Free Alternative to Snagit

Shottr is the closest Mac alternative to Snagit's screenshot capabilities and the go-to choice for designers and developers working on Apple Silicon. At just 2.3MB, this incredibly lightweight app captures screenshots in a blazing 17ms and displays them in approximately 165ms, making it feel instantaneous. The feature set rivals premium screenshot tools: scrolling capture for long web pages and chat conversations, OCR text recognition with support for QR codes, pixel-perfect measurements with rulers, color picker for extracting exact hex values, and fast annotation tools including arrows, shapes, text, and smart pixelation.

Shottr also includes text-aware redaction that automatically detects and blurs sensitive information, beautiful gradient backgrounds with customizable shadows, and the ability to pin screenshots as floating windows for reference. Most features are completely free; only advanced capabilities like cloud upload and some premium effects require a one-time $12 payment. The developer actively maintains the app with regular updates, and the performance on M1/M2/M3 chips is unmatched. For Mac users leaving Snagit, Shottr provides the most seamless transition with a familiar feature set and superior speed.

ShareX is what Snagit would be if it were free, open-source, and designed by power users for power users. This Windows-exclusive tool handles every capture type imaginable: region selection, full screen, active window, scrolling capture, webpage capture, OCR text extraction, screen recording, and even animated GIF creation. The annotation editor rivals paid tools with support for shapes, arrows, text, blur effects, and custom watermarking.

With native integration for over 80 upload destinations including Imgur, Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, and custom FTP servers, ShareX can automatically upload and share screenshots the moment you capture them. The real power lies in workflow automation: create custom hotkeys, set up after-capture tasks like OCR or watermarking, configure automatic file naming and organization, and chain multiple actions together. ShareX uses FFmpeg for high-quality screen recording with audio, supports color picker and ruler tools, includes a QR code generator, and even has a built-in image editor.

While the interface can feel overwhelming initially, the extensive customization options make it the ultimate screenshot tool for Windows. Completely free and open-source with no premium tiers, ShareX has no equal on Windows.

CleanShot X is a premium screenshot tool exclusively for macOS that offers a polished, feature-rich alternative to Snagit with a one-time purchase model of just $29 instead of Snagit's $39/year subscription. This lightweight app provides an exceptional user experience with features like Quick Access Overlay for instant access to all tools, scrolling capture that automatically stitches long pages together, screen recording with annotation overlay in real-time, and smart background blur that automatically hides desktop clutter. CleanShot X excels at annotation with a full suite of tools including arrows, text, shapes, blur, and highlighting.

The built-in cloud sharing provides instant shareable links, and the app integrates seamlessly with macOS features like Touch Bar support and native shortcuts. CleanShot X also offers self-destructing screenshots, GIF creation from recordings, and the ability to pin screenshots as floating windows. Optional Cloud Pro plans provide additional storage and sharing features, but the base $29 one-time purchase unlocks all core functionality. For Mac users who want a premium experience without subscription fatigue, CleanShot X hits the sweet spot between free tools and expensive subscriptions.

Press Cmd+Shift+5 on any modern Mac running macOS Mojave (10.14) or later and you get a surprisingly capable capture toolbar that handles basic screenshot and recording needs without installing any third-party software. The interface provides options to capture the entire screen, a specific window, or a custom selection area. You can also record video of the entire screen or a selected portion, with options to include microphone audio for narration.

The timed capture option gives you 5 or 10 seconds to set up your screen before the capture occurs. After capturing, click the thumbnail preview in the corner to open Markup, where you can quickly annotate with arrows, shapes, text, sketches, and signature tools. The built-in tools also support magnification, highlighting, and text insertion.

Screenshots can be immediately saved to Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, or Messages, with customizable default locations. For basic screenshot needs like documenting bugs, creating tutorials, or sharing information, the macOS built-in tools handle 80% of use cases without the overhead of third-party apps. While lacking advanced features like scrolling capture and OCR, the native integration and zero-friction access make this the first option to try before installing anything else.

