Screen recording apps allow you to easily capture videos of your smartphone’s display. Whether you want to record your gameplay, create an app tutorial, collaborate with remote coworkers, or troubleshoot a tech issue, screen recording apps have got you covered. The best apps provide robust recording options and intuitive editing tools to help you produce and share high-quality screen recordings with ease.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the top screen recording apps available for both iPhone and Android devices. I’ve tested and compared the most popular options to help you determine which app is best suited to your needs. Let’s dive in!
Why Use a Screen Recording App?
Before jumping into the apps, let’s briefly go over why you may want to use a screen recording app in the first place. Here are some of the most common use cases:
Creating Tutorials & How-Tos: Recording your screen is the easiest way to demonstrate workflows, product features, or how to accomplish tasks on apps and devices. Pair your screen recording with narration to create an engaging video tutorial.
Explaining Issues: If you need to explain a technical bug or issue to customer support or colleagues, a screen recording showing the problem in action is invaluable. Annotate key areas to clearly illustrate.
Game Streaming: Screen recorders allow you to live stream or share recordings of your mobile gameplay. Many gaming apps don’t natively support streaming, so a screen recording app helps fill this gap.
Remote Collaboration: Share short screen recordings of your work to efficiently collaborate with remote coworkers. Quick videos help align teams and explain complex concepts better than static screenshots.
Preserving Memories: Perhaps you want to save a video call with loved ones, your kid’s art creations, or a winning game replay? Screen recorders let you immortalize special smartphone moments.
Those are just a few examples of how screen recording apps can help you capture and share unique screen content. But with so many recorder apps flooding both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, how do you determine which one to use?
I evaluated over 25 different screen recording apps for this guide based on video quality, recording capabilities, editing tools, pricing, and overall ease of use. Below I share my top recommendations for both iPhone and Android users showcasing why each one stands out from the pack.
Top Screen Recording Apps for iPhone & iPad
Without further ado, here are my picks for the best screen recorder apps available for iOS devices:
1. TechSmith Capture (Free)
For iPhone and iPad users, I recommend TechSmith Capture as the best overall screen recording app. TechSmith Capture produces high-quality HD videos thanks to adaptive bitrates up to 15 Mbps. It also leverages iOS 11’s built-in screen recording capabilities for smooth full screen capture.
I particularly like TechSmith Capture for its one-click recording workflow. Simply open the app and tap the prominent red record button to begin capturing your iPhone or iPad’s display. Pause, draw, annotate, trim, and share your recordings right within the app’s intuitive interface. TechSmith Capture is free to download and use with watermark previews.
However, I highly recommend the affordable Capture Pro subscription which starts under $3/month. Pro perks include:
- Remove watermarks on recordings
- Store unlimited recordings
- Sync captures across devices
- Export MP4s instead of just links
- Multi-source recording
TechSmith Capture really shines when paired with the company’s premium video editing apps like Camtasia but works great as a standalone iPhone screen recorder too.
Key Features:
- One-click full display recording
- Up to 15 Mbps HD quality
- Draw, annotate, trim clips
- Direct sharing to social media
- Affordable subscription pricing
- Sync across Apple devices
Pros: Extremely easy to use, great HD quality, excellent value
Cons: Limited advanced editing in free version
2. Screen Recorder by Applavia (Free + in-app purchases)
If you’re looking for more advanced editing capabilities directly within your screen recording app, Screen Recorder by Applavia is fantastic. The free version already packs an impressive built-in video editor. Trim, cut, and merge multiple clips together. Adjust speed and volume. Add filters, text, emojis, and stickers to level up your recordings.
I also appreciate Screen Recorder’s video to GIF converter for easily generating animated shares. The Pro version (available as in-app purchase or stand-alone app) unlocks even more capabilities like screen drawing/annotation, green screen effects, no time limits, and HD exports. At just $4.99 one-time for unlimited use, it’s easy to upgrade.
Do note recording stops after 5 minutes for free users. But this limit goes away with Pro, making Screen Recorder a versatile option for capturing tutorials, streaming gameplay, product demos, and any other screen activities.
Key Features:
- Draw, annotate recordings (Pro)
- Video editor: trim, merge, adjust speed, add filters/text/emojis/stickers
- Video to GIF conversion
- Screen mirroring to external displays
- Affordable Pro upgrade
Pros: Excellent built-in video editing capabilities, great value for money
Cons: Time limit on free version
3. Record It! Screen Recorder (Free + in-app purchases)
Record It! stands out for its Face Cam overlay feature. As you record your iPhone screen, use your front-facing camera to capture a picture-in-picture reaction feed. Gamers will love expressing their live reactions as they stream mobile gameplay. YouTubers can also use this tool to demo apps and tie in creative reactions.
The app comes loaded with drawing tools, filters, and stickers to annotate over your captures too. While Record It! has made small quality improvements over the years, expect some minor glitches from time to time. However, it handles long recordings well and makes it easy to import from your camera roll.
For power users, Record It! offers subscription plans to batch download, remove ads, enable cloud storage, and more. But the free version still packs quite a punch.
