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Utilities · head to head

Kap vs Ventoy

Kap logo

Kap

Utilities

Free open source screen recorder for macOS, focused on video and GIF capture rather than annotation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ventoy logo

Ventoy

Utilities

Multiboot USB creator that boots ISO files copied onto an ordinary partition

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Kap it has no annotation tools at all, so any still-image markup work needs a separate app such as Shottr or CleanShot X.; Ventoy the repository ships prebuilt binaries that are difficult to reproduce from source, so several Linux distributions refuse to package it and security teams in regulated organisations will usually reject it.
  • They diverge on capability: Kap covers Multi-format export, Ventoy covers In-place ISO boot.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kap and Ventoy actually diverge.

Attributes where Kap and Ventoy differ
AttributeKapVentoy
PlatformsMacWindows, Linux

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Kap

  • Multi-format export
  • Area, window or display capture
  • Plugin system
  • Basic trimming
  • Menu bar operation
  • Open source

Only in Ventoy

  • In-place ISO boot
  • Persistent overlays
  • Plugin configuration
  • Secure Boot support
  • Multi-format boot
  • Non-destructive install

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Kap

  • A developer recording a demo GIF for a README or documentation pagenot Ventoy
  • A marketer capturing a quick product walkthrough clip without buying screen recording softwarenot Ventoy
  • Someone creating App Store style device-framed screenshots for a listingnot Ventoy
  • A user who only needs video capture and does not want to pay for a suite of annotation features they will not usenot Ventoy

Ventoy

  • Field technicians who need one stick carrying several Windows and Linux installers plus a rescue environmentnot Kap
  • Labs that reimage machines weekly and want to swap a single ISO rather than rewrite the drivenot Kap
  • Testing a new distribution release without destroying the existing set of imagesnot Kap
  • Unattended installation runs where answer files sit beside the ISOs on the same partitionnot Kap

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Kap

  • It has no annotation tools at all, so any still-image markup work needs a separate app such as Shottr or CleanShot X.
  • There is no scrolling capture or OCR, features both Shottr and CleanShot X include.
  • Editing is limited to basic trimming, so anything beyond a simple cut needs a dedicated video editor afterward.
  • It is Mac only, offering nothing for screen recording needs on Windows.
  • As a volunteer-maintained open source project, updates and bug fixes depend on community contribution rather than a company with paid support obligations.

Ventoy

  • The repository ships prebuilt binaries that are difficult to reproduce from source, so several Linux distributions refuse to package it and security teams in regulated organisations will usually reject it.
  • Development depends on one maintainer, so a period of inactivity leaves compatibility fixes for new distribution releases unaddressed with no second party able to cut a release.
  • Secure Boot works only after enrolling the Ventoy certificate through MokManager at the machine, which is a manual step at every device and is blocked outright on locked-down corporate firmware.
  • A small number of images still fail to boot in place and need workarounds, so a technician can discover mid-job that the one ISO they need is the one that does not work.
  • The data partition is exFAT by default, which means no file permissions and no journal, so a stick pulled during a copy can corrupt the whole image set rather than one file.

Pricing, plan by plan

Kap

Free
  • KapFree
    • Free and open source under the MIT licence
    • MP4, WebM, GIF and device frame export
    • Plugin system for extended workflows

Ventoy

Free
  • VentoyFree
    • Full feature set with no paid edition
    • GPLv3 licence
    • Windows and Linux installers

Which should you pick?

Choose Kap if

  • You need multi-format export.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want area, window or display capture.
Kap review

Choose Ventoy if

  • You need in-place iso boot.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux.
  • You also want persistent overlays.
Ventoy review

Questions people ask

Is Kap or Ventoy better?
Neither clearly leads. Kap starts at Free and Ventoy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kap or Ventoy?
Kap starts at Free and Ventoy at Free.
Does Kap or Ventoy run on more platforms?
Kap runs on Mac. Ventoy runs on Windows, Linux.
Can I use Kap for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Kap best used for?
Kap is most often used for a developer recording a demo gif for a readme or documentation page, a marketer capturing a quick product walkthrough clip without buying screen recording software, someone creating app store style device-framed screenshots for a listing, a user who only needs video capture and does not want to pay for a suite of annotation features they will not use. Of those, a developer recording a demo gif for a readme or documentation page and a marketer capturing a quick product walkthrough clip without buying screen recording software are not what Ventoy is typically brought in for.
What can Kap do that Ventoy cannot?
Kap covers Multi-format export, Area, window or display capture, Plugin system, Basic trimming. Ventoy covers In-place ISO boot, Persistent overlays, Plugin configuration, Secure Boot support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kap: Is Kap free?

Yes, entirely. It is open source under the MIT licence with no paid tier.

Ventoy: Can I still use the USB stick for ordinary file storage?

Yes. The data partition mounts as normal removable storage and files that are not bootable images are simply ignored by the menu.

Kap: Does Kap do screenshots or only video?

It is focused on video and GIF recording. For still screenshots with annotation, pair it with Shottr or CleanShot X.

Ventoy: Do I need to reinstall Ventoy when a new distribution version comes out?

No. Delete the old ISO and copy the new one. You only rerun the installer to upgrade Ventoy itself.

Kap: Can Kap export directly to GIF?

Yes, GIF is one of its native export formats alongside MP4, WebM and Apple device frames.

Ventoy: Is it safe to use in a company that audits open source?

Often not. The unreproducible prebuilt binaries in the repository are a genuine audit finding and have blocked approval at organisations with supply chain review.

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