Pullsy vs Cap
Pullsy vs Cap (2026) — Which Free Screen Recorder?
Cap is a fully open-source screen recorder with 20.1k GitHub stars and a self-hosting option, and it is the only tool in this list that publishes both the desktop app and the cloud share server as source. The free tier records locally and shares 5-minute clips only. Cap Pro is $8.16/user/mo annual ($12 monthly) and unlocks unlimited cloud storage, shareable links, transcriptions, and AI titles/summaries/chapters. Pick Cap if open source is non-negotiable, you want a desktop app, or you want to self-host the share server on your own infrastructure. Pick Pullsy if you want AI transcript + summary + ask-the-video chat built into the free recording flow without a Pro tier, and you want a /v/<id>.md Markdown export for AI workflows.
Last updated . Pricing verified 2026-07-15 from: https://cap.so/pricing (verified 2026-07-15); https://github.com/CapSoftware/Cap (20.1k stars, verified 2026-07-15).
Feature-by-feature: Pullsy vs Cap.
| Feature | Cap | Pullsy |
|---|---|---|
| Price for full features | Free, with Pro at $8.16/user/mo annual for unlimited cloud + AI | Free, with AI transcript + summary + ask-the-video in free |
| Recording length cap | 5 min on free shares; unlimited on Pro | ≈ 10–14 min at 1080p / 7–10 min at 720p (50 MB upload limit) |
| Watermark on free recordings | Not mentioned on either tier | None |
| Account required to watch | No signup to watch share links | No signup to watch |
| AI transcript | Pro plan only | Free, with chapter markers |
| AI summary | Pro plan only (auto titles + summaries + clickable chapters) | Free, on every recording |
| Ask-the-video chat | Not available | Free, clickable timestamps |
| Markdown / agent-readable output | No | Yes — /v/<id>.md on every recording, pasteable into ChatGPT or Claude |
| SOP export (step-by-step guide) | No | Pro, coming |
| Free retention | Recordings retained indefinitely; if you cancel Pro, existing shares remain active | 30 days on free tier |
| Recording platforms | Desktop app (Mac, Windows, Linux) + self-hostable share server | Browser only (web app, no install) |
Pricing verified 2026-07-15 from: https://cap.so/pricing (verified 2026-07-15); https://github.com/CapSoftware/Cap (20.1k stars, verified 2026-07-15).
The honest version.
Both tools do real things well. Here is who each one is genuinely for.
Choose Cap if…
- You want a native desktop app (not a browser tab) and Cap is a real .app / .exe
- You want to self-host the share server on your own infrastructure — Cap's server is open source
- You're happy to pay $8.16/user/mo annual for the Pro tier and don't need AI features baked into the free flow
Choose Pullsy if…
- You want AI transcript + summary + ask-the-video chat on the same free recording flow — Cap gates all of those behind Pro
- You want a /v/<id>.md Markdown export for ChatGPT/Claude workflows — Cap has no equivalent
- You want zero-install: Pullsy is a web app that runs in the browser, no .app to download
Frequently asked questions
Is Cap really free?
Yes, with a hard limit. Cap's free tier records locally with no length cap, but the shareable cloud link is capped at 5 minutes per video. For longer shareable recordings, you need Cap Pro at $8.16/user/mo annual. Pullsy's free tier gives you a shareable link with a 50 MB upload (about 10–14 min at 1080p) and AI features baked in.
Does Cap have AI transcripts like Pullsy?
Cap's AI features (auto titles, summaries, clickable chapters, transcriptions) are on the Pro plan at $8.16/user/mo annual. Pullsy's AI transcript, AI summary, and ask-the-video chat are on every recording, free, with no Pro tier required. If 'AI in the free tier' matters, Pullsy wins.
Can I self-host Cap?
Yes — Cap publishes both the desktop app and the cloud share server as open source, so you can run the share server on your own infrastructure and keep all video data on your own hardware. Pullsy is a hosted-only service; there is no self-host option. If self-hosting is the priority, Cap wins.
Is Cap better than Pullsy for long recordings?
For local recording, yes — Cap records to your disk with no length cap, Pro records unlimited cloud. For hosted share links, the comparison depends on plan: Cap Pro is unlimited, Pullsy free is ~10–14 min at 1080p. For most short workflow recordings (bug reports, walkthroughs, support tickets), Pullsy's free 10–14 min is enough; for hour-long lectures or demos, Cap Pro is the better fit.
Try Pullsy free.
No install, no signup, no watermark. One tab.
Cap is a trademark of its respective owner. Pullsy is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cap. Plan details above reflect Cap's public pricing pages as of 2026-07-15. Pricing verified 2026-07-15 from: https://cap.so/pricing (verified 2026-07-15); https://github.com/CapSoftware/Cap (20.1k stars, verified 2026-07-15).