video-editing tools are included

  • Highly customizable

Cons:

  • Can be a bit confusing for beginners

Follow the link below to download OBS Studio:

Go to the program’s website

VLC

  • OS:

    Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10, Mac OS X 10.7.5, Linux

  • Best for:

    Recording the entire screen without audio

  • Rating:

    4.7 out of 5 stars, 496 reviews

VLC offers a free, open-source platform that is billed as being simple, fast, and powerful. It is primarily a media player, but you can also use it for recording your streaming video. This platform runs on all platforms, from Windows and Linux to Mac OS X and Android: in short, a variety of options. It's completely free: it contains no spyware, no ads, and no user tracking. It also plays files, discs, webcams, devices, and streams and makes it easy to download and use the platform. Users do note that the VLC media player has a very basic interface and does not have the visual appeal of newer design apps.

Main features:

  • A video player with a lot of additional functions

Pros:

  • Free-to-use

  • Supports many video formats

Cons:

  • No microphone recording

  • No screenshotting function

  • No customization of the capture area size

Follow the link below to download VLC:

Go to the program’s website

Best streaming video recorders online

Best for making fast recordings online

Screencapture.com

Editor’s rating:

4.6
/5
Editor’s choice

Best for making screencasts

Movavi Screen Recorder

Best for easy and quick recordings

Screenapp.io

Editor’s rating:

4.3
/5

In many cases, you may find yourself wondering how to capture streaming video online. You may not want to record the meeting on your PC, or you might simply want to store it on the web. If you want to grab screen videos using an online tool, try some of these programs.

Screencapture.com

  • OS:

    Web-based, supported by Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera

  • Best for:

    Making fast recordings online

  • Rating:

    4.6 out of 5 stars, 353 reviews

Screencapture.com is a free online streaming video recorder that works on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. It offers the advantage of easy recording direct to the Internet, where you can easily copy your files or share them with others. Screencapture.com makes it easy to capture your browser activity or your computer desktop, record sound, or include your face in a recording via webcam. This new, free tool does add a small watermark to the recording, which some users do not like.

Main features:

  • Doesn't require a download

  • Offers a high degree of privacy and security

  • Saves video fast, in HD

Pros:

  • Simple interface

  • Multifunctionality

  • No lengthy or complex pre-recording settings

Cons:

  • A single output format – MP4

  • No video-editing tools

  • The free version watermarks the recordings

Follow the link below to access this online streaming video recorder:

Go to the recorder’s website

Screenapp.io

  • OS:

    Web-based, supported by Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera

  • Best for:

    Easy and quick recordings

  • Rating:

    N/A

Screenapp.io is an online video stream recorder with a large number of five-star reviews and an average of 60,000 successful recordings every month. It's 100% free, with no registration or payment required, and allows for instant live video recording: no software downloads, no extensions, and nothing to clutter up your PC or make your usual tasks more difficult than usual. This platform also makes it easy to quickly download your recordings to your computer. While this ripper does make it easy to record your web stream online, it might not be the best way to handle longer recordings: its recording time is limited to about 15 minutes.

Main features:

  • Free and quick recordings

  • Allows its users to record multiple windows

Pros:

  • Easy screen record

  • Simple trimming features

Cons:

  • The free version has limitations

Follow the link below to access this online streaming video recorder:

Go to the recorder’s website

How to record a streaming video for free with browser extensions

Best for creating video messages

Loom

Editor’s rating:

4.5
/5
Editor’s choice

Best for making screencasts

Movavi Screen Recorder

Best for educational purposes

Screencastify

Editor’s rating:

4.4
/5

Do you use Google Chrome as your web browser? If so, you might find that the best streaming video recorder for your needs is a Chrome extension.

Loom

  • OS:

    Web-based, supported by Google Chrome

  • Best for:

    Creating video messages

  • Rating:

    4.7 out of 5 stars, 10,049 reviews

Loom provides extensive recording options that are compatible with your device and the platform you already use. It bills itself as being perfect for onboarding new employees, troubleshooting customer issues, or managing code reviews. It lets you record your screen, voice, and face, then instantly share your video in less time than it typically takes to put together an email: the ideal way to share content straight from your device to someone else's. Loom is a great solution for modern workers, many of whom are looking for new ways to communicate while working from home. It's free to use and easy to get started with.

