- How these screen recorders were chosen
- Eight screen recorders that live in your toolbar
- Share link or saved file: two kinds of toolbar recorder
- Users, ratings and updates for each recorder, as of Oct 2026
- Why the star rating can mislead you
- Which recorder for which kind of video
- Before you press record
- My advice for picking a toolbar recorder
- Frequently asked questions
A screen recorder Chrome extension records your tab, your screen or your camera straight from the toolbar, with no desktop app to install. The big split is between recorders that turn each video into a share link and ones that let you save and manage your own files. Eight are compared below.
Recording a quick walkthrough for a client, a bug for a developer or a short lesson shouldn't need a heavy app, and these eight sit in your Chrome toolbar instead. Click, record, stop, and you've got something to send.
They're listed alphabetically, in no particular order, and every number comes from the Chrome Web Store listings. If you need a desktop app with more editing room, my guide to screen recording software covers those.
How these screen recorders were chosen
Every tool here is a Chrome extension whose listing says it records your screen. From each Chrome Web Store listing we noted the publisher, users, rating, the number of ratings and the last updated date, as of Oct 2026. Nothing has been ranked. The free plan column says Yes only when the listing's own text says there's free use, and Not stated means it doesn't say.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awesome Screenshot | Capture tool with screen recording | Screenshots and screen recordings in one tool | Not stated |
| Cap | Open source recorder | Screen, tab, camera and mic with a link | Yes |
| Loom | Recorder with Atlassian as developer | Screen and camera clips shared by link | Yes |
| Screen Recorder for Google Chrome | In-browser recorder and editor | Capture, edit, caption and save in the browser | Yes |
| Screen Recorder for Zoom | Tutorial recorder with auto zoom | Demos with zoom-on-click, webcam and an editor | Yes |
| Screen Recorder Pro | Sidebar recorder | Recording and managing clips with no sign up | Yes |
| Screencastify | Browser recorder and editor | Capturing, editing and sharing short videos | Yes |
| Scrnli | Screenshot and video recorder | Capturing, editing and sharing screenshots and videos | Not stated |
Eight screen recorders that live in your toolbar
Awesome Screenshot
Best for: Switching between screenshots and screen recordings without changing tools, from a maker whose listing pitches both jobs side by side.
Cap
Best for: Open source fans who want a share link the moment they stop recording, from a listing with only a handful of ratings so far.
Loom
Best for: Teams that send video updates by link, from loom.com, with Atlassian named as the developer on its store listing.
Screen Recorder for Google Chrome
Best for: Recording and captioning a video without leaving the browser, from a listing that says those tools are free and also mentions an upgrade.
Screen Recorder for Zoom
Best for: Making tutorials and demos where the video zooms in on each click, from a listing that says it's free with no watermark.
Screen Recorder Pro
Best for: Skipping the sign up step, with a sidebar where you record, save and manage clips, from a very small listing with few ratings.
Screencastify
Best for: Short recordings you capture, edit and share in one place, with the listing saying free videos can run up to 30 minutes.
Scrnli
Best for: A highly rated capture tool for both screenshots and videos, though its listing doesn't spell out what you can do for free.
Share link or saved file: two kinds of toolbar recorder
Some of these recorders are built around a link. You stop recording and the video's ready to share, which is handy for a quick update to a client or a teammate. Others are built around recording, saving and managing your clips, with editing and captions in the browser, which suits you better if you want to keep the file.
A few sit in between, adding screenshots, webcam bubbles or an auto zoom that follows your clicks for tutorials. Decide which kind you want before you look at ratings, because that choice matters more than half a star.
Users, ratings and updates for each recorder, as of Oct 2026
Straight from the Chrome Web Store, so expect them to shift a little week to week.
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- Awesome Screenshot from awesomescreenshot.com: 4,000,000 users, rated 4.7 from 29.6K ratings, last updated September 11, 2026.
- Cap: 10,000 users, rated 3.9 from 7 ratings, last updated July 19, 2026.
- Loom from loom.com: 8,000,000 users, rated 2.7 from 10.2K ratings, last updated October 24, 2026, with Atlassian named on the developer line.
- Screen Recorder for Google Chrome from recorder.freebusinessapps.net: 700,000 users, rated 4.3 from 18.1K ratings, last updated July 10, 2026.
- Screen Recorder Pro from screensearch.org: 531 users, rated 4.5 from 8 ratings, last updated October 2, 2026.
- Screen Recorder for Zoom from brandarmor.ai: 177 users, rated 5.0 from 6 ratings, last updated October 29, 2026.
- Screencastify: 9,000,000 users, rated 3.5 from 11.7K ratings, last updated October 16, 2026.
- Scrnli from scrnli.com: 1,000,000 users, rated 4.8 from 11K ratings, last updated August 14, 2026.
Why the star rating can mislead you
Here's the part people don't expect. The two recorders with the most users carry the lowest ratings in the group, 3.5 and 2.7, while the only perfect 5.0 comes from six ratings and 177 users. A rating tells you very little until thousands of people have left one, so always read the count next to it.
The privacy line is the other surprise. Five of the eight listings carry the line saying the developer will not collect or use your data, and the three with the most users don't show it in their listing text. That doesn't mean they misuse anything, but it's worth opening the Privacy practices box before you record anything confidential.
Which recorder for which kind of video
- A quick update for a client or a team: pick a link-first recorder, so the video's ready to share the moment you stop.
- Tutorials and product demos: pick one with zoom-on-click and a built-in editor, so viewers can follow each step.
- Recordings you want to keep yourself: pick one that records, saves and manages clips, ideally with no sign up.
- Screenshots as well as video: pick a combined screenshot and recording tool, so you're not juggling two extensions.
- You prefer open source: pick the open source recorder, and accept that its listing has only a handful of ratings so far.
Recording is one of eight everyday jobs I cover in best Chrome extensions for everyday jobs, if you want the rest of the toolbar sorted.
Before you press record
- Close any tab or app you don't want on camera, including email and chat notifications.
- Record a ten second test to check your microphone and camera before the real take.
- Check the free limits on the listing, such as how long a video can run, so you don't hit a wall halfway through.
Do you make a screen recorder for Chrome? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My advice for picking a toolbar recorder
Choose the kind first, link or file, then look at the rating count, then the last update. For most people sending short videos to clients, a link-first recorder from a big team is the easy start. If you'd rather keep your files, go for a recorder that saves locally and doesn't ask you to sign up.
If you're recording to show a client how something works, my guide to recording your screen and audio together for demos covers the set-up, and my list of cloud recorder alternatives compares other ways to share a recording.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Chrome extension record my whole screen?
Yes. Several listings here name your full screen, a single tab and your camera, and some add your microphone too.
Are screen recorder Chrome extensions free?
Six of the eight listings say there's free use, sometimes with limits such as video length, and two don't say either way. Check the free plan column before you install.
Do I need an account to record?
Not always. One listing here says no sign up is needed, so read the listing if you'd rather not create an account.
Is a 5.0 rating a good sign?
Only if plenty of people have rated it. The only 5.0 in this group comes from six ratings, while the most installed recorders sit between 2.7 and 3.5.
Who owns the recorder with Atlassian on its listing?
The store listing for that recorder names loom.com as the publisher and Atlassian on the developer line.


