Sunny Wen 15/12/2025

Screen Recorder

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Best Free 4K Screen Recorders for Windows Gamers and Creators

Using a 4K screen video recorder is very common for gamers and creators who want clearer and smoother videos. After all, when you record a game, tutorial or reaction video in 4K, the final video looks more real. That's what most viewers want now. Many Windows users also prefer 4K screen video recorder, because it can capture small details that will be lost at low resolution. However, it is not always easy to choose a free 4K screen video recorder. Some tools focus on game performance, some are more suitable for recording tutorials, and some try to balance all aspects. So in this guide, I will introduce five reliable options and explain how each tool meets different needs. In this way, choosing a video recorder should feel much easier.

Part 1: 5 Free 4K Screen Recorders for Windows

Let's briefly introduce five free 4K screen video recording software: First, give a brief introduction, and then list their advantages and disadvantages. You can choose according to what you value most.

1. OBS

OBS is a free and open source software, which is used to record videos and broadcast live. It supports Windows, macOS and Linux systems, so creators of different platforms can use it easily. Because of the support for hardware-accelerated coding and flexible export options, professionals often use OBS to record high-quality 4K video and stable live broadcasts. It also allows us to put together pictures from multiple sources, such as windows, pictures, overlays or cameras, so it is convenient to switch the picture layout when recording video.

2. Leawo Free Screen Recorder

Leawo Free Screen Recorder is a free screen recording software of Leawo Company. It says that it can record videos with the highest quality of 4K (depending on your computer hardware), and can also record screen, camera and sound at the same time, and then save them in MP4 format. It is simple to use, but it can also export high-definition videos.

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• Leawo Free Screen Recorder

  4-in-1 screen recorder suite to record gameplay, tutorial, training video, lecture, reaction video, webinar video, etc.

  • Free online recorder to record window, browser tab or entire screen online.
  • Free screen recorder to record screen in full-screen or custom area at up to 4K to MP4.
  • Free webcam recorder to record webcam video.
  • Free audio recorder to record audio from microphone or computer to MP3.
  • Free screenshot snapper to snap screenshot to JPG.
  Download Windows

3. ShareX

ShareX is an old-fashioned free open source screenshot tool, which can take screenshots, record GIFs and record screens. It is lightweight, highly customizable, and supports uploading to many places-especially for advanced users who like automated workflows.

4. ScreenRec

The main feature of ScreenRec is fast sharing: it can record screens, sounds and cameras, and automatically upload recorded things to private cloud links. The team stressed that it has no watermark and can be recorded indefinitely for ordinary use, which is especially suitable for sharing tutorials quickly.

5. iTop Screen Recorder

iTop Screen Recorder advertises itself as a simple screen recording tool suitable for people who play games. It has "game mode" and GPU acceleration function, which can make the recording smoother. It should be noted that according to the developer's instructions, the free desktop version usually adds the default watermark to the recorded video unless you upgrade to the Pro version.

Part 2: Recommendations by Use Case

1. High-Performance Game Recording

Why it matters: recording games like modern AAA games in 4K demands efficient encoding and a recorder that can use your GPU, otherwise frame drops happen.

Best picks:

• iTop Screen Recorder — If you want a friendly user interface and a "game mode" that can speed up the game, this is quite useful, but pay attention to its watermarking policy.

2. Streaming and Live Gameplay

Why it matters: Live broadcast needs stable RTMP output and scene control, not fancy functions after recording.

Best pick:

• OBS — It is an accepted standard for live broadcast to Twitch and YouTube platforms, because it is flexible in coding and control. If you plan to broadcast live in high resolution, it is wise to choose OBS.

3. Tutorials, Demos and Educational Videos

Why it's important: People who make educational videos usually want to share quickly, easily add annotations, and have clear audio-there can be a few clips.

Best picks:

• Leawo Free Screen Recorder — You can directly export 4K videos, and there is a screen labeling tool, which is very suitable for making beautiful tutorial videos.
• ScreenRec — If sharing speed is important, ScreenRec can generate instant links, and ordinary accounts have no watermarks, which can quickly distribute video clips.
• ShareX — If your workflow is a mixture of screenshots and short videos, and you need automatic uploading or OCR, then ShareX is the ideal choice.

Part 3: Conclusion

In short, if you want to completely control the recording or live broadcast of 4K games, OBS is the best free choice; And if you’re exploring OBS alternatives for screen recording, these free 4K tools give you several reliable starting points and if you want to record a 4K tutorial video quickly and easily, you can try Leawo or ScreenRec. iTop is suitable for users who like a simple interface and stable 4K recording performance. ShareX is still a powerful free tool for screenshots and automated processes. Finally, your computer configuration and personal workflow will determine which free 4K screen recording software is best for you. If you are also looking for screen recorders for Mac, several of these software support multiple operating systems. Are you ready to try? Which situation best meets your needs? I can help you adjust the settings next time.