Best Clipping Software for Gamers
Medal is the best pick for recording while you play. FragCut is the best pick for clipping a finished match or Twitch VOD in any game. OBS with manual editing is the best pick if you want everything local.
Top 3 picks
- #1
FragCut
Best for post-match clipping of any game from a local recording or a Twitch VOD, with extra tuning for FPS and shooter games
- #2
Medal
Best for recording while you play and sharing clips inside a large gamer community
- #3
Eklipse
Best for streamers who want a mature stream-to-Shorts pipeline with auto-posting
Pick by your situation
| Your situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want to record while you play | Medal | Live background recording and a big sharing community. FragCut does not record live. |
| You want clips from a finished match or stream, any game | FragCut | Upload a recording or paste a Twitch VOD and review the highlights it finds. |
| You want everything local on your desktop | OBS + manual editing | Free and fully local, but you cut every clip by hand. |
| You want a browser tool with nothing to install | FragCut or Eklipse | Eklipse adds auto-posting but has no free export; FragCut is tuned for FPS accuracy and gives you one free watermarked clip from your first match. |
11 tools compared
FragCut is our own product, so it is listed first. Where another tool is stronger for a job, its card says so. Prices were checked against each vendor's site on 2026-11-07, except StreamLadder (third-party reporting).
FragCut
BrowserBest for: Post-match clipping of any game from a local recording or a Twitch VOD, with extra tuning for FPS and shooter games
Pricing: First match analyzed free with 1 watermarked clip; Creator $19.99/mo (30 matches), Pro $49.99/mo (unlimited)
Best after the match: upload a recording or paste a Twitch VOD, review the highlights it finds, export 9:16 clips. It does not record live, so pair it with a recorder if you need that.
Strengths
- Works on any game, with extra tuning for FPS and shooters (deepest on Valorant)
- Runs in the browser, nothing to install
- Exports 9:16 1080x1920 H.264 clips with captions
- Free analysis of your first match plus one watermarked clip before you pay
Limits
- No live recording
- Only one free (watermarked) clip; exporting the rest needs a plan
- Processing takes 15-30 minutes per upload
Last checked 2026-11-07
Medal
WindowsMobileBest for: Recording while you play and sharing clips inside a large gamer community
Pricing: Free (watermark, 1080p cap, ads); Premium $9.99/mo or $7.99/mo billed annually
Pick Medal if you want live recording: it captures clips as you play, which FragCut does not do. Its community and sharing features are also stronger, and Premium comes with a 14-day trial.
Strengths
- Records in the background while you play
- Large built-in community for sharing clips
- Usable free tier
Limits
- Free tier adds a watermark and ads, and uploads are capped at 1080p
- You choose the moments yourself; it does not scan a finished VOD for highlights
- No macOS app
Last checked 2026-11-07
Eklipse
BrowserMobileBest for: Streamers who want a mature stream-to-Shorts pipeline with auto-posting
Pricing: No free export (preview only); Premium $24.99/mo, Premium Pro $39.99/mo, cheaper on annual billing
Mature stream-to-Shorts pipeline with auto-posting; no longer has a free export tier. Choose it if you want publishing built in; choose FragCut if shooter accuracy matters more.
Strengths
- Mature stream-to-Shorts pipeline with auto-posting
- Free sign-up and preview before you pay
- Works with many games and streaming platforms
- Annual billing unlocks 1080p lossless export
Limits
- Free export tier was removed in June 2026; downloads need Premium
- Clip storage is 14 days on monthly billing, 90 days on annual
- General-purpose detection, not tuned for shooters
Last checked 2026-11-07
Powder
WindowsBest for: Historical reference only
Pricing: Discontinued; no longer updated or maintained
Powder has shut down and its subscriptions are cancelled, so it cannot be recommended. See the Powder alternatives page for tools that are still running.
Strengths
- Was a popular desktop highlight tool before it closed
Limits
- Discontinued, no longer updated or maintained
Last checked 2026-11-07
StreamLadder
BrowserBest for: Streamers who want a vertical editor with webcam and gameplay layouts, plus scheduling
Pricing: Free manual editor; paid plans from about $8/mo; AI clipping (ClipGPT) on a higher tier (third-party reporting, not verified on vendor site)
StreamLadder is the better editor for stream layouts and posting workflows. Its AI clipper is on a higher tier than the entry plans, so check current pricing on its site.
Strengths
- Strong vertical editor with layout templates
- Built-in scheduling and posting tools
- Free manual editor
Limits
- AI clipping is on a higher tier
- Aimed at streamers, with less depth on shooter-specific detection
Pricing from third-party reporting, not verified on the vendor site
CS2.VIDEO
BrowserBest for: Counter-Strike 2 players who want free clips from their matches
Pricing: Free: about one clip every 2-3 days (1080p; 1440p on some renders)
For CS2 only, CS2.VIDEO is free and renders 60fps vertical clips, which beats FragCut on price. It does not cover other games and the free limit is about one clip every 2-3 days.
