Last updated: 2026-01-12

For most people searching for 4K screen recording software, the fastest and most reliable place to start is StreamYard, which gives you browser-based recording and 4K local files on paid plans without complex setup. If you need fine‑tuned local-only capture or deeply integrated async clips, OBS or Loom can fill those more specialized roles alongside StreamYard.

Summary

• StreamYard lets you record presenter‑led screen sessions in a browser studio, with 4K local recordings available on paid plans and cloud backups for longer shows. (StreamYard Help)
• OBS records 4K locally with detailed control over encoders and formats, but it demands proper hardware and more configuration time. (OBS Knowledge Base)
• Loom offers 4K via its desktop app on paid plans, while its free tier caps recordings at 5 minutes and 720p, which limits long‑form tutorials. (Loom Support)
• For US creators and teams who want fast setup, clear presenter‑led demos, multi‑participant recordings, and reusable 4K files, StreamYard usually covers the day‑to‑day needs better than more specialized tools.

What should you actually look for in 4K screen recording software?

When people type "screen recording software for 4k," they usually aren’t chasing specs for their own sake. They’re trying to answer questions like:

• Will this look crisp on a big monitor or 4K TV?
• Can I get set up in minutes, not days?
• Will my laptop survive, or will the fans max out and frames start dropping?
• How hard is it to share and repurpose what I record?

So instead of starting with bitrates and codecs, it helps to start with outcomes:

1. Clarity for the viewer – 4K matters most when you’re showing dense interfaces, tiny UI elements, or content that might be cropped later.
2. Stability on typical laptops – Desktop 4K capture can be brutal on older CPUs and integrated GPUs; browser‑based workflows can offload complexity.
3. Presenter‑led storytelling – A good tool makes it easy to keep you front and center with layout control, not just a raw mirror of your screen.
4. Reuse and editing – Local multi‑track files, clean audio, and consistent framing matter more over time than one extra resolution step.
5. Team economics – For US teams, per‑user pricing vs per‑workspace pricing can be the difference between “everyone records” and “only a few licenses.”

With that lens, 4K is a capability, not the whole decision. The question becomes: where does 4K fit into a workflow that’s fast, repeatable, and easy to share?

How does StreamYard handle 4K screen recording?

StreamYard is built as a browser‑based studio for live streaming and recording, which means you get layout control, branding, and multi‑participant support wrapped around your screen capture.

Here’s how 4K fits in:

• Live output vs local files
  Live streams from StreamYard currently max out at 1080p, which is plenty for most viewing scenarios. (StreamYard Help) If you need 4K, you record locally while you present and then download the 4K files for editing and upload.

• 4K local recordings on paid plans
  On paid plans, you can enable local recording and download 4K local files when your device supports it. (StreamYard Help) This lets you run a live or offline session in the browser, while each participant’s high‑quality track is captured on their own machine.

• Local multi‑track recording
  Every host and guest can be captured separately, giving you independent audio and video tracks that are ideal for post‑production. (StreamYard Help) For screen recordings, that means you can mix and match camera, screen, and other elements later without being locked into one composite.

• Presenter‑visible screen sharing with flexible layouts
  In the studio, you can share your screen and drop it into different layouts—full screen, picture‑in‑picture, or side‑by‑side—while seeing exactly what the audience will see as you record.

• Independent audio controls
  You can control mic audio and system/screen audio separately. That’s clutch for software demos where you want to keep notifications muted but app sounds audible.

• Branding and overlays built‑in
  Logos, overlays, lower thirds, and background visuals are baked right into the recording workflow, so you don’t have to rebuild branding in an editor later.

• Landscape and portrait from one session
  From the same recording session, you can frame shots that work for horizontal YouTube videos and vertical shorts or Reels, then crop and repurpose later.

A quick example to make this concrete:

That’s the sweet spot: 4K as part of a studio workflow, not a separate technical project.

How does StreamYard compare to OBS for 4K recording?

OBS is a powerful desktop app for local recording and live streaming, especially popular with gamers and advanced creators. It supports 4K recording when your base canvas and output resolutions are configured for 3840×2160 and your hardware can handle it. (OBS Knowledge Base)

Here’s how the trade‑offs usually break down:

Setup & learning curve

• OBS: You install a desktop app, configure scenes, sources, and encoders, then tune output settings. OBS offers multiple encoders (like x264 and certain hardware encoders), and which ones you see depends on your computer specs. (OBS Knowledge Base) Getting smooth 4K often involves trial and error.
• StreamYard: You open a browser, join a studio, share your screen, and hit record. Local recording runs underneath without requiring you to understand bitrate ladders or container formats.

If you enjoy tuning settings and building complex scenes, OBS can be rewarding. If you just want crisp screen recordings that “just work” on a typical laptop, StreamYard usually gets you there faster.

Hardware load & reliability

• OBS: Everything is on your machine. If your CPU/GPU or disk can’t keep up with 4K, you’ll see dropped frames or stutters. OBS itself notes that having supported hardware does not guarantee smooth recording. (OBS System Requirements)
• StreamYard: Because you’re in a browser studio with local and cloud elements, your laptop is still important—but the workflow is tuned for typical creator hardware, and you don’t have to micro‑manage encoder settings.

For many US users on work laptops or MacBooks, the OBS approach can feel fragile compared with a browser studio that’s designed around common setups.

