--- title: Bandicam canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/bandicam/ category: Screen Recording Software points: 75 rank: 1 of 9 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Bandicam Windows screen and game recorder with 4K capture, live drawing and AI transcription, sold as a yearly or one-time licence. 75 points out of 100. #1 of 9 screen recorders. Vendor: Bandicam Company. Website: https://www.bandicam.com/ - The free version stops each recording at 5 minutes, but adds no watermark to recordings [2]. - A personal licence for one PC costs $33.26 a year, or $53.90 once for Bandicam 2027 [1]. - Records up to 4K UHD (3840 × 2160) at up to 480 frames a second with hardware acceleration [4]. - AI transcription turns recordings into a TXT transcript or SRT subtitles [9]. - Runs on 64-bit Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7, with a separate Mac app [5][6]. Verdict: Bandicam suits people who record games or tutorials on a Windows PC and would rather pay once than subscribe [1]. It records up to 4K, draws on screen while recording and transcribes speech into subtitles [3][4][9]. The catch is the free version: each recording stops at 5 minutes, and edited exports carry a watermark [2]. Best for: Gamers and tutorial makers who would rather pay once. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Capture | Webcam overlay | Yes | 6/6 | Records your screen and your face together in one video [3]. | | Capture | System sound and microphone | Yes | 6/6 | Captures computer sound and the microphone together [3]. | | Capture | 4K recording | Yes | 6/6 | Records up to 4K UHD (3840 × 2160) [4]. | | Capture | 60 frames a second | Yes | 6/6 | Records up to 480 frames a second with hardware acceleration [4]. | | Capture | Draw while recording | Yes | 6/6 | Adds pen strokes, arrows, shapes and text while you record [3]. | | Editing and sharing | Built-in editor | Yes | 8/8 | Bandicam 2027 trims recordings in its built-in editor; free exports get a watermark [7]. | | Editing and sharing | Share by link | Yes | 8/8 | Uploads to YouTube from the app, then copies the video link [8]. | | Editing and sharing | Automatic captions | Yes | 9/9 | AI transcription creates subtitles automatically; the free version shows only part of the transcript [2][9]. | | Systems | Desktop systems | Windows, macOS | 10/15 | Windows 11/10/8/7 64-bit, plus a separate Mac app [5][6]. | | Price and licence | Free without watermark or time limit | No | 0/12 | Free recordings have no watermark but stop at 5 minutes each [2]. | | Price and licence | First-year price | $33.26/yr | 10/10 | Personal Annual licence for one PC, $33.26 a year [1]. | | Price and licence | Open source | No | 0/8 | The licence says the software is Bandicam Company's property and forbids decompiling it [11]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [2] | $0 | | Personal Annual | $33.26/year [1] | $2.77 | | Personal Perpetual | $53.90 one-time [1] | - | | Business Annual | $49.46/year [1] | $4.12 | Both personal licences show a discount: 10% off the annual licence and $53.90 instead of $77 for the perpetual one [1]. The store lists no renewal price for the annual licence [1]. Refunds are given within 14 days only if the serial number has not been registered [10]. ## Strengths - A perpetual licence costs $53.90 once, so no subscription is needed [1]. - Captures up to 4K UHD and up to 480 frames a second [4]. - Uploads straight to YouTube and copies the video link [8]. - Built-in trimming and AI transcription to TXT or SRT [7][9]. ## Limits - The free version stops each recording at 5 minutes [2]. - Free users get a watermark on edited exports and see only part of each transcript [2]. - No refund once the serial number has been registered [10]. - Personal licences are for non-commercial use; a business licence costs $49.46 a year per PC [1]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Bandicam says its Mac app captures the screen in 5K at 60 frames a second [6]. ## Sources 1. [Buy Bandicam Screen Recorder - Official Store](https://www.bandicam.com/buy/), Bandicam Company, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Bandicam free version vs. Bandicam full version](https://www.bandicam.com/faqs/free-full-version/), Bandicam Company, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Screen Recording Software: capture anything on your PC screen - Bandicam](https://www.bandicam.com/), Bandicam Company, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Free Game Recorder - Bandicam](https://www.bandicam.com/game-recorder/), Bandicam Company, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Screen Recorder Download - Best Screen Recording Software, Bandicam](https://www.bandicam.com/downloads/), Bandicam Company, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [All-in-One Screen Recorder for Mac | Bandicam](https://www.bandicam.com/mac/), Bandicam Company, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [How to Trim a Video on Windows | Bandicam](https://www.bandicam.com/guide/trim-video/), Bandicam Company, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [How to Upload Videos to YouTube/Shorts from Bandicam](https://www.bandicam.com/guide/share-youtube/), Bandicam Company, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Transcribe Video & Audio to Text: AI Transcription - Bandicam](https://www.bandicam.com/ai-transcription/), Bandicam Company, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Can I get a refund after registering the serial number?](https://www.bandicam.com/faqs/how_to_get_refund_money_back/), Bandicam Company, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [End User License Agreement, Terms of Service - Bandicam](https://www.bandicam.com/company/tos/), Bandicam Company, accessed 2026-10-08