What is the best free screen recorder for YouTube?

OBS Studio is the best free screen recorder. It provides professional-grade quality, unlimited recording time, scene switching, and outputs to high-quality MP4 files. It works on all three platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux.

How do I record my screen with audio for YouTube?

In OBS Studio, add 'Desktop Audio' source to capture system sound (music, app sounds) and 'Microphone/Audio Input Capture' to record your voice narration. Test both levels before recording.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Record Your Screen for YouTube Tutorials (Free)

Complete guide to recording professional-quality screen captures for YouTube using OBS Studio — settings, audio setup, scene management and editing workflow. Everything free.

Best Free Screen Recorders Compared

Tool	Free?	Quality	Best For
OBS Studio	✅ Yes	Professional	All screen recording
QuickTime (Mac)	✅ Built-in	Good	Mac-only simple capture
ShareX (Windows)	✅ Yes	Good	Screenshots + short clips
Loom	Free tier	OK	Quick sharing links

OBS Recording Settings for YouTube

Recommended Settings (Settings → Output → Recording)

Format: MP4
Encoder: x264 (CPU) or NVENC (GPU)
Rate Control: CRF
CRF Value: 18
Preset: medium
Audio Bitrate: 192 kbps

Use our OBS Settings Calculator to find optimal settings for your specific hardware.