Instant replay for macOS.

Backshift buffers your screen and audio in RAM. Whenever something happens, hit a shortcut to instantly save it as an MP4. Under 1% CPU, zero background disk wear.

Download for macOS

Free trial with 3 clips included No credit card required

~150 MB

Memory buffer

In-memory ring buffer

< 1%

CPU impact

Hardware Media Engine

0 KB/s

Disk writes

Zero storage wear

< 4 MB

App size

Pure Swift native binary

How it works

Instant replay, built natively for Mac.

Buffers in RAM

Continuously records into memory. Uses under 1% CPU with minimal battery impact.

Hit your shortcut

Press your hotkey anytime. Capture 30s, 2m, or any custom duration you configure.

Saved instantly

Already encoded in memory. Generates a standard MP4 file in under 0.05 seconds.

Built for Apple Silicon

Lightweight, native, and silent by design.

Zero SSD wear

Buffers replay entirely in RAM. No continuous temporary files written to your drive.

Zero gaming lag

Hardware-encoded via Apple Silicon Media Engine. CPU stays under 1% with no frame drops.

Instant export (< 0.05s)

Pre-encoded in memory. MP4 clips are written in milliseconds with zero render time.

Global shortcuts

Native Carbon hotkeys that work reliably over full-screen games without accessibility permissions.

Why Backshift?

Built specifically for instant replay, without the bloat or paywalls.

OBS Studio

Free · 350 MB bundle

— ~1.2 GB RAM idle footprint
— 5%–15% CPU load (lag in games)
— Complex multi-menu configuration
— Continuous SSD disk cache writes

Overkill for simple gaming clips

ClipMac

$6 / mo · 130 MB bundle

— ~300 MB RAM memory usage
— Noticeable CPU overhead while playing
— Free tier: 720p, 30s & watermark
— Continuous temporary disk writes

Basic features locked behind paywall

Backshift

3-clip free trial · $5.49 lifetime

~150 MB RAM circular buffer
< 1% CPU (zero gaming lag)
Full Retina & up to 120 FPS, no watermark
Zero disk wear (100% in RAM)

Pay once, own forever

Start free. Own it forever.

Every download includes 3 full-resolution clips so you can test instant replay performance on your own Mac before buying.

Free Trial

$0 free download

Test in your actual games and workflow. No sign-up or card required.

3 full-resolution clips included
Up to 120 FPS ProMotion support
Lightweight RAM buffer (~150 MB)
No watermarks, no restrictions
macOS 13+ · Apple Silicon (M1–M4)

Download for macOS

Lifetime License

$5.49 one-time payment

Unlock unlimited recordings permanently across your personal Macs.

Unlimited recording forever
Full Retina & up to 120 FPS ProMotion
Zero watermarks, zero subscriptions
Valid on up to 3 personal Macs
All future updates & features included
14-day money-back guarantee

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about Backshift.

Backshift is free to download and test with 3 full trial clips included. To unlock unrestricted lifetime recording, a personal license is a one-time purchase of $5.49. Each license can be activated on up to 3 personal Macs simultaneously, with zero recurring subscriptions and all future updates included.