10 Best Gaming Clipping Software for Performance (2023)

Capturing epic gaming highlights in clips shouldn’t come at the cost of lower FPS. The best clipping tools efficiently record gameplay using minimal system resources for negligible performance impact. Optimized solutions leverage GPU encoding, efficient codecs, and lightweight recording modes specifically for gaming needs.

This post explores 10 top clipping software options for gaming focused on high performance, video quality, convenience, seamless integration, editing capabilities, sharing features, and overall utility to help gamers easily grab clips without performance penalties. Any player looking to capture gaming magic without performance sacrifices can benefit from these solutions.

What is the best way to clip gameplay on PC?

Here is a table summarizing the pros and cons of the top high-performance clipping software options for gaming:

Software	Pros	Cons
Lowkey.gg	Extremely lightweight; instant replay; auto-uploads	Limited editing tools; requires account
Nvidia ShadowPlay	Leverages GPU encoding; instant replay	Requires Nvidia GPU; minimal edits
AMD ReLive	Zero performance impact; instant replay; hardware-accelerated	Needs AMD GPU; light editor
Xbox Game Bar	Free with Windows; performance-optimized	Less efficient than dedicated apps
GeForce Experience	Integrated Nvidia clipping; optimized for gaming	Requires existing install; limited edits
Overwolf	Recognizes key gaming events; multiple apps	Can impact performance without tweaks
Plays.tv	Surprisingly lightweight; full editing suite	Adds minor system load
Streamable	Simple instant clipping; easy sharing	Very basic editing features
medal.tv	Focused on high-efficiency clipping; quality settings	Requires free account
TinyCam	Specialized for max efficiency; customizable hotkeys	Very minimal editing capabilities

Lowkey.gg

Dedicated to high-performance clipping, Lowkey provides an ultra-lightweight recording app. It captures gameplay continuously in the background with almost zero performance hit or FPS drops. The instant replay feature lets gamers grab epic moments with one hotkey.

Clips automatically upload for online access. Lowkey’s intuitive editor makes trimming, editing, and exporting highlights fast. For max clipping performance, Lowkey is purpose-built to record gameplay smoothly.

Nvidia ShadowPlay

ShadowPlay allows Nvidia GPU owners to capture high-quality gameplay footage with minimal performance impact. It harnesses dedicated Nvidia encoding modules on the graphics card for hugely efficient video processing. Players simply assign hotkeys to record or clip.

An automatic instant replay mode continually records the last few minutes in the background for clipping insane plays. ShadowPlay offers the lightest clipping solution paired with Nvidia hardware.

AMD Radeon ReLive

Similarly, AMD ReLive enables nearly zero-impact gameplay video capture by tapping graphics card power. Like ShadowPlay, ReLive offloads video processing to efficient AMD encoding chips. Gamers can clip or record high-quality footage with negligible performance cost.

Flexible clipping hotkeys grab highlights while continuous recording captures full matches or sessions. ReLive also supports camera feeds and multi-track audio. For AMD users, ReLive delivers max clipping performance.

Xbox Game Bar

Microsoft’s Xbox Game Bar in Windows 10 and 11 offers game-optimized recording and clipping capabilities with minimal resource usage. Its widget overlay interface avoids performance hits compared to more bloated apps. Screen recording captures gameplay in high quality with low overhead.

The clipping tool makes grabbing cool moments easy. Captured videos are organized locally for sharing. While light on expansive features, Xbox Game Bar provides high-efficiency integrated Windows clipping.

GeForce Experience

Nvidia’s software hub GeForce Experience features ShadowPlay’s high-performance recording and clipping functions built-in. Gamers using GeForce Experience already have access to optimized gameplay capture technology that taps into graphics power.

Customizable hotkeys trigger clipping and recordings. Captured videos are accessible locally for quick online posting. For Nvidia users already running GeForce Experience, ShadowPlay delivers integrated elite gameplay capture.

Overwolf

Popular gaming hub Overwolf offers a suite of apps including efficient clipping tools. Overwolf’s lightweight background recorder minimizes performance impact while capturing awaesome plays. Custom hotkeys allow grabbing highlights on the fly.

Overwolf also recognizes when big gameplay events occur like level-ups, kills, and victories for automatic clipping. For a full-featured hub with performant recording, Overwolf is a strong option.

