Download of the day: Bandicam

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Fancy being the next YouTube sensation or gaming god/goddess? Then you’ll need a screen recorder. And by a happy coincidence, that’s exactly what Bandicam is. It’s a simple but useful screen recorder that’s particularly good for recording gameplay and walkthroughs.

It’s available in a huge range of languages and works with Windows versions from XP onwards. It’s also compatible with external devices thanks to its cunningly named Device Recording Mode, which enables you to record from webcams, Xboxes and so on.

Why you need it

There are lots of screen recorders out there, but Bandicam is one of the most straightforward. It’s easy to use but includes features you’ll need including lag-free recording of any program that uses a DirectX or OpenGL graphical interface, recording just a selected part of the screen, recording from your sound card or microphone and adjusting the bitrate and frames per second.

The app is shareware, and as a result there are a few limits on what you can do: your recording time is limited to 10 minutes, and there’s a watermark added to the video.

Everything else in the app remains fully functional, and there’s no attempt to fill your PC with ads or unwanted software. 

Download here: Bandicam

The best free screen recorder 2016

The simplest screen recorders simply capture what's on your screen and save it in AVI format, but the more advanced free tools also offer editing, additional audio, picture-in-picture and on-screen drawing. These are our favorites.

For more details, see our guide to the best free screen recorders

1. CamStudio

An open source app more flexible than most paid-for tools, CamStudio is the best free screen recorder.

2. FRAPS

With high-resolution recording, FRAPS has a well-earned reputation as the go-to choice for gamers.

3. Bandicam

Bandicam is a screen recorder designed specifically for gameplay, with hardware acceleration built in.