- GoPro Quick is the best free timelapse software for creating a time-lapse photo shot using GoPro. This editing tool is compatible with both Windows and Mac systems. GoPro cameras provide you with a plethora of options for capturing the video footage. Later on, you can convert the footage into a time-lapse video.
- Flicker Free is a powerful and simple way to remove flicker from your video. We offer presets for different types of footage, making it easy to eliminate flicker caused by out of sync cameras, time-lapse, or slow-motion video.
- Since there are various game recording software available in the market, which will make people dazzling and lost about which to choose, here we have collected the top 7 free game recording software for Windows and Mac after our test. Just keep reading to get the best one for yourself. Best Free Game Recording Software.
Before we start
Having spent some years researching about time-lapse screen recorders and having suffered the painful hassle of recording, editing and speeding up our screen time-lapse videos, we’ve created an extremely easy to use time-lapse app for Mac anybody can use.
What is Time Lapse Assembler for Mac Time Lapse Assembler allows you to create movies from a sequence of images. Provide it with a folder containing sequentially named JPEG images and it will produce a Quicktime compatible movie file for use in iMovie or other editing software Exports MPEG, H.264, and RAW movies. Free logiciel timelapse mac download software at UpdateStar - Add motion to your timelapse videos. Panolapse uses perspective correction to create real-world rotational panning through your scene. Also zoom, deflicker, interpolate RAW metadata, auto-exposure, create videos, and more.
So here’s a tip for you: get Hustl to quickly and easily do everything that will be mentioned in this article. Hustl will automatically record a time-lapse video of your screen in just a click. But if you want to do it manually all by yourself, we’ve made this guide to help you.
Maybe you’re working on something really cool on your computer, like developing an app, or making a piece of art, and you want to show the whole process in a catchy, mesmerizing video: a timelapse screen recorder might be just the thing you need.
Record time lapses of your Mac screen
With Hustl, you don't have to worry about editing or speeding up the video – just press record and you'll get a ready-to-share timelapse of your screen to show off your work.
So if you’re wondering how to make a screen recording into a timelapse, or just how to make a time-lapse of your computer screen, stick around because we’re going to cover the 3 best alternatives out there, both for macOS and for Windows!
Method 1: How to record a screen timelapse using QuickTime + iMovie [FREE]
[ macOS only] Using QuickTime to capture your screen and then using iMovie to speed up the video to obtain a time-lapse video is one of the most popular options out there when it comes to time-lapse screen recording, because both of these apps are free and come already installed with your Mac computer. This is a method for Mac users only, if you’re looking for a Windows method make sure to check out the rest of the options below.
To record a timelapse of your screen on Mac for free using QuickTime and iMovie:
- Open QuickTime. You can do this by pressing the
⌘ command+spacebarkeys and writing “QuickTime”. Select the app from the list to open it. - On QuickTime, go to File → New Screen Recording. Make sure you grant it screen recording permissions if it asks for them.
- If you’re recording your screen with QuickTime and you can only see the desktop wallpaper, or if you’re not sure QuickTime has screen recording permissions, go to System Preferences (by clicking on the Apple icon on the top left of your Mac), then selecting System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Privacy tab → Screen Recording and making sure QuickTime is in the list and has a check mark next to it. If you don’t see QuickTime in the Screen Recording privacy settings, you can add it manually by clicking the lock icon on the bottom left corner to unlock the preferences menu and then dragging and dropping the QuickTime app into the list.
- Select the area to record and start recording your screen. When you’re done, click the stop icon in the menubar to stop and export your recording.
- This will have recorded a screen video in real time. It’s now time to speed it up using iMovie. (Warning: these real-time videos can get very large, often 100s of GBs in size – so make sure you have enough free space left in your hard drive. If you don’t want to deal with large files, you might want to try Hustl)
- Open iMovie (you can download it for free from the Mac App Store if you don’t already have it installed)
- Click the big “+” plus icon labelled “Create New” to create a new project. Select “Movie” when asked.
- Now locate the video you recorded using QuickTime. When you exported it, you selected the folder where it was saved, which is typically the Downloads folder, the Movies folder, the Desktop or your Home folder. Once you have located the video, drag it and drop it on the iMovie timeline to add it to the current project.
- Click on the video on the timeline. It will become selected, which you will notice because it now has a yellow border.
- Right click on it and select “Show Speed Editor”.
- Now you will see a knob in the top right corner of the video. This is the speed selection knob. To adjust the clip speed, you just need to drag the knob left and right.
- If you drag the knob all the way to the left, you’ll be speeding it up at max velocity. A rabbit icon on top of the clip in the timeline indicates that the video has been sped up.
- You can now go to File → Share → File… to export your time-lapse video.
