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Beautiful, shareable, and secure screen recordings with full ownership and open-source transparency.

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Tracked since2026
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The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Biggest pro

Open-source and transparent, allowing for self-hosting and community contributions.

Biggest con

Free version has limitations on shareable link duration (5 minutes).

TL;DR - Cap

  • Open-source, cross-platform screen recorder with instant sharing and local editing.
  • Offers data ownership with custom S3 bucket support and privacy-by-default options.
  • Includes AI features for automatic summaries, chapters, and transcripts to enhance collaboration.
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams

What is Cap?

Editorial review
Cap is an open-source, cross-platform screen recording and sharing application designed as an alternative to tools like Loom. It offers both instant sharing and high-quality local recording with editing capabilities. Users can choose between "Instant Mode" for quick sharing with AI-generated summaries and chapters, or "Studio Mode" for local recording, full editing, and separate screen and webcam capture. The product emphasizes user control and privacy, allowing users to connect their own S3 buckets for storage, keep recordings local, or utilize Cap's cloud. It supports 4K recording at 60fps, intelligent compression, and offers features like comments, reactions, and transcripts for asynchronous collaboration. Cap also integrates AI for automatic titles, summaries, chapters, and transcriptions to streamline workflows. Cap is built for individuals and teams who need a reliable, high-quality screen recording solution with a focus on data sovereignty, transparency, and a native user experience on macOS and Windows. Its open-source nature allows for community contributions and self-hosting, making it suitable for users with specific compliance requirements or those who prefer greater control over their tools.

Available on: macOS, Windows, Linux

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Open-source and transparent, allowing for self-hosting and community contributions.
  • Prioritizes user privacy and data ownership with custom S3 integration.
  • Offers both quick sharing and high-quality local editing modes.
  • Native applications for macOS and Windows provide a smooth user experience.
  • AI features automate content organization and summarization, saving time.

Cons

  • Free version has limitations on shareable link duration (5 minutes).
  • Advanced features like unlimited cloud storage and custom domains require a paid subscription.

Key Features

Instant Mode for quick recording and sharingStudio Mode for local recording with full editing capabilitiesCross-platform native apps for macOS and Windows4K recording at 60fpsIntelligent compressionCustom S3 bucket support for storageCloud storage optionLocal recording option

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Jul 14, 2026

Free

$0 forever

  • Unlimited recordings
  • Community support

Desktop License

$58 / lifetime

  • Studio Mode with full editor
  • Commercial usage
  • Unlimited local recordings
  • Shareable links up to 5 minutes
  • Export to MP4 or GIF
  • Perpetual (single device)

Desktop License

$29 / year

  • Studio Mode with full editor
  • Commercial usage
  • Unlimited local recordings
  • Shareable links up to 5 minutes
  • Export to MP4 or GIF
  • Annual

Cap Pro

$8.16 / mo per user, billed annually

  • Everything from Desktop License
  • Unlimited cloud storage & unlimited shareable links
  • Automatic AI title, transcription, summary, and chapters
  • Connect a custom domain, e.g. cap.yourdomain.com
  • Shared team spaces
  • Subscription
  • Annual (save 32%)

Cap Pro

$12 / mo per user, billed monthly

  • Everything from Desktop License
  • Unlimited cloud storage & unlimited shareable links
  • Automatic AI title, transcription, summary, and chapters
  • Connect a custom domain, e.g. cap.yourdomain.com
  • Shared team spaces
  • Subscription
  • Monthly

Cap for Enterprise

Contact us for a quote

  • SLAs & Priority Support
  • Loom Video Importer
  • Bulk Discounts
  • Managed self-hosting
  • SAML SSO Login
  • Advanced Security Controls
  • Custom S3 bucket support
  • Priority support

How Cap's pricing compares

At $2.42/mo, Cap is the most affordable of its 3 direct competitors.

Cap
$2.42
$5.99
$20

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Jul 14, 2026.

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Cap FAQ

How does Cap facilitate quick sharing of screen recordings?

Cap offers an 'Instant Mode' specifically for quick sharing, which includes AI-generated summaries and chapters to streamline the process. This mode is designed for immediate sharing needs, providing a fast way to distribute content.

Which teams benefit most from Cap's features?

Teams that prioritize data sovereignty, transparency, and a native user experience on macOS and Windows will find Cap most beneficial. Its open-source nature and options for self-hosting or custom S3 integration cater to users with specific compliance or control requirements.

How is Cap different from Loom?

Cap distinguishes itself from Loom by being open-source and offering greater user control over data storage, including the option to connect personal S3 buckets or keep recordings local. It also provides both instant sharing and a 'Studio Mode' for extensive local editing and separate screen/webcam capture.

What kind of limitations does the free version of Cap have?

The free version of Cap limits the duration of shareable links to five minutes. Additionally, advanced features such as unlimited cloud storage and custom domains are reserved for paid subscriptions.

How is Cap priced?

Cap is available on a free tier, which provides basic functionality for users. For more extensive usage and access to advanced features, paid plans are offered.

Can Cap record in high resolution and frame rates?

Yes, Cap supports high-quality recording, capable of capturing video in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. It also includes intelligent compression to manage file sizes effectively.

Does Cap offer any AI-powered features for content organization?

Cap integrates AI to automate several aspects of content organization, including generating automatic titles, summaries, and chapters. It also provides transcriptions to further streamline workflows and improve accessibility.

Source: cap.so

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