Head-to-head · Game Recording Software
Streamlabs Highlighter vs Action!
Streamlabs Highlighter leads on 1 check, Action! on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreStreamlabs Highlighter · 8.5/10
- Free planonly Streamlabs Highlighter
- Free trialonly Action!
- Most featuresAction! · 4 of 4
Streamlabs Highlighter scores higher on our rubric for game recording software: 8.5 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #8.
Streamlabs Highlighter offers free plan; Action! doesn't.
Streamlabs Highlighter is the better fit for free automatic highlight-reel creation. Action! is the better fit for paid users needing recording and livestreaming.
- Streamlabs Highlighter fits best
Free automatic highlight-reel creation
- Action! fits best
Paid users needing recording and livestreaming
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Side by side
| Feature | Streamlabs Highlighter 8.5/10 Visit ↗ | Action! 8.2/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.5 | 8.2 |
| Ranking | #7 in Game Recording Software | #8 in Game Recording Software |
| Best for | Free automatic highlight-reel creation | Paid users needing recording and livestreaming |
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Free | — |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | 30 days |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, Android |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs · 24/7 | Email, Community, Docs |
| Integrations | 1 integrations | 7 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Streamlabs Highlighter 2/4 · Action! 4/4 | ||
| Instant replay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Watermark-free video | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| GPU encoding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webcam overlay | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Specs | ||
| Capture resolution | Not checked yet | 8k |
| Recording modes | Multi-mode | Multi-mode |
| Supported platforms | Windows 10+, macOS 12+ | Windows |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Streamlabs Highlighter is a free video-editing feature built into Streamlabs Desktop for streamers, gamers, and content creators. It captures gameplay clips through hotkey-triggered replay clipping, can identify highlights automatically… Read the review → |
Action! is desktop and game recording software from Mirillis Ltd. for players, streamers, and creators who need more than basic gameplay capture. It records gameplay and desktop activity, supports webcam overlays with chroma key, captures… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Streamlabs Highlighter — where it wins
- Machine-learning highlight detection reduces manual clip hunting
- Editing tools include trimming, reordering, transitions, and music
- Imports past streams and supports intro and outro segments
Where it doesn't
- Available through Streamlabs Desktop rather than as a standalone app
- Integration coverage is limited to YouTube
- Automatic detection is focused on gameplay highlights
Action! — where it wins
- Records up to 4K MP4 and supports 8K AVI configurations
- Time-Shift replay, webcam overlays, and separate audio tracks
- Streams to major platforms and supports USB/HDMI capture devices
Where it doesn't
- No free plan; access is limited to a 30-day trial before purchase
- Recording is centered on Windows desktop use
- Only Home use and Commercial use license plans are listed
- Streamlabs Highlighter8.5/10 · Free plan
A free Streamlabs Desktop feature for automatically turning gameplay into edited highlight reels.
Visit StreamlabsFull verdict → - Action!8.2/10 · 30-day trial
A paid Windows recorder with replay, high-resolution capture, streaming, and hardware support.
Visit Action!Full verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update