7 free Screencastify alternatives for teachers and students
By the Ethical Tube teamUpdated 4 min read
The short answer
On Chromebooks, the screen recorder built into ChromeOS is free and needs no setup. For a recorder that works the same on every school computer, Ethical Tube runs in Chrome or Edge with no sign-up, watermark, or video cap. If students need to hand in a link, ScreenPal records up to 15 minutes for free and hosts 10 videos.
Screencastify is a classroom favorite, but its free plan is easy to outgrow. You get 10 videos, plus 5 for each person you invite (up to 4), each video can run 30 minutes, and every video carries a watermark. Exporting MP4 or MP3 files is a paid feature.
These seven free alternatives work for lessons, feedback, and student projects. We checked every limit on the company's own pricing page or help center, and noted which tools students can use without an account.
We make Ethical Tube, so it's first on this list. We've described every tool, ours included, with its real limits.
The free plans at a glance
| Tool | Free plan | Watermark | Account | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethical Tube | No time limit or video cap | None | Not needed | Chrome or Edge on a computer |
| ChromeOS screen recorder | Included with ChromeOS | None | Not needed | Chromebooks |
| Screenity | No time limit; editing and share links are paid | None | Not needed | Chrome extension |
| ScreenPal | 15 minutes per recording | None | Not needed to record | Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and mobile |
| Clipchamp | 30 minutes per recording; 1080p exports | None | Microsoft account | Chrome, Edge, or the Windows app |
| macOS Screenshot app | Included with macOS | None | Not needed | Mac |
| Windows Snipping Tool | Included with Windows 11 | None | Not needed | Windows 11 |
Checked on on each company's own website. See sources.
1. Ethical Tube
Best for: Any school computer, with no student accounts
Ethical Tube is a free screen recorder that runs in your browser. Students open the page, pick their screen or one app, and record with their microphone. There's no sign-up, so there are no student accounts to manage, and the video saves straight to the computer.
- Free plan
- No time limit or video cap
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Not needed
- Works on
- Chrome or Edge on a computer
- Paid plans
- None, everything is free
What we like
- No accounts, so no student data to manage
- No watermark, video cap, or time limit
- Nothing to install on school computers
Watch out for
- No editing or quizzes
- Students hand in the file themselves
2. ChromeOS screen recorder
Best for: Chromebooks
Every Chromebook has a screen recorder. Press Shift + Ctrl + Show windows, choose Screen record, and pick the full screen, a window, or part of the screen. You can turn on the front camera and record your microphone, the device's audio, or both. Videos save as WebM files in Downloads.
- Free plan
- Included with ChromeOS
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Not needed
- Works on
- Chromebooks
- Paid plans
- None, it comes with your Chromebook
What we like
- Already on every Chromebook
- Camera, microphone, and device audio
- Can show clicks and key presses
Watch out for
- Chromebooks only
- No editing or share links
3. Screenity
Best for: Drawing on the screen during a lesson
Screenity is a free, open-source Chrome extension. Draw on the screen, blur private details, and highlight clicks while you record with your camera and microphone. The free extension has no time limit, watermark, or account, and saves videos to your computer or Google Drive.
- Free plan
- No time limit; editing and share links are paid
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Not needed
- Works on
- Chrome extension
- Paid plans
- Screenity Pro, with a 7-day free trial
What we like
- Drawing and blur tools while you record
- Saves straight to Google Drive
- No time limit, watermark, or account
Watch out for
- Your school has to allow the extension
- Editing and share links need Screenity Pro
4. ScreenPal
Best for: Screen and webcam videos with a share link
ScreenPal's free recorder captures your screen, your webcam, or both for up to 15 minutes, with no watermark and no account. You can trim and draw on your video, save it as an MP4, or upload it to ScreenPal's free hosting and share the link in Google Classroom. Free accounts can host 10 videos.
- Free plan
- 15 minutes per recording
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Not needed to record
- Works on
- Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and mobile
- Paid plans
- From $4 a month
What we like
- Screen and webcam together
- No watermark, and no account needed to record
- MP4 files or share links
Watch out for
- Recordings stop at 15 minutes
- Free hosting keeps only your 10 newest uploads
- Students have to install the app
5. Clipchamp
Best for: Schools that use Microsoft 365
Clipchamp is Microsoft's video editor, with a screen and webcam recorder built in. Recordings can run 30 minutes, and you can edit them, add subtitles, and export at up to 1080p with no watermark. Some Microsoft 365 education licenses include the work version of Clipchamp.
