The Bandicam Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Bandicam in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Bandicam
The Insider’s Guide
Screen, game and webcam recorder for Windows, with a Mac edition
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among screen recording and video tools, read from Bandicam’s own pages.
Made by Bandicam Company · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Bandicam’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Bandicam’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 28 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade
Bandicam is a screen recorder that captures the screen, games, webcams and audio on a Windows PC. Built-in tools trim recordings, zoom in on clicks, remove webcam backgrounds and transcribe speech to text. The Windows version is sold as an annual or a perpetual license per PC, and its free version limits each recording to 5 minutes. A separate Mac app is sold as a subscription through the Mac App Store.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Bandicam, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but nothing needs setting up: pick a mode, press record, trim it afterwards.
- 1
Best for recording games and tutorials on a Windows PC
Bandicam is a Windows screen recorder for the whole screen, a window, a game or a webcam, with a game mode that shows frames per second.
- 2
Paid plans start at $2.77 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $33.26 per year for 1 PC (Personal Annual), or $53.90 one-time.
- 3
There is a 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.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
Windows and macOS.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 28 of 52
That is against the other screen recording and video tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Bandicam you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Bandicam at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $33.26 per year for 1 PC (Personal Annual), or $53.90 one-time
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Mac: 3-day free trial of Pro with the monthly plan
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows
- Made by
- Bandicam Company, since 2009
- Category
- Screen Recording & Video
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for recording games and tutorials on a Windows PC
Bandicam is a Windows screen recorder for the whole screen, a window, a game or a webcam, with a game mode that shows frames per second. It's $33.26 a year or $53.90 once for personal use. The free version stops every recording at 5 minutes, editing is trimming only, work use costs $49.46 a year, and the Mac app is a separate purchase.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The 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. |
| Features | C | Full 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. |
| Ease of use | B | No 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Bandicam is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Windows users recording gameplay with an FPS counter
- Recording lectures, tutorials and online meetings on a PC
- Buyers who prefer a one-time license to a subscription
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$2.77
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Bandicam has a free plan. Paid plans start at $33.26 per year for 1 PC (Personal Annual), or $53.90 one-time.
The free Windows version doesn't watermark plain recordings.
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.
The 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.
Trying it first
Mac: 3-day free trial of Pro with the monthly plan
Read from bandicam.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on bandicam.comOther 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.
Stated on bandicam.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Monthly”, against $9.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | ₱ 499.00 | $7.94 | 20% less |
| Canada | $12.99 | $9.13 | 9% less |
| Turkey | ₺449,99 | $9.15 | 8% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 169ribu | $9.45 | 5% less |
| Germany | 9,99 € | $11.19 | 12% more |
| Brazil | R$ 59,90 | $11.97 | 20% more |
| South Africa | R199.99 | $12.10 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £9.99 | $13.21 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and Windows
Screen, game and webcam recorder for Windows, with a Mac edition. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, AI features, transcription, screen recording, video editing, screenshots.
It records fully and that's where it stops: editing is trimming, nothing more.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Bandicam is made by Bandicam Company, and has been around since 2009.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
28/52
Other screen recording and video tools it is graded above
Bandicam's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 28 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 39 of 52) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $2.77 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 2 of the 41 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 2 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 53 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Bandicam’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 39 of 52
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 52
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 52
- BEase of useAbove 20 of 52
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 of 52
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 46 screen recording and video tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Bandicam is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Bandicam you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $33.26 a year.
What you could not
- A video editor.
- Recording the screen with its sound, and somewhere to keep the video.
- Speech turned into text you can trust.
- Capture tools hooked into the operating system.
- A real app for macOS and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Bandicam’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
OBS Studio, Camtasia, Movavi Screen Recorder, Wondershare DemoCreator and Camtasia Snagit
The 5 tools Bandicam is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
OBS Studio
Free
Free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming.
- Only OBS Studio lists a Linux app.
- Bandicam can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- OBS Studio is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Camtasia
Free plan · from $39/yr
Screen recorder and video editor for tutorials and training videos.
- Only Camtasia lists a web app.
- Bandicam can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Bandicam also covers screenshots.
- 2.4GPA
Movavi Screen Recorder
Free trial · from $19.99/mo
Desktop screen recorder with webcam overlay and scheduling.
- Bandicam has a free plan. Movavi Screen Recorder does not, though it has a free trial.
- Bandicam also covers transcription and video editing.
- Movavi Screen Recorder also covers noise cancellation.
- 2.8GPA
Wondershare DemoCreator
Free trial · from $29.99
Screen recorder and video editor for tutorials and demos.
- Bandicam has a free plan. Wondershare DemoCreator does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Wondershare DemoCreator lists a web app.
- Only Wondershare DemoCreator lists a browser extension.
- 2.4GPA
Camtasia Snagit
Free trial · from $39/yr
Screen capture and recording tool with annotation and step guides.
- Bandicam has a free plan. Camtasia Snagit does not, though it has a free trial.
- Bandicam can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Bandicam also covers transcription and video editing.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Bandicam free?
Bandicam has a 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.
How much does Bandicam cost?
Bandicam lists 5 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Bandicam work on?
Bandicam is available on Windows and macOS.
Does Bandicam offer any discounts?
Bandicam publicly lists the following: Perpetual license for a one-time $53.90; Bandicam + Bandicut discount package.
Does Bandicam have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Bandicam is listed for Windows and macOS.
Does Bandicam have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Bandicam is listed for Windows and macOS.
Is Bandicam open source?
Bandicam is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does Bandicam have a free trial?
Yes. Mac: 3-day free trial of Pro with the monthly plan.
Who makes Bandicam?
Bandicam is made by Bandicam Company. It dates from 2009.
What are the alternatives to Bandicam?
The closest alternatives to Bandicam in our directory are OBS Studio, Camtasia, Movavi Screen Recorder, Wondershare DemoCreator and Camtasia Snagit.
How does Bandicam compare with other screen recording and video tools?
Bandicam's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 28 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 9.
Is Bandicam good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Bandicam A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $2.77 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 2 of the 41 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Bandicam?
To replace Bandicam you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Bandicam’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Bandicam's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-11.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Bandicam Company. Prices change, so check bandicam.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Bandicam, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/bandicam
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Bandicam: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/bandicam
Know someone choosing between screen recording and video tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/bandicam/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded screen recording and video tools after Bandicam, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Screen Recording & Video Insider's GuideEvery one of the 53 screen recording and video tools we grade, compared
- DaVinci Resolve Insider's GuideVideo editing, color, effects and audio post-production in one app3.4 GPA
- Zencastr Insider's GuideFree podcast recording, chat-based editing and hosting in one app3.4 GPA
- Cap Insider's GuideOpen-source screen recorder with instant share links and an editor3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Bandicam’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Bandicam is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Bandicam Company. Prices and plans change: check bandicam.com before you buy.