# Simple Video Capture

> Record any browser tab as video. WebM or MP4 output, no watermark, no upload. One click to start, one click to save.

**Category:** Media
**Keywords:** video, recording, screen recording, tab, webm, mp4, chrome, extension, browser, capture, meeting, demo
**URL:** https://complete.tools/simple-video-capture

## Key features

**Records the tab directly.** Uses the Chrome tab-capture API, not screen sharing, so the recording is precisely the tab without any other windows, notifications, or taskbars.

**WebM or MP4 output.** Free saves WebM with VP9 and Opus, which plays in every modern browser. Pro saves MP4 with H.264 and AAC, the format every video editor accepts without conversion.

**Real-time encoding.** Video frames and audio are encoded as they are captured. There is no post-processing step, so the file is available the instant you stop recording.

**No watermark, no upload.** Nothing is overlaid on the video and nothing is sent off your machine. The output file is yours alone.

**Tab audio included automatically.** Any audio playing in the tab is captured along with the video, perfectly in sync. No second microphone, no separate audio file to merge.

**Completely offline and private.** All capture and encoding happens locally in your browser. The extension makes zero network requests during recording.

**Quality options.** Choose recording resolution and bitrate to balance file size against quality. Pro unlocks 1080p+ MP4 with unlimited recording duration.

**Works on all Chromium browsers.** Compatible with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, Arc, Opera, Vivaldi, and any other Chromium-based browser that supports Chrome Web Store extensions.

## How to record a browser tab as video

1. Install Simple Video Capture from the Chrome Web Store. It also works on Edge, Brave, Arc, and other Chromium browsers.
2. Open the tab you want to record, such as a meeting, demo, lecture, or web video.
3. Click the Simple Video Capture icon in your browser toolbar.
4. Click Start Recording. A recording indicator confirms the capture is live.
5. When finished, click Stop and Save. Your WebM or MP4 file downloads immediately because encoding happened in real time.

## Who should use this

**Product and engineering teams.** Record bug repros, design walkthroughs, and feature demos without screen-sharing software. The output is a clean MP4 you can drop into Slack or Loom replacements directly.

**Educators and trainers.** Capture screencasts, software tutorials, and lecture material as MP4 files ready for editing or direct upload.

**Customer support and QA.** Save short repro videos of issues as MP4 files that customers and engineers can review without account walls.

**Content creators.** Pull source clips from web players and live streams as MP4 with H.264 audio, ready to bring into any editor without transcoding.

**Privacy-conscious users.** If you need a video recording tool that collects zero data and makes no network requests, Simple Video Capture provides that guarantee. There is no account, no telemetry, and no data leaving your computer.

## FAQs

**Q:** Is Simple Video Capture free?


**A:** Yes. The free version records WebM video with VP9 and Opus audio, with 30-minute session limits. The Pro upgrade is a one-time payment (not a subscription) and unlocks MP4 output with H.264 and AAC, 1080p+ resolution, and unlimited recording duration.


**Q:** What is the difference between WebM and MP4?


**A:** WebM is the default format used by modern browsers and is excellent for web playback. MP4 with H.264 is the format every video editor and social platform accepts without conversion. Free mode saves WebM; Pro saves MP4.


**Q:** Does it record my webcam or just the tab?


**A:** Just the tab. Simple Video Capture records the contents of a browser tab and the audio playing inside it. Your webcam is not used.


**Q:** Is my video data sent anywhere?


**A:** No. All recording and encoding happens locally in your browser. Simple Video Capture collects zero data, has no analytics, no tracking, and requires no account.


**Q:** What browsers are supported?


**A:** Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, Arc, Opera, Vivaldi, and all Chromium-based browsers. It is not compatible with Firefox or Safari, which use different extension APIs.


**Q:** Is there a recording time limit?


**A:** The free version has a 30-minute limit per session. The Pro version removes this limit entirely for unlimited recording duration.


**Q:** Will it record DRM-protected video like Netflix or Disney+?


**A:** No. Browsers actively block tab capture for DRM-protected playback, so those tabs cannot be recorded by any extension. Most other web video plays back normally.


**Q:** Can I record a specific window or region instead of a tab?


**A:** Simple Video Capture is tab-focused by design. The result is always a clean recording of one browser tab, which keeps notifications and other windows out of the video.

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*Generated from [complete.tools/simple-video-capture](https://complete.tools/simple-video-capture)*