SCREENGLIMPSE VS OBS STUDIO
Skip the scenes and sources.
Just hit record.
OBS Studio is free and extremely capable — built for streamers who need scenes, multiple sources, and a full audio mixer. ScreenGlimpse is for the far more common case: you just want to record your screen, with your cursor easy to follow, in under a minute.
▸ Nothing is uploaded — recording happens entirely on your device
Side by side
Two tools built for different jobs.
OBS is the better choice if you're live streaming or producing multi-source video. Here's what changes if you're not.
| OBS Studio | ScreenGlimpse | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup before your first recording | Scenes, sources, encoder settings | Pick a screen, hit record |
| Cursor highlight & auto-zoom | Needs third-party plugins | Built in (Focus tier) |
| Region screenshot & markup (Snip it) | Needs a separate tool | Built in — pen, arrows, shapes, blur, text (Focus tier) |
| Export as animated GIF | Not built in | Built in (Focus tier) |
| Learning curve | Steep — built for production workflows | Minutes |
| Live streaming | Yes — built for it | No — recording only |
| Price | Free, open-source | Free tier; $5/mo or $100 once for Focus |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web |
| Freeform whiteboard (Drawingboard) | Not built in | Built in — patterns, page colors, image import & eraser (Focus tier) |
Why people switch
Three reasons ScreenGlimpse ends up in the toolbox.
Speed
No scene to build first.
There's no source list, no encoder tuning, no output settings to get right before you can hit record. Pick a screen or window and go.
Clarity
The pointer does the explaining.
A soft highlight follows your cursor and zooms in on clicks automatically — no plugin hunting required to get that effect out of OBS.
Fit
Built for recording, not streaming.
If you don't need live output, a scene collection, or a mixer, ScreenGlimpse is a smaller tool that's easier to reach for on a whim.
Pricing
From a quick glimpse to full focus.
Start free. Upgrade when the highlight-and-zoom becomes something you actually rely on.
- Unlimited local recordings
- Up to 720p export
- Mic, webcam & system audio
- Cursor highlight & zoom
- Cursor highlight & click-to-zoom
- Up to 4K export
- No watermark
- Everything in Focus
- One payment, yours to keep
Fine print, in plain words
Questions worth answering up front.
Is ScreenGlimpse a replacement for OBS?
Not for streaming or multi-source production — OBS is still the right tool there. ScreenGlimpse is for the much simpler job of recording your screen without setting up scenes first.
Does ScreenGlimpse support plugins like OBS?
No — it's intentionally simple, with just the recording options you need: screen or window, mic, webcam, system audio, cursor highlight, and zoom.
Is ScreenGlimpse free like OBS?
The Glimpse tier is free forever — unlimited local recordings at up to 720p. Cursor highlight, click-to-zoom, and watermark-free export are part of the paid Focus tier.
Can I record just a window instead of my whole screen?
Yes — pick a specific window or your full screen before you start recording, same as you'd expect from any screen recorder.