Alternatives
Best Snipping Tool alternatives in 2026
Snipping Tool is built-in Windows screenshot and screen recording tool. These 9 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.
Ranked alternatives
- 1
ShareX
Is open source. A free, open-source Windows tool with region capture, many annotation tools and upload options, plus a long list of settings for power users. It runs on Windows only, so it does not cover Mac or Linux.
Best for Windows users who want the most options for free
WindowsFree and open sourceOpen source
- 2
Snagit
Also runs on macOS. A paid option that adds scrolling capture, screen recording with audio and webcam, smart redact and a searchable library. It costs money after the free trial and is sold with volume licensing for teams.
Best for Anyone documenting work with captures and video
WindowsmacOSPaid
- 3
CleanShot X
Also runs on macOS. A Mac screenshot app with screen recording, a webcam bubble and zoom effects in recordings, plus a Cloud product. It is paid and Mac only, and additional seats are sold for teams.
Best for Mac users who record and annotate for remote teams
macOSPaid
- 4
Flameshot
Is open source; also runs on macOS, Linux. A free, open-source screenshot and annotation tool for Windows, macOS and Linux, with AppImage and Homebrew installs. Its macOS build is 64-bit only, and each platform installs differently.
Best for Free annotation tool across Windows, macOS and Linux
WindowsmacOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source
- 5
Greenshot
Is open source. A light-weight, free, open-source screenshot tool for Windows under GPL-3.0. Its Mac version is a separate App Store product under a proprietary license, and it does not cover Linux.
Best for Small free capture tool on Windows
WindowsFree and open sourceOpen source
- 6
Xnapper
Also runs on macOS. A Mac screenshot app that styles captures for sharing, with a free download and one-time paid licences that remove the watermark. It runs on macOS only, so it covers one system.
Best for Mac users who share styled screenshots
macOSFree plan, paid upgrades
- 7
ksnip
Is open source; also runs on Linux, macOS. A free, open-source capture and annotation tool for Linux, Windows and macOS, with X11 and Wayland support on Linux. Global hotkeys work only on Windows and X11, and Snap builds use desktop-portal screenshots.
Best for Linux users on Wayland wanting open-source annotation
LinuxWindowsmacOSFree and open sourceOpen source
- 8
Gyazo
Also runs on macOS, iOS, Android. Captures stills and video, uploads them to a shareable link, and has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android plus browser add-ons. Captures are stored on Gyazo's service, so it suits sharing more than private capture.
Best for Sharing captures with a link across devices
WindowsmacOSiOSAndroidBrowser extensionFree plan, paid upgrades
- 9
Lightshot
Also runs on macOS. A free Windows and Mac screenshot tool that uploads captures to a prnt.sc link, with a multilingual interface. It does not list video recording, and uploads go to Lightshot's service, so it is weaker for sensitive screens.
Best for Quick captures shared through a link
WindowsmacOSFree
Narrow the alternatives
Open-source alternatives to Snipping Tool
Snipping Tool alternatives for Linux
About Snipping Tool alternatives
Before you switch
Learning Center
1:16Lock-in and exit costs: check how you leave before you commitLearn what lock-in is, run an export test on real data, compare open formats and local versus hosted storage, and plan an exit with your EU data rights in mind.
1:20How to run a software trial that tells you somethingRun a software trial that answers your question. Set criteria first, use real files, test import, export and sharing, then decide before the end date.
