Compare Screencastify and ChatGPT Sidebar: Which Extension is the Best?

Screencastify is a popular Chrome extension for screen recording. It offers a range of features but has shifted many basic functionalities behind a paywall, affecting its overall value.
ChatGPT Sidebar enhances your browser with AI features like real-time data, group chat, image analysis, file interaction, AI image generation, writing, and reading assistance.
Key Features
  • Record Desktop, Browser Tab, and Webcam: Capture any part of your screen.
  • Edit Video: Trim, merge, and add text directly from your browser.
  • Share Easily: Export as MP4, GIF, or MP3, and share via Google Drive or Classroom.
  • Interactive Questions: Add questions to videos to engage viewers.
  • Annotations: Draw on your screen in real-time to highlight key points.
  • Captions: Add captions in multiple languages to make videos accessible.
  • Web Access: Access real-time data without GPT cut-off dates.
  • Group Chat: Engage multiple AI models simultaneously for diverse insights.
  • GPT-4o Vision: Analyze images, graphs, and charts with ease.
  • File Interaction: Chat with PDFs and other files directly.
  • AI Image Generation: Create images from text prompts using advanced models.
  • Writing Assistance: Get real-time help with grammar, tone, and rewording.
  • Reading Assistance: Summarize articles and translate text quickly.
Our Rating
7.8
8.9
Total users
6,000,000
1,000,000
Total ratings
11,733
26,670
Average rating
4.0 ⭐
4.9 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.0
3.63
11.7K+ ratings
6.0M+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.9
4.87
26.7K+ ratings
1.0M+Users
Edge
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-
Firefox
-
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Safari
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Features
8.8

Screencastify offers a robust set of features, including screen and webcam recording, video editing and interactive questions.

Leaving aside the fact that many features are only available for a fee, it's fair to say that it offers a lot of features.

While recording, you can easily add spotlights and draw on the screen. The drawing tools offer a nice range of options, so you should have everything you need:

Drawing Tools

The subsequent editor also offers many functions where you can cut the video to your needs.

Here is what the basic editor looks like:

Simple editor of Screencastify

It recently also added an AI feature that automatically adds captions, transcripts, titles, and descriptions.

Furthermore, Screencastify offers another video editor when clicking "Edit Video" in the top right corner.

This will open up another editor where you can do some more video editing. Here is how it looks like:

Second editor of Screencastiy

In our opinion, this editor isn’t necessary if you already have your own video editing software, but it could be useful for some people.

We’re not entirely sure if this is just an older version of the original editor. However, we did discover that you can export videos to MP4 for free, thanks to an "Export" button that lets you do so without any limitations.

We’re not certain if this is intentional, but at least it works for us.

9.5

The ChatGPT sidebar offers many useful AI functions that help with a wide range of everyday tasks, but can also help in the business sector.

sidebar

Users can access real-time data with Web Access, which is a huge advantage over other models. The multi-model group chat function enables users to communicate with several AI models at the same time and thus gain different insights. In addition, the tool supports interaction with images and files, allowing users to analyze images and chat directly with PDFs. These worked flawlessly in the test.

Performance
7.5

The speed has deteriorated considerably with the latest updates. This is probably because more and more functions, such as the AI function, are being added.

The tool has become slower, and creating links or accessing older videos takes longer than before. Many users have also complained about the performance in the reviews.

8.0

In testing, the performance of the ChatGPT Sidebar was good. You hardly notice any lag, which ensures a smooth and efficient browsing experience. Only the function of loading marked content directly into the sidebar via a pop-up, asking questions, or summarizing the content had a few problems. Sometimes it was not possible to click on the pop-up after highlighting.

Design
9.0

The design is intuitive and user-friendly. We think that navigation is very intuitive despite the many functions.

9.0

The ChatGPT sidebar is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. Even the basic user should have no problems navigating through all the functions. The interface looks modern and aesthetically pleasing. Several customizable settings allow the tool to be adapted individually, but there could be a few more functions here.

Value for Money
5.0

As already mentioned, we are somewhat shocked by the limitations of the free version.

Especially if you have used the app in the past and can export videos for free. In addition, even with the starter package for $7, you are limited to 10 exports.

We find that many other providers offer much more for the money.

8.3

The ChatGPT Sidebar offers a free version with basic features and a limited number of queries.
However, if you want to use functions such as Web Access, you need the premium version. The premium features might be a bit expensive for the basic user, but for anyone who needs the advanced features, they are still fine. Compared to alternatives, the price is competitive and offers good value for money.

Ease of Use
8.5

Screencastify is easy to use, with a minimal learning curve. Even beginners can quickly get the hang of it. However, we find that recent updates have introduced some complexities that are not absolutely necessary for a screen recorder.

9.0

The ChatGPT sidebar offers an uncomplicated setup process, with the basics presented in the tutorial immediately after installation. Every user should have no problem using all the functions here, as they are also very clearly presented. Should questions or problems nevertheless need to be resolved, many users have commented in their reviews on how responsive the support team is.

Security & Privacy
8.0

Unfortunately, an account is required, which in our opinion is not necessary for Screen recorder.

However, Screencastify's privacy policy is very comprehensive and complies with standard data protection practices, including compliance with the GDPR and PCI-DSS certification for payment data. Screencastify takes reasonable security measures but, like all online services, cannot guarantee absolute protection.

9.7

Security and data protection are a top priority in the ChatGPT Sidebar. No personal data is collected in the extension. The user settings are saved locally so that the data remains private. The tool's transparent data protection guidelines and regular security updates set the extension apart from the competition.

Conclusion

Screencastify was a fantastic tool in the past, and we used to use it daily. Unfortunately, recent updates have made it less user-friendly by hiding key features behind a paywall.

For people who need a wide range of features, the tool is still an option. For others who just want to make a recording every now and then to export a video, Screencastify is unfortunately no longer an option.

The ChatGPT Sidebar is the perfect tool to improve productivity by integrating AI into daily browsing. The many features make it a valuable asset for personal and professional use. While it stands out for its functionality and ease of use, the premium price might be too high for regular users. Overall, however, it is a highly recommended tool for anyone who wants to use AI for their daily tasks.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Screencastify and ChatGPT Sidebar, ChatGPT Sidebar came out on top, scoring 8.9.

Screencastify is the most widely used, with over 6 million users and 12k+ reviews, but ChatGPT Sidebar outperformed it in our review. User reviews reflect our findings.

Notably, ChatGPT Sidebar has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.89, which supports its strong performance in our review.

There are some noticeable differences between these extensions, so it's worth considering your priorities and the details below.


  • Looking for the richest feature set? ChatGPT Sidebar stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.8.
  • Need top performance? ChatGPT Sidebar stands out with a rating of 8. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.
  • Both look and feel great: Screencastify and ChatGPT Sidebar. In the Design category, Screencastify has scored an excellent 9. The design is both attractive and highly functional, making it stand out.
  • Want to get the most for your money? ChatGPT Sidebar stands out with a rating of 8.3. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 5.
  • If you hate complicated tools, ChatGPT Sidebar stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.5.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, ChatGPT Sidebar stands out with a rating of 9.7. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.

If you want a quick recommendation, ChatGPT Sidebar is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you.