Screen Studio costs $29 a month, or $108 a year ($9 a month billed yearly), checked on screen.studio on 6 October 2026. There’s no time-limited free trial: the free download does everything except export until you pay. New buyers can’t get a lifetime license. CursorClip is $70 once, on up to 3 Macs.
Both Screen Studio plans include every feature, and students and educators get 40% off. CursorClip is a native Mac screen recorder with automatic zoom. Screen Studio does more, and this page is specific about where, so you can decide whether the extra features are worth a subscription to you.
What two years of recording costs
| Plan | Price | First year | Two-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Studio monthly | $29 a month | $348 | $696 |
| Screen Studio yearly | $108 a year | $108 | $216 |
| CursorClip lifetime | $70 once | $70 | $70 |
The lifetime license costs less than one year of Screen Studio’s yearly plan, and you pay it once. Screen Studio prices checked on screen.studio on 6 October 2026.
Free to record and edit. A license to export. 14-day money-back guarantee on every plan.
Jump to: Pricing at a glance | Lifetime license | Free trial | Cancel and refunds | Cost over time | Features compared | Which to choose | FAQ
Screen Studio pricing at a glance
| Question | Answer (checked 6 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Monthly plan | $29 a month |
| Yearly plan | $9 a month billed yearly, which is $108 a year |
| What each plan includes | Every feature, export up to 4K at 60fps, share links, cloud transcripts, project sharing and new features as they ship |
| Lifetime or one-time license | Not sold to new buyers. Past one-time licenses still work |
| Free plan | None |
| Free trial | No time-limited trial. Without a plan, the free download runs every feature except exporting |
| Discounts | 40% off for students and educators. No public promo code |
| Cancellation | Anytime, effective at the end of the current term. Plans renew automatically |
| Refunds | Terms say fees are non-refundable |
| Platform | macOS only. macOS 13.1 or later recommended, Apple silicon and Intel |
Sources: the pricing section and FAQ on the Screen Studio homepage, its terms of service and its system requirements and its download page, all read on 6 October 2026.
The only discount Screen Studio lists is 40% off for students and educators, with no public promo code; see our Screen Studio discount code guide.
Comparing Screen Studio with Loom instead? See Screen Studio vs Loom.
Is there a Screen Studio lifetime license?
Not for new buyers. Screen Studio’s FAQ says that buying a one-time license “was possible in the past, but is no longer available for new purchases.” Today you choose between the monthly and the yearly subscription.
If you already own a lifetime license, it still works. Screen Studio says past licenses remain valid. If your access to updates has run out, you can renew it at any time to get the latest version and features. If you have lost your key, Screen Studio’s site has an “I lost my license key” page, and you can manage your account from its dashboard.
If you want a one-time purchase today, CursorClip is $70 once. That buys a native Mac recorder with automatic zoom, updates to the core app included, on up to 3 Macs, with a 14-day money-back guarantee. If you prefer a subscription, CursorClip also has a $29 yearly and a $9 monthly plan.
Is Screen Studio free? Is there a free trial?
Screen Studio has no free plan. Its pricing lists two paid plans and nothing at $0.
There is no time-limited free trial either, but you can try it. Screen Studio’s download page says that if you don’t have an active plan, “you can still use all the features except for exporting video files” (checked 6 October 2026). So you can record and edit for free, and you pay when you want the finished file.
CursorClip works the same way: recording and editing are free, with no account and no time limit, and a license unlocks export. The difference comes after you pay. Every CursorClip plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee, while Screen Studio’s terms say its fees are non-refundable.
Can you cancel Screen Studio and get a refund?
Cancel: yes, anytime. Screen Studio’s terms say a cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription term, so you keep access for the period you already paid for. Plans renew automatically at the same rate unless you cancel before the renewal. Screen Studio’s site links to a “Manage subscription” page for this.
Refund: no. The terms say “Fees are non-refundable.” CursorClip offers a 14-day money-back guarantee on every plan.
What Screen Studio costs over time
A subscription is cheap in month one and expensive by year three. Here is Screen Studio against the cheapest way to own CursorClip for the same period:
| How long you record | Screen Studio yearly | Screen Studio monthly | CursorClip, cheapest way | You keep vs Screen Studio yearly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $108 | $348 | $29 (yearly plan) | $79 |
| 2 years | $216 | $696 | $58 (yearly plan) | $158 |
| 3 years | $324 | $1,044 | $70 (lifetime) | $254 |
| 5 years | $540 | $1,740 | $70 (lifetime) | $470 |
The lifetime license is the better deal from year three. It already costs less than one year of Screen Studio’s yearly plan, so if you expect to keep recording, it is the simplest choice.
