An OBS alternative for tutorials that look edited
OBS Studio is free, open-source software for recording and live streaming, and people love how flexible it is. Its recordings come out raw, though, with no zooms, no cursor polish and no captions. OnScreen is built for what comes after you hit stop.
$29, one-time payment · Windows and Mac
Why people look for an alternative
- Raw full-screen recordings are hard to follow on small screens.
- Setting up scenes and sources is a lot for a quick tutorial.
- You end up exporting from OBS only to edit somewhere else.
What OnScreen adds
- One floating bar to record a screen, a window or an area
- Automatic zooms and a smooth cursor, with no plugins
- Captions, keystrokes, spotlights and masks in the same app
- Webcam and mic recorded in sync and ready to lay out
- Vertical export with safe zones for social media
In short
OnScreen skips the scene setup and the separate editor, so your tutorials and demos come out looking finished.
Price
OnScreen- $29 once
- OBS Studio Open source
- Free
Prices in USD before taxes, checked in September 2026. Plans change, so check each site for current terms.
Questions
Can OnScreen stream live like OBS?
No. OnScreen records and edits screen videos. It does not stream.
Do I need plugins for zoom or cursor effects?
No. Zooms, cursor smoothing, click effects and captions are built in.
Other comparisons
- Compare · OnScreen vsScreen StudioThe auto-zoom look, on Windows.
- Compare · OnScreen vsFocuSeeAuto zoom that holds still.
- Compare · OnScreen vsLoomFor videos that need to look finished.
- Compare · OnScreen vsCamtasiaPaid once, not every year.
- Compare · OnScreen vsCapA zoom that holds still.
- Compare · OnScreen vsScreenFlowPolished screencasts on Windows.
Make your next tutorial one people watch to the end.
OnScreen for Windows and Mac, $29 paid once.
No account needed, and nothing gets uploaded.