Comparison
Cap vs ScreenFlow
Cap and ScreenFlow sit at opposite ends of the screen-recording market. Cap is a free, open-source recorder for quick, shareable demos; ScreenFlow is a $199 professional macOS screencast studio with a deep timeline editor. Here's when each one wins.
Choose Cap if
Choose Cap if most of your recordings are quick demos and walkthroughs you want to capture and share fast, for free, on Mac or Windows.
Cap Trust Report ›Choose ScreenFlow if
Choose ScreenFlow if you're producing longer tutorials or courses on macOS and want a professional multi-track timeline editor with transitions, callouts and a built-in stock library.
ScreenFlow Trust Report ›| Pricing model | ||
| Model | Free · open source Optional Cap Pro | One-time $199 + paid upgrades |
| 5-year cost | $0 Core is free | $199+ Upgrades extra |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Proprietary |
| Availability | ||
| Platform | macOS · Windows Windows beta | macOS |
| Capabilities | ||
| Automatic cursor zoom | Yes | Manual Add by hand |
| Deep timeline editor | Basic | Yes Multi-track + stock library |
| Quick shareable links | Yes Cap Pro | — Export yourself |
The bottom line
Choose Cap if
Choose Cap if most of your recordings are quick demos and walkthroughs you want to capture and share fast, for free, on Mac or Windows.
Choose ScreenFlow if
Choose ScreenFlow if you're producing longer tutorials or courses on macOS and want a professional multi-track timeline editor with transitions, callouts and a built-in stock library.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Cap and ScreenFlow?
Cap and ScreenFlow sit at opposite ends of the screen-recording market. Cap is a free, open-source recorder for quick, shareable demos; ScreenFlow is a $199 professional macOS screencast studio with a deep timeline editor. Here's when each one wins. In short: choose Cap if choose Cap if most of your recordings are quick demos and walkthroughs you want to capture and share fast, for free, on Mac or Windows. Choose ScreenFlow if choose ScreenFlow if you're producing longer tutorials or courses on macOS and want a professional multi-track timeline editor with transitions, callouts and a built-in stock library.
Is Cap or ScreenFlow cheaper?
At our last review, Cap is listed at “Free · open source · Pro from $8.16/mo” and ScreenFlow at “One-time $199”. Pricing is recorded as published by each developer and re-checked when the report is refreshed.
Which of Cap and ScreenFlow supports more platforms?
Cap runs on macOS 13.1+ · Windows (beta) · Linux (.deb). ScreenFlow runs on macOS 10.15+ · Apple Silicon & Intel.
Are Cap and ScreenFlow both safe to use?
Both carry an independent Altapp Trust Report. Cap: 7/9 of nine checks verified, last full review Jul 19, 2026. ScreenFlow: 6/9 of nine checks verified, last full review Jul 18, 2026. Each covers source verification, data and permissions, and known risks. Altapp publishes no score of its own — the count is a tally of what could be independently confirmed.