- Free plan
- 30 minutes per recording; 1080p exports
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Microsoft account
- Works on
- Chrome, Edge, or the Windows app
- Paid plans
- 4K exports with Microsoft 365 Personal or Family
What we like
- A full video editor, free
- No watermark on 1080p exports
- Included in some school Microsoft 365 plans
Watch out for
- Recordings stop at 30 minutes
- Needs a Microsoft account
6. macOS Screenshot app
Best for: Teachers on a Mac
Macs have a recorder built in. Press Shift-Command-5, choose the entire screen, a window, or part of the screen, and pick a microphone under Options. The video saves to your desktop. Recording a single window needs macOS Tahoe 26 or later, and system audio needs macOS 27 or later.
- Free plan
- Included with macOS
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Not needed
- Works on
- Mac
- Paid plans
- None, it comes with your Mac
What we like
- Already on your Mac
- Records your microphone
- Can show your clicks
Watch out for
- Mac only
- No webcam or share links
7. Windows Snipping Tool
Best for: Teachers on Windows 11
Snipping Tool on Windows 11 records any area of your screen. Press Windows logo key + Shift + R, drag over the area you want, and select Start. It records audio with the video, and you can open the recording in Clipchamp to add captions.
- Free plan
- Included with Windows 11
- Watermark
- None
- Account
- Not needed
- Works on
- Windows 11
- Paid plans
- None, it comes with Windows
What we like
- Already on Windows 11
- Records audio with your video
- Opens in Clipchamp for editing
Watch out for
- Records an area, not a single app
- Windows 11 only
Which one should your class use?
- Your students use Chromebooks
- Start with the recorder built into ChromeOS. Screenity adds drawing tools if your school allows Chrome extensions.
- Students can't create accounts
- Ethical Tube, the ChromeOS recorder, Screenity's free extension, and ScreenPal's free recorder all work without one.
- You record long lessons
- Ethical Tube and Screenity have no time limit. Clipchamp allows 30 minutes per recording.
- You want to edit before sharing
- Clipchamp has a full editor, and some school Microsoft 365 licenses include it.
How we compared them
- Free for good
- Every tool has a free plan that doesn't expire. Free trials didn't count.
- Works on school computers
- Every tool records the screen with a microphone on Chromebooks, Windows, or Mac.
- Official sources
- Every limit comes from the company's own pricing page or help center. Check with your school's IT team before rolling out a new tool.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to Screencastify?
On Chromebooks, the built-in ChromeOS screen recorder is the easiest free option. On any school computer, Ethical Tube records in Chrome or Edge with no account, watermark, or video limit.
Is there a free screen recorder for Chromebooks?
Yes, every Chromebook has one. Press Shift + Ctrl + Show windows, then choose Screen record. You can record the full screen, a window, or part of the screen, with your camera and microphone. Videos save as WebM files in your Downloads folder.
Can students record their screen without an account?
Yes. Ethical Tube, the ChromeOS screen recorder, Screenity's free extension, and ScreenPal's free recorder all work without an account.
Does Screencastify's free plan add a watermark?
Yes. Screencastify puts a watermark on every video made on its free plan, and exporting MP4 or MP3 files needs a paid plan.
Is Loom a good free option for teachers?
For short clips, yes. Loom's free Starter plan stops screen recordings at 5 minutes and keeps 25 videos per person, which is tight for full lessons.
Sources
We checked every source on . Plans change, so check the company's site before you commit.
- Screencastify
- Pricing, Free video limit, Account FAQ
- Loom
- Starter plan FAQ
- ChromeOS screen recorder
- Google: Record your Chromebook screen
- Screenity
- Free extension, Is Screenity free to use?
- Clipchamp
- Pricing, Recording length limit
- macOS Screenshot app
- Apple: Record the screen on Mac
- Windows Snipping Tool
- Microsoft: Use Snipping Tool, Microsoft: Snipping Tool recording with audio
Screencastify, Chromebook, and other product names are trademarks of their owners. Ethical Tube isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any company on this page.