Strengths
- Free, with 1080p 60fps output
- Built specifically for Counter-Strike 2
Limits
- CS2 only
- About one free clip every 2-3 days
Last checked 2026-11-07
Opus Clip
BrowserBest for: Podcasts, interviews and talking-head videos turned into short clips
Pricing: Free (60 credits/mo, watermark); Starter $15/mo; Pro $29/mo or $14.50/mo billed annually
Opus Clip is strong on speech-driven content such as podcasts and webinars. For gameplay it relies on transcript cues, which miss silent kills and clutches.
Strengths
- Strong on spoken content and captions
- Polished short-form export workflow
Limits
- Built around speech, not in-game events
- Free clips stop being exportable after 3 days
Last checked 2026-11-07
Insights.gg
WindowsBest for: Free automatic recording and clips on Windows, plus team VOD review
Pricing: Free (Insights Capture); team VOD-review plans from $39/mo
Insights Capture is a free Windows recorder that clips automatically while you play, which FragCut does not. Paid plans are aimed at teams reviewing VODs, not at making social clips.
Strengths
- Free automatic recording and clipping on Windows
- Team VOD review and storage on paid plans
Limits
- Windows only
- Team plans start at $39/mo
- Not built for 9:16 social exports
Last checked 2026-11-07
Postparty
MobileBest for: Fortnite and Rocket League clip sharing from console or PC
Pricing: Free
Postparty is Epic Games' free mobile app for Fortnite and Rocket League. It flags eliminations and goals and lets you share them, which is easier than FragCut if those are your only games.
Strengths
- Free, made by Epic Games
- Eliminations and goals are flagged automatically
- Watch and share from your phone
Limits
- Only Fortnite and Rocket League
- Mobile app, not a full editor
Last checked 2026-11-07
SteelSeries Moments
WindowsBest for: Players who already use SteelSeries GG and want free background recording with hotkey clips
Pricing: Free with SteelSeries GG
SteelSeries Moments is a free recorder with AI auto-clipping for a growing list of supported games. Choose it if you play a supported title on Windows; FragCut covers any game and exports vertical clips.
Strengths
- Free with SteelSeries GG
- AI auto-clipping for supported games
- Background capture with hotkey clips
Limits
- Windows 10+ only
- Only supported games, no vertical export
Last checked 2026-11-07
OBS Studio + manual editing
WindowsmacOSLinuxBest for: Players who want everything local, free and fully under their control
Pricing: Free and open source; editing software extra
OBS records everything locally for free and gives you complete control, but you then cut and crop by hand. Expect around 1.5 hours of editing per hour of footage.
Strengths
- Free, open source, fully local
- Complete control over quality and settings
Limits
- Recording only; editing is a manual job in another tool
- Steep setup for new users
Last checked 2026-11-07
Choosing clipping software
What is the best clipping software for gamers?
It depends on the job. Medal is the pick for recording while you play. FragCut is the pick for clipping a finished match or Twitch VOD in any game. OBS with manual editing is the pick if you want everything local.
Is there a free clipping software?
Yes. Medal has a free tier with a watermark, a 1080p cap and ads. SteelSeries Moments, Insights Capture and OBS are free on desktop, CS2.VIDEO is free for Counter-Strike 2, and Postparty is free for Fortnite and Rocket League. Eklipse no longer has a free export tier. FragCut analyzes your first match free and gives you one watermarked clip; exporting the rest needs a paid plan.
Which clipping software finds highlights automatically?
FragCut, Eklipse and StreamLadder (on its higher AI tier) scan footage for highlights. SteelSeries Moments and Insights Capture auto-clip while you play. Medal and OBS rely on you to trigger or pick the moment.
Can I use two tools together?
Yes, and it is common. Record with Medal or OBS during the match, then send the recording to FragCut to find and cut the highlights.
Should I pick a recorder or a post-match clipper first?
Ask which loss hurts more. If missing the moment hurts most, pick a recorder first. If finding the moment later hurts most, for example inside a three-hour stream, pick a post-match clipper first.
What should I check before choosing clipping software?
Check that it takes your real source (local recordings, Twitch VODs, console captures), keeps audio good enough for comms and reactions, exports vertical clips without hiding the crosshair, HUD or facecam, handles batches if you stream several times a week, and lets you control clip length so the setup, action and reaction all fit.
How was this list put together?
Prices were checked against each vendor's site on 2026-11-07, except StreamLadder (third-party reporting). FragCut is our own product and is listed first. Where another tool is stronger for a job, the listing says so.
See what FragCut finds
Upload a recording or paste a Twitch VOD. Your first match gets a free analysis.