Customer service for Loom is, according to reviewers, somewhat lacking compared to other platforms. However, Loom has a huge number of monthly users and downloads being one of the most popular streaming video recorders on Chrome.

Main features:

  • A free, easy-to-use platform trusted by millions of users

  • A free-to-use platform that includes up to 25 collaborators

  • Integration with various business services

Pros:

  • Helps to organize and simplify work processes

  • Free-to-use

Cons:

  • Lacks customer support or guidance

  • It might be choppy at times

Follow the link below to install this extension:

Go to the extension’s store page

Screencastify

  • OS:

    Web-based, supported by Google Chrome

  • Best for:

    Educational purposes

  • Rating:

    4 out of 5 stars, 11,693 reviews

Screencastify bills itself as a user-friendly tool. It offers a simple, intuitive platform that functions as a Chrome extension. Millions of users engage with Screencastify to record, edit, and share videos – and it's easy to get started. In fact, the platform is so simple that it takes no time at all to get started using it.

Screencastify is a simple way to deliver a simple, more effective message. Rather than having to type up long emails, you can capture your screen and easily share that information with other users. It does not, however, work as well on recordings that aren't in web browsers, according to some reviewers.

Main features:

  • Basic editing allows trimming of videos

  • Export as MP4, GIF, or MP3

  • Share recordings via the Google Drive link

Pros:

  • Simple and easy to use

  • Easy trimming

  • No registration for storing or downloading videos

Cons:

  • Not great for high-resolution recording

Follow the link below to install this extension:

Go to the extension’s store page

Best streaming recorders on iOS

Are you using iOS to record your screen? Using a phone or tablet is a little different from using a desktop device. You may not want as many features, or you might want to streamline use when you're tapping rather than clicking or using your keyboard. Fortunately, there are streaming video recorders that you can easily use directly from your iOS device.

Record it!

  • OS:

     iOS 12.0 or later

  • Best for:

    MP4 recording on an iPhone

  • Rating:

    4.6 out of 5 stars, 264,4K reviews

Record it! has the best rating in the App Store, and with good reason. Out of more than 1.7 million reviews, it holds a whopping 4.6 stars. Record it! is ideal for recording games and apps for tutorials, game walkthroughs, video demos, and training demonstrations. You can add commentary as you go or put it in later in your app to make a cohesive, easy-to-follow video.

Main features:

  • Face Cam reactions

  • Keep recordings organized in the app

Pros:

  • Records entire screen

  • Includes a powerful video editor

  • Easy sharing

Cons:

  • The file-saving process is slow on some devices

  • Some users report issues with audio quality

Follow the link below to install this app:

Go to the app’s store page

Go Record

  • OS:

    iOS 11.0 or later

  • Best for:

    Recording videos for YouTube

  • Rating:

    4.5 out of 5 stars, 56,6K reviews

While not as high as Record it!, Go Record does offer a high average rating, with 4.5 stars out of 39.6 K reviews.

This simple platform makes it easy to put together screen recordings and capture reactions all at the same time. As a result, you can streamline your digital video recordings and easily figure out how to capture a video. This program is simple, intuitive, and easy to put together on your iOS device.

Main features:

  • One tap screen recording, making it easy to start the process

  • Face Cam addition so you can put in your reactions

Pros:

  • Easy-to-add audio commentary

  • Easy uploading to YouTube

Cons:

  • Features of the free version are limited

Follow the link below to install this app:

Go to the app’s store page

How to capture a streaming video on Android devices

Don't worry, Android users: there’s live streaming video capture software available for you, too. If you want to save your stream to an Android device, these platforms are simple, highly rated, and offer the high-quality recording you need.

Mobizen

  • OS:

    Android 4.4 or later

  • Best for:

    Making recordings with intros and outros

  • Rating:

    4 out of 5 stars, 3,235,446 reviews

While Mobizen does offer an option that will allow you to record videos for free, the app does contain in-app purchases and ads, which can prove clunky and distracting for some users.

While Mobizen is a highly popular screen capture software, it does come with some clunky features. Sometimes, the in-app ads start along with the streaming video recorder, which can disrupt the recording experience. Sometimes, that may mean losing some of the content, which can't always be retrieved. The screen recorder also takes up a number of assets on your Android device, which means that it may cause frustrating lags in videos and games. Nevertheless, it does remain an easy, fun way to quickly record videos, especially if you're looking into it for personal or leisure purposes.

