Essential Mac Apps

Kap

Free screen recorder for Mac that exports GIF, MP4, WebM and APNG from the menu bar.

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Kap is a screen recorder for Mac that runs from the menu bar. You select part of the screen, record it, and export the clip as a GIF, MP4, WebM or APNG file.

Click the menu bar icon, pick the area to capture and press record. Click the icon again to stop. While recording, Option-click the icon to pause, or right-click it for more options. Kap can record audio, highlight mouse clicks and trim the clip before export.

Plugins add sharing and upload targets such as Giphy, Vercel and Streamable, and there is documentation for writing your own. Kap suits quick GIFs for bug reports, documentation and chat.

Kap is made by Wulkano and released under the MIT licence. It is built with web technology, has separate builds for Apple Silicon and Intel, and needs macOS 12 or later. The latest release, 3.6.0, came out in October 2022.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kap free?

Yes. Kap is free and open source, with no paid version.

Is Kap safe and still maintained?

Kap is MIT licensed, with the code on GitHub at wulkano/Kap, and it uses Sentry to report crashes. The project is not archived, but the last release, 3.6.0, is from October 2022 and the last commit is from November 2024, so expect few or no updates.

How do I install Kap?

Run brew install --cask kap, or download the Apple Silicon or Intel build from getkap.co and move Kap to Applications.

What macOS version does Kap need?

Kap needs macOS 12 Monterey or later.

How does Kap compare to CleanShot X?

CleanShot X is a paid app, from $35 one-time or $10 a month for Pro, that combines screenshots, annotation, screen recording and cloud sharing. Kap only records the screen, but it is free, open source and exports straight to GIF, MP4, WebM or APNG.

How do I pause a recording in Kap?

While Kap is recording, Option-click its menu bar icon to pause. Right-click the icon for more options, and click it normally to stop.

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Alternatives to Kap

Other Mac apps that do the same job as Kap.