Screencastify 101: Everything You Need to Know (Features, Tips, Alternatives)
Last Updated on November 28, 2025 by Rhea Cabalida
Screencastify is one of the most popular browser-based screen recorder tools. It mainly runs within the Chrome browser and is used to record, edit, and screen activities. If you’re looking for a reliable and easy-to-use screen recording tool, this is one of the programs you should try.
In this review, we discussed its pricing, features, pros and cons, user feedback, and some worthy alternatives. Read on!
In this Article:
- Quick Summary:: What is Screencastify
- Features: Screencastify Chrome Extension Major Features
- Pricing: Screencastify Screen Recorder Pricing Breakdown
- Tutorial: How to Use Screencastify to Record Screens
- Disadvantages: Screencastify’s Limitations & Setbacks
- Alternative: WidsMob Capture
- Verdict: Screencastify or WidsMob Capture
Quick Summary: What is Screencastify
Screencastify is a Chrome browser extension. Its main purpose is to record the computer screen without needing to install an app.
It basically has all the features that a good screen recorder tool should have, plus some pretty helpful functions that are useful, especially when you’re working with a group. This is also the reason why the Screencastify extension tool is popular among teachers, creators, teams, and other entities that have collaborative work.
Aside from that, this tool is also integrated with platforms such as Google Drive and YouTube, which provide an easy way to share and view recordings. As long as you have a desktop that uses Chrome as a browser, you’re free to use the Screencastify extension.
💡 To know more about Chrome screen recorders, read here: How to Screen Record on Chrome: Best Chrome Screen Recorder Extensions
Different Capture Modes
Unlike some screen recorders that only have one capture mode (usually full-screen recording), Screencastify offers various modes to cater to different project requirements. With Screencastify, you can:
- Browser tab recording (only one tab)
- Entire desktop recording
- App-window recording
This gives a lot of flexibility, especially to tutorial makers who want to demonstrate specific tabs and apps.
Webcam & Microphone Recording
You can overlay the webcam feed while screen recording and while using the mic to discuss or describe what’s on your screen. These two features are perfect for recording meetings and for making commentaries and tutorials.
Built-in Editor
Some Chrome extension screen recorders only offer screen capture features. But with Screencastify, you can use different video editing tools to polish your recordings. This tool includes trim start/end, crop, merge clips, add annotations, draw on screen, blur sensitive info, etc.
Export & Sharing Options
The format option on Screencastify is not that extensive; however, it offers the most popular formats: MP4, GIF, and MP3. If you don’t want to export the recordings locally, you can directly share them via a link or through platforms like Google Drive, YouTube, and Google Classroom.
Interactive Video Questions
As mentioned above, Screencastify is a favorite among teachers, and this is because of its interactive features that are centered on education. It lets you add questions within your videos, like multiple-choice or short-answer questions.
When students watch it, the video pauses and asks them to respond before continuing. Their answers are collected automatically so teachers can quickly check who understood the lesson.
Collaboration & Classroom Tools
To easily finish a group task, Screencastify now works directly with Google tools such as Drive and Google Classroom. You can directly share the clips via a link or a folder that everyone can access.
AI-Powered Tools
Recently, the tool added AI-assisted tools that can automatically add captions, video titles, descriptions, and even directly translate the video. Currently, it supports 50+ languages.
Free
➡️ Create up to 10 videos
➡️ Record up to 30 minutes
➡️ Upload your own videos
➡️ Share instantly with a link
➡️ Control video privacy
Starter $7/annual or $19/month
➡️ Everything in Free, plus:
➡️ Create unlimited videos
➡️ Record up to 60 minutes
➡️ Basic video editing tools
➡️ Remove Screencastify watermark
➡️ Add questions and polls
➡️ Request & collect videos
➡️ Advanced collaboration
Pro $10/annual or $25/month
➡️ Everything in Starter, plus:
➡️ AI video enhancements
➡️ Record up to 180 minutes
➡️ Advanced AI editing
➡️ AI questions & polls
➡️ Captions & transcripts
➡️ Translations & voiceovers
➡️ Teleprompter with AI scripts
➡️ Upload and download media
➡️ YouTube for EDU (Education users only)
Enterprise & EDU (Custom Pricing)
➡️ Everything in Pro, plus:
➡️ LMS integrations
➡️ Dedicated training
➡️ Assigned success manager
➡️ Onboarding & support
➡️ Central admin controls
➡️ Google & Microsoft SSO
The free plan already offers great benefits, although it's limited, you can still create a good amount of content.
