Screenity: A Privacy-Focused, Open Source Screen Recorder You Should Try
Need a screen recorder that doesn’t spy on you, limit your recordings, or cost a dime? Meet Screenity, a free and open source Chrome extension that lets you capture your screen, webcam, or both—without any hidden tracking or paywalls. With over 15k GitHub stars, it’s clearly solving a pain point for developers, educators, and creators who just want a no-nonsense tool.
What It Does
Screenity is a browser-based screen recorder with features you’d normally find in premium apps:
- Record your entire screen, a single tab, or just your webcam
- Add annotations (draw, highlight, or type) while recording
- Trim clips and export them as MP4 or GIF
- No watermarks, no time limits, and no uploads to third-party servers
Why It’s Cool
Unlike many screen recorders, Screenity is entirely client-side—your recordings stay on your machine unless you choose to share them. It’s also open source (GPL-3.0), so you can audit the code or tweak it for your needs. The annotation tools are a standout feature, making it great for tutorials, bug reports, or quick demos.
How to Try It
- Install the Chrome extension.
- Click the extension icon and choose what to record.
- Edit and export your video—done.
Final Thoughts
Screenity is one of those rare tools that’s both simple and powerful. If you’ve ever been frustrated by recording limits or sketchy privacy policies in other apps, this is worth a shot. Plus, being open source means it can only get better with community contributions.
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