ScreenPal review: pricing, features, and honest assessment (2026)

Per-user tiered pricing · Cloud · Web, macOS, Windows · Free trial available

ScreenPal has been around since 2006 (back when it was called Screencast-O-Matic) and it's quietly become one of the most popular screen recorders in classrooms and creator workflows. This review covers actual pricing ($3-$10/month), what the free plan really gets you, video editing quality, AI features, education discounts, and where Loom or Tella might be a better pick for your situation.

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Written by RajatFact-checked by ChandrasmitaReviewed Jun 14, 2026

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Last updated: June 14, 2026

Pricing

Per-user tiered · Free plan available (15-min recording limit, watermark)

Deployment

Cloud

Supported OS

Web, macOS, Windows

What is ScreenPal?

ScreenPal (formerly Screencast-O-Matic) is a screen recording and video editing tool for educators, creators, and small teams. You record your screen, webcam, or both, then edit and share from one app. It runs on Mac, Windows, and mobile. Paid plans start at $3/month with a limited free tier available.

ScreenPal pricing breakdown -- what each plan actually includes

ScreenPal uses a tiered system with four plan levels. The Free plan gives you screen and webcam recording up to 15 minutes per video with a watermark on every export. Solo Deluxe at $3/month (billed annually) or $4/month (billed monthly) removes the watermark, unlocks unlimited recording length, gives you the full video editor with multi-track audio, automated captions, and lets you publish anywhere. For most individual creators and teachers, this is the plan that makes sense.

Solo Premier at $6/month (annual) adds unlimited stock video, an ad-free video player for your hosted pages, and CTA annotation buttons you can overlay on videos. Solo Max at $10/month (annual) is the everything plan -- it includes AI-powered captions and transcriptions, AI text-to-speech narration, AI video translation, interactive quizzes and polls, and unlimited stock assets. The AI features on Max are genuinely useful for educators who create multilingual content or want auto-generated quizzes.

The Team Business plan starts at $8/user/month (annual) with a minimum of 3 creators and adds collaboration tools, shared content libraries, and team management features. For education, ScreenPal offers steep discounts -- individual educator plans start at $2.25/month, and multi-user plans for schools, districts, and universities are available with custom quotes. If you're a teacher, always check the education pricing before signing up for a regular Solo plan.

Compared to Loom's Business plan at $18/user/month and Tella's Pro at $12/month, ScreenPal is dramatically cheaper. Berrycast starts at $5/month, which is close to ScreenPal's Solo Premier pricing but with fewer editing features. The tradeoff: ScreenPal's interface isn't as polished as Loom or Tella, and the collaboration features aren't as seamless. You're paying less and getting a more feature-rich but slightly rougher experience.

Free: $0/mo (15-min limit, watermark)

Solo Deluxe: $4/mo ($3/mo billed annually)

Solo Premier: $8/mo ($6/mo billed annually)

Solo Max: $13/mo ($10/mo billed annually)

Team Business: $10/user/mo ($8/user/mo billed annually)

Verified from the official pricing page on June 13, 2026. View source

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What ScreenPal actually does (and what it doesn't)

ScreenPal is a strong pick if you need a reliable screen recorder with a built-in video editor and you don't want to pay Loom prices. The education pricing is genuinely hard to beat, and the editing tools cover 90% of what most teachers and creators actually need. The free plan is useful for testing but the watermark and 15-minute cap push most people to Solo Deluxe at $3/month quickly. Where ScreenPal falls short: the interface feels dated compared to newer tools like Tella, and the editing experience can be clunky when you're working with multiple tracks. If you need polished, branded video content for an audience that expects modern production quality, Tella or Loom will look sharper. If you need a dependable workhorse that records, edits, and hosts without draining your budget, ScreenPal is hard to beat.

Quick verdict

Best when: You're a teacher creating lesson recordings, a creator making tutorials, or anyone who needs screen recording plus basic...

Worth it if: Solo Deluxe ($3/month) works if you record tutorials, lessons, or walkthroughs and need basic editing -- this covers...

Think twice if: ScreenPal's design hasn't kept pace with newer competitors

ScreenPal is best for

You're a teacher creating lesson recordings, a creator making tutorials, or anyone who needs screen recording plus basic editing in one affordable tool. Skip it if you're building a polished video brand and need slick layouts, 4K export, and modern design touches. The sweet spot is people who record regularly, need editing tools built in, and care more about getting work done than having the prettiest interface.

