CompareCamtasia vs Snagit

Camtasia vs Snagit

Pick Snagit ($39 a year) for screenshots and short recordings you trim and share; pick Camtasia (from $179.88 a year without a watermark) for tutorials you edit properly.

CriterionCamtasiaSnagit
Scoreas a screen recorder7.47.1
Best forBest for edited tutorials and trainingBest for screenshots and short clips
Works onWindows, MacWindows, Mac
Free recordingNo time limitTrial only (15 days)
Watermark when freeYesNo free plan
PriceFrom $179.88/yrFrom $39/yr
Max resolution4K4K
Sharing4.08.0
Recording features10.010.0
Editing10.05.0
Free plan6.01.0
Value for money6.09.0
Ease of use9.09.5
Platforms4.04.0
Instant share linkNoYes
Webcam overlayYesYes
Records computer audioYesYes
Built-in editorYesYes
4K recordingNoNo
Open sourceNoNo

Highlighted cells are the better score. Scores are out of 10. How we score

Both apps are made by TechSmith, and both record your screen, webcam, microphone and system audio up to 4K on Windows and Mac. The difference is what happens after you record.

Snagit is a screenshot tool first. It has an image editor, scrolling capture and step capture, which turns your clicks into a guide. Its video editing stops at trimming, cutting sections out and merging clips, and it can host a video on Screencast and give you a link. It costs $39 a year, with a 15-day trial.

Camtasia is a video editor built around a recorder: a multi-track timeline with captions, transitions, zoom and pan, quizzes and SCORM export for training platforms. The Editor is free to use with no time limit, but every export carries a watermark until you buy Essentials for $179.88 a year or a higher plan. There’s no share link straight after recording; you produce the video first.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Camtasia or Snagit?
Snagit if you mostly take annotated screenshots and short recordings. Camtasia if you make tutorials or training videos that need a full editor with captions and effects.
Is there a bundle of Camtasia and Snagit?
Camtasia Starter costs $39 a year and includes Snagit plus the Camtasia Editor, but Editor exports still carry a watermark on that plan.

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