Export Formats

Recorded exports to two formats: MP4 (H.264) and GIF. Choose the format in the Export Video dialog, then pick a resolution (and, for GIF, a frame rate).

MP4 (H.264)

The default and most widely compatible format. MP4 files play on virtually every device, browser, and video platform.

• Video codec: H.264, hardware-accelerated when available (see Hardware Acceleration)
• Audio codec: AAC at 192 kbps — microphone, system audio, background music, and click sounds are mixed into one track
• Frame rate: 60 FPS, so zoom, cursor, and transition animations render smoothly
• Resolution: 720p, 1080p (default), 1440p, 4K, Original, or Retina (Retina appears only for recordings captured on a high-DPI display)
• Bitrate: Set automatically for high quality — the dialog shows an estimated file size before you export
• Optimize File Size (optional): Creates an additional, smaller copy of the exported MP4 next to the original
• Best for: Uploading to YouTube or social media, embedding in websites and presentations, general-purpose sharing

MP4 is the recommended format for most users.

GIF

Create lightweight animated GIFs for quick previews, documentation, and chat.

• Resolution: 480p, 720p (default), Original, or Retina
• Frame rate: 10, 15 (default), or 24 FPS
• No audio: GIFs never include sound
• Best for: Short clips in Slack or Discord, GitHub README files, documentation, and bug reports

GIF files grow quickly with length, resolution, and frame rate. Recorded shows a warning when a GIF export is longer than 30 seconds — trim the clip or lower the frame rate to keep the file manageable.

Other Formats

Recorded does not export MOV/ProRes, WebM, or H.265 (HEVC). If you need one of these, export an MP4 and convert it with a dedicated tool.

Free Plan Exports

On the free plan, exports shorter than 25 seconds are free in both formats and include a small “by recorded.app” watermark plus a short Recorded outro. Exporting a video that is 25 seconds or longer requires signing in with a Pro license, and Pro exports have no watermark or outro. See License for details.

Choosing the Right Format