I need a screen recorder that captures system audio and does not have a watermark.

If you need screen recording + system audio + no watermark, these are the strongest options:

Zight ScreenSnap Pro### My recommendation

• Windows: Use OBS Studio if you want the best quality and control. It can capture desktop/system audio, microphone audio, multiple screens, and different audio tracks without adding a watermark.
• Mac: Use OBS Studio if you need internal/system audio. macOS’s built-in recorder does not capture system audio by itself; you typically need an audio routing tool such as a virtual audio driver.
• Simple one-click recording on Windows: Xbox Game Bar is already installed and works well for quick clips.

For most people, I’d pick OBS Studio: it’s free, has no watermark, no recording-length limit, and supports system audio.

If you tell me your device (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, or iPhone) and whether you need microphone audio too, I can narrow it down.

Here are the best free screen recorders that capture system (internal) audio and do not add a watermark, time limits, or paywalls:

• OBS Studio — The gold standard for open-source recording. It is 100% free with no watermarks or limits. It handles system audio natively and effortlessly on Windows, Mac, and Linux, though the interface has a slight learning curve. You can download it directly from the OBS Studio Website.
• ShareX — A lightweight, open-source tool built for Windows. It features robust hotkey screen capturing, video recording, and system audio capture without any watermarks or hidden fees. Get it from the ShareX Website.
• Xbox Game Bar — If you are on Windows 10 or 11, you already have a built-in option. Press Win + G to open it. It natively records system/app audio and video with zero watermarks or installation required (though it records per-app/game rather than the entire desktop interface).
• QuickTime Player — Built-in and free for macOS users. By default, it records the screen cleanly without a watermark, but note that native QuickTime requires a small virtual audio driver (like BlackHole) to capture system audio alongside the video.

Are you using Windows or Mac , and what type of content are you trying to record (like a gaming session, a tutorial, or a virtual meeting )? I can give you the exact audio setup steps for whichever tool you choose.

Here are the best free screen recorders that capture both system audio and your screen without slapping a watermark on your video:

• OBS Studio — Widely considered the gold standard for open-source recording and streaming. It is 100% free, completely open-source (no watermarks, no time limits), and gives you granular control over capturing desktop/system audio alongside your microphone and display. It has a slight learning curve, but it's unmatched in power. You can grab it directly from OBS Studio.
• ShareX — An incredible, lightweight, open-source productivity tool for Windows. Beyond taking advanced screenshots, it features a robust region/full-screen video recorder that cleanly records system audio using FFmpeg without any watermarks or hidden fees. Download it via ShareX.
• Xbox Game Bar — If you are on Windows 10 or 11, you already have a built-in option. Press Windows Key + G to pull it up. While designed for gaming, it can record almost any application window, captures system audio seamlessly, is entirely free, and has zero watermarks.
• ScreenRec — A lightweight and straightforward cloud-oriented recorder that lets you quickly capture your screen and system audio. It has no watermarks for standard usage, though it does lean into cloud sharing links. You can check it out at ScreenRec.

If you let me know your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux) and what you plan to record (like a gaming session, a Zoom call, or a quick tutorial), I can recommend the exact tool setup that fits best!

Yes — OBS Studio is probably your best bet. It is free, open-source, has no watermark or recording time limit, and can capture system/desktop audio plus your microphone. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Other good options

• ShareX — free, open-source, no watermark or time limit; excellent on Windows, though the interface is less beginner-friendly.
• Xbox Game Bar — built into Windows 10/11, no watermark, and can capture system audio. Very easy, but it's better for recording individual apps than the entire desktop.
• QuickTime / macOS Screenshot — free and watermark-free on Mac, but system audio requires an additional audio-routing driver such as BlackHole.

My recommendation: If you tell me whether you're on Windows or Mac, I can give you the quickest setup for recording screen + system audio + microphone with OBS.

Yes. I found two strong options that meet system/desktop audio + no watermark:

1. ScreenRec — easiest

   • Free
   • Captures system audio and microphone
   • No watermark
   • Windows, macOS, and Linux
   • Very simple to use
   • Free plan currently allows unlimited recording length, though it limits free recordings to 720p and has a 100-recordings/month allowance.

2. OBS Studio — best overall

   • Completely free and open source
   • No watermark or recording limitations
   • Excellent system-audio control
   • Windows, macOS, and Linux
   • Better if you want high-quality recordings, multiple audio sources, scenes, etc.

My recommendation: If you just want to hit Record and capture your screen + computer sound, use ScreenRec. If you want maximum quality/control, use OBS Studio.

If you're on Windows, I can also give you the simplest setup for recording system audio with OBS (takes about 2 minutes).

