Our verdict: Bandicam is a light, simple recorder for games, tutorials and online meetings. The free version is fine for short clips, but every recording stops at 5 minutes. People who record often will either buy a license or use OBS Studio, which has no limits at all.
About Bandicam
Bandicam is made by Bandicam Company, a Korean developer that also makes the Bandicut video cutter and recording SDKs for game studios. It has separate modes for a screen area, the full screen, a game window, a webcam or an external capture device, plus audio-only recording.
The free version has no time limit on use and adds no watermark to recordings, but each recording is capped at 5 minutes, and videos exported from the built-in editor carry a watermark. A Personal license costs $33.26 per year or is sold as a perpetual license for the current major version; it is for non-commercial use only, and organizations need the more expensive Business license. No account or card is needed to try it.
What it does well
- Recording modes. Screen area, full screen, game, webcam, external device and audio-only recording.
- Game capture. Records 2D and 3D games such as Minecraft, Roblox and League of Legends.
- Built-in editor. Version 2027 adds a player, cutting, Smart Zoom on the cursor and subtitle-based editing.
- AI transcription. Creates subtitles with speaker separation and exports TXT or SRT in the full version.
- Scheduled recording. Starts and stops recordings on a timer; available in the full version only.
Who it is for
Good fit
Gamers and teachers who want a small, fast recorder and are ready to pay for long recordings.
Look elsewhere
People who need free unlimited recording or live streaming; OBS Studio does both at no cost.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Dedicated game recording mode
- No watermark on free recordings
- Simple mode-based interface
- Direct installer, no account needed
Cons
- Free recordings stop at 5 minutes
- Personal license is for non-commercial use only
- Scheduled recording, webcam background removal and transcripts need a license
How to install Bandicam
Download the installer from bandicam.com and run it; no account is needed for the free version. On first launch, pick a recording mode on the Home tab. To remove the 5-minute limit, buy a license and register it in the app; licenses are managed through My Bandicam Space on the website.
Questions about Bandicam
Is Bandicam free?
Partly. The free version works without a time limit and adds no watermark to recordings, but each recording stops after 5 minutes and edited exports are watermarked. A Personal license costs $33.26 per year on the official store, and a perpetual license is also sold. No account or card is needed to try it.
Can I use a Bandicam Personal license at work?
No. Bandicam's store says the Personal license is for non-commercial use; companies and schools must buy the Business and Education license.
Does Bandicam work on Mac?
There is a separate Bandicam for Mac. The Windows version needs a 64-bit edition of Windows 7, 8, 10 or 11.
