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Utilities · head to head

Kap vs McDonalds

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
McDonalds logo

McDonalds

Utilities

McDonald's mobile ordering and MyMcDonald's Rewards app used to drive app-exclusive deals and first party data

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.; McDonalds many of the best prices are app-exclusive, so customers who avoid the app or its data collection systematically pay more than app users for the same items.
  • They diverge on capability: Kap covers Multi-format export, McDonalds covers Mobile order and pay.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kap and McDonalds actually diverge.

Attributes where Kap and McDonalds differ
AttributeKapMcDonalds
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeFree app, revenue from purchases
PlatformsMaciOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 McDonalds

  • Mobile order and pay
  • MyMcDonald's Rewards
  • App-exclusive deals
  • Geofenced drive-thru timing
  • Delivery ordering
  • Order customisation and favourites

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

McDonalds

  • A customer wanting the best available deal price, since many discounts are app exclusivenot Kap
  • Skipping the counter or drive-thru queue by ordering aheadnot Kap
  • Accumulating Rewards points toward free menu items through regular visitsnot Kap
  • Ordering delivery through an integrated third party partner from inside the appnot 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.

McDonalds

  • Many of the best prices are app-exclusive, so customers who avoid the app or its data collection systematically pay more than app users for the same items.
  • It uses location tracking to time drive-thru food preparation, which means granting fairly precise location access for the feature to work as intended.
  • Points values and redemption thresholds are set by McDonald's and its franchisees and can change without the transparency of a fixed loyalty currency.
  • App-exclusive promotions are often only available at participating locations, which is not obvious until checkout, since franchise ownership varies by store.
  • Delivery ordered through the app still routes through third party delivery partners, so delivery fees and reliability issues are unchanged from ordering those platforms directly.

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

McDonalds

Free
  • MyMcDonald's RewardsFree
    • Free to join
    • 100 points per dollar spent
    • No cost beyond items ordered

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 McDonalds if

  • You need mobile order and pay.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want mymcdonald's rewards.
McDonalds review

Questions people ask

Is Kap or McDonalds better?
Neither clearly leads. Kap starts at Free and McDonalds at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kap or McDonalds?
Kap starts at Free and McDonalds at Free.
Does Kap or McDonalds run on more platforms?
Kap runs on Mac. McDonalds runs on iOS, Android.
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 McDonalds is typically brought in for.
What can Kap do that McDonalds cannot?
Kap covers Multi-format export, Area, window or display capture, Plugin system, Basic trimming. McDonalds covers Mobile order and pay, MyMcDonald's Rewards, App-exclusive deals, Geofenced drive-thru timing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kap: Is Kap free?

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

McDonalds: Is the McDonald's app free?

Yes, joining and using it costs nothing beyond what is ordered.

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.

McDonalds: Do I need the app to get the best prices?

Often yes; a significant share of current discounted and free-item offers are app exclusive and unavailable at the counter.

Kap: Can Kap export directly to GIF?

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

McDonalds: Does the app track my location?

Yes, for drive-thru order timing and store locating; this can be limited in phone settings at the cost of that feature.

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