Why ScreenPal stands out

Price, the built-in editor, education focus, and cross-platform support. At $3/month for Solo Deluxe, it's one of the cheapest capable screen recorders that includes real editing tools -- not just trimming, but multi-track audio, overlays, transitions, and automated captions. The education discounts at $2.25/month make it the default choice in schools. And it works on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, which matters when your students or collaborators are on different devices. vs. Loom: ScreenPal gives you a full video editor where Loom gives you trimming and stitching. vs. Tella: ScreenPal costs a fraction of the price but doesn't match Tella's recording layouts or 4K export.

Is ScreenPal worth the price?

Solo Deluxe ($3/month) works if you record tutorials, lessons, or walkthroughs and need basic editing -- this covers most individual users. Solo Max ($10/month) if you want AI captions, translation, and interactive quizzes. Test the free plan first -- the 15-minute cap is enough to evaluate recording and editing quality for a typical tutorial. Don't go annual until you've confirmed the editor handles your workflow -- some creators find the editing interface frustrating after the first few projects.

ScreenPal features

Screen Recording and Webcam Capture

ScreenPal lets you record your full screen, a selected region, or your webcam -- or any combination. You can draw and annotate during recording, which is useful for tutorials where you want to show UI elements in real time. The desktop app captures system audio alongside microphone input, and you can adjust the webcam overlay size and position before recording. The recording experience is solid on Windows and generally good on Mac, though macOS users report occasional issues with screen permissions and audio sync. The 15-minute cap on the free plan is per video, not total -- you can record as many 15-minute videos as you want. On paid plans, there's no limit on recording length. One thing to note: there's no option to pause and resume recording on the free plan, which can be annoying if you need to collect your thoughts mid-take.

Video Editor with Multi-Track Audio

The built-in editor goes well beyond trimming. You can split and rearrange clips, add text overlays with custom fonts and animations, insert transitions between scenes, drop in background music or sound effects, and record voiceover narration on top of existing footage. The multi-track audio editing lets you adjust individual audio layers independently -- raise background music during transitions, lower it during narration, and so on. Where it gets tricky: the timeline interface isn't as intuitive as dedicated editors like Descript or even Canva's video editor. Positioning overlays precisely requires patience, and working with more than two or three tracks can feel cramped. For simple recordings with captions and a clean trim, it's great. For multi-segment, heavily edited content, expect some frustration and a learning curve of a few sessions.

Automated Captions and AI Features

Solo Deluxe includes automated caption creation, which generates reasonably accurate captions you can edit before publishing. Solo Max adds the full AI suite: auto-generated transcriptions, AI text-to-speech narration (type your script and the AI reads it), AI video translation, auto-generated titles and summaries, and AI-powered quiz question generation from video content. The AI captions are accurate enough for English content that you'll spend 5-10 minutes correcting a 10-minute video rather than 30-40 minutes typing from scratch. The AI quiz generation is a standout feature for educators -- it watches your video and suggests quiz questions, which you can edit and attach to the video as interactive elements. Text-to-speech quality is functional but noticeably robotic compared to dedicated AI voice tools. For accessibility and efficiency, these features justify the upgrade to Max if you use them regularly.

Content Hosting, Sharing, and Analytics

ScreenPal includes unlimited video hosting on all plans, including free. You get a shareable link for every recording, embed codes for websites and LMS platforms, and the option to download as MP4. The Solo Premier plan and above give you an ad-free video player, which means your hosted videos won't show ScreenPal branding or ads to viewers. Analytics show you who watched, how long they watched, and where they dropped off. The hosting is convenient but basic compared to Loom's sharing experience. Loom gives you viewer reactions, comments, threaded discussions, and CRM integrations. ScreenPal's analytics cover the fundamentals -- view counts, watch time, geographic data -- but don't offer the engagement features that make Loom popular for async team communication. For educators and solo creators who mostly need a place to host and share videos with a clean player, ScreenPal's hosting does the job without extra cost.

Pros and cons

Separate what looks good in the demo from what actually matters after a month of daily use.

Strengths

The strengths that matter most once you start using ScreenPal daily.

One of the cheapest full-featured screen recorders available

At $3/month for Solo Deluxe, ScreenPal undercuts nearly every competitor that includes a video editor. Loom charges $18/month for its Business plan. Tella starts at $12/month. Even Berrycast's comparable tier is $5/month. For creators and educators on tight budgets, ScreenPal's pricing means you can get unlimited recording, editing, captions, and hosting for less than a coffee. The education pricing at $2.25/month makes it even more accessible for teachers paying out of pocket.

