A teleprompter that listens
It scrolls as you talk and waits when you stop.
Takes Tella alternative
A free Tella alternative for Mac.
Takes for Mac records your screen and your face, with a teleprompter. Then you ask for the edit in plain words.
At a glance
Tella and Takes, side by side.
Tella
- ✓Share link right after you stop
- ✓Edit in the browser
- From $13 a month after a 7-day trial
Takes for Mac
- ✓Files stay on your Mac
- ✓Edit by asking in words
- ✓Free and open source
How
From one take to every version.
-
1Record screen and face
Press ⌘R. Screen and camera save as two files.
-
2Read your script
It follows your voice. Viewers never see it.
-
3Ask for the edit
Plain words. No timeline.
-
4Get each version
16:9 and 9:16, saved on your Mac.
What you get
Everything for a talking video.
Two synced files
Screen at 60 fps and camera, same start.
Restarts cut for you
Ask once. The ums and retakes go.
Captions in your style
Burned in, low, clear of your face.
9:16 on your face
The vertical crop follows you.
Free, no watermark
MIT licensed. No account, no trial.
Post
Then it writes the posts.
LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Shorts, each shown as it will look.
Compare
Takes, Tella, Screen Studio and Loom.
| Takes for Mac | Tella | Screen Studio | Loom | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, open source (MIT) | 7-day trial, then from $13 a month | $29 a month, or $9 a month billed yearly | Free Starter plan, paid from $18 a month |
| Camera and screen | Two synced files | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Teleprompter | Yes, follows your voice | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
| How you edit | Ask in words | Editor, plus an AI agent on credits | Editor with auto zoom | Quick edits in the browser |
| Share link | No: files stay on your Mac | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
| Your Mac's sound | No, mic only | Yes | Yes | Not stated |
| Runs on | Mac, Apple silicon | Mac, Windows, Chrome | Mac only | Mac, Windows, phones |
Need a share link? Tella and Loom have one. Takes keeps files on your Mac, free.
Sources: tella.com, screen.studio and loom.com/pricing, checked 2026-10-22; Takes from its code.
Get started
Paste one line, or download.
One line installs Takes and sets it up. Or download the .dmg.
NeedsApple silicon, macOS 15+, and Claude Code, Codex or pi.
First time with the .dmg?macOS asks once: click Open Anyway in Privacy & Security.
Free and openMIT licensed. Read the code on GitHub.
Questions
Tella alternative questions.
Is there a free alternative to Tella?
Yes. Takes for Mac is free and open source (MIT): no account, no watermark. Tella starts with a 7-day trial, then $13 a month.
Can Takes record my screen and my camera at the same time?
Yes. Screen at 60 fps and camera, as two files that start together.
Does Takes have a teleprompter?
Yes. It follows your voice and stays out of the recording.
Does Takes give me a share link like Tella?
No. Files stay on your Mac. Pick Tella or Loom for a link.
What does Takes need?
Apple silicon, macOS 15+, and an agent on your own plan: Claude Code, Codex or pi.
More about Takes
One app, from script to post.
Screen recorder with cameraScreen and face as two files, with a teleprompter.
TeleprompterRead your script while the camera records.
Remove filler wordsCut the ums and long pauses in one ask.
Add captions on MacWord-timed captions when you ask.
Descript alternativeFree, on your Mac, no media hours.
Screen Studio alternativeScreen and camera with a teleprompter, free.