If you like listening to streaming music or audio, then you might have wondered if it is possible to have a copy of it or record it for future playback anytime, even offline. If you don’t want to miss a certain program or song, but there is something that you need to do, you may record it so you can still listen to it at any time. Here is a selection of the best streaming audio recorders that can record audio from the mainstreaming music service to create audio files in various audio formats.
1. Sidify Music Converter

- Top 2: Apowersoft. When downloading Netflix videos, users can also use Apowersoft Online Screen Recorder to record their needed Netflix videos. Apowersoft for now supports to record Netflix video and export them to MP4, WMV, AVI, FLV, MPEG, VOB, ASF and GIF formats.
- Streaming Video Recorder free download is the best choice for you to record from mega video sites such as YouTube, Netflix, Dailymotion, Facebook and other live video channels. It also lets you select the particular area on your PC screen to be recorded or record all the screens. Streaming video recorder download.
Sidify Music Converter includes two powerful streaming audio recorders or converters for converting Spotify Music and Apple Music tracks with lossless quality for Mac & Windows users. The reason why Sidify Music Converter made first place in our top 5 is the fact that it has the simplest navigation by far, when compared with other pieces of software in its price and feature range. Besides, users have reported it to be very easy to set up and customize as well.
How can you record a screen with Apowersoft Mac Screen Recorder? Download Apowersoft Mac Screen Recorder first as a free trial version, which not gives full feature access. A free trial allows you to record only 3 minutes length in the video. Thus, to use the full features of the screen recorder, you have to pay around 29 euro.
#1: The one is Sidify Music Converter, which is called one of the best Spotify audio downloaders. With it's crisp and clear interface, you can handle this music converter in seconds. Spotify uses can convert or download any Spotify song or playlist to other popular audio formats with the best audio quality. Moreover, It is able to convert Spotify audio files at 5X faster conversion speed while keeping original ID3 tags after conversion.
Pros:
- Reliable and accurate recording of Spotify music as MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV or AIFF;
- Extremely easy to install; user-friendly interface;
- It is quick and works flawlessly;
- Tags songs with Title, Artist, Album, Genre - Automatically;
- Useful feature to remove ads from your recording sessions;
- 1-click to burn Spotify music to CD;
- Keep constantly update for compatibility with the latest version of Spotify.
Free Trial Version:
Pros:
- Download songs from Apple Music and iTunes M4P files to MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV or AIFF;
- Save iTunes M4A, M4B & Audible AA, AAX audiobooks as local files;
- Support batch conversion; User-friendly Interface;
- Fast conversion speed. Keep ID3 tags, all metadata;
- Fully support the latest version of iTunes and Mac/ Windows OS.
2. Audials Tunebite Premium 2018
Audials Tunebite Platinum 2018 is a handy multimedia application for recording, downloading and converting audios and videos. It includes Streaming, Universal converter and Media center. With Audials Tunebite Platinum, you can record the protected music streams of all music services and also the audio streams of websites. It can copy DVDs and it sorts all of your music for you into a convenient and sortable library. Although it doesn't top our list, Audials is intriguing audio converter software.

Moreover, if you are a fan of audiobooks, Audials Tunebite offers an audiobook mode that allows you to convert audiobook to .mp3 files at double speed easily.
Pros:
- Record everything from the Internet- audios and videos;
- Compatibility with many files format and fast conversion speed;
- Convert media files to more than 80 formats;
- Organize and manage your media collection easily.
Cons:
- The GUI needs to be improved, too much is put into a small area;
- Only four languages are supported;
- Only have Windows and iOS versions, without Mac version.
3. Wondershare Streaming Audio Recorder
Wondershare Streaming Audio Recorder is software that can detect and automatically download any audio source that’s playing on your computer. It can retrieve details such as artist, album and genre and then embed it into the music file. With Wondershare audio recorder, you can capture and download audio from over 500 popular radios and music streaming sites including Spotify, iTunes radio, BBC radio and much more.