Flameshot is a cross-platform, open-source screenshot tool that focuses on powerful annotation capabilities and works seamlessly across Mac, Windows, and Linux. Unlike platform-specific tools, Flameshot provides a consistent experience regardless of operating system, making it ideal for users who work across multiple platforms or teams with mixed environments. Capture your screen and immediately enter annotation mode where you can draw arrows, add rectangles, insert text, blur sensitive areas, highlight important sections, or add numbered markers for step-by-step instructions.

The interface is fully customizable with configurable hotkeys, adjustable colors and fonts, and the ability to show or hide specific tools. Flameshot uploads directly to Imgur with a single click, generating a shareable link instantly. You can also pin screenshots as floating windows for reference while working.

The app supports export to PNG, JPG, and PDF formats. Being open-source means the community actively contributes features and bug fixes, and you have complete transparency about what the software does with your data. For privacy-conscious users who prefer open-source software or anyone working in a multi-platform environment, Flameshot delivers robust annotation tools without platform lock-in.

Monosnap combines screenshot capture, screen recording, and cloud sharing in one cohesive free package, making it ideal for users who frequently share visual content with colleagues or clients. The tool provides comprehensive annotation features including text, arrows, shapes, numbering, and blur effects to redact sensitive information. What sets Monosnap apart is the included 2GB of free cloud storage, allowing you to capture, annotate, and instantly generate a shareable link in seconds without relying on third-party services.

Beyond basic cloud storage, Monosnap integrates with popular services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Amazon S3 for automatic uploads. Screen recording includes options for microphone audio, system audio, or both, with customizable frame rates and quality settings. The delayed capture feature lets you set up your screen before capturing, perfect for dropdown menus and tooltips.

Monosnap works across Mac, Windows, and even has browser extensions for quick webpage captures. The free tier is designated for non-commercial use, covering most personal, educational, and small team workflows. For users who need occasional screen sharing and want integrated cloud hosting without managing multiple services, Monosnap streamlines the entire workflow.

Skitch, developed by Evernote, is entirely free and focuses on one core strength: making screenshots incredibly easy to annotate for quick visual communication. The interface is deliberately simple and streamlined, allowing you to capture your screen and immediately add giant arrows, text callouts, shapes, stamps, and pixelation in just a few clicks. Skitch excels at casual annotation tasks where speed matters more than precision—think bug reports, quick feedback, or highlighting important information in screenshots.

The tool integrates seamlessly with Evernote for automatic syncing, but works perfectly as a standalone app without requiring an Evernote account. Timed screenshots give you a few seconds to set up your screen, and the export options include 8 different formats including PDF. You can share via AirDrop, email, Messages, or save locally.

While Skitch is an older app with limited recent updates, its simplicity remains its strength. For users who need to quickly mark up screenshots with big, obvious annotations without learning complex tools, Skitch gets out of your way and lets you communicate visually in seconds.

Greenshot is a versatile and lightweight screenshot tool tailored specifically for Windows users, offering a solid free alternative to Snagit with particularly strong integration with Microsoft Office applications. This open-source tool allows you to capture, annotate, and export images effortlessly with various export options including saving to file, printing directly, copying to clipboard, sending via email, or uploading to photo sharing sites. Greenshot's standout feature is its ability to export screenshots directly to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook with a single click, making it invaluable for office workers creating documentation or presentations.

The annotation editor provides essential tools like arrows, text boxes, shapes, highlighting, and obfuscation for privacy. Greenshot supports region capture, window capture, full screen, and even includes OCR capabilities for extracting text from captured images. The tool is highly configurable with custom hotkeys, automatic file naming patterns, and preferred save locations.

While Greenshot technically supports scrolling capture, it only works reliably in Microsoft's deprecated Internet Explorer browser, limiting this feature's usefulness. For Windows users working extensively with Microsoft Office who need a free, lightweight screenshot tool with office integration, Greenshot is an excellent choice.

