Overview

Cap is an open-source screen recorder and sharing platform built around quick link-based updates and more deliberate local production. It suits people who want both workflows in one product; its free plan is personal-use only and limits shareable links to five minutes.

That split is Cap’s strongest distinction: Instant prioritizes speed, while Studio offers local 4K recording and a full editor. The trade-off is that commercial users need a paid plan, and cloud-sharing allowances vary by plan.

Cap began in 2023 as an open-source alternative to Loom. Its code is published under the AGPL license, and users can choose Cap Cloud, their own S3-compatible storage or Google Drive, or self-hosting.

For a wider comparison, see Screen Recording Software and Video Messaging Software.

Key features

Instant and Studio modes: Instant uploads during recording and copies a share link when you stop, a practical route for quick updates. Studio records locally in 4K at 60fps with separate screen, camera, and microphone tracks, better suited to material that needs refinement before sharing.
Editing tools: Privacy masks, automatic zoom, captions, animated text, scenes, color grades, and audio tracks offer meaningful control over a finished recording. This makes Studio more capable for tutorials and polished explainers than a bare capture workflow.
Browser sharing: Share pages support comments, reactions, transcripts, and chapters, and viewers need no account to watch. That reduces friction for recipients while providing ways to respond and navigate longer videos.
Storage choices and integrations: Cap supports Cap Cloud, self-hosting, and user-controlled S3-compatible storage or Google Drive. Cap Pro adds custom S3 storage and Google Drive integration, and Cap includes a Loom video importer.
Security and control: Cap says Cap Cloud has SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 controls and is HIPAA compliant, with signed BAAs available for organizations handling PHI. The open-source AGPL code is public and auditable; organizations needing a BAA should account for the separate add-on cost.
Exports: Supported formats include MP4, WebM, MOV, GIF, SRT, and WebVTT, covering video, animation, and caption-file outputs.

Pricing

Cap is freemium, but the free plan is explicitly for personal use. Commercial use requires a paid plan, so the free tier is not a safe fit for workplace recording even if its local recording allowance is generous.

Plan	Price	What it includes and who it suits
Free	0.00 USD per free	Personal use, local recording with no time limit, and shareable links up to 5 min. Good for personal captures; the share-length cap and commercial restriction are substantial boundaries.
Desktop License	29.00 USD per year	One user per license, unlimited local recordings and editing, and 20 cloud shareable links/month up to 5 min each. It fits a solo commercial user focused on local work, but the monthly link quota limits frequent cloud sharing.
Desktop License Lifetime	58.00 USD per month	Commercial usage rights, unlimited local recordings and editing, Studio Mode with full editor, export to any format, and a license that never renews. It targets users prioritizing local production and one-time licensing; the stated price and billing term are unusual enough to check carefully before buying.
Desktop License (lifetime)	58.00 USD per once	One user per license, unlimited local recordings and editing, and 20 cloud shareable links/month up to 5 min each; billed once and never renews. This is the clearer fit for a solo user wanting local work and a limited sharing quota without recurring renewal.
Cap Pro	12.00 USD per month	Unlimited cloud storage and bandwidth, AI titles, summaries, chapters, and transcriptions, team workspaces, and priority support. It suits teams or frequent sharers who want cloud capacity and support, at the higher month-to-month rate.
Cap Pro Annual	8.16 USD per month	Billed annually; includes unlimited cloud storage and bandwidth, AI-generated titles, summaries, chapters, and transcriptions, custom domain, password-protected shares, viewer analytics, and team workspaces. The annual commitment is best for regular users who need branded or access-controlled sharing and analytics.
Cap Pro (annual billing)	8.16 USD per month	Billed $8.16 a month, billed annually; includes unlimited cloud storage and bandwidth, AI titles, summaries, chapters, and transcriptions, team workspaces, and priority support. It suits teams wanting Pro’s storage and support for a lower monthly equivalent, but lacks the custom domain, password protection, and analytics listed with Cap Pro Annual.
Enterprise	Custom pricing	Cap Pro for large organizations, with SAML SSO and signed BAA add-ons, SCIM provisioning by arrangement, volume discounts, and custom S3 and Google Drive storage. It is the organizational option for managed access or storage requirements.

The Desktop License is billed per license per year, while its lifetime counterpart is one user per license and billed once. Cap Pro’s monthly option is per user; teams over 10 users can receive volume discounts. Enterprise add-ons are separate: a Signed BAA costs 99.00 USD per month per organization, and SAML SSO costs 199.00 USD per month at a flat rate for unlimited users. Community support comes with Desktop License, while Cap Pro includes priority support.

Platforms

Cap supports API, browser extension, Linux, macOS, web, Windows, and self-hosting. The combination of desktop and browser access makes it relevant to users who want local recording as well as browser-based sharing, while self-hosting gives organizations another deployment choice.

Who it's for

Cap is strongest for individuals and teams that move between quick screen updates and edited recordings, or need control over where recordings are stored. Local recording and editing favor creators who want production control; team workspaces, cloud storage, and sharing features make Cap Pro more appropriate for collaborative or frequent distribution.

It is a weaker fit for occasional commercial users who only need short links: the free plan is personal-only, and the Desktop License limits cloud links to 20 per month, each up to five minutes. Organizations requiring SSO or signed BAAs should compare the additional fees with their security and access needs.

Pros and cons

Pro: Instant and Studio cover both immediate sharing and locally recorded, editable 4K video, so users need not choose a single capture style.
Pro: Browser viewing without an account, plus comments, reactions, transcripts, and chapters, helps recipients engage without extra setup.
Pro: AGPL code and options for self-hosting or user-controlled storage give technically capable users meaningful data-control choices.
Con: Free is personal-use only, and its shareable links are capped at five minutes, limiting use as a no-cost workplace recorder.
Con: The Desktop License includes only 20 cloud links per month, each capped at five minutes, despite unlimited local recording and editing.
Con: Pricing details distinguish Cap Pro Annual from Cap Pro (annual billing), with different stated feature sets; buyers should match the plan to the features they need.

Alternatives

Consider Loom if you want another freemium screen-recording option; its Starter plan includes 25 videos and five-minute screen recordings. Dadan is worth comparing when a free allowance of up to 25 videos, 2 GB storage, and 720p resolution is a better match. Screencastify offers a free plan with up to 10 recordings and 30 minutes per video, a different balance if longer individual recordings matter more than Cap’s local Studio workflow.

Dubb, Hippo Video, Volley, Bonjoro, and Jumpshare are other options to compare.

For AI-focused recording choices, browse AI Screen Recorders.

Verdict

Choose Cap if you need a single platform for fast link sharing and locally recorded, editable screen video, especially if storage control or team sharing matters. Look elsewhere if you need unrestricted short-form commercial sharing on a free plan, or if a five-minute link cap and limited Desktop License quota do not fit your workflow.

	Cap	theRec
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	$2.42/mo	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	api, extension, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows	Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Paid from	$8.16/user/mo	—
Webcam recording	—	Yes
Microphone recording	—	Yes
Supported platforms	—	web

Cap vs theRec

Cap

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