The world of screencasting is much different from what it was in 2014, and it is a much different world than what it was in 2012. Such a change is expected. The two big names in screencasting, Camtasia and Screencast-O-Matic, both have big contenders in their rear view mirror. Not only are they fighting for third place against the upstart Jing, but they are now competing directly against each other in the ring. So who will come out on top? It’s impossible to tell. Both are known for their strengths in different areas, and both have their weaknesses. It will be a very close fight with the winner being whoever manages to claw their way to the top.
It’s been a long time since we’ve checked in with our friends at Screencast-O-Matic, and we’re happy to see they are still doing well in the video editing software industry. (They made a splash a few years ago by nailing the 3D animation market.) This time around, they are going head-to-head with Camtasia, another video editing software that boasts “the most affordable, easiest-to-use, most powerful video editing software on the market.”
Screencast-O-Matic (or SC-O-Matic for short) was once the most popular screen recording software in the world, but it has taken some hits from up and comers such as Camtasia in recent years. Now SC-O-Matic is getting a major update that it hopes will put it back on top, and let’s just say that it’s not messing around: the new version will be able to record videos up to 10 gigabytes in size, which is 10 times more than its main competitor!
Camtasia vs Screencast-O-Matic
There are many programs to capture screens, but they are not all equally good. Some are slow and some have complicated prices. Two popular screen recording programs are Camtasia and Screencast-O-Matic. How do the two options compare? This article is about Camtasia versus Screencast-O-Matic.
Characteristics
Registration screen
Screencast-O-Matic is a stand-alone screen recorder and Camtasia is an editor with a built-in screen recorder. The two are connected:
- Full screen recording
- Regional record
- Recording via microphone
- Audio recording on computer
- Webcam recording
The free version of Screencast-O-Matic does not offer the option to record the sound of the computer.
Video processing
Another important part of Camtasia and Screencast-O-Matic is video editing. The former has a multi-track video editor with the ability to add external media. The latter also offers a rich editing program that doesn’t support multitrack editing, but does have some easy-to-use tools. Related: Screencast-O-Matic versus Screencastify
Screencast-O-Matic (Premium)
The editor is only available in Premium plans. The free tool has a number of options, such as. B. video editing, but a full-fledged video editor is available in the paid packages. The tool offers :
- Inserting a video or image (image in image, but no multitrack editor)
- Telling the video
- Blurred part of the video
- Add a shape (arrow, square, circle, etc.)
- Add text
- Highlight of the video
- Replacement of video or still image
- Setting the video speed
- Audio volume control
- Adding transitions
- Adding music from the Screencast-O-Matic library
- Changing the video resolution
- Adding titles (converting speech to text)
- Remove the cursor or its effect
- Creating video clips with a script (Premium)
The scripted video option allows you to write a script and record the voice first and then the screen that follows the recorded voice. Camtasia software interface
Camtasia
On the other hand, Camtasia has many professional tools to add detail to your videos. You can exclude the following options, among others:
- Summaries
- Transitions
- Behavior (animated text titles)
- Animation
- Cursor effects
- Voice output
- Audio Effects
- Visual effects (video)
- Interactivity (Quiz)
- Labelling
Gameplay
Camtasia vs Screencast-O-Matic File Size To make the comparison between Screencast-O-Matic and Camtasia fair, I recorded some videos (video game and browser). In this round, we check the size of the gameplay video. I recorded the same game at the same volume for 25 seconds, then exported both devices in 1080p. The video exported to Camtasia used more disk space (47.6 MB) than the video exported with Screencast-O-Matic (28.9 MB).
Navigator
Camtasia vs Screencast-O-Matic browser file size Saving and exporting non-game videos takes up less storage space. I recorded a 3 minute and 20 second video using the Google Chrome browser, and here are the results. The Camtasia video required 17.9 MB of disk space, 5.5 MB less than Screencast-O-Matic (22.4 MB).
Mobile
Screencast-O-Matic comes with a freemium mobile application. It works with your Screencast-O-Matic account. Depending on your desktop plan, you will get the features of the application. For example, with a Premier subscription you can automatically stream videos from your Android phone or iPhone to your desktop editor.
Ease of use
I find Screencast-O-Matic easier to use. Compared to Camtasia, the workflow is easy to execute. Camtasia, on the other hand, is a full-featured video editor with lots of interesting options, but you have to go through a learning curve to become a pro. In addition, the program is sometimes slow and does not work well on older computers. Related: Screencast-O-Matic vs. loom
Prices
Here’s another interesting topic. Camtasia is not free. The company offers a free 30-day trial where videos are exported with the Camtasia watermark and cannot be used for commercial purposes. Related: Camtasia vs Filmora If you choose Camtasia, you will pay a one-time fee of $250 with a free upgrade option of $50. You also get a 30 day money back guarantee on your purchase. Screencast-O-Matic is available in free and paid versions. The free plan, as mentioned, offers limited recording options, and most editing options are locked. The Deluxe Plan costs $1.65 per month and is paid annually. This will give you access to :
- Video editor
- Recording to computer
- Import story and music
- more sound effects
- Drawing and zooming during recording
- Tool for the automatic creation of signatures
- Green screen filter
The Deluxe plan is pretty much all you need if you want a cheap recorder and screen editor. The top plan, called Premier, costs $4 per month and provides access to premium features:
- Stock library (images, audio and video)
- Custom video controls and players
- Hosting of videos on your website
- 100 GB per month
- Connection to the hem
The same discounted rates are available for teams of 10 or more.
Which one suits you best?
You can use both to achieve your goal, but I think there are specific things that work for both. Camtasia is designed to create and edit videos for YouTube, and Screencast-O-Matic offers many online features to easily share videos with others, including students or group members. You can also use Screencast-O-Matic for simple YouTube videos, such as tutorials and game videos.
What now?
Then you need to download the program of your choice from the list below. The tools mentioned in this article are pretty much all you get, so it should be pretty clear by now what you should choose. Message: The Screencast-O-Matic link is an affiliate link, which means I get a commission if you decide to buy this program.
Supplement
The article Camtasia vs. Screencast-O-Matic covers the most important topics. I hope this has helped you in your choice. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know below so we can discuss it further.In 2024, the most important showdown in tech would be between Camtasia and Screencast-O-Matic. Camtasia is the industry leader for video editing and presentation creation software, but Screencast-O-Matic has been gaining a lot of traction in the market, as it is the new kid on the block with a powerful presentation tool and a price tag that is significantly lower than Camtasia. Given that both applications are excellent, how do you decide between the two?