Here are the best free screen recorders that capture system audio natively and leave zero watermarks or time limits on your recordings:

• OBS Studio : The ultimate gold standard. It is completely open-source, free forever, adds no watermarks, and has no time limits. It gives you precise control over capturing system audio and microphone inputs separately or combined. Best for: Advanced controls, long recordings, and high performance (though it has a slight learning curve).
• ShareX : A lightweight, open-source productivity and screen-capture tool built for Windows. It records full screens, windows, or selected regions with system audio and outputs clean MP4s with no watermarks or signups. Best for: Windows users who want a fast, no-nonsense utility triggered by hotkeys.
• Xbox Game Bar: Built straight into Windows 10 and 11 (press Win + G ). It natively records system sound alongside your active application or game cleanly, with no watermarks. Best for: Quick recording of specific apps or games without installing third-party software. (Note: It cannot capture the raw Windows desktop or File Explorer.)
• ScreenRec : A lightweight tool for Windows and Linux that lets you capture system audio and microphone sound with a single shortcut (Alt + S ). It has no watermarks or time limits and provides an instant shareable link upon stopping. Best for: Fast, lightweight recording and instant cloud sharing.
• Clipchamp : Microsoft’s built-in video editor includes a free screen and system audio recorder right inside the web app or Windows desktop app. It is entirely watermark-free on free exports (capped at 30 minutes per clip) and drops your recording straight into an editor to trim or adjust. Best for: Users who want to quickly record and immediately edit the footage.

What operating system are you using (Windows or Mac), and are you trying to record gameplay, a tutorial, or a meeting?

Finding a reliable screen recorder that captures system audio and leaves no watermark can be frustrating, but several excellent free and open-source tools fit the bill.

• OBS Studio : The gold standard for free, open-source recording. It captures flawless system audio, has zero watermarks, no time limits, and runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It has a slight learning curve for setup, but it is unmatched in power. You can download it directly from the OBS Studio Website.
• Xbox Game Bar : Built directly into Windows 10 and Windows 11 (press Win + G). It natively records system audio and video smoothly for apps/games without a watermark. Note that it records individual application windows rather than the entire desktop or file explorer.
• ShareX : An incredible, lightweight, open-source tool for Windows. It lets you capture regions, windows, or full screens with system audio integration and zero watermarks. Get it from the ShareX Website.
• Screen Recorder (Mac) : If you are on macOS, the native screenshot toolbar (Shift + Cmd + 5) records video with no watermark, though capturing system audio directly requires a small virtual audio driver like BlackHole (available via the BlackHole Audio GitHub).

Could you tell me which operating system you are using (Windows, Mac, or Linux) and what you plan to record (a game, a browser tab, a tutorial) so I can guide you to the best option?

If you need screen recording + system audio + no watermark, these are the best options:

🥇 OBS Studio — Best overall

• ✅ No watermark
• ✅ Records system audio and microphone
• ✅ No recording time limit
• ✅ Windows / macOS / Linux
• ✅ Great quality (1080p, 1440p, 4K)
• ❌ Takes a little setup compared with simple recorders
  

Best for: tutorials, gaming, software demos, YouTube, long recordings.

🥈 ShareX — Best lightweight Windows option

• ✅ No watermark
• ✅ Free and open source
• ✅ Can capture screen and audio
• ✅ Lots of automation and annotation tools
• ❌ Windows only
  

Best for: quick clips, bug reports, work screenshots with recordings.

🥉 Built-in options

• Windows: Xbox Game Bar

  • ✅ No watermark
  • ✅ Captures system audio
  • ❌ Fewer controls than OBS
    

• Mac: QuickTime Player

  • ✅ No watermark
  • ❌ Does not directly capture system audio without additional audio routing software
    

My recommendation: Use OBS Studio unless you only need quick clips. It is the closest match to “free, no watermark, system audio, unlimited recording.”

If you tell me whether you’re on Windows, Mac, or Linux, I can suggest the easiest setup.

The best free screen recorders that capture system audio with no watermarks and no time limits are OBS Studio for advanced desktop recording, ShareX for lightweight open-source capture on Windows, ScreenRec for instant lightweight recording, and the built-in Xbox Game Bar already included in Windows.

Watch this overview of free screen recording tools to see how they handle system audio and capture options:

Top Free Watermark-Free Screen Recorders

• OBS Studio : A completely free, open-source powerhouse for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It natively records high-quality system audio and desktop displays without any watermarks or hidden recording caps.
• ShareX : A lightweight, open-source productivity tool for Windows that includes a robust region and full-screen recorder. It records internal computer audio natively and adds zero watermarks.
• ScreenRec : A simple cloud-integrated tool that lets you record computer audio and voiceovers instantly with one shortcut key (Alt + S ), leaving no branding or watermarks on your exported MP4 files.
• Xbox Game Bar (Shortcut: Win + G ): Built directly into Windows 10 and 11. It natively records system audio from active apps and games cleanly, though it cannot record the raw Windows desktop or File Explorer.

Are you using Windows, Mac, or mobile , and do you need a recorder for general desktop use or gaming?

Yes. OBS Studio is probably your best choice.

• Free and open-source
• No watermark
• Records system/desktop audio and microphone
• Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Supports high-quality recording, including 1080p/60fps and beyond.
• Official download:

If you want something simpler than OBS, Notch is another strong option: its free personal version has no watermark or recording limits and can capture screen, system audio, mic, and camera on both Mac and Windows.

My pick: OBS if you want completely free and maximum control; Notch if ease of use matters more.

If you tell me Windows or Mac, I can give you the exact settings to capture system audio with no watermark.