Bandicam vs Fraps (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Bandicam grades higher than Fraps: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Bandicam grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Bandicam
Screen, game and webcam recorder for Windows, with a Mac edition
Fraps
Windows game recorder, frame-rate counter and screenshot tool
Which one is for you
Pick Bandicam if
- Fits if you record gameplay on Windows and want an FPS counter on screen
- Works for lectures, tutorials or meetings recorded on one PC, paid for once
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you're staying free, as every recording stops at 5 minutes and edited exports get a watermark
- Pricey if you use a PC and a Mac, since the Mac app is $39.99 a year on top of the Windows license
- Too light for putting a video together, because editing here means trimming and nothing else
- Watch out: Personal licenses are non-commercial, so businesses and schools pay $49.46 a year per PC
- Watch out: the $53.90 perpetual license covers Bandicam 2027 on one PC, with one year of support
Pick Fraps if
- Fits if you want a frame counter and benchmark for DirectX or OpenGL games
- Works for people who want a one-time purchase for game recording
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac or Linux, since it is Windows only
- Not for you if you play newer games that need other capture methods: it covers DirectX and OpenGL
- Tight if you stay free: the limited version adds a watermark and a recording cap
- Watch out: the latest release is 3.5.99 from February 26, 2013, and later Windows versions aren't named
How we grade them
| 2.6GPABandicamGood | 2.4GPAFrapsFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$33.26 a year for one PC, which works out at $2.77 a month against a $10 middle for video tools here, or $53.90 once for a perpetual license. Personal means non-commercial, mind: businesses and schools pay $49.46 a year. | A$37 once, under three months of a typical $14 video subscription, and level with the $37 one-time middle. |
| Free plan and trial | CThe free Windows version doesn't watermark plain recordings. But every recording stops at 5 minutes, edited or subtitled exports do get a watermark, and you only see part of an AI transcript. | CA free download of the unregistered version, but the Buy page says recording length is limited and movies carry a watermark. |
| Features | CFull screen, an area, one window or several monitors, on a schedule, with a game mode for DirectX, OpenGL and Vulkan, webcam overlays, device capture, transcription and Smart Zoom. It records fully and that's where it stops: editing is trimming, nothing more. | CFrame-rate counter, benchmarks, screenshots on a keypress and game capture up to 7680x4800. It does that job fully, but a narrow one, and only for DirectX and OpenGL games. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record, but nothing needs setting up: pick a mode, press record, trim it afterwards. Working out which license you need takes longer than learning the app. | BNo store rating on record. You install it and press a hotkey to record, with nothing to connect. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows, and a Mac app that's a separate product with its own subscription that a Windows license doesn't cover. No phone app, no integrations and no API, so in practice it's a Windows tool. | DWindows only, and the download page lists up to Windows 7. No Mac, Linux, phone or web version, and no integrations. |
| Best for | recording games and tutorials on a Windows PC | showing frame rates and capturing games on Windows |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Bandicam and Fraps. How we grade
Where they differ
- Bandicam also covers transcription and video editing.
At a glance
| Bandicam | Fraps | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $33.26 per year for 1 PC (Personal Annual), or $53.90 one-time | $37, one-time |
| Free plan | Free version for Windows: recordings limited to 5 minutes each with no watermark, but edited or subtitled exports are watermarked and AI transcription and webcam background effects are restricted. | Free download of the unregistered version. The site says registering removes the recording-length limit and the watermark on movies. |
| Free trial | Mac: 3-day free trial of Pro with the monthly plan | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Bandicam Company | Beepa Pty Ltd |
| Price read from | bandicam.com | fraps.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Bandicam
- The free Windows version limits each recording to 5 minutes and watermarks edited or subtitled exports.
- A Personal license is for non-commercial use; organizations must buy the Business & Education license.
- The Mac app is a separate product with its own App Store subscription, and a Windows license does not cover it.
- A Perpetual license covers Bandicam 2027 on one PC and includes one year of technical support.
Fraps
- Windows only; the download page lists Windows XP, 2003, Vista and Windows 7 and does not name later Windows versions.
- The latest release on the site is 3.5.99, dated February 26, 2013.
- It works with games that use DirectX or OpenGL.
- The free version is limited; the Buy page says registration is needed for unlimited recording and movies without a watermark.
Key features
Bandicam
- Screen recording modes
- Record the full screen, a chosen area or a single window with its own audio, across multiple monitors if needed. Recordings can start and stop on a schedule.
- Game recording
- A game mode detects the running DirectX, OpenGL or Vulkan game, records it with your voice and can show frames per second while recording.
- Webcam and device capture
- Overlay a webcam on the screen recording, or capture webcams, smartphones, consoles and other external devices. AI can remove, blur or replace the webcam background.
- AI transcription
- Transcribes recordings and audio files into text that can be saved as subtitles or a text file. The free version shows only part of the transcript.
- Editing, drawing and Smart Zoom
- Trim a recording right after capture, draw arrows, shapes and text while recording, and let Smart Zoom zoom in and out automatically around mouse clicks.
- Audio recording
- Record computer sound and the microphone without the screen, save as MP3 or WAV, and trim the result on a waveform view.
Fraps
- Frame-rate counter
- Shows frames per second in a corner of the screen while a game runs.
- Custom benchmarks
- Measures the frame rate between any two points and can save the statistics to disk.
- Screenshots on a keypress
- One key takes a screenshot that is named and timestamped automatically.
- Game video capture
- Records audio and video at sizes up to 7680x4800 and custom frame rates from 1 to 120 frames per second.
Plans
Bandicam
Free$0
5 minutes per recording with no watermark on recordings; edited exports are watermarked and AI transcription is limited.
Personal Annual$33.26
per year, for 1 PC
Non-commercial use on Windows with no recording time limit, free updates and technical support. Labeled 10% off.
Bandicam for Mac Pro$39.99
per year, or $9.99 per month, as a Mac App Store purchase
Removes the Mac app's 5-minute limit and adds video trimming and video-to-text. Covers personal and commercial use.
Business & Education Annual$49.46
per year, for 1 PC
Commercial and organizational use on Windows, with an invoice. Shown against a crossed-out $65.95; a 2-PC license is $95.92.
Personal Perpetual$53.90
one-time payment, for 1 PC
Perpetual use of Bandicam 2027 on Windows with one year of technical support. Shown against a crossed-out $77.00.
Fraps
Free version$0
Unregistered download; the Buy page says registration is needed to record as long as you like and to get movies without a watermark.
Registered$37
one-time, paid through PayPal
Unlocked version with unlimited recording length, no watermark, screenshots saved as JPG, PNG or TGA, and free updates from the Members Area.
Ways to pay less
Bandicam
- Lifetime license
Perpetual license for a one-time $53.90
The Personal Perpetual license covers Bandicam 2027 on one Windows PC for a single payment. The store shows it as 30% off a crossed-out $77.00, with no end date.
- Other savings
Bandicam + Bandicut discount package
A Personal 1-year package of the recorder and the Bandicut video cutter is listed at $49.97 against a crossed-out $64.90.
Fraps
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Bandicam or Fraps?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Bandicam starts at $33.26 per year for 1 PC (Personal Annual), or $53.90 one-time, and Fraps starts at $37, one-time.
Which has a free plan, Bandicam or Fraps?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Bandicam and Fraps have a free plan.
Which platforms do Bandicam and Fraps run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Bandicam lists a macOS app. Both list a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.