AutocutsAutocuts
Internal audio and microphone as separate sources, no driver. Automatic click zoom, smooth cursor, on-device captions. $19.99 once for two Macs.
2026 comparison
The best Mac screen recorder with audio.
Almost every Mac screen recorder records a microphone. Far fewer record internal audio, the sound your Mac itself plays. This page compares six of them on that one question, then on price and motion.
Internal audioMicrophoneNo driver install
The real question
Microphone audio is easy. Internal audio is not.
macOS treats the sound your Mac plays as protected. QuickTime Player never got a system-audio source, so the standard workaround is BlackHole: a free virtual audio driver, plus a multi-output device you build in Audio MIDI Setup, plus an output switch that mutes your own speakers for the length of the take.
That is the dividing line. Judge a Mac screen recorder on whether internal audio is a switch or a setup project, and on whether it keeps your voice on its own track.
- Does it record internal audio at all?
- Does it need a virtual audio driver?
- Do the microphone and app sound stay separate?
- Can you still hear your own speakers while recording?
- Does it caption the voice track for you?
Six Mac screen recorders, compared on audio
QuickTime Player
Free and already installed. Records a microphone only, so app sound is missing unless you add BlackHole. No zoom and no captions.
OBS Studio
Free, open source, and very capable for live work. Internal audio on macOS still needs a virtual audio driver. No automatic zoom.
Loom
Fast to share and good for async updates. Subscription based, and recordings upload to Loom rather than staying on your Mac.
Screen Studio
Strong automatic motion and a long feature list, including iPhone capture. Bills $9 to $29 per month, so cost grows every year you keep it.
Cap
Free and open source, with easy sharing. Lighter on generated motion than the paid motion tools.
What is the best Mac screen recorder with audio?
Autocuts, if you want internal audio without setup and want the video to look edited without editing it. It records app sound and your voice as separate sources, generates zooms from your clicks, smooths the cursor path, and transcribes on your Mac. The licence is $19.99 once for up to two Macs.
What is the best free Mac screen recorder with internal audio?
OBS Studio is the strongest free option, but internal audio on macOS still means adding BlackHole and building a multi-output device. QuickTime Player is simpler and cannot record internal audio at all. The Autocuts vs QuickTime comparison covers the rest of the gaps.
Can I record internal audio on a Mac without BlackHole?
Yes. A recorder built on the modern macOS capture engine reads internal audio directly. In Autocuts it is a switch in the recorder pill, so you never change your output device or mute your own speakers. The steps are in how to record your screen with internal audio on a Mac.
Does a Mac screen recorder need a subscription?
No. Loom and Screen Studio bill monthly or yearly. QuickTime, OBS, and Cap are free. Autocuts is a one-time $19.99 licence with lifetime updates and a 14-day refund window. See the no-subscription page or the Screen Studio alternative page.
How do I keep my voice from being buried by app sound?
Record the microphone and internal audio as separate sources rather than one mixed track. Autocuts keeps them apart, so you balance narration against app sound after the take instead of re-recording it.
Which Macs does this apply to?
Every Apple Silicon Mac: MacBook Air M1 to M4, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini. The MacBook screen recorder page has the per-model detail.
About these facts
Competitor facts were checked against each product's official site on August 22, 2026 and can change. Prices and feature lists move. Autocuts facts describe the shipping app.
Sound included, driver excluded.
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