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. | ||
Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each extension. |
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Our Rating Tooltivity's expert review score for each extension, based on hands-on testing and research. | 7.8 | 8.8 Winner in this category |
Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 6,000,000 | 54,568,609 Winner in this category |
Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 11,733 | 47,132 Winner in this category |
Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | 4.0 ⭐ | 4.2 ⭐ Winner in this category |
Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the extension. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free |
Chrome User rating and stats for the extension on Chrome browser. | ![]() 4.0 3.63 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 6.0M+Users | ![]() 4.5 3.70 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 39.0M+Users Winner in this category |
Edge User rating and stats for the extension on Edge browser. | - | ![]() 3.9 3.69 Average Microsoft Edge Store rating from the last 100 reviews 14.9M+Users Winner in this category |
Firefox User rating and stats for the extension on Firefox browser. | - | ![]() 4.1 4.15 Average Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store rating from the last 100 reviews 663.7K+Users Winner in this category |
Safari User rating and stats for the extension on Safari browser. | - | - |
Features Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each extension. | 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: ![]() The subsequent editor also offers many functions where you can cut the video to your needs. Here is what the basic editor looks like: ![]() 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: ![]() 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 Grammarly goes beyond basic grammar and spelling checks. It offers advanced features like tone detection, vocabulary enhancement, and generative AI capabilities. Compared to competitors, Grammarly provides a more comprehensive set of tools, making it a valuable asset for any writer. Winner in this category |
Performance Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each extension. | 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. | 9.0 Grammarly performs well across different platforms, providing real-time suggestions without significant lag. The tool is reliable and helps improve writing efficiency. Winner in this category |
Design Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each extension. | 9.0 The design is intuitive and user-friendly. We think that navigation is very intuitive despite the many functions. Winner in this category | 8.5 The design is clean and intuitive, making it easy to navigate. The color-coded underlines for suggestions are helpful, and the interface is user-friendly. However, some users might find the pop-ups slightly intrusive. |
Value for Money Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each extension. | 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. | 8.5 While Grammarly offers a free version, the Premium plan is relatively expensive. However, the advanced features and comprehensive feedback justify the cost for those who need a robust writing assistant. Grammarly is the priciest option for a reason—because, in our view, it's the best writing tool available in its category. If you're looking for the best writing assistant, go for the Premium plan, you won't regret it! Winner in this category |
Ease of Use Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each extension. | 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 Grammarly is straightforward to use, with a minimal learning curve. The browser extension integrates seamlessly with various platforms like Google Docs and Gmail, allowing you to get started right away. Winner in this category |
Security & Privacy Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each extension. | 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. Winner in this category | 8.0 Grammarly takes privacy seriously, with stringent security measures in place. While an account is required, the company assures users that their data is not sold or made public. However, some users may still have concerns about data processing. Winner in this category |
Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each extension. | 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. | In our eyes, Grammarly is the best choice for anyone who wants to write professional articles or other things in English. Even though Grammarly has an expensice price tag, you can't get anything better on the market. We have been using Grammarly for a long time now. And even in the world of ChatGPT and other AI tools, Grammarly is just super handy and helpful. For us, the Premium plan is worth every penny. This only applies as long as you are in the English-speaking world. If you need other languages, we would recommend LanguageTool instead. |
Our Recommendation | In our comparison between Screencastify and Grammarly, Grammarly came out on top, scoring 8.8. Grammarly is the most widely used, with over 55 million users and 47k+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. User reviews reflect our findings. Notably, Grammarly has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.17, 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.
If you want a quick recommendation, Grammarly is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you. |