Kap vs Pear Desktop
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A free, open-source screen recorder for macOS, built with web technology.
Open source · MIT
Unofficial desktop app for YouTube Music, with a plugin system, for Windows, macOS and Linux.
The short answer
Choose Kap if you need…
- Mac users who want to record part of their screen quickly from the menu bar
- People who want an open-source recorder they can inspect or modify
- Developers who want to build plugins, since the README links a plugin guide
Choose Pear Desktop if you need…
- People who want YouTube Music in a standalone desktop window
- Users who want to customize the look of YouTube Music with CSS themes
- Developers who want to write their own plugins for the player
- Windows, macOS, or Linux users who want one installer-based option
Side-by-side
| Kap | Pear Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 19.4k | 34k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Download the app | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 24 months ago | 5 days ago |
What each one is
Kap
Kap is a screen recorder for macOS that you control from the menu bar. You pick the part of the screen to capture, press record, and click the menu bar icon again to stop. It is open source under the MIT license and is built with web technology, as its description says.
Pear Desktop
Pear Desktop is a free, open-source desktop application that wraps YouTube Music in its own window so you can use it like a regular program rather than a browser tab. It is built with Electron and TypeScript. It also supports plugins and custom CSS themes that change how the app looks and behaves. The project states it is unofficial and not affiliated with Google or YouTube.
Best for
Kap
- Mac users who want to record part of their screen quickly from the menu bar
- People who want an open-source recorder they can inspect or modify
- Developers who want to build plugins, since the README links a plugin guide
Pear Desktop
- People who want YouTube Music in a standalone desktop window
- Users who want to customize the look of YouTube Music with CSS themes
- Developers who want to write their own plugins for the player
- Windows, macOS, or Linux users who want one installer-based option
Strengths
Kap
- Open source under the MIT license
- Simple menu bar workflow for starting and stopping recordings
- Has official Apple silicon and Intel downloads plus a Homebrew option
Pear Desktop
- Open source under the MIT license, with a public codebase on GitHub
- Offers install paths through several package managers, including Homebrew, Scoop, Winget, and AUR
- Supports a plugin system and CSS themes for customization
Not ideal for
Kap
- Windows or Linux users, because the README and topics only reference macOS
- People who need a full video editor, since the README describes only recording and does not mention editing features
Pear Desktop
- Users who need an official YouTube Music client, since the project is unofficial and unaffiliated with Google or YouTube
- People without a YouTube Music account who expect a standalone music library, since the README does not describe offline music of its own
- Users on very old or unsupported operating systems, since the README does not list supported versions
Trade-offs
Kap
- The README describes macOS-focused use only, so other platforms are not covered
- The README says dev builds are unsupported and may have issues
- The README is short on feature detail, so capabilities beyond basic recording are unclear
Pear Desktop
- Unofficial and not endorsed by Google or YouTube, and the README says it is provided as-is with no liability
- Some install steps, such as the macOS quarantine fix and Windows SmartScreen warnings, may confuse non-technical users
- Plugin development requires TypeScript and familiarity with Electron concepts
Getting started
Pear Desktop
Install on macOS with Homebrew
brew install pear-devs/pear/pear-desktopInstall on Windows with Winget
winget install pear-devs.pear-desktopFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Kap and Pear Desktop?
Kap: A free, open-source screen recorder for macOS, built with web technology. Pear Desktop: Unofficial desktop app for YouTube Music, with a plugin system, for Windows, macOS and Linux. Kap suits mac users who want to record part of their screen quickly from the menu bar, while Pear Desktop suits people who want youtube music in a standalone desktop window.
Are Kap and Pear Desktop free?
Kap: Free and open source. Pear Desktop: Free and open source.
Is Kap or Pear Desktop more popular?
Pear Desktop has more GitHub stars (34k) than Kap (19.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Kap and Pear Desktop?
Other options people compare them with include Medis, MarkText, OpenCut, Listen 1, YesPlayMusic.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.