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Video Production · head to head

ScreenFlow vs Squadcast

ScreenFlow logo

ScreenFlow

Video Production

Mac-only screen recording and editing sold as a one-time purchase

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Squadcast logo

Squadcast

Video Production

Professional remote recording for podcasters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Squadcast has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ScreenFlow it runs on macOS only, so a mixed fleet cannot standardise on it and project files cannot be handed to a Windows colleague in any form.; Squadcast free plan limited to 1 recording hour per editor per month and exports capped at 720p with watermarks
  • They diverge on capability: ScreenFlow covers Screen and device capture, Squadcast covers Local recording.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ScreenFlow and Squadcast actually diverge.

Attributes where ScreenFlow and Squadcast differ
AttributeScreenFlowSquadcast
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchasesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsmacOSWeb, Desktop
FoundedUnknown2017

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Video Production).

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 ScreenFlow

  • Screen and device capture
  • Callouts
  • Animated zoom and pan
  • Caption authoring
  • Stock media library
  • Direct publishing

Only in Squadcast

  • Local recording
  • Progressive upload
  • Video recording
  • Screen sharing
  • Dolby audio
  • Cloud storage
  • Descript
  • Dropbox

What people use each for

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

ScreenFlow

  • Producing a paid online course where a recurring software subscription would erode the marginnot Squadcast
  • Recording software tutorials for a support knowledge base on a fixed annual budgetnot Squadcast
  • Capturing an iOS app demonstration directly from a connected device without a screen mirroring workaroundnot Squadcast
  • Training teams who need captioned, annotated walkthroughs without a full editing suitenot Squadcast

Squadcast

  • Podcast recording and editingnot ScreenFlow
  • Audio production with AI transcriptionnot ScreenFlow
  • Team interview and discussion recordingnot ScreenFlow

Where each one falls short

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

ScreenFlow

  • It runs on macOS only, so a mixed fleet cannot standardise on it and project files cannot be handed to a Windows colleague in any form.
  • Each major version is a paid upgrade rather than an included update, so the one-time purchase is in practice a purchase every eighteen months to two years if you want current macOS compatibility.
  • New macOS releases have repeatedly broken screen and audio capture until an update arrives, which is a scheduling risk for anyone recording to a publication calendar.
  • Media lives inside a project bundle that grows quickly and there is no real media management, so a long-running series consumes disk with no straightforward way to consolidate or relink.
  • It is a recorder with an editor attached; multicam, colour work and audio repair beyond simple cleanup all require a proper non-linear editor.

Squadcast

  • Free plan limited to 1 recording hour per editor per month and exports capped at 720p with watermarks
  • Hobbyist plan monthly price of $24 per person rises to $35 per person if paid monthly instead of annually
  • Recording hour rollover is capped at twice the plan's monthly hour allotment

Pricing, plan by plan

ScreenFlow

On request
  • ScreenFlow$undefined/year
    • Perpetual licence for one major version
    • Screen, camera and device capture
    • Full editing timeline

Squadcast

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 recording hour per editor per month
    • 1 show
    • 10 participants
  • Hobbyist$16/month
    • Annual $16/month or monthly $24
    • 10 recording hours per editor per month
    • 5 shows
  • Creator$24/month
    • Annual $24/month or monthly $35
    • 30 recording hours per editor per month
    • Unlimited shows
  • Business$50/month
    • Annual $50/month or monthly $65
    • 40 recording hours per editor per month
    • Unlimited shows

Which should you pick?

Choose ScreenFlow if

  • You need screen and device capture.
  • You work on macOS.
  • You also want callouts.
ScreenFlow review

Choose Squadcast if

  • You need local recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop.
  • You also want progressive upload.
Squadcast review

Questions people ask

Is ScreenFlow or Squadcast better?
Neither clearly leads. ScreenFlow starts at On request and Squadcast at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ScreenFlow or Squadcast?
Squadcast has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for ScreenFlow and Free for Squadcast.
Does ScreenFlow or Squadcast run on more platforms?
ScreenFlow runs on macOS. Squadcast runs on Web, Desktop.
Can I use Squadcast for free?
Yes. Squadcast has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ScreenFlow starts at On request.
What is ScreenFlow best used for?
ScreenFlow is most often used for producing a paid online course where a recurring software subscription would erode the margin, recording software tutorials for a support knowledge base on a fixed annual budget, capturing an ios app demonstration directly from a connected device without a screen mirroring workaround, training teams who need captioned, annotated walkthroughs without a full editing suite. Of those, producing a paid online course where a recurring software subscription would erode the margin and recording software tutorials for a support knowledge base on a fixed annual budget are not what Squadcast is typically brought in for.
What can ScreenFlow do that Squadcast cannot?
ScreenFlow covers Screen and device capture, Callouts, Animated zoom and pan, Caption authoring. Squadcast covers Local recording, Progressive upload, Video recording, Screen sharing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ScreenFlow: Is it a subscription?

No. The application is bought outright. Major version upgrades are charged separately, and the optional stock media library is a subscription.

Squadcast: What is the cheapest paid plan on Squadcast?

The Hobbyist plan costs $16 per person per month when billed annually or $24 per month when billed monthly. It includes 10 recording hours per editor, 5 shows, and unlimited watermark-free 1080p exports. Source: https://squadcast.fm/pricing

Source
ScreenFlow: Will it ever run on Windows?

No. It is a macOS application and Telestream has never shipped a Windows version.

Squadcast: Does Squadcast offer annual billing discounts?

Yes, Squadcast offers up to 35% savings over monthly billing when paying annually. For example, the Hobbyist plan costs $16/month annually ($192/year) compared to $24/month for monthly billing ($288/year). Source: https://squadcast.fm/pricing

Source
ScreenFlow: How does it compare with Camtasia on cost?

Both are bought rather than rented and both charge for major upgrades. ScreenFlow is Mac only; Camtasia runs on both platforms, which usually decides it for a mixed team.

Squadcast: What are Squadcast recording hour limits by tier?

The Free plan allows 1 hour per editor per month. Hobbyist includes 10 hours, Creator includes 30 hours, and Business includes 40 hours per editor per month. Unused time rolls over with a limit of twice the monthly allocation. Source: https://squadcast.fm/pricing

Source
Squadcast: How much does Squadcast charge for overage recording hours?

Squadcast charges $5 per additional recording hour when time depletes mid-session. The overage rate applies across all paid plans and is assessed when recording exceeds the monthly allocation. Source: https://squadcast.fm/pricing

Source
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