Action! vs PlayShot

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.

PlayShot is a free Windows app for saving recent PC gameplay moments. It records continuously in the background into a replay buffer adjustable from 30 seconds to 5 minutes, then a hotkey saves the recent footage. Separate controls can record a session or capture a screenshot. Clips are filed under the launched game and stored on the user’s drive as ordinary video files. The maker says it works with most PC games using DirectX, Vulkan, or OpenGL, from any launcher or standalone executable. Recording uses the GPU’s dedicated video hardware and supports 1080p capture without a watermark. Users can trim clips, choose thumbnails, and export to MP4 or GIF. Game, microphone, and Discord audio have separate faders and can be remixed during export. Share links let friends watch in a browser. No account is needed, and clips leave the PC only when a share link is created.