Software Alternatives & Startups

ScreenRec VS ShadowPlay

Compare ScreenRec VS ShadowPlay and see what are their differences

ScreenRec

ScreenRec is a free screen recorder and screenshot tool for Windows, Mac and Linux, with 2GB of free cloud storage for fast, private sharing.

Rating
5.0 · 50 reviews
Pricing
Freemium
ShadowPlay

ShadowPlay

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, ScreenRec seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 10 times since March 2021.

social mentions
10 vs 0
Screenshot Annotation popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
233 vs 56

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

ScreenRec
ShadowPlay
Website screenrec.com nvidia.com
Pricing
Company 2019
Listed in

About ScreenRec and ShadowPlay

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

ScreenRec
ShadowPlay

ScreenRec is a free screen recorder and screenshot tool for Windows, Mac and Linux, built for fast, simple, and secure screen capture. Record your desktop, browser, applications, presentations, tutorials, webinars, software demos, training videos, customer support instructions, and remote work...

Read more about ScreenRec

No description of ShadowPlay yet.

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

ScreenRec 5 features
ShadowPlay 5 features
  • Free Plan
    ScreenRec offers a free plan that includes essential features such as screen recording, sharing, and storage.
  • No Watermarks
    Recordings made with ScreenRec do not have watermarks, providing a professional appearance without additional cost.
  • Unlimited Recording Length
    Users can record videos of any length, which is beneficial for lengthy presentations or tutorials.
  • Cloud Storage
    ScreenRec provides cloud storage capabilities, allowing users to save and access their recordings online easily.
  • Privacy and Security
    All recordings are encrypted, ensuring that user data remains private and secure.
  • High-Quality Recording
    ShadowPlay supports recording in high resolution and frame rates, up to 4K at 60 fps, offering gamers the ability to capture gameplay in near-perfect quality.
  • Minimal Performance Impact
    ShadowPlay utilizes GPU acceleration rather than CPU, allowing it to have minimal impact on game performance compared to some other recording software.
  • Instant Replay
    The Instant Replay feature continuously records the last several minutes of gameplay, so users can save unexpected highlights after they happen.
  • Easy Sharing
    ShadowPlay allows users to easily upload captured footage directly to popular platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook.
  • Free with NVIDIA GPUs
    ShadowPlay is included for free with NVIDIA's GeForce Experience, making it accessible to anyone with compatible NVIDIA graphics cards.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited to NVIDIA Users
    ShadowPlay is only available for users with compatible NVIDIA GPUs, excluding those with other brands or older NVIDIA models.
  • Resource Usage
    Despite being efficient, recording and broadcasting can still use a significant amount of system resources, which might be noticeable on less powerful systems.
  • Feature Limitations
    Some advanced features available in third-party recording software, like in-depth editing tools or comprehensive overlay customization, are not present in ShadowPlay.
  • Possible Stability Issues
    Users have reported occasional stability issues or crashes, especially with new game titles or driver updates.
  • Not Cross-Platform
    ShadowPlay is limited to the Windows operating system, leaving macOS and Linux users without direct access to the platform.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

ScreenRec 6 videos + Add
ShadowPlay 2 videos + Add

Three Ways To Improve Your Remote Employees Communication

More videos

  • - The Easiest Screen Recorder For Windows 10, Mac & Linux - Free, No Watermark, No Time Limits
  • - 3 Tips For Improving Your Screen Recordings
  • - ScreenRec - Free Screen Capture for developers,support,projects [indepth review]
  • - ScreenRec - Simple Screen Capture Tool (Free, No Watermark, No Lag) - Full Tutorial
  • - screenrec review part 1

OBS Studio 144 - OBS VERSUS NVIDIA SHADOWPLAY - Which One is Better? Why use OBS?

More videos

  • - Nvidia Shadowplay Review and Comparison

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
ScreenRec
ShadowPlay
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using ScreenRec and ShadowPlay. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

ScreenRec 5.0 · 50 reviews
ShadowPlay no reviews yet
  • ScreenRec Simplifies the Mac Screen Captures
    SaaSHub review
    · Jul 2025

    I have recently switched to ScreenRec as my default screenshot utility to use on MacOS. In one simple click, I can capture everything on my screen in crystal detail, whether it is a full window or a specified area. It...

  • ScreenRec is an Awesome Tool to Record UX Testing Sessions
    SaaSHub review
    · Jun 2025

    I am a UX researcher and I screen record user tests using ScreenRec. It records all the clicks and comments as they happen, and I do not miss anything. The screen recorder is a one-click program that automatically...

  • ScreenRec Feels Right at Home on My Mac
    SaaSHub review
    · Jun 2025

    As a Mac user, I turn to ScreenRec when I need to save quick how-tos or capture bugs. It blends in with my workflow—you click the menu bar icon, start recording, and stop just as easily. No fuss with installs or...

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

ScreenRec 10 mentions
ShadowPlay 0 mentions
  • Name the tools you can't live without!
    I like snag it but I use Screenrec. I thought that Snag it was a license only prouduct and this is a freebie with some cool features. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Need to download small news clip and can't figure out, please help
    Teach a man to fish...its not hard, you could do it yourself and learn something :) Https://screenrec.com. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Documenting Wilderness Bugs
    For people like me who are on Linux; Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (and downstream variants) now have a really fancy screenshot tool. But for screen recording, I'd recommend using ScreenRec. It's free, records at the press of two keys, can record... Source: about 4 years ago

View more

Tracking ShadowPlay since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to ScreenRec and ShadowPlay

When comparing ScreenRec and ShadowPlay, you can also consider the following products.