SCREENGLIMPSE VS RECORDLY
Free and cross-platform.
Plus a documented privacy guarantee.
Recordly is a genuinely free, open-source, cross-platform auto-zoom recorder — a real option worth considering. What it doesn't say anywhere on its site is whether recordings stay on your device. ScreenGlimpse states it plainly, on every page: nothing is uploaded, ever.
▸ Nothing is uploaded — recording happens entirely on your device
Side by side
Where the two tools actually differ.
Recordly is already cross-platform and free, so this isn't a cost or reach argument. Here's what changes on the details.
| Recordly | ScreenGlimpse | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS & Linux | Windows, macOS & Linux, plus Web |
| Local-only recording, documented | Not specified on their site | Stated explicitly on every page |
| Pricing | Free — no paid tier at all | Free tier, or $5/mo, or $100 once |
| Cursor zoom & animation | Built in | Built in (Focus tier) |
| Built-in timeline editor | Yes | Not included |
| Try without installing | Not offered | Yes — browser version at /app/ |
| Support | GitHub issues (open-source project) | Dedicated support page & contact |
| 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.
Clarity
A privacy claim you can actually read.
Recordly doesn't say whether it uploads anything. ScreenGlimpse commits to it plainly, on every page: recording, cursor tracking, zoom, and encoding all happen locally.
Support
Somewhere to go if something breaks.
Recordly, like most open-source tools, is best supported through GitHub issues. ScreenGlimpse has a dedicated support page and contact channel.
No install
Try it in the browser first.
Recordly is a native download only. ScreenGlimpse has a web version for a quick recording with nothing to install first.
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.
Does Recordly upload recordings to the cloud?
Recordly's own site doesn't specify either way. ScreenGlimpse states it explicitly on every page: recording, cursor tracking, zoom, and encoding all happen locally, and nothing is uploaded.
Is ScreenGlimpse free like Recordly?
Recordly is free with no paid tier at all, which is a genuine strength of theirs. ScreenGlimpse's Glimpse tier is free forever too, with Focus ($5/mo or $100 once) adding cursor highlight, click-to-zoom, and 4K export on top.
Does ScreenGlimpse have a timeline editor like Recordly?
No — Recordly's built-in timeline editing is a real feature of theirs. ScreenGlimpse doesn't include an editor; pair it with any video editor if you need to trim or rearrange clips afterward.
Is there dedicated support if something goes wrong, unlike an open-source tool?
Yes — ScreenGlimpse has a dedicated support page and contact channel. Recordly, as an open-source project, is best supported through its GitHub issues.