- Choose a name for your recorded and sped up screen timelapse and click “Save”. Your timelapse will be saved to the selected location.
- If the final speed of your screen timelapse video is not high enough (this might happen in long timelapses, where you want to compress hours and hours into just a few seconds, which is something iMovie doesn’t directly allows), you can repeat steps 7 through 13 but with the timelapse you already exported instead of the original QuickTime video. Each time you do this, you’ll speed up the video more! If you don’t want to do this process over and over again, you might want to try out the next method, the Hustl app, which does this automatically and effortlessly.
Method 2: How to record a screen timelapse using Hustl
This is probably the easiest and quickest method to record time-lapses of your computer screen: Hustl is the best timelapse screen recorder. When it comes to simplicity and ease of use, Hustl has no rival. It’s the only native screen recorder with time lapse out there, and it has been designed and engineered specifically to record timelapses, so making cool, engaging videos its built-in at the core of this app.
To use Hustl, you just need to follow these steps:
- Click the record button
- Click the stop button
And that’s it! you’ll have a ready-to-share timelapse video, as easy as that!
Hustl is available for macOS 10.12 or later (and soon it will be available for Windows too, make sure you sign up for the Windows release here!)
Method 3: How to record a screen timelapse using CamStudio + Movie Maker [FREE]
[Windows only] If you’re using Windows, this method to record a timelapse of your computer screen is for you. You’ll learn how to make a time-lapse of your computer screen using only free apps, which comes in very handy if you’re on a budget. Let’s go!
- Get CamStudio, a free screen recorder app for Windows (not to be confused with Camtasia, which is not free, but rather has a free trial version). CamStudio is Open Source, which means its code is freely available for everyone to see and modify, and it works with most Windows versions and most video codecs. The latest version is CamStudio v2.7 and it’s only 3.8Mb in size.
- Select the right settings to record your computer screen. Once you have opened CamStudio, go to Options → Video Options and select the right video capturing settings:
- In “Compressor”, select an adequate video codec. The best option may be to go with the default, which would probably be “Microsoft Video”
- In Quality, choose the desired quality of the video.
- Select the right framerates for your screen timelapse video. You can find the best ones for your project using our time-lapse calculator. One good initial setting could be to capture frames every 500 miliseconds and a playback rate of 15 frames/second.
- Adjust further recording settings. In CamStudio you can choose whether to record the cursor while recording or not, whether to record audio together with the video and whether to record the full screen or just a certain area of the screen. All these settings can be modified by going into Options → Program Options and then checking or unchecking the desired options.
- To record the full screen, go to Region → Full Screen; and to select just an area of the screen, go to Region → Region and select the region you want to record.
- Start recording! Do your thing on the screen and then hit stop then you’re done.
- Your video will be saved to the default program folder, which is located on Local Disk (C:) → Program Files → CamStudio
- Now we need to speed up your video with Windows Movie Maker (on the new Windows systems, this app is called Windows Photos app).
- Open the Windows Photos app (click here to open it)
- Import or open your recorded video file to Photos. To do that:
- Click the Video Editor tab
- Click on “New video Project”
- Click on OK.
- Add new media elements by going to the Project Library section and clicking the “+ Add” button.
- Select and add your recorded video from your PC.
- Click on “Place in storyboard” to add your recently imported video to the project storyboard.
- Now, on the Storyboard section, select your clip.
- Click on the “Speed” icon on top of the storyboard section.
- Adjust the clip speed using the speed slider that shows up under the title “Set clip speed”. Set it to the fastest setting.
- Finish your video and export it.
All done! This will export the finished screen timelapse video of your computer screen in Windows! If you don’t want to go through all this hassle just to record your time-lapse video, make sure to sign up for the Hustl Windows release here! Hustl is a much easier and quicker methods to record screen time-lapse videos of your Windows computer screen.
Please share your time-lapse video in the comments below if you record something cool using any of these methods!
Record screen timelapses effortlessly
With Hustl, you don't have to worry about editing or speeding up the video – just press record and you'll get a ready-to-share timelapse of your screen to show off your work.
Timelapse videos can look impressive and give you the option to use a DSLR or even your camera on your phone to make an interesting video. In this guide, we’re exploring both the best free timelapse software options and more professional, paid options. You can capture images and create a timelapse video using a variety of methods and hardware, even on your phone.
