The LICEcap Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about LICEcap 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.
LICEcap
The Insider’s Guide
Lightweight free tool that records a screen area to an animated GIF
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from LICEcap’s own pages.
Made by Cockos Incorporated · 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 LICEcap’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on LICEcap’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
LICEcap captures an area of the desktop and saves it as an animated GIF, or as its own lossless LCF format that can be played back in REAPER. It runs on Windows and macOS, is small to download, and is free software under the GPL, with the source included in each download.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about LICEcap, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Move the frame over the area and record.
- 1
Best for quick screen-to-GIF recording
LICEcap records a chosen area of your screen to an animated GIF, and it is free under the GPL.
- 2
It is free
LICEcap has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Windows and macOS.
- 4
Record to GIF or LCF
Save directly to an animated GIF, or to the native LCF format, which allows higher compression and more than 256 colors per frame.
- 5
Movable capture frame
Move the capture frame while recording, so the recorded area can follow what you are showing.
- 6
Pause and text messages
Pause and restart a recording with a global hotkey, and insert text messages or a basic title frame.
- 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
LICEcap is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
LICEcap at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows
- Made by
- Cockos Incorporated
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for quick screen-to-GIF recording
LICEcap records a chosen area of your screen to an animated GIF, and it is free under the GPL. But it outputs only GIF or its own LCF format, the last release listed is from June 2022, and its macOS support is named only up to 12.x.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free software under the GPL. No paid edition is listed. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole program is free, with the source included in each download. |
| Features | C | Records to GIF or LCF, with pause, text messages and mouse press display. It does that one job, a smaller one: no MP4 export or audio. |
| Ease of use | B | Move the frame over the area and record. Nothing to set up, though no store rating is on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows and macOS, computers only. No Linux, phone or web 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 LICEcap is for
- Fits if you only need short GIFs of your screen with no extras
- Works for people who want a tiny download
Who it is not for
- Too light for you if you want MP4 or audio, since neither is mentioned
- Skip it if you run a new Mac, as support is named only up to macOS 12.x
- Watch out: the latest release listed is v1.32 from June 2022
- Not for you if you want to edit the capture, as editing is limited to a title frame and text messages
Good to know
Good for
- Quick, small GIFs for bug reports and documentation
- People who want a free tool with source code available
- Windows and Mac users who need only GIF output
Worth knowing
- The page lists only GIF and LCF output; MP4 export and audio recording are not mentioned.
- The latest release listed is v1.32 from June 2022.
- The macOS build is listed for macOS 10.7 through 12.x; newer versions are not named.
- Editing is limited to a title frame and inserted text messages.
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
LICEcap is free to use.
The whole program is free, with the source included in each download.
Free
$0
GPL free software for Windows and macOS; each download package includes the source.
Read from cockos.com on Nov 13, 2026.
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
Lightweight free tool that records a screen area to an animated GIF. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, screen recording.
Records to GIF or LCF, with pause, text messages and mouse press display.
- Record to GIF or LCF
- Save directly to an animated GIF, or to the native LCF format, which allows higher compression and more than 256 colors per frame.
- Movable capture frame
- Move the capture frame while recording, so the recorded area can follow what you are showing.
- Pause and text messages
- Pause and restart a recording with a global hotkey, and insert text messages or a basic title frame.
- Mouse presses and elapsed time
- Optionally show mouse button presses and the elapsed time in the recording.
- Frame-rate limit
- Set a maximum recording frame rate to throttle CPU use on slower machines.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
What it works with
- REAPER
LICEcap is made by Cockos Incorporated.
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
LICEcap'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).
LICEcap 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. LICEcap’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. LICEcap 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
LICEcap 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 and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. LICEcap’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
Kap, ShareX, Gyazo, Screenpresso and Greenshot
The 5 tools LICEcap is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Kap
Free
Open-source Mac screen recorder that exports GIF, MP4, WebM and APNG.
- Only LICEcap lists a Windows app.
- 2.6GPA
ShareX
Free
Free, open-source screenshot and screen recording for Windows.
- Only LICEcap lists a macOS app.
- ShareX also covers screenshots and file sharing.
- 2.4GPA
Gyazo
Free plan · from $6.99/mo
Screenshot and screen-recording tool that uploads and shares by link.
- Only Gyazo lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Gyazo lists a browser extension.
- LICEcap is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Screenpresso
Free plan
Windows screenshot and video capture with a built-in editor.
- Only LICEcap lists a macOS app.
- Only Screenpresso lists a browser extension.
- LICEcap is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
Greenshot
Free plan · from $1.99 one-time
Free, open-source screenshot tool for Windows with an editor.
- LICEcap also covers screen recording.
- Greenshot 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 LICEcap free?
Yes. LICEcap is free to use.
How much does LICEcap cost?
LICEcap lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does LICEcap work on?
LICEcap is available on Windows and macOS.
Does LICEcap have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. LICEcap is listed for Windows and macOS.
Does LICEcap have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. LICEcap is listed for Windows and macOS.
Is LICEcap open source?
Yes. LICEcap is open source, according to its own site.
Does LICEcap 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 LICEcap integrate with?
LICEcap's listing names REAPER. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes LICEcap?
LICEcap is made by Cockos Incorporated.
What are the alternatives to LICEcap?
The closest alternatives to LICEcap in our directory are Kap, ShareX, Gyazo, Screenpresso and Greenshot.
How does LICEcap compare with other desktop utilities?
LICEcap's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 27.
Is LICEcap good value for money?
ToolGPA grades LICEcap A for value for money. LICEcap has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of LICEcap?
LICEcap 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 LICEcap’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 Cockos'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 Cockos Incorporated. Prices change, so check cockos.com 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
- LICEcap, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/licecap
- 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, "LICEcap: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/licecap
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/licecap/guide
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See our other guides
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- 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 LICEcap’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. LICEcap is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Cockos Incorporated. Prices and plans change: check cockos.com before you buy.