Action! vs Fraps
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Action! by Mirillis is a Windows screen and gameplay recording tool built for capturing DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan games in high definition, alongside desktop activity, application windows, and web video. It supports live streaming directly to Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook, and can export finished recordings straight to YouTube or Facebook without a separate upload step. Recordings use hardware acceleration via NVIDIA NVENC, AMD APP, or Intel Quick Sync Video, along with Mirillis's own FICV codec, to keep capture performance smooth even during demanding gameplay. Additional features include a Greenscreen mode for removing webcam backgrounds, 120fps slow-motion capture, Time-Shift recording, and a companion Android remote-control app. It is sold as a single lifetime license rather than a subscription.
Fraps is a universal Windows application that can be used with games utilizing DirectX or OpenGL graphic technologies. It functions as a performance measurement tool to display frame rates on screen, helping users analyze their hardware performance during gameplay. Beyond benchmarking, Fraps enables users to record video footage of their gameplay sessions and capture high-resolution screenshots with a single keystroke. It has historically been a foundational tool for PC gamers, content creators, and reviewers documenting in-game performance and cinematic moments.
- One-time lifetime license with free updates rather than a recurring subscription
- Strong hardware-acceleration support keeps recording overhead low during gameplay
- Built-in live streaming to major platforms without needing separate broadcasting software
- Greenscreen and Time-Shift modes are useful extras not found in every competing recorder
- Extremely lightweight and simple user interface
- Reliable real-time FPS overlay in games
- Supports both DirectX and OpenGL applications
- Quick hotkey setup for recording and screenshots
- Windows-only, with no native Mac or Linux version
- Interface and workflow feel dated compared to newer competitors like OBS Studio or NVIDIA ShadowPlay
- OBS Studio offers comparable streaming/recording features for free, making Action!'s paid model a harder sell for budget-conscious users
- Unregistered free version limits video recording duration and adds watermarks
- Lacks modern features like hardware-accelerated NVENC or AMD encoding
- Has not received major functional updates in many years
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Action!
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Alternatives to Fraps
View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataFraps is a lightweight, simple FPS overlay and basic recorder, while Action! offers a full‑featured, hardware‑accelerated recording and streaming suite.
Key differences
- •Hardware acceleration: Action! supports NVENC, AMD APP, Intel Quick Sync; Fraps lacks modern acceleration.
- •Streaming: Action! streams live to Twitch/YouTube/Facebook; Fraps has no streaming capability.
- •Recording quality limits: Action! records up to 4K/120 fps; Fraps limited to older DirectX/OpenGL without 4K.
- •Extra tools: Action! includes greenscreen, time‑shift, Android remote; Fraps only basic hotkeys.
- •Update cadence: Fraps has not received major functional updates in years; Action! provides free updates.
Pricing & value
Both are paid one‑time licenses; no price details provided to differentiate.
Ease of use / learning curve
Fraps offers an extremely lightweight UI and simple hotkey setup, whereas Action! has more options and a dated interface.
Features & depth
Action! includes hardware‑accelerated 4K/120 fps capture, streaming, greenscreen, time‑shift, and remote control; Fraps provides only basic capture and FPS overlay.
Integrations & ecosystem
Action! integrates directly with Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and offers an Android companion; Fraps has no such integrations.
Support
Both offer email support, but Action! also provides FAQ documentation and a dedicated support site.
Scalability
Action! handles modern APIs (DirectX 8‑12, Vulkan) and high‑resolution/high‑frame‑rate recording; Fraps is limited to older APIs and lacks modern codecs.
Security & privacy
No security or privacy details are specified for either product.
Choose Action! if…
Gamers or streamers who want high‑quality, hardware‑accelerated capture, live streaming, and extra tools like greenscreen.
Choose Fraps if…
PC gamers who only need a simple FPS overlay and occasional low‑overhead recordings.
Common questions
Which tool supports 4K recording?
Action! supports 4K recording; Fraps does not mention 4K capability.
Can I stream directly from the recorder?
Yes, Action! streams live to Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook; Fraps has no streaming feature.
Is there a free version?
Both are paid one‑time products; no free version is described.