Pros:
- Reliable and accurate recording of streaming audio;
- Supports keeping ID3 tags;
- Available in Mac and Windows version;
- Integrated ringtone maker that creates .M4r (iPhone) and MP3 ringtones.
Cons:
- Limited output formats;
- Cannot work on all sources;
- Mac version can't support Mac OS X 10.11 and 10.12 at present.
4. Apowersoft Streaming Audio Recorder
Apowersoft Recorder Free
Apowersoft Streaming Audio Recorder is a nice tool to record streaming audio from music sites, video platforms, radio stations or capture sound from audio chats. It can also deliver output files in a few formats like AAC, MP3. This tool not only functions being a good audio recorder, but also offers the purpose of a free audio editing tool, CD burner/ripper and audio converter. It even has its own built-in radio with over 35 different genres to choose from when using its streaming music recorder functions, so you can build your music library fast.
Pros:
- Support a variety of audio file formats such as WAV, OGG, AAC, MP3, FLAC etc.
- Embedded player included.
- Keep ID3 tags.
- Provide a free trial version to convert 3 mins of each track.
Cons:
- It restricts its users to have 128 kbps recordings, which is on the low end of acceptable audio quality
- Don't support batch conversion: download 1 track each time.
5. Audacity
Audacity is a free, open-source, cross-platform digital audio editor for recording and editing sounds. You are allowed to rip Spotify songs in formats like MP3, WAV, AAC, etc. There is a large array of digital effects and plug-ins. But Audacity does not support 64-bit VST audio effect plug-ins and only MIDI files can be displayed. There are also file formats limitations, for instance, Audacity can't natively import or export WMA, AAC, ACS or other proprietary file formats requiring FFmpeg library. In addition, the quality of the sound recorded with Audacity is high but it also depends on your microphone specifications and that of your sound card.
Pros:
- It's freeware;
- It is a full-featured audio recording and editing software;
- Available for Windows, macOS, Linux and other operating systems.
Cons:
- Audacity can't support importing or exporting WMA, AAC, ACS, etc.;
- Multi-track functionality is limited and could be improved;
- Some operations aren't very intuitive.
Conclusion
Sidify Apple Music Converter is specially designed to convert Apple Music tracks. It can download songs from Apple Music songs, iTunes M4P music and Audible audiobooks and convert these tracks to MP3, AAC, FLAC or WAV at super fast speed with lossless quality. Following shows the main screenshots of Sidify Apple Music Converter for Windows and Mac.
Related Articles
Convert Netflix Videos to MP4 Format
Netflix Video Downloader is a professional tool for downloading Netflix movies and TV shows to your local computer, keeping audio tracks and subtitles. If you are looking for a simple and efficient way to save Netflix videos as MP4 files, it's the perfect solution recommended for you.
Read More >© Provided by TechRadar The best free screen recorderWith a free screen recorder, you can capture exactly what's happening on your screen (whether it's the entire display or just a selected area) and either stream it live, or save it as a video file.
The best screen recorders can do a lot more than that though, with options for recording your own commentary as a voiceover, adding captions and notes, and even using picture-in-picture to add footage from your webcam. The right software will also let you export your recordings in a variety of formats, and even export them directly to YouTube.
Not all free screen recorders are the same though – some only record for a few seconds, some come bundled with extra software you probably don't want, and some apply unsightly watermarks to your finished videos.
That's why we've rounded up the very best screen recorders you can download today, helping you choose the right one for your project. Whether you're making a software tutorial, recording a Let's Play video, or capturing a video call, there's something here that'll fit the bill.
The best free screen recorders at a glance
- OBS Studio
- FlashBack Express
- Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder
- Debut Video Capture
- ShareX
- Screencast-O-Matic
1. OBS Studio
The best screen recorder for any software, including games
Apowersoft Screen Recorder Netflix Online
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
If you’re a keen gamer, OBS Studio is easily the best screen recorder for you. Unlike the hugely popular FRAPS (which only lets you record for 30 seconds at a stretch unless you’ve bought a license, and applies a watermark to the resulting footage), OBS Studio is open source, and completely free to use without restrictions.
