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Cap

cap.so

From $2.42/mo Free plan Open source WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 9.5 #1 of 39 in AI Screen Recorders

What it is

Cap is an open-source screen recording and sharing platform with Instant, Studio, and Screenshot modes. Instant Mode uploads as recording happens and copies a share link when recording stops. Studio Mode records locally in 4K at 60fps with separate screen, camera, and microphone tracks, then supports editing and export. Editing tools include privacy masks, automatic zoom, captions, animated text, scenes, color grades, and audio tracks. Share pages can include comments, reactions, transcripts, and chapters; viewers can watch in a browser without an account. Users can choose Cap Cloud, connect S3-compatible storage or Google Drive, or self-host. Cap includes a Loom video importer and says its code is fully open source under AGPL. Cap Cloud is described as having SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 controls and HIPAA compliance, with signed BAAs available for organizations handling PHI. The Free plan is for personal use; commercial use requires a paid plan. Cap Pro Annual costs $8.16 a month, billed annually.

Spec sheet

What it does
Cap records screens, cameras and microphones, edits recordings, and creates shareable browser links.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Product
Cap is an open source screen recording and sharing platform with Instant, Studio, and Screenshot modes.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Platforms
Cap offers desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux, plus a Chrome extension.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Paid from
8.16Read 20 Sep 2026 · cap.so
API
The developer service exposes REST endpoints for server-side video and usage management.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Integrations
Cap Pro supports custom S3 storage and Google Drive, and Cap includes a Loom video importer.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Security
Cap states that Cap Cloud has SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 controls and that it is HIPAA compliant, with signed BAAs available for organizations handling PHI.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Support
Cap lists community support with Desktop License and priority support with Cap Pro, and says users can email [email protected] for help.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
License
The public repository uses AGPLv3 for most code, while cap-camera and scap crate families use MIT licensing.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Founded
2023Read 23 Sep 2026 · cap.so
4K recording
Cap supports recording up to 4K resolution and 60 frames per second.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
AI features
Cap Pro generates titles, summaries, clickable chapters and transcriptions for recordings.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
CLI and MCP
Cap ships a command-line interface and local MCP server with JSON output for recording, exporting, uploading and library management.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Comments
Shared recordings support timestamp-linked threaded comments and reactions.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Commercial licensing
Commercial use of distributed Cap Desktop binaries requires either a Desktop License or Cap Pro.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Commercial use limit
The free plan is for personal use; Cap says a paid plan is required for commercial usage.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Company history
Cap says it started in 2023 as an open source alternative to Loom.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Company legal name
Crunchbase lists the company legal name as Cap Software, Inc.Read 14 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Company size
LinkedIn lists Cap as a privately held technology company with 2–10 employees.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Custom storage
Cap Pro can store recordings in a customer Google Drive or S3-compatible bucket.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Data control
Users can use Cap Cloud, connect their own S3-compatible storage or Google Drive, or self-host the platform.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Documentation
The documentation includes installation, quickstart, sharing, self-hosting, commercial licensing and developer API sections.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Editing
The editor supports privacy masks, automatic zoom, captions, animated text, scenes, color grades, and audio tracks.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Headquarters evidence
The Chrome Web Store listing gives Cap Software, Inc. a Dover, Delaware, United States address.Read 14 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Instant Mode
Instant Mode uploads during recording and places a share link on the clipboard when recording stops.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Instant recording
Instant Mode uploads as you record and copies a share link to your clipboard when recording stops.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Limit: feature gap reported by users
A Reddit commenter said an earlier Cap version lacked Screen Studio's cursor smoothing, auto-zoom and automatic speed-up features.Read 14 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Limit: pricing complaints
AlternativeTo comments complain about a recurring 9-euro monthly price for a screen recorder and mandatory subscription concerns.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
Limit: reliability
Product Hunt's review summary reports crashes, failed launches, buggy camera rendering, unreliable multi-screen capture and slow Studio exports.Read 14 Oct 2026 · producthunt.com
Limit: self-hosting setup
A GitHub issue reports that the Railway template can generate an invalid encryption key and only reveal the error when password protection is used.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Loom importer
Cap Pro includes an importer for existing Loom recordings.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Notable news
Cap announced version 0.6 on September 15, 2026 with a rebuilt editor, 3D scenes, Studio Sound, camera cutouts and an optional native GPUI app.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Open source
Cap says it is fully open source under the AGPL license, with public and auditable code.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Praise: affordability and ownership
An AlternativeTo commenter describes Cap as open-source and self-hostable but questions paying a monthly fee for storage on personal drives.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
Praise: Product Hunt users
Product Hunt's review summary says users praise fast startup, quick sharing, polished viewing pages, editing, transcripts, chapters, comments and the open-source approach.Read 14 Oct 2026 · producthunt.com
Rating on AlternativeTo
2.5 out of 5 from 4 ratingsRead 14 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
Rating on Capterra
0.0 out of 5 from 0 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on Chrome Web Store
4.3 out of 5 from 6 ratingsRead 14 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Rating on Product Hunt
3.9 out of 5 from 8 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · producthunt.com
Release activity
The changelog records SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certification, live transcription, Slack link unfurls, transcript-based editing and a redesigned iOS app during 2026.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Screenshot Mode
Screenshot Mode captures windows or areas, applies backgrounds and annotations, and copies or saves the image.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
SDK
Cap documents an SDK API for client-side video creation and uploads and provides an official recorder SDK package.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Security compliance
Cap states that its cloud service is SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and HIPAA compliant.Read 14 Oct 2026 · trust.cap.so
Self-hosting
The platform can be deployed on customer infrastructure and used with custom storage.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Sharing
Cap share pages support comments, reactions, transcripts, and chapters, and viewers can watch in a browser without an account.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Studio Mode
Studio Mode records locally with separate screen, camera and microphone tracks and supports timeline editing.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Studio recording
Studio Mode records locally in 4K at 60fps with separate screen, camera, and microphone tracks, then offers editing and export.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
System requirements
Official desktop builds target macOS 13.1 or newer, Windows 10 or newer, and Debian or Ubuntu Linux packages.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Team plans
Cap Pro includes team workspaces, and volume discounts are available for teams over 10 users.Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so

