Screencast-o-Matic Review [2024]
Find helpful information about Screencast-o-Matic:
Features
Pricing
Also try Screencast-o-Matic alternative – Movavi Screen Recorder!
Screencast-o-Matic is a popular screen recording and webcam recording application you can use on Windows and Mac devices. Many people turn to the Screencast-o-Matic screen recorder for video recording and creation, but is Screencast-o-Matic safe, and is it the right tool for you? Our Screencast-o-Matic review will tell you all you need to know. If you're looking for an alternative program, try Movavi's screen recorder.
Screencast-O-Matic Screen Recorder overview
Pros & Cons
Pros
Free to use
Mostly beginner-friendly
Compatible with webcam recording
Mobile companion apps
Free editing tools
Handy screenshot taker
Good customer support
Easy sharing to YouTube and social media
Cons
Many features locked behind a paywall
Editing interface can be confusing
15-minute record limit on the free version
Many other limitations when using the free version
No scrolling capture
Overview
Screencast-o-Matic is a screen recording app for Windows and Mac that allows users to capture audio and video on their screens or via their webcam, easily and conveniently. It's designed to be simple to use but fully featured, with built-in editing tools, sharing features for publishing your videos online, a screenshot feature, online storage, a stock library with videos and images, and plenty more.
There are three different versions of Screencast-o-Matic: Free, Deluxe, and Premier. The free version offers an impressive range of features and lets you capture your screen or webcam on Windows or Mac devices, but it has many limitations, too. It has a watermark, for example, and a 15-minute limit on recordings. You'll need to get the full version with a Deluxe or Premier pro account to really make the most of this software.
Interface and features
The user interface with Screencast-o-Matic is generally very impressive. It's a modern piece of software that has clearly been designed to accommodate a wide range of users, from total beginners to more advanced video makers and editors looking for extra tools, features, and functions. The menus are relatively simple to navigate, although less experienced users may find some areas, like the editing menus, a little complex.
When it comes to features, Screencast-o-Matic can do a lot of different things, especially if you're on an upgraded plan like the Deluxe or Premier. You can use it for recording screen and/or webcam, taking screenshots, adding captions, publishing and sharing online, drawing over your recordings, and recording system audio too.
You can create screenshots and GIFs with this app, as well as using automatic speech-to-text captions. It also has extensive editing with things like sound effects, custom music, trimming, narration, shapes, blurring, zooming, and more. There's also a built-in stock library for premium customers with lots of stock content to use in your creations.
User experience
In terms of the general user experience for Screencast-o-Matic, most user reviews state that this is a pleasant and enjoyable app to use. It's all relatively self-explanatory, with some slightly more complex areas in the editing and sharing menus that beginner users could have trouble with. But the official site has various tutorials and guides to get you started and you can also contact the team for more help.
Advanced and intermediate users, in particular, will find a lot to love about this app, as it offers lots of advanced features and customizable settings to help you get the exact recording you want to make.
Video editing
In terms of video editing, there's a lot you can do with Screencast-o-Matic to adjust and enhance your recordings. The free version allows you to cut, copy, and paste sections of your videos, as well as adding narration, music, sound effects, and annotations. You can also speed up or slow down videos, zoom in or out, and more.
If you upgrade to Deluxe, you'll get more features like a blur feature and a green screen filter. And if you choose the Premier plan, you get access to the stock library of content, too.
Sharing
So, what about when you've finished recording a video and want to share it with friends, family, students, colleagues, or followers online? Well, sharing is one of the strongest aspects of Screencast-o-Matic. Even the free version lets you publish your recordings to YouTube and Google Drive right away, as well as sharing directly to Facebook and Twitter.
If you want Dropbox and Vimeo sharing, you'll need to upgrade to the Deluxe or Premier plans, and you also need a premium account to remove the watermark when sharing your videos online.
Pricing
Free version
The free version offers various features that allow you not only to record your screen but also to edit and share recordings.
Screen and webcam recording in the window or full-screen modes
Screenshots (area, window, or full screen)
Basic video-editing tools
Possibility to save the recording to your device
Ability to publish the video to Screencast-O-Matic, YouTube, and G Drive
Quick share to Facebook, Twitter, and G Drive
30 tracks for your music library
Screenshotting tool
Option to customize your thumbnails and create content channels
Option to share linkable notes and embed videos in your site or blog
25 GB of storage space per month
Full version
There are two paid pro versions: Deluxe ($1.65/month, billed annually) and Premier ($4.00/month, billed annually).
Deluxe
For the Deluxe version, you get all of the features from the free version, plus:
Ability to zoom in while recording
Access to the entire music library
Option to publish to Dropbox and Vimeo
Drawing while recording
Possibility to make videos that are more than 15 minutes
No watermark
System audio recording
Option to create GIFs
Automated speech-to-text captioning
Script tool
Option to hide the cursor or change its color
Possibility to add music and sound effects
Option to edit multiple audio tracks, cut, copy, and paste video segments
Picture-in-picture mode
Zoom in and out
Premier
For the Premier version, you get all the features from the Deluxe version. And you also get these features:
Stock library
Access to a custom video player
Access ad-free playback pages
Option to use your brand and domain on video pages
Possibility to upload videos longer than 15 minutes
100 GB of bandwidth per month
Secure backup of recording to online storage
Auto-transfer of mobile app recordings to the desktop video editor
Free alternative: Movavi Screen Recorder
There's a lot of options with the free version of Movavi Screen Recorder. You can also get the Movavi Screen Recorder + Movavi Video Editor bundle, where you can get advanced editing features. Here's what you can do with the screen-recording software for Windows.
Create screencasts. Use the recorder as a tool to capture video screens. You can grab your voice using your mic, face with the webcam, and record sounds with system audio. Webpage screenshots can be grabbed with the free extension offered – Movavi ScreenShot.
Record only audio. You can record sounds separately from the screen recording using the computer or mic.
Capture your webcam. You can capture webcam output without screen recording. Use the webcam to take a picture.
Schedule recording. This is great because you can choose the date and time to start recording, as well as set a time limit.
Grab separate streams. You can record audio and screen. You can do this individually or all at once.
Draw on videos. You can use the software to draw on the video, even as you record it, enabling you to add important drawings to tutorials and create engaging videos.
Share in a second. You can upload your videos to YouTube or G Drive, as well as send share links to colleagues, friends, family, and, well, anyone. Screenshots can be shared using social media.
Show keystrokes and mouse. When you're trying to show how to do something, you need to be able to show your keystrokes and mouse movements. You can do that with Movavi Screen Recorder.
Convert with SuperSpeed. Use the SuperSpeed tool to convert the video.
There's a lot of information here. However, it's important to know that the Movavi Screen Recorder is identical in many ways to Screencast-O-Matic and can be beneficial in helping you create amazing videos for a variety of reasons. You'll want to take advantage of either the free or paid options because both help to meet different needs. After all, the goal is to create engaging videos that can help express your message.
Conclusion
Overall, Screencast-o-Matic is an effective and reliable screen recorder that can be used by many people, from teachers and tutorial makers to professional video creators and editors.
A lot of features and functions are locked behind the paywall, so you'll need to get the full version to enjoy the full Screencast-o-Matic experience, but if you're willing to pay, you can get a lot out of this screen recorder.
Movavi Screen Recorder
Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.
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