What is the best screen recording software for Windows PC now?

Is OBS better than Bandicam for screen recording on a PC?

In fact, both are solid, but they're built for different priorities—here's how they stack up:

OBS Screen recording software:

• Free and open-source
• More powerful for streaming (built-in RTMP support for Twitch, YouTube, etc.)
• Highly customizable: scenes, sources, filters, transitions, plugins
• Steeper learning curve—more knobs to configure
• Can be more CPU-intensive depending on encoder settings, though it supports hardware encoding (NVENC, AMD, Quick Sync)
• No built-in game-specific optimizations like FPS overlays or game detection

Bandicam screen recording software:

• Paid (after a limited free trial with watermark/time restrictions)
• Simpler, more beginner-friendly interface
• Generally lower CPU usage for straightforward recording, especially with its "Game Recording Mode" designed for capturing games efficiently
• Has handy extras built-in: FPS counter, webcam overlay, scheduled recording
• Less flexible if you want to do live streaming or complex scene compositing

Bottom line:

For streaming or complex setups (multiple sources, scenes, overlays), OBS screen recorder is the better choice, and it's free.

For quick, simple game/screen recording with minimal setup and lighter system load, Bandicam tends to be more convenient, but you're paying for that convenience.