Bandicam Review

You want to capture your screen or gameplay to create video tutorials or gaming videos? Or you simply want to record videos with your webcam? Then you need solid screen recording software. In this article I’ll take a look at Bandicam - one of the most popular screen capture programs for YouTubers.

Bandicam Review

What can Bandicam do?

Bandicam has three main modes:

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    Gaming Recording Mode: In this mode you’re able to record gameplay footage as well as the content of your Windows Media Player, your webcam, HDTV and many other 3D applications.
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    Screen Recording Mode: This mode allows you to record your computer screen, including countless applications. In screen recording mode you’re able to record either full screen or only a specific area of your screen. This mode is not made for high fps recordings like Game Recording Mode.
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    Device Recording Mode: In Device Recording Mode you’re able to record any external device like a phone, a webcam or even a console like an XBOX or Playstation.

Additionally, you’re able to create high quality screenshots in BMP, PNG and JPG format in any of these modes.

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Recording specs

Bandicam can capture between 1 and 144 fps and offers several codecs to choose from (here you can find a list with ratings on size, quality and speed).

When it comes to resolution, you can choose from about 20 options, including a custom setting that lets you record in up to 4K.

This means that Bandicam should be able to fulfill the needs of most YouTubers. If your hardware is powerful enough, you’ll be able to take advantage of the higher quality settings. If not, you’ll be able adjust your settings easily until you feel like you have made a good compromise.

In this video, a gamer walks you through how he sets up Bandicam to get the best results for his gaming videos:

Ease of use

I was surprised by how clean Bandicam’s interface looked.

You can easily toggle from one mode to the next where you will have access to the settings.

While Screen Recording Mode (where you can record software that isn’t a game) barely needs any setup to work, Gaming Recording Mode and Device Recording Mode might need you to spend a little longer in the settings. Don’t worry, though, there’s plenty of documentation that will help you get started.

bandicam review

Price

So, how much does Bandicam cost? At the time of writing of this article, you can buy Bandicam for $39 or 36€. That’s a little higher than its competitors Fraps, D3DGear and Dxtory, but keep in mind that Bandicam comes with a higher functionality. Of course, you can always try the free OBS, too.

Bandicam system requirements

Thankfully, Bandicam has very low system requirements. The bad news is that you won’t be able to use this software with a Mac or Linux computer.

Minimum Requirements:

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    Windows XP(SP3)/Vista/7/8/10 (32-bit or 64-bit)
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    Intel Pentium 4 1.3 GHz or AMD Athlon XP 1500+
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    512 MB or more of RAM
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    1 GB or more of HDD
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    800x600 16bit color

Recommended Specifications:

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    Windows XP(SP3)/Vista/7/8/10 ( 32-bit or 64-bit)
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    Dual-core processor, such as Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 X2
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    1 GB or more of RAM
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    10 GB or more of HDD
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    1024x768 16bit color

F.A.Q

Q: Can you use Bandicam for free?

A: You can download and test Bandicam for free. You can even record and save your videos, and there’s no 30-day limit. However, as long as you haven’t purchased a license, all of your videos will show Bandicam’s watermark, and your recording length will be limited to 10 minutes.

Q: How do you get rid of the Bandicam watermark?

A: Get a license, and it’s gone!

Q: Is Bandicam safe?

A: It is! Bandicam is a tool that’s been around for years. Be careful with any cracked versions or unofficial releases, though. You’ll never know what’s in those cracks and keygens!

Q: What’s a good free alternative to Bandicam?

A: OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free and open source screen casting and recording software used by many people.

Q: What’s an alternative for Bandicam for Mac users?

A: OBS and Screenflick are two screen recorders for Mac.

Q: Can I add a webcam overlay to my videos with Bandicam?

A: Yes, you can do that in Gaming Recording Mode during the game or Device Recording Mode if you want to record your webcam separately.

Q: Bandicam doesn’t work! What do I do?

A: If you have trouble using Bandicam, the support section on the official Bandicam website should help. There’s also a support forum where you can report your issue.

Written by Anna
Anna spends a lot of time thinking about YouTube, video and the future of TV. She has worked as a composer, actress, director, writer and online marketer. When she's not working on a new creative project, she's probably stuffing herself with vegan burgers. She's German but spends most of her time in Barcelona because they have better beaches.