# Shottr vs Flameshot Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Shottr is the top pick for most Mac users looking at Screenshot tools. It is free and open-source and installs in one Homebrew command. Flameshot is the stronger choice if you are moving off Snagit. As of October 2026, both install with brew install --cask shottr and brew install --cask flameshot. For most Mac users in 2026, Shottr is the better choice for Screenshot tools because it ranks higher in Homebrew install popularity (#43). Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Flameshot instead if you are moving off Snagit. ## Head to head | Factor | Shottr | Flameshot | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Free | | Open Source | Yes | Yes | | Replaces | CleanShot X ($29) | Snagit ($63) | | Best for | screenshot, annotation, design | screenshot, annotation, capture | | Install | brew install --cask shottr | brew install --cask flameshot | | Category | System Utilities | System Utilities | ## Shottr Screenshot measurement and annotation tool Install: `brew install --cask shottr` [Shottr on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/shottr) ## Flameshot Powerful screenshot software Install: `brew install --cask flameshot` [Flameshot on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/flameshot) ## Features - **Platform Philosophy.** macOS-native craft (Shottr) vs cross-platform parity (Flameshot), pick where you spend hours. - **Capture Modes.** Shottr's scrolling capture alone decides many Mac tutorial workflows. - **Annotation & Redaction.** Both annotate well, Shottr edges detail polish, Flameshot edges breadth and configurability. - **Pixel Inspection & Color Work.** Shottr is the pixel tool; Flameshot is the annotation tool. - **OCR & Text Extraction.** Shottr's OCR removes a manual transcription step. - **CLI & Automation.** Flameshot is the scripting/automation winner, especially across OSes. - **Share & Upload.** Flameshot's upload pipeline wins for async sharing. - **Pricing & Licensing (2026).** Both are effectively US$0; Shottr's US$8 is optional and one-time. - **Maintenance & Platform Fit (Tahoe / Apple Silicon).** For macOS specifically, Shottr's maintenance cadence is more Tahoe-confident. ## FAQ ### Which versions should I install today? Shottr via shottr.cc/Homebrew (Swift-native 1.x track, Tahoe-notarized) and Flameshot from GitHub Releases/Homebrew (v12.1.0 era tracked into 2025-2026). Both are Apple Silicon-compatible; verify notarization after a Tahoe major upgrade. ### Is Shottr really free? Is Flameshot really free? Shottr's core is free, download and capture/annotation with no trial, with an optional one-time ~US$8 Pro unlock. Flameshot is GPL-3.0 free on all platforms with no paid SKU. Both are US$0 to start in August 2026. ### Does Shottr have scrolling screenshots? Yes, Shottr's native scrolling capture stitches tall web pages and Figma canvases automatically, a headliner versus Flameshot which requires manual stitching on macOS. ### Can Flameshot upload captures automatically? Yes, Flameshot's configurable upload (Imgur, custom URLs) and CLI save paths make a one-command 'capture → upload → copy URL' flow that Shottr does not bundle natively. ### Which is better for color-accurate work? Shottr. Its loupe with live HEX/RGB/HSB plus rulers is built for pixel audits. Flameshot offers a color picker during annotation but not a persistent inspection overlay. ### Do these tools support macOS Tahoe 26.x? Shottr ships Swift-native Tahoe-notarized builds and tracks macOS releases closely. Flameshot's macOS port runs on Tahoe via Homebrew but has periodic notarization/virtual-desktop capture reports, test on your hardware after upgrading. ### Can I run both at once? You can, but coordinate hotkeys and Screen Recording grants, both register global capture overlays that can fight if bound to the same shortcut. ### Which is better for cross-platform teams? Flameshot. One GPL tool with one config/CLI across Linux/Windows/macOS beats maintaining Shottr (Mac-only) plus a second tool elsewhere. ### Does Shottr have OCR? Yes, Shottr includes on-device OCR for extracting text from captured regions, useful for docs and accessibility. Flameshot has no built-in OCR. ### Did pricing change since early 2026? No material change: Shottr remained free-core with optional ~US$8 one-time Pro, and Flameshot stayed GPL free with no premium tier. Always verify shottr.cc and GitHub before paying. ### Shottr or Flameshot: which should I install on a Mac? Install Shottr if you only use macOS and care about scrolling screenshots, OCR, loupe colour tools, and native feel. Install Flameshot if you need the same free GPL tool on Linux or Windows too, or you rely on CLI capture and upload scripts. ### Is Shottr free in 2026? Yes. Shottr can be used free for as long as you want. Most features work for free users; the app may ask you to pay what you want occasionally. Activated licenses remove prompts and unlock a better overall experience including some upload paths. ### Does Flameshot work well on macOS Tahoe? It runs on Apple Silicon via Homebrew and GitHub builds, but the Mac port still trails Linux in polish. Check Screen Recording permission after upgrades and watch for virtual-desktop capture quirks reported by users. ### Which is better for scrolling screenshots? Shottr. Native scrolling capture stitches long pages and tall canvases. Flameshot on macOS does not match that headliner; you stitch manually or capture in sections. ### Shottr vs Flameshot vs CleanShot X? Shottr is the free-to-start Mac craft tool. Flameshot is the free GPL cross-platform tool. CleanShot X is a paid Mac suite with broader commercial features such as recording workflows. Choose CleanShot when budget allows and you need that wider suite; choose Shottr or Flameshot when free or near-free is the constraint. ### Can Shottr upload images to my own storage? Yes on modern 1.9.x builds: S3-compatible upload is part of the product direction, and upload-to-link style features may require activation. Flameshot still wins simple Imgur/custom URL CLI pipelines without a Mac license model. ## Sources - [Shottr official site (pricing & features)](https://shottr.cc/) - [Homebrew cask: shottr](https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/shottr) - [Shottr, AlternativeTo overview](https://alternativeto.net/software/shottr/about/) - [Flameshot official site](https://flameshot.org/) - [Flameshot GitHub releases (v12.1.0 line)](https://github.com/flameshot-org/flameshot/releases) - [Homebrew formula: flameshot](https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/flameshot) - [Flameshot macOS port issues (notarization/virtual-desktop context)](https://github.com/flameshot-org/flameshot/issues/1925) ## Related - [Shottr vs CleanShot X](https://bundl.run/compare/shottr-vs-cleanshot) - [CleanShot X vs Flameshot](https://bundl.run/compare/cleanshot-vs-flameshot) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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