The 7 Best Screen Recorders for Mac with Internal Audio

Unlike taking screenshots that are easy as pie, recording the screens on Mac with internal audio has been a legacy issue, given its lack of native support.

Generally, it requires the further installation of third-party screen recorders or plugins that have support for recording internal audio.

Moreover, it preferably is able to record the screen and audio simultaneously, instead of having to record separately.

Top 3 Mac Screen Recorders with Internal Audio

Screen Recorder	Pricing	Verdict
QuickTime	Free	The inbuilt screen recorder app on macOS that record screen with internal audio after third-party tools integration
Record Go	Totally Free	The free and lightweight screen recorder app for Mac that allows you to record full/partial screen with internal audio and face cam.
OBS Studio	Free	The free, cross-platform, and open-source screen recorder that offers extensive audio input options including internal/system audio

QuickTime Player

QuickTime is the built-in multimedia player on macOS that handles various formats of digital video, picture, sound, panoramic images, and interactivity. When it comes to screen recording, QuickTime Player has a built-in feature that allows users to record videos on their Mac screen.

However, it does not natively support internal audio recording. To record the screen with internal audio using QuickTime, users need to pair it with additional software like Soundflower or BlackHole to route audio for recording.

Pricing: Free. Built-in on Mac.

Key Features

• Full-Screen Capture: Record the entire screen with a single click.
• Partial Screen Capture: Select and record a specific area of the screen.
• Audio Recording: Include microphone audio in screen recordings.
• Preview Window: Review the recording before saving.
• Trimming: Trim the beginning and end of recordings.
• Save to Multiple Formats: Export recordings to different video formats.
• Built-In Playback: Watch recordings within QuickTime Player.

Record Go

If you’re looking for a practical and lightweight option to record your screen on Mac with an intuitive UI, Record Go is your go-to.

It’s even packed with many advanced features such as the support for both audio input from the system or microphone, allow users to record the screen on Mac with internal audio.

Record Go by PDFgear is a versatile and powerful screen recorder that is available from the Mac App Store for free.

Pricing: Free.

Key Features

• Various input audio: Record the Mac’s screen with either system or external audio.
• Beginner-friendly: It features an intuitive UI for beginners to easily get the hang of.
• High-quality recording: Record your Mac screen in 4K resolution and 60FPS for visually appealing content.
• Flexible recording area: Record either your full Mac screen, a part of the screen, or a window.
• Record mouse: It captures mouse clicks and movements and provides clear visual cues.

Download Record Go for Free Now

OBS Studio

Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) Studio is a free and open-source application that is very popular for screen recording and live streaming. It allows for internal audio capture through additional audio plugins or configurations.

It offers powerful mixing capabilities, allowing multiple audio and video sources to be combined, and scenes to be seamlessly switched during live broadcasts. Users can enhance their productions with filters, transitions, and various plugins developed by the community, such as the OBS chroma key plugin.

Pricing: Free and open-source.

Key Features

• Audio Mixer: Control audio with per-source filters, such as noise gate, noise suppression, and gain.
• Filters: Apply video filters including image masking, color correction, chroma/color keying, and more.
• Transitions: Use custom transitions when switching between scenes or sources.
• Custom Output Resolution: Choose the resolution and frame rate of your recordings.
• Multiview: Monitor different sources and scenes simultaneously before and during live transmission.
• Studio Mode: Preview your scenes and sources before pushing them live.

Download OBS Studio from the Official Website

ScreenFlow

ScreenFlow is a premium application that offers extensive features beyond screen recording, including video editing and annotation tools. It can record internal audio with ease.

It is acclaimed for its streamlined video editing and screen recording capabilities. With ScreenFlow, users can record the contents of their entire monitor while also capturing video from a webcam and audio from a microphone or computer’s internal system.

Pricing: $169

Key Features

• Multi-Layered Recording: Simultaneously records video from the webcam, screen, microphones, and system audio for a comprehensive capture experience.
• Powerful Video Editing Tools: Provides a wide range of post-recording editing features such as cutting, trimming, adding transitions, animations, and video actions.
• Annotations and Callouts: Enhances videos with annotations, callouts, and text to guide viewers’ attention.
• Animated Titles and Graphics: Comes with built-in animated graphics, titles, and logos to professionalize videos.
• Closed Caption Support: Enables the creation and editing of ADA-compliant closed captions.

