The Kap Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Kap 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.
Kap
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source Mac screen recorder that exports GIF, MP4, WebM and APNG
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Kap’s own pages.
Made by Wulkano · checked Nov 13, 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 Kap’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Kap’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade
Kap is an open-source screen recorder for macOS built with web technology. It records the screen with optional audio and click highlights, lets you trim the clip, and exports to GIF, MP4, WebM or APNG. Plugins send recordings to services such as Giphy, Streamable and Vercel.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Kap, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Nothing to set up, though no store rating is on record.
- 1
Best for a free Mac screen recorder that exports GIFs
Kap is a free, open source Mac screen recorder that exports GIF, MP4, WebM and APNG.
- 2
It is free
Kap has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
Several export formats
Export a recording as GIF, MP4, WebM or APNG, with optional audio.
- 5
Click highlights and trimming
Highlight mouse clicks while recording and trim the clip before exporting.
- 6
Plugin sharing
Plugins send recordings to Giphy, Streamable and Vercel; the site links the plugin projects on GitHub.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 154 of 186
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Kap is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Kap at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Wulkano
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a free Mac screen recorder that exports GIFs
Kap is a free, open source Mac screen recorder that exports GIF, MP4, WebM and APNG. But it's Mac only, it needs macOS 12 or later, and it trims clips rather than edits them.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source. No paid plan is listed. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole app is free, with no limit or trial. |
| Features | C | Recording with audio, click highlights, trimming and four export formats, plus share plugins. It does the recording job, but the site describes no full video editing. |
| Ease of use | B | Install, pick an area and record. Nothing to set up, though no store rating is on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac only, Apple silicon and Intel. No Windows, Linux or phone version. |
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 Kap is for
- Fits if you record short Mac screen clips and share them as GIFs
- Works for people comfortable getting help from a GitHub issue tracker
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or Linux, as it is Mac only
- Not for you if your Mac is older than macOS 12
- Too light for you if you want to edit video beyond trimming
- Watch out: support goes through GitHub issues, not a paid channel
Good to know
Good for
- Developers and designers who need short GIFs of a bug or interface
- Mac users who want a free, inspectable screen recorder
- Sharing clips straight to Giphy, Streamable or Vercel through plugins
Worth knowing
- Mac only; there are no Windows, Linux or mobile versions.
- Requires macOS 12 or later.
- The site describes recording, trimming and export, not full video editing.
- Free and open source, so support runs through the GitHub project's issue tracker rather than a paid channel.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Kap is free to use.
The whole app is free, with no limit or trial.
Free
$0
Open-source under the MIT license, with downloads for Apple silicon and Intel Macs and no paid tier.
Read from getkap.co on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Open-source Mac screen recorder that exports GIF, MP4, WebM and APNG. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, screen recording.
Recording with audio, click highlights, trimming and four export formats, plus share plugins.
- Several export formats
- Export a recording as GIF, MP4, WebM or APNG, with optional audio.
- Click highlights and trimming
- Highlight mouse clicks while recording and trim the clip before exporting.
- Plugin sharing
- Plugins send recordings to Giphy, Streamable and Vercel; the site links the plugin projects on GitHub.
- Open source
- The code is public on GitHub under the MIT license, so anyone can read it, report issues or contribute.
- Apple silicon and Intel builds
- Separate downloads are offered for M1-class and Intel Macs; macOS 12 or later is required.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Giphy
- Streamable
- Vercel
Kap is made by Wulkano.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
154/186
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Kap's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 27.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Kap has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Kap’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 186
- BEase of useAbove 78 of 186
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 111 of 186
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Kap 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
Kap is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade.
What you could not
- Recording the screen with its sound, and somewhere to keep the video.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Kap’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
LICEcap, Gyazo, ShareX, Shottr and Flameshot
The 5 tools Kap is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
LICEcap
Free
Lightweight free tool that records a screen area to an animated GIF.
- Only LICEcap lists a Windows app.
- 2.4GPA
Gyazo
Free plan · from $6.99/mo
Screenshot and screen-recording tool that uploads and shares by link.
- Only Gyazo lists Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Gyazo lists a browser extension.
- Kap is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
ShareX
Free
Free, open-source screenshot and screen recording for Windows.
- Only Kap lists a macOS app.
- Only ShareX lists a Windows app.
- ShareX also covers screenshots and file sharing.
- 2.6GPA
Shottr
Free plan · from $12 one-time
Small Mac screenshot tool with annotation, OCR and a ruler.
- Kap is open source, according to its own site.
- Shottr can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Kap also covers screen recording.
- 3.0GPA
Flameshot
Free
Free, open-source screenshot tool with on-screen annotation.
- Only Flameshot lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Kap also covers screen recording.
- Flameshot also covers screenshots.
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 Kap free?
Yes. Kap is free to use.
How much does Kap cost?
Kap lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Kap work on?
Kap is available on macOS.
Does Kap have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Kap is listed for macOS.
Does Kap have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Kap is listed for macOS.
Is Kap open source?
Yes. Kap is open source, according to its own site.
Does Kap work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Kap integrate with?
Kap's listing names Giphy, Streamable and Vercel. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Kap?
Kap is made by Wulkano.
What are the alternatives to Kap?
The closest alternatives to Kap in our directory are LICEcap, Gyazo, ShareX, Shottr and Flameshot.
How does Kap compare with other desktop utilities?
Kap's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 27.
Is Kap good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Kap A for value for money. Kap has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Kap?
Kap is free, so making your own would save you nothing. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Kap’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Kap's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 Wulkano. Prices change, so check getkap.co before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Kap, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/kap
- 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, "Kap: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/kap
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/kap/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Kap, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 187 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- Just Color Picker Insider's GuideFree portable color picker and editor for Windows and macOS3.2 GPA
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Mos Insider's GuideFree Mac menu bar utility for smooth mouse wheel scrolling3.2 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 Kap’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. Kap is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Wulkano. Prices and plans change: check getkap.co before you buy.