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The SimpleScreenRecorder Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about SimpleScreenRecorder 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.

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ToolGPANovember 2026

SimpleScreenRecorder

The Insider’s Guide

Free Linux screen recorder with a Qt interface

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among screen recording and video tools, read from SimpleScreenRecorder’s own pages.

Made by Maarten Baert · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.8GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  6. 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  7. 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from SimpleScreenRecorder’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on SimpleScreenRecorder’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

2.8

GPA, above 104 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade

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.

To get you started, here are 8 things to know about SimpleScreenRecorder, taken from its own pages and our grades.

Settings are laid out in a wizard, but codec and format choices are yours to make.
From our grade for ease of use
  1. 1

    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.

  2. 2

    It is free

    SimpleScreenRecorder has no paid plan at all. Free software distributed under the GNU General Public License; no paid plans.

  3. 3

    It runs on Linux

    Linux.

  4. 4

    Screen and OpenGL capture

    Records the entire screen, part of it, or an OpenGL application directly, similar to Fraps on Windows.

  5. 5

    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.

  6. 6

    Preview while recording

    An optional preview shows what is being captured so a wrong setting is noticed before the recording ends.

  7. 7

    A 2.8 GPA, above 104 of 133

    That is against the other screen recording and video tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.

  8. 8

    Keep it

    SimpleScreenRecorder is free, so making your own would save you nothing.

SimpleScreenRecorder at a glance

Pricing
Free
Free plan
Yes
Free trial
None stated
Runs on
Linux
Made by
Maarten Baert
Category
Screen Recording & Video
Our grade
2.8 GPA, good

The report card

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.

ToolGPA report cardSimpleScreenRecorderGraded Nov 13, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyAFree software under the GNU GPL, with no paid plan. A program anyone can download and run.
Free plan and trialAThe whole program is free, with no cap or watermark.
FeaturesBWhole-screen, region and OpenGL capture, pause and resume, a live preview and many codecs and formats. Streaming is marked experimental by the author.
Ease of useCNo store rating on record. Settings are laid out in a wizard, but codec and format choices are yours to make.
Platforms and integrationsDLinux only. The page lists distributions and no Windows, Mac, web or phone builds, and no integrations.
Grade point averageGood, out of 4.02.8

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 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 it 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

Good to know

Good for

  • Linux users recording games or applications
  • People who want a GUI instead of typing ffmpeg commands
  • Anyone who wants free, open-source software

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.

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

SimpleScreenRecorder is free to use.

Free software under the GNU GPL, with no paid plan.
From our grade for value for money

  • Free

    $0

    The whole program, distributed under the GNU General Public License.

The free plan

Free software distributed under the GNU General Public License; no paid plans.

Read from maartenbaert.be 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: Linux

Free Linux screen recorder with a Qt interface. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, screen recording.

Whole-screen, region and OpenGL capture, pause and resume, a live preview and many codecs and formats.
From our grade for 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.

Where it runs

  • Linux

What it works with

Its own pages name no integrations.

SimpleScreenRecorder is made by Maarten Baert.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

104/133

Other screen recording and video tools it is graded above

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
  • AFree plan and trialAbove 117 of 133
  • BFeaturesAbove 78 of 133
  • CEase of useAbove 2 of 133
  • DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 133

Price against what you get

Each dot is one of 102 screen recording and video tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. SimpleScreenRecorder is the marked dot.

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$1$2$5$10$20$50$100More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessSimpleScreenRecorderScreenPalInShotRecordly

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

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.

Part 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

Kazam, OBS Studio, ScreenRec, ScreenToGif and Cap

The 5 tools SimpleScreenRecorder is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

11

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 SimpleScreenRecorder free?

Yes. SimpleScreenRecorder is free to use.

How much does SimpleScreenRecorder cost?

SimpleScreenRecorder lists one plan. Free: $0.

What platforms does SimpleScreenRecorder work on?

SimpleScreenRecorder is available on Linux.

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.

Who makes SimpleScreenRecorder?

SimpleScreenRecorder is made by Maarten Baert.

What are the alternatives to SimpleScreenRecorder?

The closest alternatives to SimpleScreenRecorder in our directory are Kazam, OBS Studio, ScreenRec, ScreenToGif and Cap.

How does SimpleScreenRecorder compare with other 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.

Is SimpleScreenRecorder good value for money?

ToolGPA grades SimpleScreenRecorder A for value for money. SimpleScreenRecorder has no paid plan.

Could I make my own version of SimpleScreenRecorder?

SimpleScreenRecorder is free, so making your own would save you nothing.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from SimpleScreenRecorder’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 the SimpleScreenRecorder project'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 Maarten Baert. Prices change, so check maartenbaert.be 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

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, "SimpleScreenRecorder: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/simplescreenrecorder

Know someone choosing between screen recording and video tools?

Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/simplescreenrecorder/guide

ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa

See our other guides

The best-graded screen recording and video tools after SimpleScreenRecorder, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what SimpleScreenRecorder’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. SimpleScreenRecorder is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Maarten Baert. Prices and plans change: check maartenbaert.be before you buy.