Action! vs Medal

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.

Medal is a gameplay capture and clip-sharing app for Windows PCs, iOS, and Android. On Windows 10 or later, it offers instant replay and multiple recording modes, with capture up to 4K resolution and 144fps; 60fps is enabled by default. Users can choose clip lengths of 15 seconds, 60 seconds, 10 minutes, or an entire session. Recording supports NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel GPU acceleration, as well as CPU recording. Game, microphone, and Discord audio can be balanced or muted separately, and webcam overlays are supported. Clips receive links for sharing. Medal is free on PC and mobile, with optional Premium features. Premium supports uploads in original quality, including 4K recordings, unlimited cloud storage and clip upload length, auto-generated subtitles, removable watermarks, and an ad-free experience, excluding certain programmatic and platform placements. Premium costs $9.99 per month or $7.99 per month with an annual subscription. Medal states that its recording has a minimal impact of 100–400MB of RAM. The maker is headquartered in Naarden, Netherlands.