Plans and prices

Free Free forever personal use · local Studio recordings · shareable links up to 5 minutes Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Desktop License $29 a year $29 per license, per year One user per license · Unlimited local recordings and editing · 20 cloud shareable links/month, up to 5 min each Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Desktop License Lifetime $58 a month Lifetime license Commercial usage rights · Unlimited local recordings and editing · Studio Mode with full editor · Export to any format · License never renews Read 20 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Cap Pro $12 a month $12 per user, per month Unlimited cloud storage and bandwidth · AI titles, summaries, chapters, and transcriptions · Team workspaces · Priority support Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Cap Pro Annual $8.16 a month Billed annually Unlimited cloud storage and bandwidth · AI-generated titles, summaries, chapters, and transcriptions · Custom domain · Password-protected shares · Viewer analytics · Team workspaces Read 20 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Enterprise Price not published Cap Pro for large organizations · SAML SSO add-on · Signed BAA add-on · SCIM provisioning can be arranged · Volume discounts · Custom S3 and Google Drive storage Read 20 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Cap Pro annual $8.16 a month per user, billed annually unlimited cloud storage and bandwidth · AI titles, summaries, chapters and transcripts · custom domain · password shares · analytics · team workspaces · S3/Google Drive storage Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Cap Pro (annual billing) $8.16 a month $8.16 a month, billed annually Unlimited cloud storage and bandwidth · AI titles, summaries, chapters, and transcriptions · Team workspaces · Priority support Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Cap Pro monthly $12 a month per user, billed monthly unlimited cloud storage and bandwidth · AI titles, summaries, chapters and transcripts · custom domain · password shares · analytics · team workspaces · S3/Google Drive storage Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Desktop License annual $29 a year per license, per year commercial rights · unlimited local recording and editing · 20 cloud links/month up to 5 minutes · community support Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so
Desktop License (lifetime) $58, paid once $58 once, for a license that never renews One user per license · Unlimited local recordings and editing · 20 cloud shareable links/month, up to 5 min each Read 28 Sep 2026 · cap.so
Desktop License lifetime $58, paid once one-time commercial rights · unlimited local recording and editing · 20 cloud links/month up to 5 minutes · community support Read 14 Oct 2026 · cap.so

Every Cap plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Studio records locally in 4K at 60fps.
  • Editor includes privacy masks and automatic zoom.
  • Share viewers do not need an account.
  • Users can self-host or connect storage.
  • Code is open source under AGPL.

Limits

  • Free plan is for personal use only.
  • Free shareable links are limited to five minutes.
  • Desktop License includes 20 cloud links monthly.
  • Signed BAA add-on costs $99 per month.

Who it suits

Cap suits people who need to record and share screen or camera content, with options for local recording, cloud sharing, or self-hosting. Teams can use Cap Pro workspaces, while organizations handling PHI can request signed BAAs.

Verdict

Cap combines local recording and editing with browser-based sharing and storage choices. The free plan has a five-minute sharing limit, and commercial use requires a paid plan.

Where Specifiction places it

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