The Starter and Pro plans both have prices for yearly and monthly subscriptions. The ones billed annually are much cheaper; this is great for committed users who can make use of all the features. While the monthly subscription is on the pricier side, it gives the flexibility of cancelling anytime or if you’re a casual user.
The Enterprise & EDU plan has custom pricing; usually, this depends on the size of the organization that will use the tool. The price and payment plans can be discussed with the sales team.
How to Use Screencastify to Record Screens
Recording your screen using Screencastify is quite easy, as no extensive installation is required. The program will run through your browser, saving you some storage space. Here’s how.
Step 1:
Go to the Google Chrome Web Store and search for Screencastify.
Step 2:
Click Add to Chrome, then click Add Extension.
Step 3:
On your browser, click the Extension icon, choose Screencastify, then sign in using your Google account. You will also need to grant Screencastify access to your Google Drive.
Step 4:
After creating an account, pin Screencastify to your browser. Tick the Screencastify and enable the audio and webcam access.
Step 5:
Select your recording mode, and when everything is set, press Record.
Step 6:
Press the Stop button to end recording.
Step 7:
To save a video from Screencastify, simply click Export. Depending on your subscription, you will have the option to save it locally, share it through a link, or both.
How to Remove Screencastify from Chrome
If you no longer want to use Screencastify, here’s how to remove it.
Step 1:
Open your browser, then click the Extension icon
Step 1:
Select the three-dot icon beside Screencastify, then choose Remove from Chrome.
Step 3:
Confirm your choice, and the tool will be removed automatically.
Before disabling Screencastify, make sure to save and export all of your important projects.
Limitations on the Free Plan
Obviously, the free plan doesn't give you access to all its features, and that's understandable. However, some of the limitations affect the overall output, such as the video resolution and the saving option (no local export option). Plus, free plan users also have to deal with the watermarks on all their videos.
Browser Limitations & Performance Issues
Since it’s Chrome-based, the whole recording process will be dependent on the browser performance. On older or less powerful machines, screen recording + webcam + browser can be heavy on the CPU. This is one of the reasons why some users report lags and errors during recording.
Limited Editing Tools
Compared to full-blown editing software, what Screencastify offers is only the basic recording tools. You can’t really create professional-grade outputs using those tools.
Heavy Costing
Yes, the prices are cheap compared to other tools, but the annual and monthly subscriptions can be a bit heavy to some, especially to large teams and for those who just want to try out the tool.
Better Alternative: WidsMob Capture
While Screencastify is browser-based, WidsMob Capture is a native desktop application (Windows & Mac) offering more advanced options: system audio capture, full-screen high-resolution capture, scheduled tasks, and deeper editing/export controls.
Why Pick WidsMob Over Screencastify
✅ If you need to record system audio (e.g., game audio or application sound), Aiseesoft often supports it, where Screencastify may not.
✅ For desktop-level editing or higher bitrate exports, a full application can deliver better quality and more export flexibility.
✅ If your workflow is offline or non-browser-based, a native app like Aiseesoft avoids browser dependency.
Overall, this tool is a great alternative for those who are creating bigger projects and require more editing and recording resources.
Comparison Table: Screencastify vs WidsMob Capture
| Feature | Screencastify | WidsMob |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Chrome extension & Chromebook/Browser-based | Windows & Mac native application |
| Recording Options | Tab / Desktop / App window + Webcam + Mic | Full screen / Region / Webcam / System audio / Scheduled tasks |
| Editing Capabilities | Basic tools | More advanced options |
| Export & Sharing | MP4, GIF, MP3; direct to Google Drive/YouTube/Classroom | Multiple codecs & local files, greater export flexibility |
| Free Plan | Yes, with limited accessibility | Free trial with limited accessibility |
Final Verdict - Screencastify or WidsMob Capture
When choosing between Screencastify and WidsMob Capture, the best tool depends a lot on your workflow, priorities, and recording needs.
Pick Screencastify if:
- You prefer a lightweight tool with a convenient installation process.
- You prioritize Google integration and collaborate with a group.
- You have educational-based projects that can make use of Screencastify’s specialized features.
- You want to record for free or test out its features.
Pick WidsMob Capture if:
- You want a full-blown screen recorder that offers extensive recording functions on both the screen, audio, and webcam.
- You want to record in 4K to produce crisp and clear videos.
- You want to professionally edit your videos with the help of the editing and annotation tools.
- You don’t want watermarks on your output.
Overall, these two programs offer the best-of-the-best deals and are perfect for users in different industries.