At a glance
| Tool | Systems | Price | Copy text | Finds secrets | Scrolling | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glintshot | Mac, Windows, Linux | Free; Pro $29/yr (coming soon) | Yes, on device | Yes | Yes | No (frames and GIF) |
| CleanShot X | Mac | $35 once | Yes, on device | Not listed | Yes | Yes |
| Snagit | Mac, Windows | $39/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ShareX | Windows | Free, open source | Yes, on device | Not listed | Yes | Yes |
| Shottr | Mac | Free; $12 once for work use | Yes, on device | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
| Greenshot | Windows (paid Mac app) | Free on Windows | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Snipping Tool | Windows | Built in | Yes, on device | Emails and phone numbers | Not listed | Yes |
| macOS Screenshot | Mac | Built in | Live Text, in Preview | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
As of October 2026, from each maker’s site: CleanShot X, Snagit, ShareX, Shottr, Greenshot, Snipping Tool, macOS. “Not listed” means we couldn’t find it on the maker’s own pages.
Pick by what you need
- One app on Mac, Windows and Linux: Glintshot. It’s the only one here on all three.
- The most polished Mac app, with video: CleanShot X, if you only use a Mac and want recording and cloud links.
- Documentation and training material: Snagit, for its step recorder, templates and video.
- Free and endlessly configurable on Windows: ShareX, with uploads to many services and workflows after each capture.
- A tiny, cheap Mac tool: Shottr, about 2 MB, free to try and $12 once for work use.
- A quick grab with nothing to install: the Snipping Tool on Windows or ⌘ ⇧ 5 on Mac.
What we looked at
Where it runs, what it costs, whether it can read the text in a screenshot, whether it finds and hides secrets on its own, whether it can capture a page longer than the screen, and whether it records video. For the AI side in more depth, see the best AI screenshot tools.
Questions
What’s the best free screenshot tool?
On Windows, ShareX is free, open source and very capable. On every system, Glintshot’s free plan covers everyday capture, annotation and sharing with no limit. The tools built into Mac and Windows are free and fine for a quick grab.
Which screenshot tools work on Linux?
Of the tools on this page, only Glintshot runs on Linux. Linux desktops also come with their own screenshot tools, such as GNOME’s screenshot window and KDE’s Spectacle.
Why is Glintshot on its own list?
We make it, and we say so. Everything about the other tools comes from their makers’ own sites, linked under the table, and the page says where each one is better.