Cap is an open-source alternative to Loom, allowing users to create beautiful and shareable screen recordings. It provides a simple and intuitive way to record and share knowledge, ideas, and feedback.
Kap is an open-source screen recorder for macOS, built with web technology, that captures the screen and exports directly to GIF, MP4, WebM, or APNG with optional audio in one workflow. Built-in editing covers trimming recordings and highlighting mouse clicks, useful for tutorial-style captures, and its source code is publicly available on GitHub for inspection or contribution. A plugin system extends Kap with integrations such as Giphy uploads, Vercel deployment, and Streamable hosting, and the vendor lists engineering-heavy companies including Vercel, GitHub, and CircleCI among its users. It is completely free with no paid tier, aimed at developers and designers who want a fast, minimal way to record and share short screen captures, particularly as GIFs.
Free for personal use (Studio Mode, 4K/60fps export, 5-minute shareable links). Paid: Desktop License $29/year (single-user commercial licence, unlimited local recording), Cap Pro $12/user/month (unlimited cloud storage & bandwidth, AI titles/summaries/transcription, team workspaces), and Enterprise with custom pricing (SAML SSO, SLAs, managed self-hosting).
- Open-source with a free tier
- Easy to use and intuitive interface
- High-quality video and audio recordings
- Customizable recording settings
- Completely free and open-source, with no paid tier or feature paywall.
- Direct GIF export is convenient for quick bug reports or tutorial snippets shared in chat or docs.
- Plugin ecosystem lets users extend functionality, like one-click Giphy or Streamable upload, without leaving the app.
- Lightweight and fast to launch compared to heavier professional screen recording suites.
- Editing is aimed at screen recordings rather than general-purpose video production
- Desktop apps are available for macOS and Windows only — there is no native Linux client
- Team workspaces, custom domains and analytics are tied to Cap's cloud or to a self-hosted instance you run yourself
- macOS only, so Windows and Linux users cannot use it.
- Lacks advanced editing features such as annotations, transitions, or callouts found in paid tools.
- No built-in cloud hosting or sharing link generation beyond what plugins provide.
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataKap is a free, open‑source Mac‑only screen recorder focused on quick GIF/short video exports, while Cap offers a cross‑platform freemium suite with cloud sharing, higher‑quality video, and collaboration features.
Key differences
- •Platform support: Kap runs only on macOS; Cap runs on macOS and Windows.
- •Export quality & length: Cap provides 4K/60 fps and up to 5‑minute shareable links; Kap exports to GIF, MP4, WebM, APNG with no mention of 4K.
- •Collaboration & sharing: Cap includes share links, passwords, analytics, comments, and cloud/S3 storage; Kap relies on plugins for any sharing.
- •Pricing model: Kap is completely free and open‑source; Cap has a freemium tier with paid desktop license for additional features.
- •Extensibility: Kap has a plugin system for uploads (e.g., Giphy); Cap’s ecosystem is limited to its built‑in cloud and self‑hosted options.
Pricing & value
Kap is fully free with no paid tiers; Cap offers a free tier but charges for desktop licenses and advanced features.
Ease of use / learning curve
Cap provides an intuitive UI with instant mode uploads and built‑in editor, whereas Kap is minimal and may require plugins for sharing.
Features & depth
Cap includes high‑resolution recording, audio, camera capture, AI‑generated titles, and analytics; Kap focuses on basic screen capture and GIF export.
Integrations & ecosystem
Kap’s plugin system lets users add Giphy, Streamable, Vercel, etc.; Cap has limited integrations and no plugin architecture.
Collaboration
Cap offers shareable links, password protection, comments, reactions, and team workspaces; Kap lacks built‑in collaboration tools.
Scalability / deployment
Cap can store recordings in its cloud or user‑provided S3 bucket, supporting larger teams; Kap is a local desktop app only.
Support
Cap lists Discord and GitHub Issues support; Kap provides no specified support channels.
Choose Cap if…
Cross‑platform teams or individuals needing high‑quality recordings, sharing, and collaboration features.
Choose Kap if…
Mac‑only developers/designers needing quick, free GIF/video snippets without collaboration.
Common questions
Can I use the tool on Windows?
Kap is macOS‑only; Cap runs on macOS and Windows.
Is there any cost for advanced features?
Kap is completely free; Cap requires a paid desktop license for features beyond the free tier.
Does either product provide built‑in cloud sharing?
Cap includes built‑in cloud storage, shareable links, and S3 integration; Kap relies on plugins for any sharing.