OBS Studio supports both streaming and recording in high definition, with no restrictions on the number or length of your creations. You can stream live to Twitch or YouTube gaming, save projects and come back to them later, or encode your footage in FLV format and save it locally.
Because OBS Studio can record directly from your graphics card, it’s able to capture games running in full-screen mode (many other screen recorders can only record if the game is windowed), with customizable hotkeys to control the recording. OBS Studio can also make full use of multi-core CPUs for improved performance, and can record at 60FPS (or even higher).
It might take a little while to set it up exactly how you want, but OBS Studio is by far the best and most powerful screen recorder for gamers.
Read our full OBS Studio review
© Provided by TechRadar Divider© Provided by TechRadar (Image credit: Blueberry Software; Shutterstock)2. FlashBack Express
Ideal for recording games and capturing footage from a webcam
Platform: Windows
OBS Studio is our favorite free screen recorder, but Flashback Express comes an extremely close second. Despite being a free version of a paid program, FlashBack Express won't put ugly watermarks over your recordings or impose time limits, and it's packed with features and tools that rival many premium programs. Its interface is less intimidating than OBS Studio, so if you've never used a screen recorder before, it's an excellent choice.
You can record from your whole screen, a window, a selected area, or a webcam. Once you’ve finished, your recording will appear in a simple editor, where you can crop and trim it to suit your needs, then export it to YouTube, an FTP server, or your PC.
That’s all fairly standard fare for a free screen recorder, but take a minute to dive into Flashback’s advanced options and you’ll find a wealth of thoughtfully designed settings that will make your desktop recordings look truly professional. The recorder can automatically obscure passwords entered on screen, replace your silly wallpaper with a plain one, hide messy desktop icons, and highlight your mouse pointer to make it easier to follow. There's also a dedicated gaming mode that lets you define the number of frames recorded per second.
There’s no limit on the length of your recordings unless you choose to set one, which can be useful if there’s a chance you might accidentally leave the recorder running. You can also choose to break long recordings up into chunks – a brilliant touch that helps you avoid creating huge, unwieldy files. Your recordings won’t be watermarked, either.
Following a recent update, Flashback Express can export in WMV, AVI and MP4 formats, eliminating the need for a separate video converter, and it no longer requires a free license key for activation – just install the software and you're ready to start recording.
Developer Blueberry Software has also released a free screen recorder designed specifically for games – FBX. This recorder captures HD in-game footage, with hardware acceleration for AMD and Nvidia cards, and Intel CPUs.
If you're thinking about upgrading to FlashBack Pro, Blueberry software is offering TechRadar readers an exclusive 25% discount.
Read our full Flashback Express review
© Provided by TechRadar Divider© Provided by TechRadar (Image credit: Apowersoft; Shutterstock)3. Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder
An in-browser recorder more powerful than most desktop apps
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux (in browser)
If you want to record a presentation, software demonstration or tutorial, give Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder a try. It's a browser-based tool, which means it's not suitable for games, but for any other tasks it's ideal.
The first time you use Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder, you'll be prompted to download a small launcher application. You'll then be provided with a control bar packed with more options than you'll find in most desktop screen recording software. You can capture footage from your desktop or a webcam, and record audio from your PC, microphone, both or neither.
You can record the whole screen, select an area manually or choose one of the preset resolutions – ideal if you’re recording a clip for YouTube, for example, and don’t want to use a separate video editor to resize it later.
Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder also offers customizable keyboard shortcuts for speed and convenience. You can choose whether or not to include the cursor in the recording and take your pick from a range of output formats including MP4, WMV, AVI, MOV and many more. You can even add annotations during the recording.
