SimpleScreenRecorder review (2026): is it any good?
Free Linux screen recorder with a Qt interface
SimpleScreenRecorder report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for recording games and screens on Linux
SimpleScreenRecorder is a free Linux recorder for the whole screen, part of it or OpenGL games, with pause, preview and many codecs through ffmpeg. It runs on Linux only, the Arch package lost its maintainer in 2023, and live streaming is labelled experimental.
Who SimpleScreenRecorder is for
- Fits if you play or demo on Linux and want an OpenGL capture like Fraps
- Works for people who want to pick their own codecs and keep the software free
Who SimpleScreenRecorder is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or a Mac, as there is no build for either
- Not for you if you want to edit the recording, because it only records
- Watch out: live streaming is labelled experimental by the author
- Watch out: the Arch Linux package moved to AUR in April 2023 for lack of a maintainer, and the vendor warns simplescreenrecorder.com is a fake site
Why SimpleScreenRecorder gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree software under the GNU GPL, with no paid plan. A program anyone can download and run.
- AFree plan and trialThe whole program is free, with no cap or watermark.
- BFeaturesWhole-screen, region and OpenGL capture, pause and resume, a live preview and many codecs and formats. Streaming is marked experimental by the author.
- CEase of useNo store rating on record. Settings are laid out in a wizard, but codec and format choices are yours to make.
- DPlatforms and integrationsLinux only. The page lists distributions and no Windows, Mac, web or phone builds, and no integrations.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from the SimpleScreenRecorder project's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/simplescreenrecorder#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/simplescreenrecorder.svg" alt="SimpleScreenRecorder: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where SimpleScreenRecorder stands among screen recording and video tools
SimpleScreenRecorder's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 104 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 15.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 117 of 133) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
SimpleScreenRecorder has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 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 134 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. SimpleScreenRecorder’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 102 of 133, level with 31
- AFree plan and trialAbove 117 of 133, level with 16
- BFeaturesAbove 78 of 133, level with 53
- CEase of useAbove 2 of 133, level with 84
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 133, level with 16
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 102 screen recording and video tools. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep SimpleScreenRecorder, or make your own?
Keep it
SimpleScreenRecorder is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 104 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade.
What you could not
- Recording the screen with its sound, and somewhere to keep the video.
- A real app for Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. SimpleScreenRecorder’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.
What is SimpleScreenRecorder?
SimpleScreenRecorder is a Linux program by Maarten Baert for recording programs and games. It has a Qt graphical interface, records the whole screen, a part of it or OpenGL applications directly, and encodes with the libav/ffmpeg libraries. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License.
Worth knowing
- Linux only; the project page lists distributions and no Windows or Mac builds.
- The page says the Arch Linux package moved to AUR in April 2023 for lack of a maintainer.
- The vendor warns that simplescreenrecorder.com is a fake site and that only the maartenbaert.be page is official.
Key features
- Screen and OpenGL capture
- Records the entire screen, part of it, or an OpenGL application directly, similar to Fraps on Windows.
- Pause and resume
- Recording can be paused and resumed with a button or a hotkey, with live statistics such as file size and frame rate.
- Preview while recording
- An optional preview shows what is being captured so a wrong setting is noticed before the recording ends.
- Many codecs and formats
- Encodes through libav/ffmpeg libraries, so it supports many codecs and file formats, with custom codec options.
- Experimental live streaming
- Can also stream live, which the author labels experimental, with a how-to page for it.
SimpleScreenRecorder pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, SimpleScreenRecorder is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free software distributed under the GNU General Public License; no paid plans.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The whole program, distributed under the GNU General Public License. |
Read from maartenbaert.be on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with SimpleScreenRecorder before you buy.
SimpleScreenRecorder alternatives
- SimpleScreenRecorder vs ScreenRec
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
- SimpleScreenRecorder vs Cap
Free plan · from $29/yr
Common questions
Does SimpleScreenRecorder have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. SimpleScreenRecorder is listed for Linux.
Does SimpleScreenRecorder have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. SimpleScreenRecorder is listed for Linux.
Is SimpleScreenRecorder open source?
Yes. SimpleScreenRecorder is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.