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Kap

Kap

Open-source Mac screen recorder that exports directly to GIF, MP4, WebM, and APNG.

softwareScreen Recordersscreen-recordinggif-makeropen-source

What is Kap?

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.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentDesktop App
open source✅ Yes
api available❌ No

Key Features of Kap

Records the screen and exports directly to GIF, MP4, WebM, or APNG with optional audio in one workflow.
Built-in editing includes trimming recordings and highlighting mouse clicks for tutorial-style captures.
Fully open-source, with the source code publicly available on GitHub for inspection or contribution.
A plugin system extends Kap with integrations like Giphy uploads, Vercel deployment, and Streamable hosting.
Native macOS app built with web technologies, focused on a minimal, fast recording workflow.
Used internally by engineering-heavy companies including Vercel, GitHub, and CircleCI according to the vendor's site.

Use Cases for Kap

1

Bug report GIFs

Developers record a short GIF of a UI bug to attach directly to an issue tracker or chat message.

2

Quick tutorial clips

Support and product teams record short MP4 clips demonstrating a feature or workflow for documentation.

3

Design and PM handoff

Designers and PMs capture screen interactions to illustrate a bug or desired behavior for engineers.

4

Open-source contribution demos

Developers record short clips showing a pull request's effect for code review context.

Pros & Cons of Kap

Pros

  • 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.

Cons

  • 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kap free?

Yes, Kap is completely free and open-source.

What formats can Kap export to?

GIF, MP4, WebM, and APNG, with optional audio recording.

Does Kap work on Windows?

No, Kap is macOS only, requiring macOS 12 or later.

Can Kap be extended with plugins?

Yes, its open-source plugin system supports integrations like Giphy, Vercel, and Streamable.

Pricing Overview

View full pricing →
Free

Detailed plans are not listed. Visit the official website for pricing information.

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About the Product

Unclaimed Listing
Platforms
Target AudienceDevelopers and designers on Mac who need quick, free screen recordings and GIFs

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Tags

screen-recordinggif-makeropen-sourcemac-appdeveloper-tool

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