CursorClip vs Screen Studio: features compared
Both are Mac apps that record your screen and zoom in on your clicks for you. CursorClip is a native Swift app. Screen Studio is built on Electron: its 4.0.3 update archive (posted on 6 October 2026) contains Electron Framework and an app.asar bundle, which we checked on 6 October 2026. It offers separate Apple silicon and Intel downloads. Screen Studio 4.0 is the bigger app. CursorClip 2.0 (September 2026) added layouts, a teleprompter, crop, saved Looks and multiple aspect ratios, which closed much of the gap on recording and framing, but not on captions, sharing or audio cleanup.
| Feature | CursorClip 2.0 | Screen Studio 4.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $70 once, or $29/yr, $9/mo | $108/yr or $29/mo, subscription only |
| Refunds | 14-day money-back guarantee | Terms say non-refundable |
| Try before paying | Free to record and edit; license to export | Free download runs every feature except export; no time-limited trial |
| Built with | Native Swift | Electron, with Apple silicon and Intel downloads |
| macOS | 13.5 or later | 13.1 or later recommended |
| Intel Macs | Yes, any that runs macOS 13.5 (MacBook Pro 2017+, MacBook Air 2018+, iMac 2017+) | Yes (MacBook Pro 2018+, MacBook Air 2020+) |
| Download size | 27.8 MB (2.0.4) | 729 MB (4.0.3, Apple silicon) |
| Automatic zoom on clicks | Yes, editable, with custom zoom areas | Yes, classic and loupe zoom styles |
| Motion blur, cursor styles, click effects | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard-shortcut overlay | Yes (opt-in) | Yes |
| Camera layouts | Screen, camera, picture-in-picture, side by side, stacked; Cut, Fade and Morph transitions | Fullscreen camera, split screen, overlay, screen only, camera cutout; animated transitions |
| Camera background removal and face tracking | No | Yes |
| Wide, square and vertical from one recording | Yes | Yes, plus a Reel mode preview |
| Crop after recording | Yes | Yes |
| Saved styles | Looks | Presets, shareable with a team |
| Script on screen while recording | Teleprompter with auto-scroll, built to stay out of the recording | Speaker notes with a scrolling prompter (adjustable speed, opacity and font size), kept out of the recording |
| Captions and transcript editing | No | Yes, on your Mac |
| Voice cleanup | No | Noise reduction and Podcast mode |
| Share links with comments | No (you export a file) | Yes, up to 30 minutes |
| iPhone and iPad recording | No | Yes, over USB with device frames |
| Open an existing video | No, only its own recordings | Yes, MP4 |
| Mask private data after recording | No | Yes |
| Export | MP4 or MOV (H.264 or HEVC) up to 4K at 60fps; GIF under 10 minutes | MP4 up to 4K at 60fps; GIF up to 1080p |
Screen Studio facts come from its homepage, guide (including speaker notes) and download page, and the file list of its 4.0.3 update archive, all on 6 October 2026. CursorClip facts come from our features page and changelog.
Where Screen Studio is ahead
These are real gaps in CursorClip, so check them against what you make before you buy anything.
- Captions and transcript editing. Screen Studio turns your voice into captions on your Mac, lets you cut by deleting sentences, and clears filler words. CursorClip has none of this.
- Voice cleanup. Noise reduction and a Podcast mode run on-device.
- Sharing. Share links with comments and view counts, and whole projects you can hand to a teammate.
- iPhone and iPad. Plug in a device over USB and record it inside a matching device frame.
- Camera tricks. Background removal, face tracking, and a camera that steps aside when you stop talking.
- Importing. Screen Studio can open an existing MP4 and add zooms to it. CursorClip only edits recordings made in CursorClip.
- Masks, AI voiceover and background music.
- A slightly lower macOS floor (13.1 against 13.5) and a longer track record with a bigger community.
Where CursorClip is ahead
- You can pay once. $70 for a lifetime license, instead of $108 every year. Updates to the core app are included.
- You can get your money back. A 14-day money-back guarantee on every plan, against non-refundable fees.
- It is small and native. A download under 30 MB, built in Swift, against 729 MB for Screen Studio’s Electron-based Apple silicon build.
- More export containers. MOV and HEVC as well as MP4.
What both do well
Automatic zoom that follows your clicks and stays editable. Smooth motion with optional blur. Cursor styles and click effects. Keyboard-shortcut overlays. Camera layouts with animated transitions. Wide, square and vertical versions from one recording. Crop after recording. Saved styles. A scrolling script on screen while you record (CursorClip’s teleprompter, Screen Studio’s speaker notes). System audio with your microphone. 4K at 60fps export and GIFs. Both also protect a take if recording is interrupted. And both let you record and edit for free, charging only when you export.
Which should you choose?
Choose Screen Studio if you need captions, transcript editing, voice cleanup, share links or iPhone recording, and a subscription is fine. For a team that reviews videos by link, or a creator who publishes to social media with captions on, those features are worth paying for every year.
