VGSources / NVIDIA ShadowPlay / Alternatives
Instead of NVIDIA ShadowPlay
Best NVIDIA ShadowPlay Alternatives in 2026
NVIDIA App includes ShadowPlay, a no-cost recorder for Windows. Its feature set includes instant replay, several capture modes, GPU encoding, automatic highlights, and HDR recording as high as 8K, with compatible GeForce RTX hardware and a current driver required.
- 1
ARC Raiders Config Tuner
This graphical utility adjusts ARC Raiders' local graphics file.
- Free
- Windows
- Linux
- Open source
- 2
Gaming Optimizer
As a free, open-source Windows utility, Gaming Optimizer places games on faster CPU cores and lowers the priority of background processes.
- Free
- Windows
- 3
Magpie
Magpie is an open-source Windows utility that enlarges game or app windows at no cost.
- Free
- Windows
- 4
Smart Game Booster
Smart Game Booster is Windows software that combines game routing and PC optimization to reduce lag and improve gaming performance.
- Free
- Windows
- 5
- 6
Intel VTune Profiler
Intel VTune Profiler analyzes application and system performance to help identify bottlenecks across AI, HPC, cloud, IoT, media, and storage workloads.
- Free
- Windows
- Linux
- 7
SteelSeries Moments
On Windows 10 and newer, SteelSeries Moments records games at no charge.
- Free
- Windows
- 8
- 9
Razer Game Clips
Built into Razer Cortex, Razer Game Clips records gameplay at no charge.
- Free
- Windows
- 10
GameShift
GameShift is free Windows software that detects game launches, applies system-level optimizations for each title, and restores recorded settings when the game exits.
- Free
- Windows
- 11
Hone
Hone is Windows software that brings supported Windows, GPU, and in-game settings together to help optimize a gaming PC.
- Free
- Windows
- 12
- 13
- 14
BDO Optimizer
BDO Optimizer is a free, open-source desktop app for Black Desert Online players who want hardware-aware CPU-affinity recommendations and local frame-rate and…
- Free
- Windows
- Linux
- 15
- 16
- 17
Optimizationmaxxing
Optimizationmaxxing is a Windows utility for tuning gaming PCs, pairing system diagnostics with a catalog of 100 audited tweaks, each with a source citation.
- Free
- Windows
- 18
CorePin
CorePin is a free utility for configuring CPU behavior separately for games on Windows 10 and 11.
- Free
- Windows
- 19
- 20
- 21
PULSE
PULSE is a freemium Windows optimizer that monitors hardware and adjusts system settings for games.
- Free
- Windows
- 22
Wise Game Booster
Wise Game Booster is a free Windows utility for adjusting system activity around games.
- Free
- Windows
- 23
Feral GameMode
Feral GameMode is a free Linux daemon and library that allows games to request temporary optimisations to the host system or game process.
- Free
- Linux
- 24
These alternatives cover game capture, cloud gaming, and performance tuning. Some work on more operating systems, while others trade recording features for streaming or game optimization.