Main features:

  • Allows you to put in intro or outro videos with a few short taps

  • Records your reactions freely, including both your face and the sound of your voice, thanks to Face Cam

Pros:

  • Offers a highly effective screen recording profile

  • Allows you to edit, trim, and cut your images

  • Records a clean screen without a watermark

Cons:

  • Ads appear from time to time

Follow the link below to install this app:

Go to the app’s store page

AZ Screen Recorder

  • OS:

    Android 5.0 or later

  • Best for:

    Creating GIF animations on Android

  • Rating:

    4.6 out of 5 stars, 1,558,604 reviews

AZ Screen Recorder offers all the features that many users are looking for in their screen recording software. It makes it simple to start recording: just one tap makes it easy to get started. The app delivers high-quality videos with clear sound, so they're easy to follow, highly professional, and ideal for your needs.

AZ Screen Recorder also includes a powerful image editing tool, which makes it easy for you to customize the appearance of your videos and screenshots and ensure that you're capturing exactly what you need. Share your reactions, put together stunning tutorials, or offer more information about your daily tasks.

Users note that AZ Screen Recorder is an incredibly useful app, filled with great features. It offers high-quality video recording that's highly reliable. Users do, however, note that it doesn't offer the same high-quality audio recording that it does when it comes to video: it tends to record whatever sound is happening around the phone or device, and sounds tend to make it indiscriminately into the video. While that's an excellent testament to the power of your device's microphone, it might not fit your video recording needs. It's also important to note that AZ Screen Recorder does include ads and in-app purchases.

Main features:

  • Full HD game recording

  • Screen recording with Facecam

  • Internal sound recording

  • Gameplay recording with external sound

Pros:

  • Advanced video-, audio-, and image-editing options

  • Video compression option

Cons:

  • The free version has annoying ads

Follow the link below to install this app:

Go to the app’s store page

How to record a streaming video for free with Movavi Screen Recorder

Step 1. Download, install, and launch the app

Download the appropriate version of Movavi Screen Recorder for your OS and follow the installation instructions. Once the app is installed, open the program.

Step 2. Set the recording parameters

Click Screen recording on the sidebar.

Select the area of the screen that you want to capture. Activate System audio and Microphone to capture the sound.

Step 3. Record your video

Hit the REC button. The recording will start after a short countdown. Click Pause when needed. To finish the recording, click Stop

Step 4. Save the video

You can use the Scissors to cut out unwanted fragments from your recording. Then click the Export button, choose the output format, and hit Save.

That’s how to record a live stream on a PC!

How to choose a live stream recorder

As you can see, there’s a wide choice of streaming video recorders available for different platforms and devices. The following list has the most important aspects to consider when choosing a recording tool:

Features: Choose a screen recorder according to the result you want to achieve with your screen recordings. If you simply want to record what happens on your screen, any screen capture software will probably meet your needs. If you’re going to do advanced editing or stream live on YouTube, take those features into account as you choose your program.

Ease of use: Some programs are user-friendly and simple. Others are more complicated and have a steeper learning curve. Consider the amount of experience you possess and choose a streaming video recorder accordingly.

OS: Make sure to choose a screen recorder that works on the system you will be using (Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, etc.)

Support: Try to find a program that offers easily accessible user support if you run into problems while streaming.

Reviews: Check out user reviews and articles of professional blogs or magazines to determine how well the program performs before buying it.

Software

Best for

OS

Download

Making screencasts

Windows 7/8/10/11, Mac OS Х 10.13 or higher

Making fast recordings online

Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera

Creating video messages

Google Chrome

View all programs

Tips on making your own streams

But what about streaming on your own? What if you want to go online and share your own thoughts, impressions, and experiences? Here are a few tips for you:

Choose a platform wisely. Each website has its own restrictions and peculiarities. YouTube is very strict about its copyright policies, while on Twitch you can’t save your content permanently. There are also restreaming options for your content to be broadcast to multiple platforms at the same time. So, before settling on a platform, consider all the pros and cons.

Read the platform’s terms and conditions. Yes, we’re all guilty of skipping those longreads all apps and services throw our way and just agreeing to anything. However, when it comes to putting such content as live streams online, you need to make sure you know what you’re allowed and not allowed to do. If you’re not that good at reading legal documents on your own, at least find a good, comprehensive summary. It’s better to be prepared than landing yourself in hot water.