Plays.tv

Plays.tv provides a surprisingly lightweight yet full-featured gameplay recorder and clipper. It enables background recording or custom hotkey clipping with less performance impact than expected given the feature set.

Detailed graphics settings provide optimization controls to balance performance and quality. The intuitive editor helps enhance and share clips. Plays.tv balances strong utility and customization with very low overhead.

Streamable

Popular video sharing site Streamable offers a desktop app providing instant, seamless gameplay clipping. Users simply click a hotkey to capture outstanding plays and highlights through highly efficient recording technology.

The clips get organized online for trimming and sharing. The dead-simple instant replay style clipping excels at capturing gaming moments without taxing precious resources.

medal.tv

Medal.tv clipping app focuses on high-efficiency gameplay recording to minimize FPS impacts. The background recorder and hotkey clipping utilize optimized encoders and settings for lightweight capture. Systems can stay cool even during lengthy recordings.

Detailed settings give full control over balancing clipping performance and quality as needed. Medal.tv offers both convenience and customization for lag-free gameplay clipping.

TinyCam

TinyCam provides a streamlined screen recording utility designed for high efficiency to minimize system resource usage. Users define a hotkey to toggle gameplay video capture on and off during play. Performance graphs help visualize clipping load.

Low overhead modes boost FPS performance while recording. Gamers can tweak settings until hitting the sweet spot between clipping quality and in-game smoothness. TinyCam delivers an easy, no-frills option to capture gaming highlights without performance sacrifices.

FAQs

What should I use to clip gameplay? For clipping gameplay on PC, you can use various software options depending on your preferences and needs.

What is the best way to clip gameplay on PC? The best way to clip gameplay on PC often depends on your hardware and the games you’re playing. Some popular choices for clipping gameplay include NVIDIA ShadowPlay, OBS Studio, and dedicated in-game recording features.

What is the best clipping software for Warzone? NVIDIA ShadowPlay and OBS Studio are both popular choices for clipping gameplay in Call of Duty: Warzone.

What is the best clipping software for Rainbow Six Siege? NVIDIA ShadowPlay and OBS Studio are also excellent options for clipping gameplay in Rainbow Six Siege.

Does OBS affect FPS? OBS Studio can affect FPS to some extent, as it uses CPU and GPU resources to capture and encode video. However, you can optimize OBS settings to minimize the impact on your FPS.

How to record gameplay without losing FPS? To record gameplay without losing FPS, consider lowering your recording settings, using hardware encoding (if available), and ensuring your PC has sufficient resources for both gaming and recording.

What’s a good clipping software? Good clipping software options include NVIDIA ShadowPlay, OBS Studio, and software provided by the game itself, if available.

Is OBS better than ShadowPlay? The choice between OBS and ShadowPlay depends on your specific needs. OBS Studio offers more customization options but may require more configuration. ShadowPlay is user-friendly and optimized for NVIDIA GPUs.

Can you clip with GeForce? Yes, you can use NVIDIA GeForce Experience, which includes ShadowPlay, to clip gameplay on NVIDIA GPUs.

What clipping software does not affect FPS? While no recording software has zero impact on FPS, you can minimize the impact by using hardware encoding and optimizing settings. ShadowPlay and OBS Studio are known for their relatively low impact on FPS when configured correctly.

Does Medal affect FPS? Medal.tv, like other recording software, can have some impact on FPS, but it generally aims to be lightweight and unobtrusive.

What is the Nvidia clipping software called? NVIDIA’s clipping and recording software is called ShadowPlay, which is part of GeForce Experience.

Is Siege CPU or GPU intensive? Rainbow Six Siege is more CPU-intensive than GPU-intensive, so having a powerful CPU can improve performance in the game.

How to get 120 fps on Rainbow Six? To achieve 120 FPS in Rainbow Six Siege, you’ll need a powerful gaming PC with a high-refresh-rate monitor and settings optimized for performance.

How do I get the highest FPS in Rainbow Six Siege? To get the highest FPS in Rainbow Six Siege, lower graphics settings, use a powerful CPU and GPU, and ensure your system is not overheating or running background processes.

