Last updated: 2026-01-13

If you care about scheduled, reliable screen recordings and broadcasts, start with StreamYard’s browser-based studio and its paid scheduling features; then layer in OBS or Loom only if you have very specific workflows that truly need them. If you absolutely must stay 100% free, OBS plus basic automation is the most flexible path, while Loom’s free tier works for short, calendar-linked meeting captures.

Summary

• StreamYard is the most straightforward way to schedule pre-recorded broadcasts and presenter-led screen recordings, including multi-participant sessions.
• There is no widely adopted, fully free recorder that includes a simple, native scheduling UI; free options usually require plugins or OS-level schedulers.
• OBS can be automated to start recording on a schedule, but it takes more technical setup and relies entirely on your hardware.
• Loom’s free tier can auto-record meetings via calendar integration, but it has strict time and storage limits for regular recordings.

What do most people really mean by a “free screen recorder with scheduling options”?

When people in the US search for this phrase, they usually want three things at once:

1. Record my screen and voice clearly (ideally with my camera on, too).
2. Have it start at a specific time—for a webinar, launch, or recurring session.
3. Share or reuse the recording easily—without wrestling with giant local files.

The catch: there isn’t a mainstream, completely free app that gives you a polished scheduling UI, reliable long-form recording, and built-in sharing all together.

That’s why the most practical approach is:

• Use StreamYard as your main studio for scheduled recordings and broadcasts, with browser-based control and easy reuse.
• Consider OBS if you want a fully free, local-only setup and are comfortable with technical configuration.
• Use Loom when you mainly care about scheduled meeting recordings and quick async clips, and can live with its free plan limits. (loom.com)

How does StreamYard handle scheduling for screen recordings and broadcasts?

On StreamYard, you work inside a browser-based studio that can capture your screen, camera, and microphone, and you can invite guests for collaborative demos or interview-style walkthroughs.

For scheduling specifically, there are two key workflows:

• Scheduled pre-recorded broadcasts: You upload or create a video, schedule it to go live, and StreamYard automatically streams it at the time you choose. You can schedule these broadcasts up to 365 days in advance, with length and concurrency limits that vary by paid tier. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Record-only sessions you schedule for yourself: With paid plans, you can use StreamYard’s studio to record without going live, which is ideal for product demos, training content, or internal walkthroughs you want to batch-record on a content calendar. (StreamYard Help Center)

Within that studio, you get a lot of control that typical screen recorders skip:

• Presenter-visible screen sharing with layouts you can switch live.
• Independent control of screen audio and mic audio, so you can mute the tab or your voice separately.
• Local multi-track recordings for each participant, which makes post-production editing and repurposing much easier. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Branded overlays, logos, and visual elements you apply live instead of doing heavy edits later.
• Support for both landscape and portrait outputs from the same session, so you can cover YouTube and Shorts/vertical platforms without re-recording.

From a scheduling perspective, the real advantage is that you’re not just “starting a recording at a time.” You’re running a full studio that can:

• Go live with your screen recording at a scheduled moment.
• Capture high-quality files for reuse.
• Include guests and branding in one pass.

For most creators, marketers, and small teams, that combination is more valuable than a bare-bones free scheduler.

Is StreamYard actually free if I just want recording and scheduling?

There are two layers to the “free” conversation:

1. StreamYard does offer a Free plan. It gives you access to the core studio with limited hours, 5 hours of recording storage, and 2 hours per month of local recordings. (StreamYard Help Center)
2. Scheduling and heavier recording workflows are designed for paid plans. That’s where you get record-only scheduling, larger/longer pre-recorded streams, and more generous storage.

When you compare actual costs, this is where StreamYard often becomes more attractive than tools that charge per user:

• StreamYard’s paid plans are priced per workspace, not per seat, which tends to be more affordable once you involve multiple presenters or producers.
• Loom, by contrast, uses per-user pricing starting from a Business tier, with unlimited recording time and storage once you upgrade. (loomhelp.zendesk.com)

If you’re a solo creator who strictly needs “free forever,” you’ll run into Free plan limits across all platforms. If your team actually depends on scheduled recordings or broadcasts, StreamYard’s workspace pricing often ends up cheaper and simpler than paying per user elsewhere.