Once you’re done, you can save the recording as a video file or GIF, upload it directly to YouTube or Vimeo, or send it to Google Drive or Dropbox. You can also edit the clip. Selecting this option will download an additional component – Apowersoft Video Editor – which lets you make simple adjustments before exporting your video in your preferred format. A truly exceptional tool.
Note that the 'Download desktop version' button links to a program called Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro. This is a trial version of a premium application, and is more limited than Online Screen Recorder.
Read our full Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder review
© Provided by TechRadar Divider© Provided by TechRadar (Image credit: NCH Software; Shutterstock)4. Debut Video Capture
Capable of recording from screens, IP cameras and webcams
Platform: Windows
Debut Video Capture is a new addition to our roundup of free screen recorders, and although its slightly dated design does it few favors, it's an extremely powerful program that can do much more than just capture what's happening on your PC monitor.
In addition to basic screen recording (with no time limits or watermarks), Debut Video Capture can also record footage from external devices, including webcams and security cameras. It can even record on a regular schedule, which means it can become the main hub of a home security system. Not too shabby for a program that's totally free for personal use.
There are no post-production editing tools, but you can apply filters and add your own captions and watermarks before you begin recording. There's no option for exporting videos directly to YouTube or Facebook, but they can be saved in all the main formats, including MP4, MOV and AVI (to name just three).
Debut Video Capture is currently in public beta, so we look forward to seeing the final release version with a lick of extra polish soon.
Read our full Debut Video Capture review
© Provided by TechRadar Divider© Provided by TechRadar (Image credit: ShareX Team; Shutterstock)5. ShareX
A great choice if you want to share your screen recordings online
Platform: Windows
Apowersoft Iphone Recorder
ShareX is an open source app for capturing still screen grabs and recording videos. There are no watermarks or time limits to worry about, but the interface isn't the most intuitive in the world so you’ll be best off using keyboard shortcuts. For quick reference, you can start a recording by tapping Shift + Print Screen, and stop it again using Ctrl + Shift + Print Screen.
You can also use this free screen recorder to save your capture as a GIF rather than a video file, which can be extremely useful for sharing on forums and social media.
Not only is ShareX a brilliant free screen recorder, it can also capture an entire scrolling webpage, capture and identify text via OCR, and even capture your screen according to a schedule.
Another of its best features is the ability to send your captured grabs and videos straight to a file-sharing or social media site. There’s a vast array of options, which you can check out on the project’s site.
Unfortunately, ShareX doesn’t support taking screen grabs or recordings from games running in full-screen mode. Other than that, it’s a superb screen recorder that will serve you extremely well.
Read our full ShareX review
© Provided by TechRadar Divider
6. Screencast-O-Matic
A browser-based free screen recorder with a lot to offer
Platform: Windows, macOS, ChromeOS (in browser)
Screencast-O-Matic is another browser-based free screen recorder, and a very capable one at that. Recordings are limited to 15 minutes in length, but you can record as many clips as you like, zoom while recording, trim your recorded clips, add captions, save them to your desktop, YouTube or the cloud, share a video link, or add one of 30 royalty-free music tracks
Hit ‘Start recording for free’, followed by ‘Launch free recorder’. As with Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder, you’ll be prompted to download and install a small web launcher, after which the screen recorder will launch. Prepare your screen and adjust the size of the recording window to suit your needs (it can record the whole screen or just a selected area), then hit the red button. You can capture audio from your PC or a microphone, and record footage from your screen, a webcam or both.
Upgrading to a Deluxe account gives you extra features including scripted recordings, drawing and annotations, a video editor, and (perhaps most usefully) the ability to generate captions automatically with text-to-speech. That’s an impressive set of tools for $1.65 (about £1, AU$2.50) per month, but the free version of Screencast-O-Matic has a lot to offer as well.
The only real downside is that your recordings will be watermarked unless you upgrade, but if that’s not an issue then this free screen recorder is well worth a look.
- Check out our guide to the best free video editing software