Wisp
What it is
Wisp is free, open-source software for recording game clips on Windows 10 and Windows 11. It keeps a rolling screen-and-audio buffer continuously or while a game runs, then saves that buffer when you press a hotkey or when kill detection is enabled. A clip can be created in under a second, and pressing the hotkey again can chain clips with a marker at each press. Kill detection uses official local APIs for League of Legends and CS2, with experimental on-screen detection for Valorant and Overwatch 2. Capture uses Windows Graphics Capture, with Desktop Duplication and GDI fallbacks. Hardware encoding is available on NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel GPUs. System audio and microphone input can be mixed independently, and Discord can be isolated to its own track. The browser supports thumbnails, playback, search, sorting, renaming, and deletion.
For and against
For
- Free GNU GPL software
- Rolling buffer and instant hotkey clips
- Hardware encoding across major GPU brands
- Separate Discord audio track
- No ads, account, or telemetry
Against
- Windows only
- Valorant and Overwatch detection is experimental
- Anti-cheat vendors provide no written guarantee
The verdict
Wisp offers a focused Windows clip recorder with multiple capture paths, game-event detection, and local processing options. Its experimental detection support and platform limit are important considerations.
Who it suits
Wisp suits Windows players who want local game-clip recording without ads, accounts, or telemetry. It is also useful for users wanting configurable audio tracks and optional offline voice triggering.
Plans and prices
Wisp
Free software under GNU GPL v3.0 or later
Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Anti-cheat approach
- The maker says Wisp does not inject into game processes, read game memory, or hook game rendering; it also says anti-cheat vendors provide no written guarantee.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Audio
- System audio and microphone can be mixed independently, and voice chat apps such as Discord can be isolated onto their own track.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Webcam overlay
- Yesgithub.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Capture
- Screen capture uses Windows Graphics Capture, with Desktop Duplication and GDI as fallbacks.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Capture and encoding
- Wisp uses Windows Graphics Capture, with Desktop Duplication and GDI as fallbacks, and supports hardware encoding on NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel GPUs.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Clip capture
- Wisp buffers continuously or while a game is running and can merge the buffer into a clip in under a second after a hotkey press.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Clip chaining
- Pressing the hotkey again while a clip is fresh chains the clips together with a marker at each press.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Clip library
- The clip browser displays duration, file size, and thumbnails, and supports playback, renaming, deletion, search, and sorting.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Discord audio
- Wisp can isolate voice chat apps such as Discord onto a separate audio track.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Encoding and audio
- Wisp automatically uses hardware encoding on NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel GPUs when available, and can mix system audio and microphone input independently.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Game detection
- Kill detection supports League of Legends and CS2 through their official local APIs, and experimentally supports Valorant and Overwatch 2 by sampling their on-screen kill confirmation UI.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- GPU encoding
- Yesgithub.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Instant replay
- Yesgithub.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Kill detection
- Kill detection uses each game's official local API for League of Legends and CS2, and experimental on-screen detection for Valorant and Overwatch 2.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- License
- Wisp is free software licensed under GNU GPL version 3.0 or later.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- License and cost
- Wisp is free software under GNU GPL version 3.0 or later.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Offline voice trigger
- An optional voice trigger runs a bundled speech model locally without using the internet.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- Wisp plugins can add themes, player overlays, timeline markers, export video layers, clip actions, and tray menu items.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