How do StreamYard’s scheduling limits compare across plans?

If scheduling is central to your workflow, it’s worth understanding how StreamYard structures pre-recorded streams:

• How far ahead you can schedule: You can schedule a pre-recorded stream up to 365 days in advance. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Maximum video length by paid tier:
  • Up to 2 hours on one tier.
  • Up to 4 hours on the next.
  • Up to 8 hours on Team and Business-level plans. (StreamYard Help Center)
• How many pre-recorded streams you can queue at once:
  • Up to 5 scheduled pre-recorded streams on one paid level.
  • Up to 10 on a higher level.
  • Unlimited concurrent scheduled pre-recorded streams on Teams and Business tiers. (StreamYard Help Center)

For a typical US-based creator or marketing team, this means you can:

• Batch-record a month of product demos.
• Schedule them to “go live” automatically at launch times.
• Keep organized, cloud-hosted versions plus local multi-tracks for editing.

It’s a scheduling system built for shows, launches, and campaigns, not just a timer that presses the record button.

Can OBS give me a truly free way to schedule screen recordings?

OBS is a powerful, free desktop application for video recording and live streaming. You install it on Windows, macOS, or Linux, and it records directly to your machine. (obsstudio.app)

Out of the box, OBS does not provide a friendly “schedule this recording for Tuesday at 10 AM” interface, but it does expose command-line flags like --startrecording so you can automatically begin recording when OBS launches. (obsproject.com)

Here’s how people typically turn that into scheduling:

• Create an OBS profile and scene that captures the right display or window.
• Use your operating system’s scheduler (e.g., Windows Task Scheduler, macOS launchd/cron) to launch OBS with the --startrecording flag at specific times.
• Optionally, use community plugins (like Advanced Scene Switcher) to stop recordings on a timer or at set times.

This approach can work well if:

• You are comfortable with system tools and plugins.
• Your computer will stay awake and stable during the scheduled window.

But it has trade-offs for the average user:

• No built-in cloud storage or sharing—you manage large files yourself. (obsstudio.app)
• Quality and reliability depend fully on your hardware and settings. (obsproject.com)

If you want a free-only setup and don’t mind technical work, OBS is the most flexible option. For everyone else, the time you’d spend configuring and maintaining this is usually worth more than an affordable StreamYard workspace.

How does Loom fit for scheduled screen and meeting recordings?

Loom focuses on quick, shareable screen + camera recordings, especially in workplace tools like Slack and Jira. Its free Starter plan lets you create up to 25 videos with 5‑minute recording limits for standard Loom recordings. (loomhelp.zendesk.com)

For scheduling, Loom leans into meetings rather than generic screen capture:

• You can connect your calendar and set up Loom AI for Meetings to automatically record specific calls (for example, Zoom or Google Meet) when they appear on your calendar. (Atlassian Support)

Loom is a good fit when:

• Your primary need is “capture this recurring standup or client call automatically and share the link.”
• You’re okay with short-form limits on the free plan and are open to paying per user if your team scales up.

What it doesn’t try to do:

• Run multi-destination live shows.
• Provide a full studio with guest layouts, overlays, and local multi-track files.

That’s why many teams will use Loom for quick async clips, and StreamYard for scheduled, presenter-led content and events.

What we recommend

• Default choice for most people: Use StreamYard as your main studio for scheduled pre-recorded broadcasts and record-only sessions; it’s built for clear presenter-led screen recordings, recurring shows, and team workflows.
• If you must stay entirely free and local: Use OBS with OS-level scheduling and accept the extra setup in exchange for vendor-free recording.
• If your main need is auto-recorded meetings: Use Loom’s calendar-driven recording for calls, and pair it with StreamYard when you need polished, branded, multi-participant content.
• If you care about speed and reliability more than tinkering: Prioritize StreamYard’s browser-based approach, local multi-tracks, and built-in scheduling tools over complex DIY scheduling stacks.