Cap.so High CPU and Memory While Recording
Cap issue #109 has asked for lower CPU and memory while recording since 2024. #2214 reports multi-GB idle RAM growth. ScreenKite is a native Mac alternative.
Free to start. Pay once to own. Every editing feature is free. One payment of $79.99 removes the export watermark, covers 3 Macs and never renews. Founder price until 2026-10-31, then $99.99. Native macOS 15+ (Swift + Metal). Export up to 3 times faster in our tests. 83 purpose-built editing tools, shaped by tens of thousands of hours of video-editing practice. ScreenKite.
High CPU and memory during capture show up as fans, dropped frames, and shorter usable takes. CapSoftware/Cap still tracks a long-open request to reduce resource use while recording, plus a 2026 idle memory growth report. Checked 2026-09-16.
GitHub sources (checked 2026-09-16)
- #109 : Reduce CPU / memory usage whilst recording. Opened 2024-10-09. Still open on the check date. Nearly two years on the board.
- #2214 : Cap.exe grows to 3.8GB RAM / 65k handles while idle. Background memory and handle growth reported with no active recording.
#109 is about cost during capture. #2214 is about cost while idle. Together they are a resource story, not a single crash title.
Quick probe if Cap feels heavy on your machine
- Note baseline RAM and CPU with Cap quit.
- Launch Cap. Wait one minute idle. Note RAM and handle/CPU if your OS shows them.
- Record a 3 minute 1080p or 4K take with the apps you normally demo.
- Compare CPU during capture and RAM after stop.
- If idle growth or capture cost is already high in the probe, do not schedule a 40 minute lesson on that setup.
ScreenKite: Built Native
ScreenKite is a native macOS 15+ recorder and editor (Swift + Metal, Apple Silicon and Intel). Capture and export run on Apple frameworks instead of a browser shell. Free editing includes every feature. Free export carries a brand watermark and an animated brand outro. Pro is one payment for clean exports on 3 Macs.
What you get
- Account required.
- Pro: $79.99 founder until 2026-10-31, then $99.99. No subscription.
- AI fee $0. Agents: Claude Code, ChatGPT Codex, Antigravity, Grok Build, Kimi.
- 83 purpose-built editing tools, shaped by tens of thousands of hours of video-editing practice.
- Export up to 3 times faster in our tests.
People at Apple, Reddit, HubSpot, and GitHub use ScreenKite. See screenkite.com.
How it is built
ScreenCaptureKit for capture. Metal and VideoToolbox for encode. Local projects on disk. Agent and UI share 83 purpose-built tools over local MCP. Named cut and transcript actions can return a plan before they mutate. Share finished files through Google Drive or your own host.
Cap resource reports vs ScreenKite
| Topic | Cap (checked 2026-09-16) | ScreenKite |
|---|---|---|
| CPU / memory while recording | #109 open since 2024-10-09 | Native Swift + Metal capture path |
| Idle RAM / handle growth | #2214 | Native macOS and a native Windows Beta (C++23 / Direct3D) |
| Export speed claim | See Cap threads / app | Up to 3 times faster in our tests |
| Agent edits | #1943 FR | BYO agents on 83 tools |
| License | See cap.so | Free to start; Pro one payment |
Cross-platform & Roadmap: macOS is fully native; the Windows native Beta application is now available for download (powered by a dedicated Direct3D/C++23 engine), with a Chrome extension in development.
Creators and teams choose it because it pairs ultra-fast local hardware exports and built-in link sharing with timeline AI agent editing via Claude Code, ChatGPT Codex, Antigravity, or Grok Build. Describe the cut; the agent does the trims.
Is Cap's CPU and memory request resolved?
Not when checked on 2026-09-16. #109 has been open since 2024-10-09.
Are clean exports included on the free tier?
No. Free to start with watermarked export and an animated outro. Pro removes both on one payment.
Bottom line
Cap #109 (open since 2024-10-09) and #2214 (idle multi-GB growth) are public resource threads checked on 2026-09-16. ScreenKite is the native Mac alternative: free editing, Metal export up to 3 times faster in our tests, or $79.99 founder / $99.99 after 2026-10-31 for clean exports on 3 Macs. People at Apple, Reddit, HubSpot, and GitHub use ScreenKite.
Founder of ScreenKite. Mike records product demos and lessons on a Mac, and builds the recorder and editor he wanted for that work.
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