# Best recording tools for creators

Source: https://ghostedit.ai/tools/recording-tools

> Screen, camera and podcast recorders creators use before the edit. Compare 10+ recording tools: free plans, prices and which work with Claude or ChatGPT.

Creator Tools Library

Screen, camera and podcast recorders creators use before the edit.

**Short answer**

Popular recording tools: Riverside, OBS Studio, Loom and StreamYard. Riverside, OBS Studio and Loom have a free plan. Riverside, Restream and Tella work with Claude.

## Top picks

Verified makers first, then the names creators know best.

[1**Riverside**Remote podcast and interview recording

Records podcasts and interviews remotely in studio quality, then edits and clips them with AI.Works with Claude](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/riverside) [2**OBS Studio**Free recording and live streaming

Records your screen and cameras and streams live, using free open-source software for Windows, Mac, and Linux.Free plan](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/obs-studio) [3**Loom**Quick screen recordings with share links

Records your screen and camera and shares a link right away, with AI summaries and titles on paid plans.Free plan](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/loom)

## Compare recording tools

Prices from each tool's own pricing page on October 31, 2026, monthly billing where offered.

| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Paid from | Claude / ChatGPT |
| [Riverside](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/riverside) | Remote podcast and interview recording | Yes | $35/mo | Claude |
| [OBS Studio](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/obs-studio) | Free recording and live streaming | Yes | Free | No |
| [Loom](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/loom) | Quick screen recordings with share links | Yes | $18/mo | No |
| [StreamYard](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/streamyard) | Browser-based livestreams and interviews | Yes | $18.99/mo | No |
| [Restream](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/restream) | Streaming to many platforms at once | Yes | $19/mo billed yearly | Claude |
| [Screen Studio](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/screen-studio) | Polished Mac product demos | Not stated | $29/mo | No |
| [Tella](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/tella) | Product demos and tutorial videos | Trial | $13/mo billed yearly | Claude |
| [Audacity](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/audacity) | Free voiceover and podcast recording | Yes | Free | No |
| [Cap](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/cap) | Open-source Loom-style screen recording | Yes | $12/mo | No |
| [Kap](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/kap) | Free Mac screen recording | Yes | Free | No |
| [Screencastify](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/screencastify) | Chrome screen recordings with quick edits | Yes | $19/mo | No |
| [Screenity](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/screenity) | Free Chrome screen recording | Yes | Free | No |
| [ShareX](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/sharex) | Free Windows screen capture | Yes | Free | No |
| [Streamlabs](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/streamlabs) | Live streaming with overlays | Yes | $27/mo | No |
| [XSplit Broadcaster](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/xsplit-broadcaster) | Live streaming and recording on Windows | Yes | $14.99/mo | No |
| [Camtasia](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/camtasia) | Tutorials and course videos | Trial | $39/yr | No |
| [Ecamm Live](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/ecamm-live) | Mac livestreams and recorded shows | Trial | $16/mo billed yearly | No |
| [CleanShot X](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/cleanshot-x) | Mac screenshots and short screen clips | No | $35 one-time | No |

Verified makers first, then the names creators know best, then tools that work with Claude or ChatGPT.

## Every tool in one line

[**Riverside**riverside.com

Records podcasts and interviews remotely in studio quality, then edits and clips them with AI.Free planFrom $35/moClaude](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/riverside) [**OBS Studio**obsproject.com

Records your screen and cameras and streams live, using free open-source software for Windows, Mac, and Linux.Free plan](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/obs-studio) [**Loom**loom.com

Records your screen and camera and shares a link right away, with AI summaries and titles on paid plans.Free planFrom $18/mo](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/loom) [**StreamYard**streamyard.com

Runs live streams and records interviews from your browser, with guests, overlays, and multi-platform streaming.Free planFrom $18.99/mo](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/streamyard) [**Restream**restream.io

Streams live to many platforms at once and records your shows, with a studio for guests and clips.Free planFrom $19/mo billed yearlyClaude](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/restream) [**Screen Studio**screen.studio

Records your Mac screen and automatically adds smooth zooms, cursor effects, and polished backgrounds.Free plan not statedFrom $29/mo](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/screen-studio) [**Tella**tella.com

Records your screen and camera in clips, then edits, adds layouts, and shares the polished video.Free trialFrom $13/mo billed yearlyClaude](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/tella) [**Audacity**audacityteam.org

