Flashback is free instant replay for Windows 11 that records without an account, shows no ads, and cost 5.9% of average FPS in our same-PC benchmark, where Medal cost 27.0%.
Average FPS vs no recorder4Measured in our July 2026 test (Flashback 0.6.22)
Flashback−5.9%
Medal−27.0%
To be fair: Medal says its auto clips stay on your PC and don’t upload on their own1, and it offers optional cloud uploads5.
Numbered notes link to the sources at the end of this page. Apps change. If something here is out of date, tell us and we’ll fix it.
Measured
Same PC. Same game. Same settings.
We ran Flashback and Medal back to back in the same Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark, and we publish every metric, including any where Medal comes out ahead.
Measured July 23, 2026 · controlled 1080p test
Flashback vs Medal
Both ran on the same Ryzen 7 9800X3D and GeForce RTX 5070 in Cyberpunk 2077’s repeatable built-in benchmark, with matched settings: 1920×1080 · H.264 · 60 FPS · 60-second replay · 20 Mbps.
PresentMon + game results
−5.9%Average FPS vs recorder offMedal −27.0%
−0.9%1% low FPS vs recorder offMedal −22.7%
238.9 MiBResident memoryMedal used 5.5× as much
Average game FPSHigher is better
Flashback−5.86% vs recorder off
140.92
Medal−27.03% vs recorder off
109.23
Recorder off: 149.69 FPS
Resident memoryLower is better
FlashbackLowest measured footprint
238.9 MiB
Medal5.5× Flashback
1,313.7 MiB
Where Medal comes out ahead
Medal’s process used less CPU (0.52% vs Flashback’s 0.59%), and its GPU drew less power (182.1 W vs 194.1 W) while rendering fewer frames.
The recorder-off baseline, Medal, and ShadowPlay figures are three-run means. Flashback is the final measured 0.6.22 optimization pass; earlier Flashback development runs were excluded because the capture engine changed between them. Hardware, drivers, game updates, and capture settings can change results, so these numbers describe this PC and workload rather than every system.
Today’s Flashback 0.8.1 uses a newer capture path that hasn’t been through this comparison yet.
Flashback keeps instant replay waiting quietly in the tray and puts the tools around it in one app. Each tool loads when you open it and steps aside when you’re done.
01
No account to record
Record, edit and keep clips without signing in to anything. Medal needs an account to record1.
02
Free, with no ads
Recording, screenshots, editing and the library are free. Cloud sharing is an optional paid plan. The app carries no third-party ad or analytics code. Medal shows ads on its free tier, and Premium removes them2.
03
Light on your FPS
In our July 2026 Cyberpunk 2077 test, Flashback 0.6.22 cost 5.9% of average FPS; Medal cost 27.0%4.
04
Clip with your voice
Say “Flashback, clip that” or “Flashback, screenshot this.” Commands are recognized offline on your PC, and they’re off until you turn them on.
05
Trim and make montages
Set exact start and end points in the built-in editor. Montage mode joins 2 to 20 clips into one video up to 30 minutes long, with music if you want it.
06
Discord-ready copies
Make a copy that fits Discord’s upload limit: 20 MB free, 50 MB with Nitro Basic, 100 MB in a Level 3 boosted server, or 1 GB with Nitro.
Questions
Before you switch.
Do I need an account to use Flashback?
No. Recording, editing and your library work without signing in to anything. Only optional Cloud sharing uses an account. Medal needs an account to record, according to its auto clipping FAQ.
How much FPS does Flashback cost compared with Medal?
In our July 2026 Cyberpunk 2077 test on one PC with a GeForce RTX 5070, Flashback 0.6.22 cost 5.9% of average FPS and Medal cost 27.0%. Your result depends on the game, settings and hardware, and newer versions haven’t been through the comparison yet.
Does Flashback upload my clips?
Only when you choose. Upload a clip yourself, or turn on automatic uploads for the games you pick; automatic uploads stay off until you do. Recording, editing and your library stay on your PC. Medal’s auto clipping FAQ says its auto clips also stay on your PC and don’t upload on their own.
Is Flashback free?
Yes. Recording, screenshots, editing and the library are free and need no account. Cloud sharing is an optional paid plan for share links.
Our benchmark: Flashback 0.6.22 and Medal 2630.351.1 in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p on one PC, July 23, 2026. It measures the change in average FPS against the same PC with no recorder running. The no-recorder baseline and Medal figures are three-run means; Flashback’s is its final 0.6.22 pass. Full method →
Free, with no account and no ads. Install once, press Ctrl+Shift+F10, and the last 30 seconds save to your PC as an MP4. Cloud sharing is an optional paid plan, and nothing uploads unless you choose it.
