Skip to content

Instantly share code, notes, and snippets.

@robomotic

robomotic/Chrome vs OS.md

Created May 1, 2025 10:27
Show Gist options

  • Select an option

    Learn more about clone URLs
  • Save robomotic/2c0a4fc5be7222a75b2d8c1ea88fa8ae to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.

Select an option

Learn more about clone URLs
Save robomotic/2c0a4fc5be7222a75b2d8c1ea88fa8ae to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
Download ZIP
Raw
Chrome vs OS.md

Spec

a) record screen interaction with click and keyboard and potentially voice b) exclude hacking tools c) separate chrome from general OS tool for Windows

Here's a focused comparison of open source/free tools meeting your requirements for Windows screen recording (with click/keyboard/voice support), excluding hacking tools, and distinguishing between Chrome-specific vs. OS-level solutions:

Chrome-Specific Solutions

(Browser extensions for tab/window recording)

Tool Click Tracking Keyboard Input Voice Recording Open Source Notes
Vmaker Indirect Indirect Yes (mic) ❌ Free Chrome extension, unlimited recordings, 4K output1.
Waybook Indirect Indirect Yes (mic) ❌ Free Chrome extension, simple UI, records tab/desktop/camera2.
OBS Studio Indirect Indirect Yes (mic) ✅ Yes3 Requires Chrome window capture mode (not Chrome-exclusive)2.

General OS Tools

(Windows-compatible open source/free software)

Tool Click Tracking Keyboard Input Voice Recording Open Source Notes
OBS Studio Indirect Indirect Yes ✅ Yes43 Gold standard for screen/audio recording, supports webcam/mic43.
ShareX Indirect Indirect Yes ✅ Yes45 Open source, customizable hotkeys, and audio capture45.
CamStudio Indirect Indirect Yes ✅ Yes67 Records to AVI/SWF, supports webcam overlay67.
SimpleScreenRecorder Indirect Indirect Yes ✅ Yes7 Lightweight, HD recording, adjustable frame rates7.
Captura Indirect Indirect Yes ✅ Yes7 Records screen/webcam, exports to MP4/GIF/AVI7.
VirtualDub Indirect Indirect Yes ✅ Yes8 Basic screen recording with HDR support and speed adjustment78.
RecordMyDesktop Indirect Indirect Yes ✅ Yes7 Linux-focused but works on Windows via ports (e.g., GTK-RecordMyDesktop).

Key Clarifications

  1. Click/Keyboard Tracking: Most tools capture these indirectly (visually) unless paired with dedicated macro software (not included here per your exclusion criteria).
  2. Voice Recording: All listed tools support microphone audio when enabled.
  3. Chrome Separation: Browser extensions (Vmaker/Waybook) are Chrome-specific; OS tools like OBS/ShareX record any window, including Chrome.
  4. Hacking Tools Excluded: All listed tools are designed for legitimate screen recording/streaming.

Recommendations

  • For Chrome-specific use: Vmaker (simplest) or OBS Studio (advanced control).
  • For OS-level recording: OBS Studio (most features) or ShareX (lightweight).
  • For open-source purists: Captura or SimpleScreenRecorder.

Use OBS Studio if you need a single tool for both Chrome and general Windows recording with professional-grade customization432.

⁂

Footnotes

  1. https://www.vmaker.com/how-to/how-to-screen-record-on-windows-with-chrome-extension ↩

  2. https://www.waybook.com/blog/how-to-record-my-screen-on-google-chrome-best-chrome-screen-recorder ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  3. https://obsproject.com ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  4. https://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-screen-recorder ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  5. https://getsharex.com ↩ ↩2

  6. https://camstudio.org ↩ ↩2

  7. https://recorder.easeus.com/screen-recording-tips/open-source-screen-recorder.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  8. https://icecreamapps.com/learn/open-source-screen-recorders.html ↩ ↩2

Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment