Overview

Cap is an open-source screen recorder and sharing platform for people who need either a quick link or a more polished local recording. Its standout advantage is the choice between cloud-first capture and a 4K Studio workflow with editing; its free sharing allowance and personal-use restriction make plan choice important.

Instant uploads as you record and copies a share link when you stop, while Studio records locally and supports editing and export. A Screenshot mode rounds out the product for still captures.

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

Key features

Two recording workflows: Instant is suited to quick updates where a shareable link matters more than local control. Studio records locally in 4K at 60fps, with separate screen, camera, and microphone tracks, making it the stronger fit for recordings that need editing before delivery.
Studio editor: Privacy masks, automatic zoom, captions, animated text, scenes, color grades, and audio tracks give creators meaningful ways to refine a recording. That breadth is more useful for tutorials and polished explainers than for a one-off screen share.
Share pages: Comments, reactions, transcripts, and chapters support feedback and navigation, while browser playback without an account removes a hurdle for viewers.
Storage and control: Cap Pro supports custom S3 storage and Google Drive, and self-hosting is another option for teams that want control over where the platform runs. Cap also includes a Loom video importer, useful for bringing existing Loom videos into the workflow.
Security posture: Cap states that Cap Cloud has SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 controls and is HIPAA compliant, with signed BAAs available for organizations handling PHI. Enterprise buyers can also add SAML SSO or arrange SCIM provisioning.

Pricing

The free plan costs 0.00 USD per free and is for personal use. It allows local recording without a time limit, but shareable links are limited to five minutes. That is a useful way to try local capture, not a suitable commercial tier or a generous option for longer hosted videos.

Desktop License costs 29.00 USD per year, billed per license per year, for one user. It includes unlimited local recordings and editing plus 20 cloud shareable links per month, each up to five minutes. It adds community support, but retains the short-link cap and is not the choice for a team workspace.

Desktop License Lifetime is priced at 58.00 USD per once for a license that never renews. It includes commercial usage rights, unlimited local recordings and editing, Studio Mode with the full editor, and export to any format. The non-renewing license may appeal to an individual who mainly wants local production, though its stated plan terms do not include the cloud sharing allowance of the annual Desktop License.

Cap Pro costs 12.00 USD per month, billed per user per month. It includes unlimited cloud storage and bandwidth, AI titles, summaries, chapters, and transcriptions, team workspaces, and priority support. Cap Pro (annual billing) costs 8.16 USD per month, billed annually, and includes the same stated benefits. The annual option is the lower monthly rate, while the monthly plan avoids an annual billing commitment.

Cap Pro Annual is also priced at 8.16 USD per month, billed annually. It includes unlimited cloud storage and bandwidth, AI-generated titles, summaries, chapters, and transcriptions, plus custom domains, password-protected shares, viewer analytics, and team workspaces. Those extra sharing controls and analytics make this tier the clearest fit for teams distributing videos to external viewers.

Enterprise has custom pricing for large organizations. It includes Cap Pro, with SAML SSO and signed BAA available as add-ons, SCIM provisioning by arrangement, volume discounts, and custom S3 or Google Drive storage. The add-ons cost 199.00 USD per month for SAML SSO, flat rate for unlimited users, and 99.00 USD per month for a signed BAA per organization. Cap Pro volume discounts are available for teams over 10 users.

Commercial users should not rely on the free plan: Cap requires a paid plan for commercial usage. Check the license terms carefully if choosing among the individual Desktop plans, since only the lifetime plan explicitly states commercial usage rights.

Platforms

Cap supports web, macOS, Windows, Linux, browser extensions, API access, and self-hosting. Its browser and desktop support spans both link-based sharing and local recording workflows.

Who it's for

Cap suits individuals and teams that want screen recording, editing, and browser-friendly sharing in one platform, especially where local capture or control over storage matters. The free plan can serve personal, short-link sharing; commercial users, frequent sharers, and teams should consider a paid tier. It is less compelling for someone whose only need is unrestricted hosted sharing at no cost.

Pros and cons

Pro: Instant and Studio serve different needs, from rapid link sharing to locally recorded 4K video with separate tracks and editing.
Pro: Self-hosting and S3-compatible or Google Drive storage give users alternatives to Cap Cloud.
Pro: Browser viewing without an account, plus comments and reactions, makes sharing practical for recipients who do not use Cap.
Con: Free users get shareable links of only up to five minutes, and the free plan is restricted to personal use.
Con: Desktop License limits cloud sharing to 20 links per month, each up to five minutes, so frequent sharing points toward Cap Pro instead.
Con: The lower annual Cap Pro rate is billed annually, while the monthly plan costs more per month.

Alternatives

For a broader shortlist, browse AI Screen Recorders, Video Messaging Software, and Screen Recording Software.

Kommodo is another freemium option with a free plan and support for Android, iOS, desktop, web, API, and browser extensions; consider it if those mobile platforms matter.
Loom has a free plan with 25 videos, five-minute screen recordings, and up to 50 members. Choose it if that stated allowance better matches a small group’s needs.
ScreenPal offers a free plan with 15-minute recordings and 10 hosted videos, making it worth considering when longer free recordings matter more than Cap’s local Studio workflow.
ClipCast has a free tier with five-minute recordings, 200 MB storage, 25 active clips, 720p, and 30-day video retention; consider it if those limits fit a lightweight sharing workflow.
Doculigent is another open-source option with a free plan; consider it if you want to compare open-source recording tools.
ScreenApp AI Meeting Notes is a freemium alternative with a free trial; consider it if you are evaluating another free-tier option.
Floik offers a Starter tier with five published Flos, 10 created Flos, and five-minute video recordings per Flo; consider it if those creation and publishing caps suit your needs.
QuickSnip has a free plan with 720p recording, 5GB storage, a five-minute recording limit, and one team; consider it if that combination covers your basic needs.

Verdict

Choose Cap if you want both fast share-link recording and a capable local editing workflow, with the option to control storage or self-host. Its strongest case is that flexibility; look elsewhere if you need longer free hosted recordings, or if a paid plan’s sharing limits and commercial-use terms do not fit your workflow.

	Cap	MergeCam
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	$2.42/mo	Free
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
System audio	—	Yes
Microphone recording	—	Yes
Supported platforms	—	web

Cap vs MergeCam

Cap

MergeCam