Built-in video editor that goes beyond basic trimming

Unlike Loom, which mostly offers trim-and-stitch editing, ScreenPal includes multi-track audio editing, overlays, transitions, animations, text effects, and narration tools. You can add background music, record voiceover on top of screen footage, import additional media, and mix videos together. It's not a Premiere Pro replacement, but for screen recording workflows where you want to clean up and polish without opening a separate app, it handles the job.

Education-first design with LMS integrations

ScreenPal was built with classrooms in mind and it shows. Direct integrations with Canvas, Google Classroom, Schoology, and other LMS platforms let teachers embed recordings straight into course materials. The interactive quiz feature (Solo Max plan) lets you turn any video into an assessment. Automated captions make content accessible by default. No other screen recorder in this price range is this well-suited for education workflows.

Works on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chromebook

Cross-platform support matters when your audience or team uses different devices. ScreenPal runs natively on Mac and Windows with desktop apps, has mobile apps for iOS and Android, and works on Chromebooks through the web recorder. This is particularly useful in education settings where students might be on school-issued Chromebooks while the teacher is on a Mac. Loom and Tella have more limited platform support.

AI features that actually save time for educators

The Solo Max plan ($10/month) includes AI auto-captions, AI-generated transcriptions, text-to-speech narration, video translation, and auto-generated quiz questions. For teachers who create content in multiple languages or need to add assessments to video lessons, these features cut hours of manual work. The AI captions are editable, so you can fix errors before publishing -- a real improvement over tools that only offer auto-generated captions with no correction workflow.

Limitations

Check these before subscribing — these are the limitations most likely to affect your experience.

The interface feels dated compared to Loom and Tella

ScreenPal's design hasn't kept pace with newer competitors. The dashboard, editor layout, and recording controls look like they were designed five years ago. Tella and Loom feel modern and intuitive from the first click. For creators whose audience sees the final product in a hosted player, this matters less. But if you spend hours in the editor each week, the interface friction adds up. ScreenPal is functional, not beautiful.

Video editing can feel clunky for complex projects

While the editor has solid features, actually using them can be frustrating. Navigating multi-track timelines, positioning overlays precisely, and managing transitions requires more clicks and patience than it should. Several reviewers describe the editing workflow as 'going the long way around the barn.' For simple trim-and-caption work, it's fine. For anything involving multiple layers or precise timing, you'll feel the friction.

Free plan watermark pushes you to paid quickly

The free plan adds a ScreenPal watermark to every video you export. For personal practice recordings or internal drafts, that's workable. For anything you share with students, clients, or an audience, the watermark looks unprofessional. Combined with the 15-minute recording cap, the free plan is really a trial, not a long-term option. Most people move to Solo Deluxe within a week of real use.

Screen recording on macOS can be buggy

Multiple reviewers report occasional recording issues on macOS -- dropped frames, audio sync problems, and permission conflicts with macOS screen recording settings. Windows users report a smoother experience overall. If you're on a Mac and recording is your primary workflow, test thoroughly before committing to an annual plan. The issues aren't constant, but they're frequent enough to be worth noting.

No 4K export and limited output quality options

ScreenPal tops out at 1080p for video exports. If you're creating content for YouTube, course platforms, or professional clients where 4K resolution matters, this is a real limitation. Tella supports 4K export. Loom records at up to 1080p as well, but its video quality is generally sharper. For screen recordings of software tutorials, 1080p is usually fine. For camera-forward content or high-production courses, the ceiling is lower than you might want.

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Setup, LMS integrations, and platform compatibility

Getting started with ScreenPal takes about 10 minutes. Download the desktop app (Mac or Windows), create an account, and you can start recording immediately. The web recorder works on Chromebooks without any install. The recording interface is straightforward -- pick screen, webcam, or both, select your area, and hit record. Annotations and drawing tools are available during recording, which is useful for tutorial-style content.

The learning curve lives in the video editor. Basic operations like trimming, splitting, and adding captions are easy to pick up. But working with multiple audio tracks, positioning text overlays, adding transitions between clips, and managing the timeline takes a few sessions to feel comfortable. Plan on 3-5 editing sessions before you're fluent with the more advanced features. ScreenPal's tutorial library is genuinely helpful here -- they have step-by-step guides for every feature.

For teams and schools, ScreenPal's collaboration features include shared content libraries, team workspaces, and the ability to set brand guidelines that apply to all team members' videos. The LMS integrations (Canvas, Google Classroom, Schoology, Blackboard, Moodle) work through LTI apps that an admin installs once. Teachers can then embed recordings directly into assignments and course modules without students needing a ScreenPal account to watch.