Editor’s favorites
| Software | OS | License | Best for | Link |
| Movavi Video Editor Plus | macOS, Windows | Free trial, full version for $59.95 | HD video projects | |
| Chronolapse | Windows | Free | Free timelapse software using a webcam | |
| Veed.io | Web-based | Free plan, paid plan from $18 monthly | Creating timelapse videos in your browser | |
| Kapwing | Android | Free plan, paid plan from $17 monthly | Android devices | |
| iMotion | iOS | Free | Best for iPhone |
Special pick: Movavi Video Editor Plus – Best for HD video projects
OS: macOS or Windows
Price: Free 7-day trial, full version for $59.95
Movavi Video Editor Plus has a free trial so you can check if it is suitable for your needs. For making a high definition and impressive time-lapse video, this program gives you a lot of other impressive features. There’s a built-in media pack, loads of effects and transitions, and the simple processing of videos from 1080 to 4K.
Pros:- Lots of powerful and professional editing tools
- Video resolution up to 4K
- Inbuilt media packs
- Timelapse from images is not automated like some other options
Take advantage of our special 10% discount for all our blog readers!
How to make a time-lapse video in Movavi Video Editor Plus
Step 1. Install Movavi Video Editor Plus
Download the installation file and follow the instructions to complete the installation.
Step 2. Add your footage
It is time to add your photos. Click on Add Files and select a video if you want to make a time-lapse using a video effect. You can also import images.
Step 3. Create a video with the lapse effect
To create a time-lapse effect, double-click the clip on the Timeline. In the Properties window, you can drag the slider, which will make the speed quicker and give the impression of a time-lapse video.
To add music, on the File import tab, click Add Files and choose your song. There is a library of audio that you can use in Movavi.
Step 4. Export your video
When ready, you can use the Export button. In the new window that opens, you can choose the movie quality (HD, SD, dimensions) and where you want to export the video to before you hit Export.
Desktop timelapse makers
iMovie – Best for Mac users
OS: macOS
License: Free
iMovie is available as a free download for Apple devices. In fact, it may already be installed on your device when you buy it. It’s a professional piece of software allowing you to create exceptional videos in the easiest way possible. Although Microsoft users can’t use it, it is accessible on all Apple devices as well as on Mac computers.
You can merge images to create a quality HD video, showcasing your photography and easily editing and merging the footage you have taken in a drag-and-drop format.
Pros:- Free, professional software for Apple users
- HD rendering up to 4K quality
- Combine video footage with images
Adobe® Premiere® Pro – Best for Adobe® software users
OS: macOS or Windows
License: Free trial, $20.99/mo as part of Adobe® plan
Adobe® Premiere® Pro is known as one of the industry-standard pieces of software for editing videos. If you want a really professional video and you are making a project where only the best will do, Premiere® Pro is an option, especially as you can pay monthly for access. However, it isn’t the easiest to use and may take up a lot of space on your PC. Other software can do a good job too, without you having to use so much of your hard drive.
Pros:- Industry-standard and powerful editing suite
- Excellent Adobe® support and lots of learning materials
- You need to pay monthly or yearly for Creative Cloud
- Can be demanding on your computer system
LRTimelapse – Best for working with still images
OS: macOS or Windows
License: Free evaluation license, $118
LRTimelapse runs from Lightroom®, another piece of software made by Adobe®. You can use Lightroom® Classic or the older Lightroom® 6. You can use this on either Mac or Windows computers, and the free evaluation license means you can download and see if you like it before buying. It has the option to take still photography and easily import quality images before turning them into a time-lapse video. The software also has some powerful filters.
Pros:- Easy to use with still images.
- Comes with some impressive filters for photo editing.
- No options for other video editing or inbuilt live recording
- Needs Adobe® software to run
Panolapse – Best for adding motion in post-production
OS: macOS and Windows
License: Free trial, $99.95 for full version
Free Time Lapse Software For Mac
Panolapse allows you to add motion to your time-lapse videos. You can turn still videos into a video that rotates in real time and turns into a more interesting end result. The “pano” comes from the rotating feature that inserts movement. This has an option for use with Windows 10, 7, and Mac OS X. It’s relatively straightforward to use on either operating system. Batch rendering makes light work of lots of high-quality photos, which can quickly be rendered into an excellent video.
Cons:- No editing of video footage or using timelapse “effects
- Limited editing options
Time-Lapse Tool – Best for beginners
OS: Windows
License: Free trial, $99 for full version
Time-Lapse Tool has some good features for beginners and makes it easy to get started turning still images taken on your camera or phone into an HD video. It allows the simple merging of JPEG and other image formats, but keep in mind the fact that this app does not support RAW images, which is the maximum possible data, best for making full-quality 4K videos.
The software works on Windows and is easy to make videos, GIFs, and even upload directly to YouTube from the software.
