8 Best Recording Software For YouTube: Online & Desktop

You're scrolling through YouTube and come across a video you really like—but it doesn't offer a download option, or the platform requires a subscription before you can save it offline. So, how do you get the content you love?

Here's a great tip: use a video recording tool to capture the entire video. As long as you choose the right software, the final video won't suffer from quality loss, and you can even keep the audio perfectly intact.If you're new to this, choosing the right tool might seem tricky. After all, there are so many similar products—how do you pick the best one right away?

Don't worry—this guide has prepared 8 of the best recording software for YouTube for you. It includes not only free online tools, but also feature-rich and stable desktop programs, as well as built-in recorders for your system. No matter what kind you need, you'll find the answer here.

Part 1. Online Screen Recorder

FVC Free Screen Recorder

Download, install, launch... what if you just want to skip all that and start recording right away?

Then without a doubt, using FVC Free Screen Recorder is the best way to record YouTube videos. Simply visit its official website in your browser, and you'll see a big Start Recording button. Click it, and you can begin instantly.

You'll still get all the functions you'd expect from a desktop recorder: record a selected area, specific window, full screen, or even your webcam. Once the recording is done, you can adjust the video format, output quality, and other parameters.

Whether you want to make tutorials, commentaries, or reaction videos for YouTube, FVC Free Screen Recorder won't let you down.

Here is how to use FVC Free Screen Recorder.

Step 1. Open your browser and go to the official FVC Free Screen Recorder website.

Step 2. Click Start Recording and follow the prompts to install the lightweight launcher.

Step 3. Choose your recording area and audio source, then click REC to start recording.

Riverside

If you care most about audio quality in your YouTube recordings—for example, recording a concert, an opera, or an important speech or meeting—then Riverside is the best screen recorder for YouTube for you.

It not only records high-definition video but also preserves crystal-clear audio. Thanks to its AI noise reduction technology, it balances sound levels and intelligently removes background noise and echo in real time—so your saved recordings already sound enhanced and professional.

No matter how noisy the original environment is, Riverside delivers clear, natural sound quality.

Apowersoft Screen Recorder

If you prefer something extremely simple and easy to use, try Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder.

Like the tools above, it's an online, free screen recorder. Even though it runs directly in your browser, it can record full screen, a selected area, or webcam footage, and even allows real-time annotation during recording.

There's no learning curve—the interface is intuitive and straightforward. Once recording is finished, you can directly upload your video to YouTube, Google Drive, Dropbox, or Vimeo, saving you time at every step.

Part 2. Desktop-Based Tools For Both Windows And Mac

Aiseesoft Screen Recorder

If you're worried that online tools may be unstable, laggy, or prone to losing data, it's better to stick with one of the best programs for recording YouTube videos—a reliable desktop option.

Aiseesoft Screen Recorder is an excellent example. It's a full-featured software that records screen activity, webcam, system audio, and microphone input with ease. Even better, it includes powerful built-in editing tools, allowing you to add watermarks, text, highlights, or annotations to make your content more engaging.

How to use Aiseesoft Screen Recorder:

Step 1. Install and launch Aiseesoft Screen Recorder on your computer. On the main screen, select Video Recorder.

Step 2. Choose the recording area—full screen or custom region (Customize > Select region/window).

Step 3. Set your audio preferences. Turn on System Sound, Microphone, or both.

Step 4. If you're creating tutorial videos, enable mouse click and keyboard tracking via Menu > Preferences, where you can also adjust sound, camera, mouse, and shortcut key settings.

Step 5. Click REC to start recording. When done, hit Stop, preview your footage, and click Save to export your video.

OBS Studio

If you're after professional-grade recording quality and color accuracy, OBS Studio is one of the best choices.

It's completely free and open source, and it works across Windows, Mac, and Linux. OBS best game recorder can record your computer screen, webcam, internal or external audio, and even supports live streaming. Use its wide array of filters, transitions, text overlays, and effects to create high-quality YouTube content.

Democreator

For those who want to experience the latest tech in video creation, Wondershare DemoCreator is a standout choice.

This screen recording software offers powerful recording functions and AI-driven video editing tools. It can automatically generate captions, which you can later edit like text to trim or modify your clips easily.

Other smart features include AI teleprompter, background remover, and sound enhancer, making it a great choice for YouTube creators.

Part 3. Built-In Screen Recorder

Xbox Game Bar For Windows

If you don't want to install any third-party software, you can use the built-in Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11.

Just press Win + G to launch it. You can record your screen or gameplay instantly. It also offers performance and audio widgets to tweak frame rate and system sound levels.

QuickTime Player For Mac

Mac users, don't forget your built-in QuickTime Player, which doubles as a reliable screen recorder.

Besides video playback, QuickTime can record the full screen, a specific window, or a selected region. After recording, you can perform simple edits like trimming or merging clips.

Though basic, it's smooth, stable, and completely free—perfect for everyday recording needs.

Conclusion

Whether you want a quick and easy way to start recording, aim to edit YouTube content with precision, or prefer to use your built-in system tools, this guide has you covered.

These 8 best recording software for YouTube include every type of recorder you might need—from fast, free online options to feature-rich desktop programs. No matter your style or purpose, you'll find the perfect tool here.