One practical tip: record in shorter segments and stitch them together in the editor rather than trying to nail a long take. ScreenPal's Mix Videos feature makes this easy, and shorter clips give you cleaner edit points. Also, always use the desktop app rather than the web recorder when possible -- the desktop version captures higher quality audio and gives you more recording options.

Before you subscribe

Free plan and getting started with ScreenPal

Before you subscribe to ScreenPal, answer these questions. The pricing is so low it's tempting to just sign up, but a few minutes of testing will tell you if the tool actually fits your workflow.

Record a real lesson or tutorial with the free plan. Don't use a test script -- record something you'd actually publish. The 15-minute cap and watermark don't affect your ability to evaluate recording quality, audio capture, and the basic editing workflow.

Open a recording in the video editor and try adding captions, trimming dead air, and overlaying text. If the editing interface feels natural, Solo Deluxe is probably all you need. If it feels frustrating, consider whether you'd rather pay more for Tella's cleaner editor or use a separate editing tool.

Check if your LMS is supported. If you're a teacher using Canvas, Google Classroom, Schoology, or Moodle, the direct integration saves significant time. If your school uses a different LMS, check whether the embed/share options work for your setup before committing to a team plan.

Calculate how many videos you make per month and how long they typically run. If you're under 15 minutes per video and don't mind a watermark, the free plan actually works. If you need unlimited length and clean exports, Solo Deluxe at $3/month is the obvious step up. Only consider Solo Max if you actively need the AI features.

Test Loom and Tella side by side. Record the same 3-minute walkthrough in all three tools, edit it, and compare the output. ScreenPal will be cheapest, but you might find that Tella's recording layouts or Loom's sharing features are worth the price difference for your specific use case.

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Frequently asked questions about ScreenPal

How much does ScreenPal cost per month?

ScreenPal has a free plan and three paid Solo tiers: Solo Deluxe at $3/month (annual) or $4/month (monthly), Solo Premier at $6/month (annual) or $8/month (monthly), and Solo Max at $10/month (annual) or $13/month (monthly). Team Business is $8/user/month annually. Education pricing starts at $2.25/month for individual educators.

Is ScreenPal really free?

Yes, but with real limits. The free plan lets you record up to 15 minutes per video, adds a ScreenPal watermark to exports, and gives you access to the basic video editor with unlimited hosting. It's functional enough for testing and internal drafts, but the watermark makes it impractical for anything you share publicly. Most users upgrade to Solo Deluxe ($3/month) within the first week.

Who is ScreenPal best for?

ScreenPal is strongest for educators creating lesson recordings, tutorial creators who need built-in editing, and anyone who wants screen recording plus video editing in one affordable tool. The LMS integrations and education pricing make it a natural fit for teachers and schools. It's less ideal for creators who need polished, branded video content with modern design layouts.

ScreenPal vs Loom -- which is better?

It depends on what you value. ScreenPal is dramatically cheaper ($3/month vs. Loom's $18/month Business plan) and includes a full video editor with multi-track audio, overlays, and transitions. Loom has a cleaner interface, better sharing and collaboration features, and tighter integrations with business tools like Slack and Notion. Choose ScreenPal for budget-friendly recording with built-in editing. Choose Loom for quick async communication in a team setting.

Does ScreenPal work on Chromebooks?

Yes. ScreenPal's web recorder works on Chromebooks without installing anything. You get screen recording, webcam capture, and basic editing through the browser. The desktop app (Mac and Windows) offers more features, but the Chromebook support is particularly useful for schools where students use school-issued Chromebooks. Mobile apps are also available for iOS and Android.

Is ScreenPal good for creating online courses?

For recording and editing course content, ScreenPal is solid -- especially at its price point. The automated captions, multi-track audio editing, and quiz features (Solo Max) cover the core needs. The LMS integrations let you embed directly into Canvas, Schoology, or Google Classroom. The limitation is export quality (1080p max) and the lack of modern recording layouts that tools like Tella offer for camera-forward course content.

What happened to Screencast-O-Matic?

Screencast-O-Matic rebranded to ScreenPal in late 2022. It's the same product and the same company, just with a shorter name and updated branding. All existing accounts, videos, and subscriptions carried over. If you used Screencast-O-Matic previously, your login and content still work under the ScreenPal name.

Does ScreenPal integrate with Google Classroom and Canvas?