Define your identity. People watch live streams not only for the content but also for the personality. Find what you’re good at and emphasize it to your audience. With time, you’ll acquire your own set of inside jokes and memes with the viewers. Add a distinctive visual to it, and you get an identity specific to your content and no-one else’s.

Experiment! Nothing in streaming is set in stone. You may change the topics of your content, switch platforms and streaming software, try various formats, nicknames – anything! It may take time for you to find what's most enjoyable for you. And later this may change. Don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. This may show the audience the beauty of your true colors.

Save your streams to your hard drive. You never know when you may need it. For example, you may decide to compile a highlights video from several streams. Can you record your life stream back from the platform? Yes, but it's not convenient and may significantly decrease the final video quality. Also, your video may get taken down for one reason or another, and you may have to edit and re-upload it later. We highly recommend you store your streams on a hard drive so that you won’t lose this content later on.

Conclusion

We hope this article has been useful in helping you choose the right screen recorder. Check out various options and pick the tool that is perfect for you.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best live stream recorder?

Here are some of the best live steam recorders:

  • Movavi Screen Recorder – best for making screencasts

  • Screencapture.com – best for making fast recordings online

  • Loom – best for creating video messages

  • Record it! – best for MP4 recording on an iPhone

  • Mobizen – making recordings with intros and outros

To learn more about these and other screen recorders, click the link below.

Сan you record a live stream?

Yes, you can record a streaming video with special screen-capture software. You can use a desktop app, for example, Movavi Screen Recorder. Alternatively, you can use an online tool – you can search for a screen recording extension in the Chrome Web Store.

Download Movavi Screen Recorder for Windows

Download Movavi Screen Recorder for Mac

Can you record streaming TV?

You can record live TV with the help of a digital video recorder (DVR). Today you can find DVR devices that work without a cable – they’re called over-the-air (OVT) DVRs.

How do I download a streaming video in Chrome?

There are special tools that let you save your own stream in Chrome. For example, you can use the Free Online Video Downloader from Acethinker. This online tool lets you download your videos by copying the URL of the video you want to save and pasting it into the address bar. Then, you’ll just need to click Download to save the video to your computer. 

Open the Acethinker website

Can I record a live stream on my laptop?

You can record a live stream using screen capture software. Try Movavi Screen Recorder – it’s a useful app that lets you record your laptop screen and save the video in any popular format.

Download Movavi Screen Recorder for Windows

Download Movavi Screen Recorder for Mac

Can I record a streaming video to watch it offline?

If you want to save your own video to watch it later, you can do it in a few ways. One way to record a streaming video is to use a desktop screen recorder. If you don’t want to install software on your computer, you can capture a video stream with online tools.

How do I record a live stream?

To record a live stream, use Movavi Screen Recorder.

  1. Download and launch the app.
    Download Movavi Screen Recorder for Windows
    Download Movavi Screen Recorder for Mac

  2. Click Screen recording and select the area for capture.

  3. Activate system sound recording and microphone audio capture if needed.

  4. Click REC to start the capture process. You can draw on the video while recording. 

  5. Stop the recording when necessary.

Can I record a streaming video?

The answer usually depends on the terms and conditions of the platform. Usually, if the platform has a paid subscription, screen-recording any content from it is prohibited. However, to make sure you’re not violating any laws or rules, we highly recommend you read the terms and conditions of even those platforms that provide content for free.

How do I save a streaming video from the Internet?

To save a streaming video, use Movavi Screen Recorder.

  1. Download, install, and launch the program.
    Download Movavi Screen Recorder for Windows
    Download Movavi Screen Recorder for Mac
  2. Click Screen recording and select the area you want to capture.
  3. Make sure the system sound recording is on.
  4. Click Start recording.
  5. When you’re done, stop the recording.

How can I record shows that are streaming?

First of all, we recommend you check the terms and conditions of the website you’re going to record a show from. If you find out that you’re not violating any rules of the platform, use a recording tool compatible with the website. You may start looking for the right software by testing out Movavi Screen Recorder.

Is it legal to record streaming services?

The answer depends on the terms and conditions of a particular streaming service. In general, if the streaming content you’d like to record isn’t free, re-recording it is most likely illegal. However, if the content is free, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s legal to record it. So, always consult Terms and Conditions pages on the respective websites.

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Movavi Screen Recorder

The perfect way to record anything from your screen

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

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