Quick answer
Yes — for the part of ScreenPal covered on this page, BloomRecorder is a one-time-purchase alternative. It costs $29 once, while ScreenPal lists from $3/mo. Record screen, camera or both — 100% local, unlimited length, MP4 & GIF export. No cloud, no account, no subscription. It is not a 1:1 replacement for everything ScreenPal does — the honest limits are spelled out below.
The verdict
Switch to BloomRecorder if the slice of ScreenPal you actually pay for is the slice BloomRecorder covers — and a $29 one-time price beats from $3/mo for as long as you use it.
Stay with ScreenPal if this sounds like you — ScreenPal includes a built-in video editor, stock library, quizzes and cloud hosting with share pages. BloomRecorder only records; editing and hosting happen in other tools.
Head to head
| BloomRecorder | ScreenPal | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29 once | from $3/mo |
| Where it runs | Your own machine | Vendor cloud (hosted service) |
| Renewal | None — the license never expires | Recurring — access ends when you stop paying |
| 5-year cost | $29 | ~$180 |
About ScreenPal: ScreenPal (formerly Screencast-O-Matic) is a screen recorder and lightweight video editor with hosting. Solo plans list from $3/mo billed annually (about $36/yr).
Where ScreenPal still wins
ScreenPal includes a built-in video editor, stock library, quizzes and cloud hosting with share pages. BloomRecorder only records; editing and hosting happen in other tools.
Where BloomRecorder wins
BloomRecorder matches ScreenPal's recording core — screen, camera or both, with device selection and a floating recording pill — but keeps everything 100% local with unlimited length and MP4/GIF export. $29 once and there is no cloud library tied to a subscription.
- Price, permanently. $29 once versus from $3/mo for as long as you use it. There is no renewal, no seat count and no tier gate.
- Screen, camera, or both. Record either source alone or both together — as split files or picture-in-picture combined.
- Source picker with live thumbnails. See exactly what each screen and window looks like before you hit record.
The math
ScreenPal lists from $3/mo. BloomRecorder is $29, paid once:
- After 1 year: BloomRecorder has cost you $29 total — ScreenPal has cost ~$36.
- After 3 years: BloomRecorder is still $29 — the subscription is at ~$108.
- After 5 years: BloomRecorder is still $29 — the subscription is at ~$180.
Common questions
Is there really no account or cloud?
Really. BloomRecorder makes zero network calls — no telemetry, no login, no upload. Recordings are files in a folder you chose on your own disk.
Is recording length limited?
No. There are no plan tiers, so there is nothing to gate. Record as long as your disk has space.
Can I record my screen and camera at the same time?
Yes — either as separate files or combined picture-in-picture, with system audio and your mic mixed into the output.
Is the source code available?
Yes — BloomRecorder is MIT-licensed at github.com/bensblueprints/bloomrecorder-mvp. Buying the $29 package gets you the built installer and updates; building from source is free.
Try BloomRecorder — $29, one time
Or get BloomRecorder plus every other app in the suite: the OneTimeSuite bundle is currently $97, one time.