# Cap - Open Source Loom Alternative & Screen Recorder

Cap is a powerful, open-source screen recording and video messaging platform designed as a privacy-first alternative to Loom, Vidyard, and BombBomb. Record your screen, camera, or both with professional quality and share instantly or edit locally.

## What is Cap?

Cap is a free and open-source screen recorder that combines the instant sharing capabilities of Loom with professional local editing tools. Built with privacy and performance in mind, Cap offers native desktop applications for macOS and Windows that don't compromise on features or quality.

## Key Features

- **Screen Recording**: Capture your entire screen, specific windows, or custom areas in up to 4K resolution at 60fps
- **Webcam Recording**: Record camera-only videos or picture-in-picture with your screen
- **Instant Sharing**: Get shareable links immediately after recording (Instant Mode)
- **Local Editing**: Professional video editing capabilities without uploading (Studio Mode)
- **AI-Powered**: Automatic titles, summaries, chapters, and transcriptions
- **Open Source**: Fully transparent codebase, self-hostable, no vendor lock-in
- **Data Ownership**: Use your own S3 bucket or keep recordings completely local
- **Team Collaboration**: Workspaces for organizing and sharing recordings with permissions
- **Privacy Controls**: Password protection, custom domains, viewer analytics

## Use Cases

### Bug Reports & QA Testing
Record and share bug reproductions instantly with developers. Add voice narration to explain issues clearly. Perfect for software testing and quality assurance workflows.

### Product Demos & Sales
Create personalized video messages for prospects. Record product walkthroughs and feature demonstrations. Share instantly without rendering or uploading delays.

### Team Communication & Collaboration
Replace long emails and meetings with quick video messages. Perfect for remote teams doing async standups, code reviews, and project updates.

### Education & Training
Create tutorials, course content, and training materials. Record lectures, workshops, or how-to guides with professional quality.

### Customer Support
Provide visual answers to support tickets. Create help videos and documentation. Show customers exactly how to solve their problems.

## Technical Specifications

- **Platforms**: macOS (Apple Silicon & Intel), Windows, Web viewer
- **Recording Quality**: Up to 4K resolution, 60fps, hardware-accelerated encoding
- **File Formats**: MP4, WebM, with various codec options
- **Performance**: Native Tauri apps (not Electron) for minimal resource usage
- **Storage**: Local storage, Cap Cloud, or bring your own S3 bucket
- **Sharing**: Instant links, embeddable players, download options

## Comparison to Alternatives

### vs Loom
- Open source and self-hostable
- Local recording and editing options
- Better pricing (lifetime licenses available)
- No recording time limits on paid plans
- Own your data with custom S3 storage

### vs OBS Studio
- Simpler interface designed for quick recordings
- Instant cloud sharing capabilities
- Built-in video messaging features
- No complex setup required
- AI-powered enhancements

### vs Camtasia/ScreenFlow
- Free and open source
- Cloud sharing built-in
- Lighter weight and faster
- Cross-platform consistency
- Modern web-based viewer

### vs CloudApp/Droplr
- Video-first design
- Professional recording quality
- AI transcription and summaries
- Team collaboration features
- Self-hosting options

## Pricing

- **Personal Use**: Free forever (5-minute recording limit)
- **Desktop License**: $29/year or $58 lifetime (unlimited recording)
- **Cap Pro**: $12/month ($8.16/month when billed annually) - includes cloud storage and AI features
- **Teams**: Custom pricing for organizations

## Privacy & Security

- **Local-First**: Record and store videos on your device
- **Zero Trust**: End-to-end encryption options
- **GDPR Compliant**: Full data portability and deletion rights
- **HIPAA Ready**: Self-hosting options for healthcare compliance
- **No Tracking**: Minimal analytics, no invasive tracking

## Technology Stack

Cap is built with modern, performant technologies:
- Desktop apps: Tauri (Rust) + SolidJS for native performance
- Web platform: Next.js 14 + React 19 + TypeScript
- Video processing: WebCodecs API for efficiency
- Infrastructure: AWS services with global CDN
- AI features: Deepgram for transcription

## Installation

### macOS
- Download from cap.so or install via Homebrew
- Supports macOS 11+ on Intel and Apple Silicon

### Windows
- Download installer from cap.so
- Supports Windows 10/11

### Web
- Access recordings at cap.link or your custom domain
- No installation required for viewers

## Open Source

Cap is proudly open source under fair licensing:
- Source code: github.com/capso-io/cap
- Contributions welcome
- Self-hosting documentation available
- Active community on Discord

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