Kazam as a Linux alternative to NVIDIA ShadowPlay
Updated
Our verdict
Kazam is a poor replacement for NVIDIA ShadowPlay for gamers or performance-sensitive users. While it handles basic screen recording and screenshots on Linux, it lacks GPU acceleration, retroactive recording, and efficient H.264/HEVC encoding. It works for casual desktop recording with low system impact only if sessions are short and quality demands low. Users needing reliable, high-performance gameplay capture will find it insufficient. It's only suitable for users prioritizing simplicity over features, recording non-demanding applications, or capturing short clips without concern for encoding efficiency or lag.
- License
- GPL-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 1.5.7
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Both allow full-screen or region-based screen recording
- Support screenshot capture during recording sessions
- Offer simple, one-click start for recordings
- Can record system audio and microphone together
- Provide basic countdown timer before recording starts
What is different
- Kazam lacks GPU-accelerated encoding, relying on CPU-only compression
- No retroactive recording (save last moments) feature
- Does not support HEVC; output limited to VP8/VP9 in WebM or basic H.264 in MP4
- No live streaming capability to platforms like Twitch or YouTube
- Not actively maintained — discontinued project with no updates since 2017
Opening your NVIDIA ShadowPlay files
Kazam saves recordings in WebM or MP4, while NVIDIA ShadowPlay uses MP4 (H.264) or MKV (HEVC). You cannot directly open ShadowPlay files in Kazam, but standard media players and editors on Linux can read ShadowPlay's MP4 output. Conversion may be needed for editing if using HEVC. Kazam's WebM files are less compatible with Windows-only tools, but widely playable otherwise.
Switching from NVIDIA ShadowPlay to Kazam, step by step
- Install Kazam via 'sudo apt install kazam' on Debian/Ubuntu
- Test recording with audio enabled to ensure microphone and system sound are captured
- Adjust output format in preferences: choose MP4 for broader compatibility
- Use the timer feature to prepare before recording starts
- Manually manage storage — Kazam does not trim or optimize recordings
Key features of Kazam
- Screen recording with audio and microphone support
- Timer countdown before recording starts
- Screenshot capture for full screen, window, or selection
- Simple UI with minimal configuration needed
- Records in WebM or MP4 (depending on backend)
- Supports recording a selected region of the screen
- Basic system tray integration during recording
- Lightweight and easy to install on Debian-based systems
How to install Kazam on Linux
sudo apt install kazamsudo apt install kazamFrequently asked questions
Can Kazam record gameplay smoothly on Linux?
Not reliably. It uses CPU encoding and lacks GPU acceleration, so performance drops are likely during demanding games.
Does Kazam support saving the last few minutes automatically?
No. Retroactive recording is not available in Kazam — you must start recording before the moment you want to capture.
Is Kazam still being updated?
No. Kazam is discontinued, with the last stable release around 2017. It works on older systems but may not integrate well with newer desktop environments or Wayland.
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