Download ScreenFlow from the Official Website

Camtasia

Camtasia is another premium option that is aimed at professionals who need screen recording and video editing capabilities. It supports internal audio recording and offers a suite of editing features.

Camtasia is a robust screen recording and video editing software designed for users who want to create professional-looking instructional videos, presentations, and screencasts.

Camtasia offers a mix of powerful features such as multi-track timeline editing, annotations, animations, and effects that enhance the instructional quality of videos. It also includes a rich library of royalty-free assets like customizable intros and outros.

Pricing: Starting from $179.88 / year.

Key Features

• Multi-track Timeline: Allows users to layer different media types with precision on multiple tracks.
• Transitions and Animations: Includes a variety of transitions and animations to create professional-looking video flows.
• Audio Recording and Editing: Captures clear audio and provides tools for improving sound quality, adding effects, and adjusting levels.
• Video Effects: Features pre-set and customizable video effects such as green screen to enhance production value.
• Templates and Themes: Comes with pre-built video templates and themes to maintain consistency across video projects.

Download Camtasia from the Official Website

Capto

Capto is a screen recording and video editing app designed for Mac users. It can capture screen video along with internal audio and also offers simple editing tools.

Capto allows for detailed screen captures, whether it’s the entire screen, a selected area, or a specific window. After capture, its editing features enable users to annotate, highlight, and manipulate screenshots and videos.

Users can organize their files in a dedicated folder system, and easily share their creations through various platforms, including YouTube, Dropbox, and more.

Pricing: Starting from $29.99.

Key Features

• Flexible Screen Recording: Capture the entire screen, a selected area, or a specific window with ease.
• Video Editing Tools: Trim, crop, and join video clips, add annotations, callouts, and text to enhance the instructional quality.
• Annotations for Screenshots: Comprehensive tools for editing images including arrows, shapes, and text.
• iOS Screen Recording: Ability to record the screen of connected iOS devices directly on the Mac.
• Video and Image Editing: Basic editing capabilities for both still images and video right within the app.
• Export Options: Export videos and images in various formats suitable for different devices and needs.

Download Capto from Apple App Store

Audio Hijack

While Audio Hijack by Rogue Amoeba is primarily an audio recording tool, it can be used in conjunction with screen recording software to capture both internal and external audio.

It excels in recording audio streams, whether it’s music from a streaming service, conversations from VoIP calls, or system audio.

Users can easily conduct different tasks, such as podcast recording or audio archiving. Audio Hijack includes a variety of built-in effects for sound adjustment, and its powerful recording options allow for scheduling and automating recordings.

Pricing: $64 USD

Key Features

• High-Quality Audio Capture: Record any audio from applications like Skype, iTunes, or any other software, including system audio.
• Customizable Audio Sources: Select and record audio from specific apps or hardware inputs.
• Scheduled Recordings: Set up timed recordings for radio shows, podcasts, or other audio streams.
• Podcast Recording: Capture microphone input and mix it with other audio sources for podcasting.
• Lossless Quality: Record and save audio in lossless formats for the best sound quality.

Download Audio Hijack from the Official Website

FAQs

Can I record Mac screen with internal audio in Chrome?

Yes, this can be done using a variety of screen recorder Chrome extensions. However, note that you should first allow Chrome to screen record on Mac for the extensions to work properly.

Why is there no sound in my screen recording?

Ensure that the recording software’s settings have the correct audio input source selected (e.g., BlackHole). For example, for QuickTime screen recording, verify that BlackHole 2ch is selected as the output device in System Preferences > Sound.

Can I screen record on a Mac with internal audio without installing third-party software?

No, macOS does not natively support recording internal audio along with screen recording. Third-party software is required to capture internal audio.

How do I control which apps can record my screen and system audio on a Mac?

Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording. Here, you can allow or deny apps the ability to record your screen and audio.

Where do screen recordings go on Mac?

Screen recordings using the Screenshot Toolbar or QuickTime Player are saved to the desktop by default. You can change the default save location through the Screenshot Toolbar’s Options menu or manually save the file to a different location.