Choose CursorClip if your videos are demos, tutorials or course lessons that you export and upload, and you want them to look edited without a subscription. It covers zoom, camera layouts, multiple aspect ratios, a teleprompter, crop and saved Looks, and you pay $70 once.
By role:
- Solo founder shipping product demos: CursorClip. Automatic zoom and camera layouts cover a launch video, and the license is paid once.
- Course creator recording lessons: CursorClip, unless you need captions generated in the same app, in which case Screen Studio.
- Creator posting short clips with captions: Screen Studio. Captions and Reel mode are built for that.
- Team sharing videos for feedback: Screen Studio. Share links with comments are the point.
- iPhone app demos: Screen Studio. CursorClip records your Mac screen only.
For more options in this category, see our Screen Studio alternatives guide and the 13 best screen recorders for Mac.
System requirements
CursorClip: macOS 13.5 (Ventura) or later, on Apple silicon or Intel. It sets no chip, memory or model minimum of its own, so any Mac on macOS 13.5 or later qualifies, including Intel MacBook Pros from 2017 and MacBook Airs from 2018. Works offline after a one-time license activation. See system requirements.
Screen Studio: macOS Ventura 13.1 or later recommended. Apple M1 or later recommended, or an Intel MacBook Pro 2018 or later, or MacBook Air 2020 or later. 8 GB of RAM.
Privacy
Both apps keep your recordings on your Mac by default.
- CursorClip: your recordings never leave your Mac. There are no share links and no way to upload a video from the app; you export a file and share it however you like.
- Screen Studio: recordings and projects are saved and processed on your Mac. Share links, shared projects, cloud transcription and AI voiceover send data only when you choose them, and Screen Studio says it asks before the first upload. Its usage analytics can be turned off in Settings.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Screen Studio cost?
Screen Studio costs $29 a month, or $9 a month billed yearly ($108 a year), as listed on screen.studio on 6 October 2026. Both plans include every feature. Students and educators get 40% off. CursorClip is $70 once, on up to 3 Macs.
Is there a Screen Studio lifetime license or one-time purchase?
Not for new buyers. Screen Studio says one-time licenses were sold in the past but are no longer available for new purchases. If you want a Mac screen recorder with automatic zoom that you pay for once, CursorClip is $70 one-time.
I bought a Screen Studio lifetime license. Does it still work?
Yes. Screen Studio says past one-time licenses are still valid, and if your access to updates has expired you can renew it to get the latest features. Its site also has an “I lost my license key” page.
Is Screen Studio free, and is there a free trial?
There is no free plan and no time-limited free trial. The download is free, and Screen Studio’s download page says that without an active plan you can use all the features except exporting video files (checked 6 October 2026). CursorClip works the same way, free to record and edit with a license to export, and adds a 14-day money-back guarantee on every plan.
Can I cancel Screen Studio, and does it give refunds?
Screen Studio’s terms say you can cancel at any time, with the cancellation taking effect at the end of the current subscription term, and that fees are non-refundable. Plans renew automatically unless you cancel before the renewal.
Is Screen Studio available on Windows?
No. Screen Studio says it only supports macOS and has no near-future plans for Windows. It recommends macOS Ventura 13.1 or later, and runs on Apple silicon and on Intel Macs from MacBook Pro 2018 and MacBook Air 2020 onward.
How much cheaper is CursorClip than Screen Studio?
CursorClip’s $70 lifetime license costs less than one year of Screen Studio’s yearly plan ($108). Over three years the yearly plan costs $324, so you keep $254. Over five years it costs $540, so you keep $470.
Which is better, CursorClip or Screen Studio?
Screen Studio 4.0 has more features, including captions, transcript editing, voice cleanup, share links, iPhone recording and importing existing videos. CursorClip covers the core of a polished demo (automatic zoom, camera layouts, several aspect ratios, a teleprompter, crop and saved Looks) in a native app under 30 MB that you can buy once for $70, with a 14-day money-back guarantee. Choose by the features you need and how you want to pay.
Try CursorClip before you subscribe
If your videos are demos, tutorials or lessons that you export and upload, try CursorClip on your next recording. Recording and editing are free, so you can see the result before you pay $70 once.
Free to record and edit. A license to export. 14-day money-back guarantee on every plan.
Screen Studio prices, terms, requirements and features were checked on screen.studio on 6 October 2026. Prices change, so confirm on the Screen Studio site before you buy.
Related articles
- 13 best screen recorders for Mac (2026): the full field, free and paid
- Best Screen Studio alternatives: more options if the subscription is the problem
- Screen Studio discount codes: what savings actually exist
- Screen Studio vs Loom: if you are choosing between those two
- Auto-zoom screen recording on Mac: how automatic zoom works
