I just wanted to write a quick post to point out a few differences between Screencastify and SnagIt. Both are extensions for Google Chrome that allow the user to capture video and audio of what is on their computer screen.
I was previously pretty dedicated to Screencastify because of it's simplicity and ease of use, however a colleague recently convinced me to give SnagIt a try. While creating a video for some graduate work this evening I realized a major downside to SnagIt, which was beginning to grow on me. It does not allow a use to capture the screen when a Google Document is open. I was trying to create a screen capture of a Google Document and the SnagIt bar would not pop up. As soon as I switched to a tab that just had the basic Google search page open, SnagIt cooperated.
So after bouncing back and forth I think they each have advantages and disadvantages. Here is the breakdown I've come up with based on how I use them and what is important for me and my students in the classroom.
SnagIt
- Quick, easy Chrome Extension
- Records audio and video of the screen
- Can record multiple tabs in the browser, making switching back and forth easy
- Multiple choices of what can be recorded (tabs, one tab, entire screen, desktop only, etc.)
- Automatically saves to Google Drive
- Also does screen capture images
- Cannot capture Google Drive documents, presentations, etc.
Screencastify
- Quick, easy Chrome Extension
- Records audio and video of the screen
- Can only record one tab at a time (must hit alt+shift+F if you switch) -- it really stinks when you forget this and you keep on talking forgetting viewers cannot see what you see!!
- Can put a small webcam window with video of you speaking on the bottom
- Can choose whether or not to include the audio on the browser tab you're showing (ie-can choose to turn sound off if you have it on a presentation already but don't want to talk over it)
- Option to save to YouTube
- Automatically saves to Google Drive
- Can capture Google Drive documents, presentations, etc.