Records and edits audio on your computer, with free open-source software.Free plan](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/audacity) [**Cap**cap.so

Records your screen and shares it instantly as an open-source alternative to Loom, free for personal use.Free planFrom $12/mo](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/cap) [**Kap**getkap.co

Records your Mac screen to video or GIF with an open-source app.Free plan](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/kap) [**Screencastify**screencastify.com

Records your screen from a Chrome extension, with simple editing and easy sharing.Free planFrom $19/mo](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/screencastify) [**Screenity**screenity.io

Records your browser or screen for free as a Chrome extension, with annotation and no time limits.Free plan](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/screenity) [**ShareX**getsharex.com

Captures screenshots and records your screen on Windows, with sharing options built in.Free plan](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/sharex) [**Streamlabs**streamlabs.com

Streams and records gameplay or webcam video with overlays, alerts, and a free desktop app.Free planFrom $27/mo](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/streamlabs) [**XSplit Broadcaster**xsplit.com

Streams and records scenes from cameras, screens, and games in one workspace.Free planFrom $14.99/mo](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/xsplit-broadcaster) [**Camtasia**techsmith.com

Records your screen and edits the footage into tutorials and courses, with AI tools in higher plans.Free trialFrom $39/yr](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/camtasia) [**Ecamm Live**ecamm.com

Streams live and records shows on Mac, with multiple cameras, screen sharing, and guests.Free trialFrom $16/mo billed yearly](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/ecamm-live) [**CleanShot X**cleanshot.com

Captures screenshots and records your Mac screen, with annotations, GIFs, and cloud sharing.Paid onlyFrom $35 one-time](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/cleanshot-x)

## Questions

**What is the best tool to record videos and podcasts?**
Popular recording tools: Riverside, OBS Studio, Loom and StreamYard. Riverside, OBS Studio and Loom have a free plan. Riverside, Restream and Tella work with Claude.

**Which recording tools are free?**
Riverside, OBS Studio, Loom, StreamYard, Restream, Audacity, Cap, Kap, Screencastify, Screenity, ShareX, Streamlabs and XSplit Broadcaster have a free plan.

**Which recording tools work with Claude or ChatGPT?**
Riverside, Restream and Tella have an official Claude connection.

**How do I post what I make to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube?**
Ask Claude or ChatGPT to post it with Ghostedit. It goes to every platform at your best time, checked against each platform's rules first.

## More creator tools

[+15**Video editing**

Editors with AI that cuts silences, fixes audio and resizes for Reels, TikTok and Shorts.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/ai-video-editors) [+14**Clipping**

Tools that turn one long video, stream or podcast into short vertical clips.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/ai-clipping-tools) [+8**Captions**

Auto captions and subtitles that keep viewers watching with the sound off.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/ai-caption-tools) [+8**Dubbing and translation**

Translate and dub your videos into other languages in your own voice.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/ai-dubbing-tools) [+14**AI video and avatars**

Make video from text or images, or a talking avatar that reads your script.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/ai-video-generators) [+8**Voice**

Voiceovers, voice cloning and one-click audio cleanup.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/ai-voice-tools) [+8**Music**

AI music and royalty-free tracks you can use in your videos.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/music-for-videos) [+10**Stock and B-roll**

Stock video, B-roll, photos and sound effects you can use in your edits.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/stock-footage-and-broll) [+14**Thumbnails and design**

Thumbnails, covers, cut-outs and AI images for your posts.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/thumbnail-and-design-tools) [+12**Photo editing**

Edit, retouch and upscale photos for posts, covers and carousels.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/photo-editing-tools) [+14**Ideas and scripts**

Find what to post next, write the script and research the topic.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/ai-script-and-idea-tools) [+12**Transcription**

Turn videos and podcasts into text you can search, quote and repost.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/ai-transcription-tools) [+12**Link in bio**

One link for your bio, with a page, a store or a booking form behind it.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/link-in-bio-tools) [+11**Newsletters**

Own your audience with an email list you can reach any time.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/newsletter-tools) [+12**Courses and memberships**

Sell a course, run a paid community or launch a membership.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/course-and-membership-tools) [+3**Brand deals**

Find sponsors, send a media kit and get paid for brand deals.](https://ghostedit.ai/tools/brand-deal-tools)

## Made something? Post it everywhere. [Start free](https://ghostedit.ai/connect)

Post to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube from Claude or ChatGPT