Kap is a powerful, open-source screen recorder designed specifically for macOS users with an intuitive interface and robust feature set focused on creating crisp, smooth recordings. While not a screenshot tool per se, Kap complements screenshot tools by handling the screen recording aspect that many screenshot-focused apps lack. Kap creates high-quality recordings in various formats including MP4, WebM, APNG, and most notably, optimized GIF files perfect for sharing on social media or embedding in documentation.

The interface is minimalist and unobtrusive, with a simple overlay that lets you select the recording area and start/stop with ease. Kap supports plugin extensions that add features like video trimming, cropping, reverse playback, and upload integration with services like Imgur and Giphy. The export settings provide fine-grained control over quality, frame rate, and file size, allowing you to balance quality against file size constraints.

Recordings can include cursor highlighting to draw attention to specific actions, and the countdown timer gives you a moment to prepare before recording starts. Being open-source means the community actively contributes plugins and improvements, and you have complete transparency about the code. For Mac users who need high-quality screen recordings and GIF creation alongside their screenshot tools, Kap is the premier free option.

ScreenRec is an innovative productivity tool that facilitates quicker communication through on-demand screenshots and screen recordings, designed to minimize resource consumption while enabling users to capture and annotate content efficiently. What makes ScreenRec unique is its Cloud Recording technology that eliminates upload delays by streaming recordings directly to the cloud, providing users with a universal sharing link immediately after capturing content—no waiting for large video files to upload. This instant-link approach makes ScreenRec ideal for remote teams, customer support, and anyone who frequently shares visual explanations.

The tool works across Windows, Linux, and Mac, offering a consistent experience regardless of platform. ScreenRec includes annotation capabilities for marking up screenshots before sharing, and the ability to record unlimited videos for free makes it the best free alternative to Snagit for users who prioritize screen recording and sharing. The free tier has no time limits on recordings and no watermarks, making it genuinely useful without artificial restrictions.

ScreenRec's lightweight design ensures minimal system resource usage, and the automatic cloud upload means you never have to manage large video files locally. For teams doing remote collaboration, customer support, or bug reporting where quick sharing is essential, ScreenRec streamlines the entire capture-to-share workflow.

The Windows Snipping Tool has evolved significantly in Windows 11, transforming from a basic screenshot utility into a capable screen capture and recording tool that rivals third-party alternatives for basic use cases. Press Win+Shift+S to activate the modern Snip & Sketch overlay, which lets you capture rectangular, freeform, window, or full screen selections. Windows 11's version adds screen recording capabilities, allowing you to record a selected area with audio narration.

After capturing, the built-in editor provides annotation tools including pen, highlighter, ruler for straight lines, and text insertion. The delay feature gives you 3 or 10 seconds to set up menus or tooltips before capture. Screenshots automatically save to the Screenshots folder and copy to clipboard, and you can share directly to email or nearby devices.

While lacking advanced features like scrolling capture or OCR, the Snipping Tool's tight integration with Windows makes it the first option to try before installing third-party software. For casual Windows users who occasionally need screenshots and simple markup, the built-in Snipping Tool handles basic needs without additional software installation.

Lightshot is a straightforward, no-nonsense screenshot tool that focuses on simplicity and speed for Windows and Mac users. Press PrtScn (Windows) or a custom hotkey (Mac) to activate the selection overlay, drag to select your capture area, and immediately access basic annotation tools including arrows, lines, text, and highlighting. What makes Lightshot appealing is the one-click upload to prntscr.com, Lightshot's image hosting service, which generates a shareable link instantly.

This streamlined workflow—capture, annotate, share—happens in seconds without managing files or folders. Lightshot also includes a search feature that lets you find similar images online based on your screenshot, useful for reverse image searching or finding higher resolution versions. The tool is lightweight, launches quickly, and stays out of your way until needed.

While lacking advanced features like scrolling capture or screen recording, Lightshot excels at its core purpose: quick screenshots with instant sharing. The desktop client is free with no watermarks or limitations. For users who frequently share screenshots with colleagues or on social media and want the fastest path from capture to shareable link, Lightshot delivers without unnecessary complexity.