Yes. ScreenPal has direct LTI integrations with Canvas, Google Classroom, Schoology, Blackboard, Moodle, and other major LMS platforms. Admins install the LTI app once, and then teachers can embed recordings directly into assignments and course modules. Students can watch without needing a ScreenPal account. These integrations are a major reason ScreenPal is so popular in education.

Is ScreenPal worth paying for?

At $3/month for Solo Deluxe, the value is hard to argue with. You get unlimited recording, a full video editor, automated captions, multi-track audio, and hosting -- features that cost $12-$18/month from competitors. The free plan is too limited for regular use (watermark and 15-minute cap), but the jump to Solo Deluxe removes those restrictions for the price of a cheap coffee. Solo Max at $10/month is worth it only if you actively use the AI features.

Can I cancel ScreenPal anytime?

Yes. Monthly plans can be cancelled at any time and you keep access until the end of your billing period. Annual plans can also be cancelled, but you won't receive a prorated refund for unused months -- you'll retain access until the annual term ends. ScreenPal does not auto-delete your hosted videos when you cancel; they remain accessible on the free plan's terms.

ScreenPal alternatives worth comparing

If ScreenPal isn't quite right, these screen recording tools take different approaches to the same problem. Some prioritize collaboration, others focus on creator-friendly editing, and a couple are built for fast async communication.

Tool	Best when	Main tradeoff	Pricing	Free trial
ScreenPal(this tool)	You're a teacher creating lesson recordings, a creator making tutorials, or anyone who needs...	ScreenPal's design hasn't kept pace with newer competitors	Free plan + paid tiers	Yes
Loom	You send frequent, short video messages to teammates, clients, or collaborators and care more...	Loom lets you trim the start and end of a video, stitch clips together,...	Per-creator seat	Yes
Tella	You record course lessons, tutorials, product walkthroughs, or branded demos on a regular schedule...	Unlike Loom (25 free videos), ScreenPal (free with watermark), and Zight (free with 5-minute...	Per-seat	Yes
mmhmm	You present on video calls regularly and want to look more engaging than a...	Unlike Loom, ScreenPal, and Zight, mmhmm has no free tier after the 14-day trial	Flat rate	Yes
Zight	You communicate visually throughout your day -- screen recordings for walkthroughs, annotated screenshots for...	Zight's free plan caps screen recordings at 15 seconds	Per-seat	Yes

Loom

Loom is the go-to for async video communication in teams. It prioritizes fast recording, instant sharing, and viewer engagement features like reactions and comments. The free plan gives you 5-minute recordings with a 25-video limit. Business starts at $18/user/month. Loom's editing is basic (trim and stitch), but its sharing and collaboration features are best in class. Choose Loom over ScreenPal if quick team communication matters more than editing capabilities.

Compare Loom

Tella

Tella is built for creators and course builders who want polished screen recordings without a traditional video editor. It offers slick recording layouts, 4K export, AI editing features, and a modern interface. Pro costs $12/month (annual). It doesn't have ScreenPal's LMS integrations or education pricing, but the output looks significantly more professional. Choose Tella over ScreenPal if visual quality and modern design matter more than price.

Compare Tella

mmhmm

mmhmm turns your webcam into a presentation studio -- you appear on-screen alongside slides, images, and screen shares with customizable layouts. It's strongest for live presentations and recorded pitches. Individual plans start at $12/month. mmhmm doesn't include a video editor, so it's a recording-only tool. Choose mmhmm over ScreenPal if you give presentations or record pitch-style videos where your on-camera presence needs to be front and center.

Compare mmhmm

Zight

Zight (formerly CloudApp) focuses on fast visual communication: quick screen recordings, GIFs, screenshots, and annotations. The free plan limits you to 90-second videos. Individual plans start at $9.95/month with unlimited recording and 4K quality. It's more of a communication tool than a video production tool -- no built-in editor. Choose Zight over ScreenPal if you need rapid-fire screen captures and GIFs for team communication rather than edited tutorials.

Compare Zight

Berrycast

Berrycast is a lightweight screen recorder with AI transcription and meeting recording features. Plans start at $5/month with no recording limits. The Pro plan adds AI-generated summaries, action items, and multilingual transcription. It's simpler than ScreenPal -- no built-in editor, fewer features -- but it's fast and focused. Choose Berrycast over ScreenPal if you primarily need quick recordings with transcriptions and don't need video editing.

Compare Berrycast

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Sources

Pricing and product details referenced on this page were verified from public sources. Confirm final details directly with the vendor before purchasing.

pricing · verified Jun 13, 2026

Official pricing page

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