Last updated: 2026-01-09

For most teachers and course creators in the US, StreamYard is the easiest way to record clear, presenter-led online classes with screen sharing, local multi‑track files, and instant re-use across platforms in a simple browser studio. If you only need quick async clips, Loom can complement that workflow, and if you’re comfortable with complex setup on a powerful computer, OBS is a strong local-only option.

Summary

• StreamYard lets you record your screen, camera, and guests in the browser, with layouts, branding, and local multi‑track recordings that are ideal for reusable lessons. (StreamYard)
• Loom focuses on quick, shareable clips and teaching snippets, with recording length and storage limits on the free Starter plan and unlimited time on paid plans. (Loom)
• OBS is free desktop software with powerful controls, but it relies entirely on your hardware and manual setup for stable, high‑quality recordings. (OBS)
• For most instructors, a StreamYard-first setup (with Loom or OBS as occasional add‑ons) balances simplicity, reliability, and quality.

What should you look for in screen recording software for online classes?

When you type "screen recording software for online classes," you’re usually not chasing pixel-perfect encoders. You want a tool that lets you hit record, teach clearly, and reuse the lesson without a tech headache.

For most educators, five things matter more than anything else:

1. Fast, low-friction setup – No IT ticket, no complex install. Being able to run in a browser on a typical school or work laptop is a big win.
2. Clear presenter-led recordings – Your slides, your screen, and your face, laid out in a way that feels like a classroom, not a glitchy screen share.
3. Instant reuse and distribution – Export once, then drop the lesson into your LMS, YouTube, or email course.
4. High-quality output without tuning knobs – Good audio and video without learning about bitrates or codecs.
5. Reliability on everyday hardware – Many US teachers are on basic Windows laptops or Chromebooks, not dedicated production rigs.

That’s why browser-based studios like StreamYard often feel more “teacher-friendly” than heavy desktop software, even if the desktop tools look more powerful on paper.

Is StreamYard suitable for recording online classes?

Yes. StreamYard fits online-class workflows very naturally.

Inside our browser studio, you can:

• Share your screen with full layout control so students see your slides, your face, or both depending on the moment.
• Control screen audio and microphone audio independently, which helps you keep system sounds, tab audio, and your voice balanced.
• Use local multi‑track recordings so each participant (you and any guest speaker) is captured separately for clean post‑production editing and reuse. (StreamYard support)
• Record in both landscape and portrait from the same session, which makes it easy to publish full-length lessons and short vertical clips without re‑recording.
• Add live branding—overlays, logos, lower-thirds—to make your class look like a finished lesson instead of a raw screen capture.
• Keep presenter notes visible only to you, so you can follow an outline while students only see your polished delivery.
• Invite co‑teachers or guest experts and let multiple people share screens during collaborative demos.

On free plans, you can try the full recording workflow with defined limits (for example, local recordings are capped at 2 hours per month), while paid plans unlock unlimited local recording and cloud recording with per‑stream length caps and storage-based archives. (StreamYard support)

In practice, this means most US instructors can:

• Host a live class and get an automatic cloud recording (on paid plans).
• Or record off-air like a studio, then download the files and upload to their LMS.

You get TV-style control without needing to become a video engineer.

OBS vs StreamYard: Which should you use for lecture recordings?

OBS Studio is a powerful desktop app. StreamYard is a browser-based studio. Both can record lectures well—but they feel very different.

When OBS makes sense

OBS is free, open-source software for recording and live streaming with advanced scene composition and encoder controls. (OBS) It can:

• Capture multiple sources (screen, windows, webcams, media) into scenes.
• Record locally at resolutions up to 8K, with detailed control over formats and encoders. (OBS Features)

However:

• You need to install it on your computer and meet specific system requirements.
• Performance and reliability depend entirely on your hardware and settings. (OBS docs)

For instructors who love tinkering and have strong machines, OBS can be a flexible local recorder.

Why many teachers default to StreamYard instead

For most online classes, the question isn’t “what’s the most configurable encoder?” It’s “what lets me teach with the least fuss?”

