Do want to start your own YouTube Android tutorial channel or just take screencasts of your Android device? Instead of using an external camera or computer, you can easily record the screen of your device directly, thanks to a host of apps on the Play Store that can do the job for you.
We’ve compiled a list of the best screen recorders for Android. These have all kinds of fancy features – from magic buttons that auto-adjust your videos to the recording of video games to recordings with super-high frame rates. Read on, take your pick, then record away.
1. Google Play Games
Price: Free
Just open the Play Games app, go to a game’s info page, then tap the “Record” icon at the top of the screen. You’ll get options to record in 480p and 720p, so nothing too high-def, but it’s integrated, so we’re not complaining.
To use this feature to record non-gaming stuff, follow the above steps, then just exit the game when it launches. Simple.
2. DU Recorder
Price: Free
Those reviews are well deserved, too, because this is one of the best-quality and most versatile Android screen recorders out there. Using DU, you can record gameplay vids, save them in multiple resolutions and at liquidy frame rates of up to 60fps. You can record your own voice while recording videos, too, and the packed-in editing suite has everything you need to add pizzazz to your video before putting it online, including cutting, music, background images, and filters like blurring and pixelation. Those million or so people weren’t wrong.
3. Mobizen Screen Recorder
Price: Free
4. SCR Screen Recorder
Price: Free
This application is currently unavailable on the Google Play Store, but it has a lot of unique features, so I couldn’t leave it out. You can get the APK file from the Developer’s website. SCR supports Android 4.0 and above, although you need root access to be able to use it on Kitkat and Jellybean. In addition to recording your screen, it can record audio or even add a front-facing camera overlay, which is cool if you want to use it for YouTube videos and the like.
5. AZ Screen Recorder
Price: Free / $2.99
AZ Screen recorder does not require root access (great start) and has an option to pause and resume recording, which is particularly useful for making tutorial videos. It also has a front-facing camera overlay feature, but it requires a paid upgrade to unlock this. You can change settings like resolution, frame rate, bit rate or even feature a text message or logo along with the recorded screen cast. Audio recording is also well-supported.
6. Unlimited Screen Recorder
Price: Free
Unlimited Screen Recorder allows you to take an unlimited length screencasts on your Android device. Like most others on this list, it requires Android Lollipop at least. It can record audio as well, and it saves your screen recordings in a dedicated folder on your SD Card, but you can change it to a different directory if you prefer. You can tweak different settings to your taste such as video codec, resolution, and audio sampling rate. It is completely free, but you are encouraged to donate to the developers.
7. ilos Screen Recorder
Price: Free
ilos Screen Recorder doesn’t require root, and there are no ads or time limits for screen recording. Once you open the app, it will prompt you to register or sign in, but you can ignore that and tap the big button in the middle to start capturing. It will pop out a notification, and you can hit “Start” to begin recording. You have to go back to the app to stop the recording. Once you are done, you can view your screencasts from within the app or share them using Android’s share feature. It’s not as feature-rich as some of the options here, but it’s much simpler to use.
8. Telecine
Price: Free
Telecine has a very simple interface with only a few settings, but it is very powerful and works well. Once you’ve opened the app, tap the “Launch Overlay” button. It will pop out a small overlay at the top-right corner of your screen. Navigate away from the app, and tap the record button once you’re ready to begin. To stop recording, tap the top-right corner again. (The overlay is still there; it’s just transparent.) The only downside is the lack of sound, but the video quality is top-notch.
9. Lollipop Screen Recorder
Price: Free
As the name implies, this app is only available on Android Lollipop and later. It is one of the simplest apps on this list and only gives you basic options such as resolution and screen orientation. To start recording you need to open the app and click the icon highlighted above. To stop recording, just hit the app notification. It can also record audio, though there aren’t any other frilly bits and features to speak of. It’s another great option for people who don’t want to tinker.
