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LICEcap

by LICEcap

Free plan MacWindows

Visit LICEcap Alternatives Pricing

LICEcap's own site

What LICEcap is

LICEcap is a desktop capture application from LICEcap that records a selected area of a Windows or macOS screen and saves it as an animated GIF or an LCF file. During recording, you can reposition the capture frame, pause and resume, and add an optional text message when pausing. A global Shift+Space shortcut also toggles the pause state. Capture settings include a maximum frame rate, a basic title frame, mouse button recording, and an elapsed time display.

LCF is LICEcap’s native format. The maker says it can use more than 256 colors per frame, compress more efficiently than GIF, and record timestamps more accurately. LCF recordings can be played in REAPER and converted there to GIF or another video format. LICEcap is GPL free software, and its download packages include source code.

The maker lists Windows XP through 11 and macOS 10.7–12.x on Intel 64-bit or M1 among the supported requirements; older Windows versions may have reduced functionality. It recommends a reasonably fast CPU and at least 1GB of RAM, particularly for LCF encoding. Downloads are listed for Windows and macOS, and the maker directs users to Cockos Forums for discussion. The listed plan is free.

Who it suits

LICEcap suits people who need to capture a portion of a Windows or macOS desktop as an animated GIF or LCF file. Its movable capture frame, pause controls, and optional title and mouse recording settings fit users who want control over what appears in a capture.

What it does well

  • Captures a selected desktop area as GIF or LCF.
  • Move the capture frame while recording.
  • Pause and resume with Shift+Space.
  • LCF supports more than 256 colors per frame.
  • GPL license and source code included with downloads.

What to know first

  • Downloads are listed only for Windows and macOS.
  • Older Windows versions may have reduced functionality.
  • LCF encoding recommendations include a reasonably fast CPU and at least 1GB RAM.

Plans

PlanBilled and limitsPrice
LICEcapGPL free software · Windows and macOS downloadsFree

As cockos.com lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

  1. Visit the LICEcap website.
  2. Choose the Windows or macOS download for your platform.
  3. Install or launch the application on a supported system.
  4. Select the desktop area to capture and adjust the recording options.
  5. Record the capture and save it as GIF or LCF.

Verdict

Choose LICEcap if you want a free, GPL-licensed way to capture a desktop area as an animated GIF or LCF file, with movable framing and pause controls. Look elsewhere if you need a listed download for a platform other than Windows or macOS.

Questions

How much does LICEcap cost?

The listed LICEcap plan is free. It is GPL free software.

Which platforms does LICEcap support?

Downloads are listed for Windows and macOS. The maker says it apparently works on Linux with WINE.

Can LICEcap save recordings as GIF?

Yes. It saves animated screen captures as GIF or its native LCF format.

What does LCF offer?

The maker says LCF provides higher compression ratios than GIF, more than 256 colors per frame, and more accurate timestamps. LCF recordings can be played in REAPER and converted there to GIF or another video format.

Is LICEcap open source?

LICEcap is GPL free software, and each download package includes the source code.

Does LICEcap have a free trial?

No free trial is listed; the pricing model is free.

Facts from LICEcap's own pages

Capture options
Options include an adjustable maximum recording frame rate, a basic title frame, recording mouse button presses, and displaying elapsed time. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
Company
Cockos Incorporated says it was founded in 2004 and lists a postal address in Rosendale, New York. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
Design
The maker describes LICEcap as an intuitive, flexible, lightweight application designed for high performance. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
Downloads
The download page lists LICEcap version 1.32 for Windows and macOS, both dated June 8, 2022. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
Founded
2004 · cockos.com, 28 Sept 2026
Free plan
Yes · cockos.com, 23 Sept 2026
Hardware needs
The maker recommends a reasonably fast CPU and at least 1GB of RAM, especially when encoding to LCF. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
Headquarters
Rosendale, New York, United States · cockos.com, 28 Sept 2026
Hotkey
A global Shift+Space hotkey toggles pausing during recording. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
License and source
LICEcap is GPL free software, and each download package includes the source code. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
Linux note
The maker says LICEcap apparently works on Linux with WINE. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
macOS support
The listed current macOS requirements are macOS 10.7–12.x on Intel 64-bit or M1. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
Output formats
Its native LCF format offers higher compression ratios than GIF, more than 256 colors per frame, and more accurate timestamping, according to the maker. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
Capture platforms
Windows,macOS · cockos.com, 23 Sept 2026
Playback integration
LCF recordings can be played in REAPER and used there to convert to GIF or another video format. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
Purpose
LICEcap captures an area of the desktop and saves animated screen captures as GIF or LCF files. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
Recording controls
Users can move the capture frame while recording, pause and restart, and insert optional text messages when pausing. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
Support
The maker directs users to discuss LICEcap in the Cockos Forums. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026
Windows support
The maker lists Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11 as requirements, with possible reduced functionality on older versions. · cockos.com, 9 Oct 2026

Where LICEcap stands on Freedom251

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