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jsattler/BetterCapture

A free, open-source macOS menu bar screen recorder built on ScreenCaptureKit, with ProRes, HEVC and H.264 encoding.

Open-source alternative to:QuickTime PlayerScreenflow

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What is it?

BetterCapture is a screen recorder for macOS that lives in the menu bar and is built with SwiftUI and ScreenCaptureKit. It aims to give everyday users a native-feeling recording tool that stays free and open source.

On the encoding side, it supports ProRes 422 and 4444, HEVC (H.265) and H.264, with alpha channel and HDR support. Audio can be captured from the system and the microphone at the same time, and specific content can be excluded from recordings. Recordings are stored locally, and the app has no tracking or analytics.

The app requires macOS 15.2 or later and can be installed with Homebrew or from a DMG on GitHub Releases. It also exposes a custom URL scheme so tools like Raycast, Shortcuts or Alfred can start, stop or open recordings.

Key features

  • 01Built with SwiftUI and ScreenCaptureKit, running from the menu bar
  • 02Encodes to ProRes 422/4444, HEVC (H.265) and H.264
  • 03Supports alpha channel and HDR in recordings
  • 04Records system audio and microphone simultaneously
  • 05Excludes specific content from recordings
  • 06Custom URL scheme for toggling and opening recordings

Use cases

  • Recording app demos or tutorials on a Mac with high-quality codecs
  • Capturing system audio and voice together for narrated videos
  • Triggering recordings from Raycast, Shortcuts or Alfred workflows

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install via Homebrew

    brew install bettercapture
  2. 2

    Or download the latest release from GitHub Releases and open BetterCapture.dmg

Things to know

  • macOS only, requiring macOS 15.2 (Sequoia) or later.

Topics

#macos#screen-recorder#screen-capture#swift#screencapturekit#hevc#prores#apple#audiorecorder#screenrecorder

FAQ

What is BetterCapture?
A free, open-source macOS menu bar screen recorder built on ScreenCaptureKit, with ProRes, HEVC and H.264 encoding. BetterCapture is a screen recorder for macOS that lives in the menu bar and is built with SwiftUI and ScreenCaptureKit. It aims to give everyday users a native-feeling recording tool that stays free and open source.
Is BetterCapture free to use? What license does it have?
BetterCapture is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is BetterCapture still maintained?
Updated within 6 months. The last commit to BetterCapture was on Sep 13, 2026.
What can I use BetterCapture for?
Recording app demos or tutorials on a Mac with high-quality codecs Capturing system audio and voice together for narrated videos Triggering recordings from Raycast, Shortcuts or Alfred workflows
How do I install BetterCapture?
Install via Homebrew: brew install bettercapture Or download the latest release from GitHub Releases and open BetterCapture.dmg
Where can I get BetterCapture?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/jsattler/BetterCapture

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