Action! vs Captail

Action! records Windows gameplay, console video, and live broadcasts. It offers instant replay, multi-mode recording, GPU encoding, and webcam overlays. Windows gameplay recording is described as Full HD with low CPU use and no FPS loss; maximum listed video quality is 4K Ultra HD up to 3840x2160. Device recording supports Xbox and PlayStation, with capture cards from Elgato, Avermedia, and Hauppauge. Action! can stream to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, Smashcast, and Ustream, among other services, and supports Streamlabs plus up to six modular URL overlay graphics. Microphone and system sound can be recorded separately, mixed, or saved with another audio device. Webcam overlays can be cropped, resized, repositioned, and used with a green screen. Screenshots can be saved in BMP, JPG, or PNG formats. Home use costs $19.77, paid once and commercial use costs $32.95, paid once; both include a lifetime license and free updates. A 30-day trial is available without a credit card, but trial recordings have a watermark.

Captail is a Windows instant replay utility for saving recent gameplay without a full streaming suite. It keeps a rolling capture buffer and watches for stalled capture modules or missing frames; a watchdog can attempt a controlled restart with retries and backoff. Desktop mode records a selected monitor and can use Game Capture when available, while Game Capture mode excludes the desktop. Supported hardware encoders can provide AV1, HEVC, or H.264 output. Audio can be mixed, separated, or split by application, with independent microphone routing. Set replay duration from 15 seconds to 15 minutes, an optional RAM limit, and requested capture rates from 30 to 240 FPS. The replay player includes seeking and speed controls, and the multi-track editor trims and merges audio tracks. Captures and related files stay on the PC, according to the maker. Captail is free, with a free plan, and supports Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11 on x64.