Studio experience vs raw capture

• OBS: Great for raw, composited capture when you want pixel‑level control over every source. But it doesn’t give you an in‑studio multi‑guest experience by default; guests usually join via another app (Zoom, Discord, etc.), then you pipe that into OBS.
• StreamYard: Built as a live studio from day one. You see your guests, layouts, and overlays in one place. Multi‑participant screen sharing is straightforward, and 4K local recording slots into that same workflow.

In practice, a lot of creators pair the two: StreamYard for anything involving guests, branding, and distribution; OBS for niche, hardware‑tuned captures where you truly need full‑time 4K plus advanced scene logic.

How does StreamYard compare to Loom for 4K screen recording?

Loom is focused on quick, shareable async videos—think feedback clips, walkthroughs, and short updates. It does offer 4K recording, but only under specific conditions and on paid plans.

4K availability and device constraints

• Loom lets you record up to 4K when you’re on eligible paid plans (such as Business or Enterprise) and using the Loom desktop app. (Loom Support)
• The Chrome extension doesn’t do 4K; it tops out at 1080p. (Loom Support)

So if your search is “4K screen recorder” and you install only the Loom extension, you won’t actually see 4K options.

Free limits vs long‑form recordings

• On the free Starter level, Loom caps you at 25 videos per person and 5‑minute screen recordings, with a max resolution of 720p. (Loom Support)
• Paid tiers lift those caps and allow 4K via the desktop app, but you’re still buying per‑user seats, which adds up for teams. (Loom Pricing)

For quick one‑off clips, that’s fine. For 30‑ to 90‑minute 4K walkthroughs or multi‑participant sessions, it feels tight unless you’re already on a higher Loom tier.

Workflow fit and pricing model

This is where StreamYard and Loom diverge most:

• Loom is optimized for link‑first sharing with comment threads and async feedback. It’s great as a lightweight companion tool, but it’s not set up as a full live studio.
• StreamYard runs per workspace, not per user, which makes it easier for US teams to give recording access to everyone without stacking per‑seat charges. You can host a studio, bring in multiple presenters, record with local tracks, and then export files for wherever you publish.

A simple rule of thumb:

• If you mostly send quick “here’s what I see on my screen” updates inside tools like Slack or Jira, Loom can be a focused sidekick.
• If you care about production value (branding, layouts, multiple presenters) and want 4K files you can repurpose across platforms, StreamYard tends to be the better default.

How do you choose between StreamYard, OBS, and Loom for 4K?

You can think of these tools as three overlapping circles, each strong in a slightly different scenario.

Choose StreamYard when you want…

• A studio, not just a recorder – Screen + camera, multiple guests, and branded overlays in one browser‑based place.
• 4K local files with minimal friction – You join a studio, enable local recording on a paid plan, and your 4K files are ready to download when you’re done. (StreamYard Help)
• Team‑friendly economics – Pricing is per workspace, not per user, so you can let many people record without paying per seat.
• Flexible content reuse – Local multi‑track files make it easy to create long‑form YouTube videos, short social clips, and podcast‑style audio from the same session.

Choose OBS when you want…

• Deep control over encoding and formats – You’re comfortable picking encoders, containers, and bitrates, and you want maximum control over every technical setting. (OBS Knowledge Base)
• Complex, single‑operator scenes – Gameplay, advanced overlays, or niche capture hardware setups.
• Purely local 4K capture – You don’t need a browser studio, guests, or cloud workflows, just raw files.

Choose Loom when you want…

• Fast async clips – Short, self‑contained screen messages where the main goal is quick explanation and easy sharing.
• Built‑in viewing and comments – Stakeholders watch and comment in one place instead of downloading files.
• Occasional 4K via desktop app – For teams already on Loom’s paid plans, turning on 4K in the desktop app is straightforward. (Loom Support)

The key takeaway: these tools don’t have to be rivals in your stack. StreamYard is often the “hub” for any presenter‑led, multi‑participant, or branded content, with OBS or Loom playing specialized roles on the edges.

Can you record 4K from a browser-based studio on mobile?

This is a common—and important—question for US creators on iPads, Chromebooks, and phones.

• StreamYard’s 4K local recording currently requires a desktop or laptop; 4K recording isn’t available on mobile devices or tablets yet. (StreamYard Help)
• Loom’s 4K support is tied to its desktop app, not its mobile apps or Chrome extension. (Loom Support)
• OBS is desktop‑only; there is no mobile OBS app equivalent for 4K recording.

So if true 4K is non‑negotiable, you’ll want to plan your workflow around a capable desktop or laptop—even if you sometimes bring in mobile devices as camera sources.

The good news is that once you’re on a desktop, a browser‑based studio like StreamYard keeps the rest of the workflow lightweight: no heavy installs, no worrying about whether your IT department will block the app, and an interface that feels familiar if you’ve ever been on a video call.

What we recommend

• Start with StreamYard for most 4K‑curious users in the US: you get a browser‑based studio, presenter‑friendly layouts, multi‑participant support, and 4K local recordings on paid plans without wrestling with encoders.
• Layer in OBS only if you discover you truly need deep local control—custom encoding, niche capture cards, or highly complex scenes that exceed what a browser studio reasonably covers.
• Use Loom as a complement, not a replacement, for StreamYard: it’s handy for quick async clips, while StreamYard remains your main production environment for demos, webinars, and content you’ll publish broadly.
• Anchor your decision on workflow, not just resolution: 4K is valuable, but your audience will feel your clarity, structure, and reliability long before they notice another 1080 lines of pixels.