Pros:- Easy interface for beginners
- Affordable license
- No video editing options
- Only works on Windows
ChronoLapse – Best free timelapse software using a webcam
OS: Windows
License: Free
This is proof that even freewarerecorders can do a really great job. To get time-lapse video software for free and know it is going to be reliable is rare. Chronolapse is simple to use and professional for merging videos into timelapse, and it can take the feed from your webcam or an external camera you have connected to the computer. It is set to take a still image at predetermined intervals live from your webcam or a DSLR camera, and then it will turn them into a timelapse video. As freeware goes, this is impressive, but it doesn’t allow you to take images on your travels and then compile them at a later date.
Pros:- Free software
- Easy to use with excellent instructions available from the makers
- Only works taking a live recording on your computer
- No Mac version
Free timelapse makers that work online
Veed.io – Best for creating timelapse videos in your browser
OS: macOS or Windows
License: Free plan, paid plan from $18 monthly
Veed.io is a web-based way of speeding up and slowing down video footage as well as creating stylish timelapse videos. You can start with either a video or a selection of images and end up with a smooth and high-quality timelapse, all without ever having to download any software to your computer. The simple tools also allow you to add text, effects, and music to the video. There’s a free plan, but to make use of this you need to be willing to limit your quality to 720p (the standard plan is 1080p). You will also get a watermark and a limit on file size.
Pros:- Never have to download software to your computer
- Very simple interface to get to grips with
- The free version adds watermarks and limits video quality
Kapwing – Best to use on tablets
OS: macOS or Windows (free plan available)
Price: From $17 a month + free plan
Kapwing is another freeware solution that lets you speed up and slow down video online. It can be used in your browser and is even compatible with tablets. There are options to import AVI, MP4, MOV, and 3PG and turn these files into a timelapse video.
Because this isn’t the only function of Kapwing, it takes a little longer in the editing process than it would with some alternatives. Unfortunately, the free software does have some limits, but it doesn’t watermark the pictures. Instead, it limits the file size and some of the advanced functionality.
Pros:- Simple to use in a browser and on tablets
- Video creator accepts multiple file types
Timelapse creating apps for iPhones and Android phones
Framelapse – Best for creating 4K videos on Android devices
OS: Android
Price: Free
⬇️ 36,387 reviews and 1,000,000+ installs on Google Play
Framelapse gives Android users the option to use either their front-facing or standard camera to take the footage to be turned into a timelapse. You can set the interval at which you want the photos to be taken as well as some other options and create up to 4K videos from your phone or tablet.
Unfortunately, there are a few quirks, and if someone calls you while you are making your recording, it can stop the app altogether.
Pros:- Free version available for Android users
- Create videos in up to 4K with effects
- Receiving a call may stop the app
- Hard to get to grips with the interface
Microsoft Hyperlapse Mobile – Best free Android app
OS: Android
Price: Free
⬇️ 43,815 reviews and 1,000,000+ installs on Google Play
Microsoft Hyperlapse Mobile is totally free and effective software for your phone, which can use your camera to record a video or use any video that you have shot already. You can choose between 1 and 32 times the speed and save in 720 or 1080p formats. There is even an inbuilt stabilization mode. Once you create a time-lapse video, you also can keep the audio track from the original footage.
Free Time Lapse Software Mac
Cons:Free Time Lapse Software Mac
- No full 4K
- Saving errors on some types of phones and tablets
iMotion – Best for iPhone
OS: iOS
Price: Free
⭐️ 963 ratings
iMotion is packed full of some really impressive features that you can make the most of on your iPhone or iPad. It allows UHD capture and exporting as well as four different capture modes. You can even shoot remotely from a device on your WiFi. Useful editing and exporting tools are great for sharing directly to your mail app or other iOS apps. You can also change the exposure and white balance of your images.
Pros:- Simple to get to grips with
- UHD capture and export
- When importing images, some can get blacked out
- Only usable on iPad and iPhone
Hyperlapse from Instagram – Best for Instagram videos
OS: iOS
Price: Free
⭐️ 2.1K ratings
Instagram has created its own timelapse software allowing people to enjoy the benefits of timelapse for their Insta videos. The app has truly impressive stabilization capabilities, and it is easy to create short, distilled video footage from longer videos or images taken at intervals. You don’t have to sign up or have any account, and it is quick to get started. The automatic smoothing and the fact you can speed up footage up to 12x is a bonus for Apple users.
One downside to this software is the fact that once you’ve saved it, you can’t go back into the project and edit things like the speed or effects, so you are stuck with the decisions you have made in the first edit.
Cons:- Designed for short, snappy videos for Instagram, not longer projects
- No option to use an external camera like a DSLR
People are looking for the best free timelapse software for a variety of reasons. You might have videos that you want to add a timelapse-style effect to, or you might have lots of still images taken that you want to turn into a timelapse video by merging them together. Whether you want to use some simple software on your phone, such as iMotion, or you’re looking for professional software like Movavi Video Editor Plus, there are options for anyone to create a sleek-looking video.