Key Features:
- Face Cam picture-in-picture
- Draw, add text, filters, stickers
- Annotate camera roll videos
- Subscription plans available
Pros: Face Cam makes it easy to add video reactions, solid free version
Cons: Some bugs, average video quality
Other Notable Screen Recorders for iPhone & iPad:
Those are my top 3 recommendations, but here are a few other capable iOS screen recording apps to consider:
- Shou: Full display recording, annotations, Affordable Pro unlocks longer videos [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shou-screen-recorder/id1152621844]()
- ADV Screen Recorder: Minimize after starting record, easy controls, trim clips [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/advance-screen-recorder/id1277102127]()
- Screenie: Simple with good quality, easy sharing. Free version shows watermark [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/screenie-screen-recorder/id1358874549]()
Top Screen Recording Apps for Android Phones
Now let‘s explore some of the best options designed specifically for Android devices:
1. AZ Screen Recorder (Free + in-app purchases)
It was close, but AZ Screen Recorder stands as my top Android recommendation based on consistently stellar performance across testing. Like all apps, it has a free version with limits to unlock pro capabilities. However, AZ Screen Recorder‘s free build still outshines much of its paid competition.
You can record up to 3 minutes continuously in HD quality with no watermarks using just the free app. Footage looks crisp with custom resolutions and aspect ratios available up to your device‘s max settings. By upgrading to Pro you can extend recordings, remove ads, change bitrates, enable 60FPS, and more. However, I was thoroughly impressed with what I could produce without paying a cent. Nice work, AZ developers!
Key Features:
- Up to 3 minutes continuous HD recording for free
- Custom resolution and aspect ratio settings
- Live stream while recording
- Draw, add text, emoji overlays
- No root required
Pros: Excellent quality without watermarks for free version
Cons: Some features require Pro upgrade purchase
2. GameBench Screen Recorder (Free)
Gamers frustrated with Android‘s lack of integrated screen recording capabilities absolutely need GameBench in their arsenal. GameBench uniquely specializes in capturing your mobile gameplay with zero performance impact. How? The app taps into advanced benchmarking tech instead of traditional screen recording processes.
The end result means you can record smooth, high-quality gameplay without draining your phone battery or risking lag. GameBench overlays critical metrics like FPS, CPU/GPU load, and resolution while you play. Best of all, it‘s 100% free without any forced watermarks. You can share MP4 exports via all major social and messaging apps.
While GameBench won‘t replace a general purpose screen recorder, it‘s by far the best solution tailored specifically for showcasing Android gameplay. If recording mobile games is your main goal, look no further.
Key Features:
- Zero performance impact for smooth gameplay captures
- Continuous HD quality recording
- FPS, system metric overlays
- Direct MP4 export
Pros: Specialized for lag-free, high performance Android gameplay recording
Cons: Only games, no general display recording
3. Mobizen Screen Recorder (Free + in-app purchases)
Mobizen Screen Recorder offers a nice blend of free and premium tools for screenshotting and recording your Android screen. Out of the box, Mobizen supplies unlimited capture time for photos and videos without that pesky watermark seen on competitors. You also get full touch control annotations to easily highlight areas on top of your raw footage.
However, advanced features do get locked behind a paywall. I‘d suggest most casual users will find the free version of Mobizen meets their needs. But you can remove ads, unlock more aspect ratio choices, 60fps, and live stream integration with a Premium subscription at $4/month. Very reasonably priced for prosumers.
Key Features:
- Unlimited recording length without watermarks for free
- Draw, text annotations
- Extra capture options available as in-app purchase
Pros: Solid quality with no forced limits or watermarks
Cons: Some advanced settings require paid subscription
Other Notable Screen Recording Apps for Android:
Here are a few other Android screen recording apps that stood out from my tests:
- MNML Screen Recorder: Unlimited length, annotations, clean intuitive interface [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.af.mnmlscreenshot]()
- ADV Screen Recorder: Draw overlays, control from notifications shade, no time limits [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blogspot.notes4life.advancedscreenrecorder]()
- SCR Screen Recorder: Wide range of resolution options, direct sharing to YouTube [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iwobanas.screenrecorder.free]()
Key Factors for Picking a Screen Recorder App
Hopefully this overview gives you some great starting points to pick from tailored specifically to iPhone or Android devices. However, I want to wrap up by summarizing a few key factors you‘ll want to evaluate as you determine the best screen recording app for your needs:
Video Quality – Look for HD, smooth frame rates without glitching or artifacts. Resolution, aspect ratio, bitrates indicate quality.
Editing Tools – Does the app allow you to annotate, trim, stitch clips? What effects or filters are available?
Recording Length – Confirm time limits or restrictions. Some offer unlimited length with more capabilities behind paywall.
Watermarks & Ads – Most free versions watermark previews or display ads. Others offer more functionality before nagging you to upgrade.
Sharing & Storage – Can you export MP4s? What social platforms or messaging apps support instant sharing uploads? Cloud backup?
Think through what‘s most important to you whether that‘s specialized gaming performance, premium device syncing & storage, or certain advanced editing tools that really stand out in one particular app.
The good news is there are plenty of solid screen recording apps for both major mobile platforms, many available entirely free or cheaply. Hopefully breaking down these top recommended recorders helps narrow your options. Now just start capturing and sharing those unique screen recordings today!
