Clarcut vs Cap: which one should you choose?

Clarcut vs Cap at a glance

Public prices as of November 2026, excluding any taxes. They may change.

Two similar tools, two philosophies

Cap and Clarcut share the same starting idea: record the screen while logging the cursor and clicks separately, so you can zoom, smooth the cursor and style the picture afterward. For a product demo, the out-of-the-box result is similar.

The difference is focus. Cap was built as an open source Loom alternative: Instant Mode uploads while you record and gives you a link the moment you stop, with comments, reactions and, on Cap Pro, AI-generated titles, summaries and chapters. Clarcut is first and foremost a local editor: all the editing happens on your computer, and sharing is an add-on.

Where Cap does better

• The code is open (AGPLv3) and you can self-host the sharing side, or plug in your own S3 or Google Drive storage.
• It runs on Linux and Intel Macs.
• 4K export at 60 fps is available in the free version (personal use).
• Instant Mode gives you an immediate link, with comments and reactions for signed-in viewers.
• Team workspaces, a custom domain and a Loom importer (Cap Pro).

What Clarcut adds

• One-click silence removal (Light, Normal, Strong) and background noise removal, processed on your computer.
• Smart webcam: the bubble moves out of the cursor's way and hides during silences.
• “Speed up when I type”: long typing sections are sped up automatically.
• Blur a sensitive area from a given moment, on-screen keyboard shortcuts, logo overlay.
• Styled word-by-word captions (karaoke, classic, social), even with English words mixed into speech in another language.
• Commercial use allowed in the free version.

Cost over 1 and 3 years

For personal use, Cap is free with no watermark: a real advantage. For professional use without the cloud, the two one-time purchases are close, so the decision comes down to features.

Privacy

In Studio Mode, Cap keeps the project on your computer and transcribes captions locally. In Instant Mode, the video is uploaded while you record. Clarcut has a single mode: everything local, with an upload only if you create a share link. With Cap, self-hosting also lets you keep shared videos on your own servers, which Clarcut doesn't offer.

Recording a 2-minute product demo in each, step by step

1. 1

   Cap: record in Studio Mode

   Pick a display, a window or an area, choose your camera, mic and system audio, and record in Studio Mode (Instant Mode would upload right away and skip the editing step). When you stop, Cap saves a local project.

2. 2

   Cap: edit

   Click “Click to generate zoom segments” to create zooms around your recorded clicks, pick a cursor motion preset (Slow, Smooth, Mellow, Fast or custom), and choose a solid color, gradient, wallpaper or custom image background. If you need captions, run the beta Captions tool, which transcribes locally.

3. 3

   Cap: export

   Export to MP4 at 720p, 1080p or 4K and 15, 30 or 60 fps, or to GIF, copy to the clipboard, or create a shareable Cap link.

4. 4

   Clarcut: record

   Pick the screen, a window or an area, turn on the webcam and mic, and start (Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows, with an optional 3-second countdown).

5. 5

   Clarcut: edit

   The editor opens with zooms already placed on your clicks, the cursor smoothed and background noise removed. Cut silences in one click, turn on “speed up when I type” if you filled in a form, blur an email address if one shows up, and add captions (Pro).

6. 6

   Clarcut: export

   Export to MP4 or GIF, in 16:9 for your site or 9:16 for social, or create a share link with Clarcut Plus.

The two flows are close. The practical differences show up in the details: Cap generates zooms when you ask for them and lets you choose between local and instant sharing; Clarcut applies the whole edit by default and adds audio cleanup, silence cutting and a webcam that steps aside.

Switching between Cap and Clarcut

Both are free to try: record the same demo with each and compare the zooms, the cursor and the audio. Projects aren't compatible between them, but your MP4 exports work anywhere. If you move to Clarcut Pro from Cap, the code TCHAO15 gets you 15% off.

Our verdict by profile

• You want open source, Linux, or to host your own videos: Cap.
• Your team is replacing Loom and wants instant links with comments: Cap Pro.
• You publish demos and tutorials and want clean audio, silences cut and a webcam that gets out of the way: Clarcut.
• You're on an Intel Mac: Cap, since Clarcut requires Apple silicon.

Frequently asked questions