Side by side
NVIDIA ShadowPlay vs Rewind
Both stand on game recording software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Windows
ShadowPlay brings recording, gameplay metrics and graphics controls into a Windows overlay. Its hardware and driver requirements rule it out for systems outside the listed specifications.
Visit NVIDIA ShadowPlay Free plan MacWindows
Choose Rewind if you want free, open-source gameplay replay with hotkey saves, event triggers, and a clip library. Players relying on Windows capture should weigh the project's note that it has not yet been validated on real Windows hardware.
Visit RewindThe facts
| NVIDIA ShadowPlay | Rewind | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Windows | Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | NVIDIA ShadowPlay | Not published |
| Website | nvidia.com | github.com |
| On game recording software | #8 of 30 | #12 of 30 |
NVIDIA ShadowPlay: what it does well
- Free app with optional login.
- Manual recording supports up to 8K HDR at 30 fps.
- Automatic Highlights captures key moments.
- Overlay displays performance and system latency metrics.
What to know first
- Requires Windows 10 or 11.
- Requires a GeForce RTX 20, 30, 40 or 50 Series GPU.
- Requires driver 551.52 or later.
Rewind: what it does well
- Keeps the latest 15–60 seconds of gameplay in a replay buffer.
- Can save clips by hotkey or reported game event.
- Steam achievement clips use local files without a key or network connection.
- Supports GPU encoding, with listed options for macOS and Windows.
- Groups clips by game and match, with in-app playback.
What to know first
- The project labels the release alpha.
- Windows capture has not been validated on real Windows hardware.
- The first macOS launch requires right-clicking Open.
Alternatives to NVIDIA ShadowPlay Alternatives to Rewind The whole list