Is 30 or 60 fps better on OBS? 60 FPS is generally better for recording gameplay in OBS because it provides smoother motion and higher quality. However, 30 FPS may be sufficient for some scenarios.

Does OBS use more CPU or GPU? OBS can use both CPU and GPU, but the extent depends on your settings. Encoding is primarily CPU-bound, while scene rendering and compositing can utilize the GPU.

How to get 120 FPS on OBS? To achieve 120 FPS in OBS, ensure you have a powerful CPU and GPU, use a high-refresh-rate monitor, and configure OBS settings to support 120 FPS output.

What kills FPS in games? Several factors can kill FPS in games, including high graphics settings, background processes, outdated drivers, insufficient hardware, and overheating.

Is it better to record in 30 or 60 fps? Recording in 60 FPS is generally better if your hardware can handle it, as it provides smoother and higher-quality footage compared to 30 FPS.

Why does my FPS drop so much when I record? FPS drops during recording can occur due to the additional processing power required for recording and encoding video. Optimizing recording settings and hardware can help mitigate this.

Is hard clipping bad? Hard clipping in audio recording can lead to distortion and a poor listening experience, so it’s generally considered undesirable.

Does clipping really matter? Clipping in audio and video recording can reduce the quality of the content, so it’s essential to avoid it when possible to maintain high-quality recordings.

What is Overwolf good for? Overwolf is a platform for in-game apps and overlays, providing features like game capture, team communication, and access to game-related apps and information.

Which OBS is better for performance? OBS Studio is generally considered better for performance due to its extensive customization options and resource management features.

Why is OBS recording so low FPS? Low FPS in OBS recordings can occur due to insufficient hardware resources or incorrect settings. Optimizing settings and using hardware encoding can help improve recording FPS.

Is OBS the best for gaming? OBS is a popular choice for game recording and streaming due to its flexibility and features, but the best software for gaming depends on your specific needs and preferences.

How do I get Nvidia performance overlay? You can enable the NVIDIA performance overlay by opening the NVIDIA GeForce Experience application, going to the settings, and enabling the “In-Game Overlay” feature.

How do I enable ShadowPlay? To enable NVIDIA ShadowPlay, open the GeForce Experience application, go to settings, and enable the “Share” or “ShadowPlay” feature.

Why does GeForce not clip? If GeForce Experience’s ShadowPlay feature is not working, it may be due to driver issues, incompatible hardware, or incorrect settings. Troubleshooting and updating drivers can help resolve the issue.

What has the most effect on FPS? The graphics settings in games, such as resolution, texture quality, anti-aliasing, and shadow quality, have the most significant impact on FPS.

What is the least laggy screen recorder? Some of the least laggy screen recorders include OBS Studio, ShadowPlay, and dedicated hardware capture devices like Elgato HD60.

What clipping software uses the least resources? ShadowPlay and OBS Studio, when configured for hardware encoding, are known for using relatively fewer system resources compared to other recording software.

Why are Medal clips so laggy? Medal clips may be laggy if your PC is struggling to run both the game and the recording software simultaneously. Optimizing settings and hardware can help reduce lag.

Is Medal or Outplayed better? Medal and Outplayed are both popular options for clipping gameplay, and the choice between them depends on your specific preferences and needs.

Does Medal lag your game? Medal may have some impact on game performance, but it is designed to be lightweight and minimize lag as much as possible.

How do I enable Nvidia clipping? To enable NVIDIA ShadowPlay (clipping) features, open GeForce Experience, go to settings, and enable the “In-Game Overlay” or “Share” feature, which includes ShadowPlay.

Is Nvidia image sharpening? NVIDIA Image Sharpening is a feature that enhances the clarity and sharpness of in-game visuals without significantly affecting performance.

Does instant replay reduce performance? NVIDIA’s Instant Replay feature can reduce performance slightly when enabled, as it continuously records gameplay in the background, but the impact is usually minimal.

Conclusion

Specialized clipping apps allow capturing awesome gaming moments without crushing FPS ratings or overheating PCs. Solutions like Lowkey, ShadowPlay, and Relive provide incredibly optimized, lightweight recording leveraging GPU power. Streamlined apps like Xbox Game Bar and TinyCam also deliver high-efficiency clipping. Any gamer can install a purpose-built solution to enjoy epic gameplay capture at max FPS.