Screencap is a fork of Cap, the open-source screen recorder built by the Cap team. Screencap runs it as a hosted service that is free today, with optional end-to-end encryption in the Mac app. Choose Cap for a Windows desktop app, self-hosting, Cap Pro features or the original team's support.
- Cap is open source. The Cap team built the recorder, under AGPL-3.0.
- Screencap is a fork of it, run as a hosted service by Dharma Loop LLC.
- Screencap adds free hosting, optional end-to-end encryption in the Mac app, and your own AI key.
- Cap offers a Windows app, self-hosting and Cap Pro.
- Same open-source roots. Pick the one that fits.
Is Screencap the same as Cap?
No, but they share a codebase. Cap is open source, and Screencap started as a fork of it, under the same AGPL-3.0 licence. The Cap team wrote the recorder, the editor and the sharing pages that Screencap is built on, and we are grateful to them. Screencap is run by Dharma Loop LLC, is not affiliated with Cap Software, Inc., and has its own hosted service, Mac app and terms.
If you like what Screencap does, you are using Cap's work. The original lives at cap.so and github.com/CapSoftware/Cap, and it is worth a look and a star.
How do Screencap and Cap compare?
Cap's cells come from cap.so/pricing and the Cap GitHub README, checked on 24 October 2026. Prices and limits are as of October 2026 and can change.
| Screencap | Cap | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Dharma Loop LLC, a fork of Cap | The Cap team (Cap Software, Inc.) |
| Licence | AGPL-3.0 (MIT for a few crates) | AGPL-3.0, with the cap-camera* and scap-* crates under MIT |
| Price | Free today, no paid plan, no card | Free; Desktop License $29 a year or $58 once; Cap Pro $12 per user a month, or $8.16 a month billed annually |
| Shared recording length | No limit at the time of writing | Free: shareable links up to 5 minutes. Pro: listed with unlimited cloud storage and bandwidth |
| Desktop platforms | Mac (Apple Silicon and Intel). Browser recording in Chrome or Edge on Windows and Linux | macOS and Windows per the GitHub README; the pricing page also lists Linux downloads |
| Self-hosting | Not documented or supported | Yes: Docker Compose, Railway and Coolify are described in the README |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional in the Mac app, off by default. Not in the browser | Not listed on the pricing page or README |
| AI titles, summaries, chapters | On your own OpenRouter key, paid to OpenRouter. Optional zero data retention | Built in, listed under Cap Pro; transcriptions are also Pro |
| Team and business features | No SSO, custom domains or admin add-ons | Custom domain, viewer analytics, Loom importer, custom S3 bucket, SAML SSO and BAA add-ons, priority support |
| Support | Chat and email from a small team | Community support on Free, priority support on Pro |
What does Screencap do differently?
Screencap is a hosted service with no paid plan today. You sign up with an email code and record, and there is no limit on recording length or storage at the time of writing. Our terms reserve the right to change limits, and say we will not charge you for anything without asking first. The details are on the pricing page.
The Mac app can also encrypt a recording end to end. The key stays in the link after the # and never reaches our servers. Encrypted recordings give up transcripts, AI summaries and chat previews, and screenshots are not encrypted. See how the encryption works.
AI features are bring-your-own-key. Titles, summaries, chapters and transcripts run on your OpenRouter account, so you choose the models and see the price per hour of video. Screencap has a Mac app, plus recording in Chrome or Edge for everything else.
When should I choose Cap instead?
Choose Cap if any of these describes you. It is the better fit, and it is a fine product.
- You need a Windows desktop app. Cap's README says it runs on macOS and Windows. Screencap has no Windows desktop app.
- You want to self-host. Cap describes running its own server and keeping your data on your infrastructure. Screencap does not offer that.
- You want Cap Pro features. A custom domain, viewer analytics, a Loom importer, a custom S3 bucket or Google Drive, and SSO or a signed BAA as add-ons are listed on Cap's side.
- You want the original team behind it. Cap's roadmap and support come from the people who build it. Screencap is a separate service.
When is Screencap the better fit?
Pick Screencap if you record on a Mac, want a hosted service that costs nothing today, or want end-to-end encryption for sensitive screens. It also suits anyone who prefers to pay an AI provider directly instead of a subscription. For a wider look at free recorders, see the free screen recorder page and the Loom alternative page.
Questions
Is Screencap the same as Cap?
No, but they share a codebase. Screencap is a fork of Cap, the open-source screen recorder from the Cap team, and is run separately by Dharma Loop LLC. It is not affiliated with Cap Software, Inc. and has its own hosted service, Mac app and rules. Cap is the original, and the credit for the foundation is theirs.
Is Screencap free and Cap paid?
Screencap is free today with no paid plan. Cap has a free plan and paid options: as of October 2026 its pricing page lists shareable links of up to five minutes on Free, a Desktop License at $29 a year or $58 once, and Cap Pro at $12 per user a month or $8.16 a month billed annually. Screencap's terms allow limits and plans to change, and say we will not charge you for anything without asking first.
Can I self-host Screencap?
Screencap does not document or support self-hosting. Cap does: its GitHub README describes running it with Docker Compose, and its site lists self-hosting. If you want to run your own server, use Cap. The code Screencap is built from is public under AGPL-3.0, but you would be on your own.
Is Screencap open source?
Yes. Screencap's code is public at github.com/ques123/screencap-web under the AGPL-3.0 licence, the same licence as the parts of Cap it is built on. You can build the Mac app from source. Cap's own repository is at github.com/CapSoftware/Cap.
Does Screencap work on Windows?
There is no Screencap desktop app for Windows or Linux. You can record in Chrome or Edge from the web dashboard. Cap's GitHub README says Cap runs on macOS and Windows, so Cap is the better choice if you want a Windows desktop recorder.
Which has better AI features, Screencap or Cap?
Cap has built-in AI. Its pricing page lists auto titles, summaries, chapters and transcriptions under Cap Pro. Screencap runs the same kinds of features on your own OpenRouter key, so you pay OpenRouter directly and can turn on zero data retention. Neither is better for everyone: pick Cap for a bundled option, Screencap to choose your own models.