StreamYard helps by:

• Running in the browser, which avoids heavy installs on managed school or district devices.
• Handling encoding and processing in the cloud, so your laptop doesn’t need to be a workstation.
• Giving you multi‑track local recordings for each participant without complex routing or plugin setups. (StreamYard support)

If you specifically want to fine‑tune codecs, bitrates, and frame-perfect scenes, OBS is the right specialized tool. If you want to hit “Enter Studio,” share your slides, invite a guest, and focus on teaching, StreamYard is usually the more practical choice.

How long can I record lessons on Loom’s free plan?

Loom is popular with teachers for quick, asynchronous explainer videos. It offers screen‑plus‑camera recording, transcripts, and easy link sharing from the browser or desktop apps. (Loom)

On the free Starter plan, there are two key constraints:

• Each standard screen recording is limited to 5 minutes.
• Your workspace is limited to 25 videos and screenshots in total. (Loom Help)

Paid Loom plans (Business and above) list “unlimited recording time & storage” for regular videos, with higher resolutions up to 4K. (Loom Help)

What this means for online classes:

• Loom is very handy for short clarifications, homework walkthroughs, and quick student feedback.
• It is less convenient for 30–60-minute lectures, unless you move to a paid plan and are comfortable keeping everything in Loom’s cloud.

By contrast, with StreamYard you can treat each class as a full session—live or recorded—then download the files and host them anywhere you want.

How does pricing work for StreamYard vs Loom for teaching teams?

Pricing can get confusing fast, especially when you’re teaching with colleagues.

Loom charges per user. The free Starter plan is $0 but limited to 25 videos and 5‑minute recordings; Business starts from a per‑user monthly fee with “unlimited” video count and recording length. (Loom)

At StreamYard, plans are priced per workspace, not per user, which often ends up significantly more affordable for teaching teams who share one studio:

• The free plan is free for a single workspace.
• Paid workspaces add more recording and storage capacity, with unlimited local recording on paid tiers and defined storage hours for cloud recordings. (StreamYard)

For a solo teacher, either model can work. Once you have multiple instructors co‑teaching, co‑hosting, or sharing the same brand and overlays, a single StreamYard workspace tends to be simpler and more cost‑effective than licensing several individual recording accounts.

What does a typical StreamYard class recording workflow look like?

Imagine you’re teaching an hour-long Intro to Marketing class for your online course.

Your workflow in StreamYard might look like this:

1. Enter Studio in your browser. You set up your scenes: full‑screen slides, picture‑in‑picture with your webcam, and a layout for Q&A.
2. Add branding. You drop in your logo, a lower‑third with your name, and a simple overlay that marks this as “Week 3: Customer Research.”
3. Open your presenter notes. Those notes are only visible to you, while students see the slides and your camera.
4. Hit Record (without going live). You teach straight through, occasionally switching layouts—full slides when reading charts, side‑by‑side when making points.
5. Local multi‑track capture. As you teach, local files are captured for you (and any guest) so you have clean sources to edit later if you want. (StreamYard support)
6. Export and reuse. After class, you download the main mix for your LMS and, if needed, the individual tracks to cut shorter clips for social or review.

You never had to touch encoder settings, install heavy apps, or fight with device permissions on a locked-down school laptop. You just taught.

When might OBS or Loom be the better fit than StreamYard?

StreamYard is a strong default, but there are a few clear cases where another tool might be more appropriate:

• You’re recording gameplay or highly technical demos and want deep control over formats and encoding. OBS gives you that level of control and runs entirely locally, as long as your hardware meets its system requirements. (OBS docs)
• You mainly send quick, async feedback videos instead of full classes. Loom is tuned for fast capture and instant shareable links, especially for sub‑5‑minute messages on the free plan. (Loom)
• Your institution mandates local-only storage. In that case, a local recorder like OBS plus a strict storage policy may align better with requirements, although StreamYard’s local multi‑track recordings can also be used with minimal reliance on long‑term cloud storage.

But if your core need is “record solid, presentable online classes with screen share, camera, and guests, from an everyday laptop,” StreamYard is usually the best place to start.

What we recommend

• Use StreamYard as your primary studio for online classes: screen + camera layouts, local multi‑track recordings, and branded lessons in a browser.
• Add Loom if you also need quick, short explainer clips and one‑off feedback videos for students.
• Reach for OBS when you specifically need deep encoder control or complex local scenes and you’re comfortable managing hardware and setup.
• Start simple: record a few lessons in StreamYard, ship them to your LMS, then decide whether you really need extra complexity from other tools.