Best Screenshot Software: Mac, Windows, Chrome & More [2024]

By
Agnee Ghosh
June 30, 2022
13
min read
Updated
March 18, 2024
Photo credit
Discover the best screenshot software for Mac, Windows, Chrome & more in 2024. Quickly capture, edit and annotate with these top-rated screenshot tools.
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Introduction

Screenshots are becoming increasingly useful (and necessary) in our daily lives, whether we’re showing someone how something is done, asking our own questions, or just sharing what we’ve found.  

Every system has the “Print Screen” option in some keystroke, but that still comes with drawbacks. When you use the print-screen option to take a picture, adding text, arrows and highlighters to the captured image can be tiresome.

Imagine you could edit, annotate, organize and save all of your screenshots in a single tool, then quickly upload them to collaborative apps such as Slack or Trello. 

That might be a dream come true, right?

In this article, you'll find a list of the top screenshot applications to help you screenshots on any platform, including Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and more.

TL;DR: Best screenshot software

  1. Scribe
  2. Lightshot
  3. Greenshot
  4. Markup Hero
  5. Zight
  6. Droplr
  7. Snagit
  8. ScreenPal
  9. Camtasia
  10. Skitch

The 10 best screenshot software in 2024

Say goodbye to the era of spending hours editing a screenshot in Paint or Canva. Now, you can take perfect screenshots with the help of customizable screengrab tools.

Here are the top ten screenshot software that simplify the whole process of taking screenshots for different systems. 

1.‎ Scribe

Used for: Chrome, Edge and Desktop

G2 rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

Pricing:

  • Free basic plan.
  • Pro Plan Personal: $23/seat/month.
  • Pro Plan Team: $12/seat/month (5 seat minimum).

It's easy to use Scribe, a screenshot Chrome extension or desktop app that allows you to create step-by-step guides with just one click. 

Simply click "Start Capture," and Scribe will start capturing your process. Once you’re done, you’ll get a finished guide, complete with annotated screenshots and text. Instantly share via link or embed in any knowledge base. 

Make the most of your screen capture with easily edited and updated screenshots. Easily customize your Scribe to create visual SOPs, training manuals and other documents for free. 

Scribes are made in real time based on your clicks and keystrokes. Save hours developing manual documentation and train your teammates in minutes. Scribe makes your screenshots work for you! 

Scribe features:

  • Modify and annotate screen captures with markups and image editing tools. 
  • Compatible with Windows, Mac and any browser.
  • User-friendly drag-and-drop interface.
  • Support various languages. 
  • Create and share engaging step-by-step guides with one click.
  • Combine Scribes in Pages process docs and add more images, text and video. 
  • Save and download individual screenshots and complete Scribes. 
  • Tons of useful editing and customization functionalities (Scribe Pro).
  • Combine Scribes to create different types of detailed documentation.
  • Pre-built page templates.

2.‎ Lightshot 

Home page of Lightshot - best screenshot software

Used for: Windows app, Chrome extension, Mac, Mozilla Firefox browser, IE, and Opera.

G2 rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

Capterra rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

Pricing: Free

Lightshot is an efficient and quick screen capture tool that operates directly from the top menu of your computer. It allows you to change a screenshot whenever you hit the Print Screen button on your keyboard.

In Lightshot, if you press the PrtScn button, a translucent overlay will appear over your screen and the cropping tools.

The image may be resized and moved around. This program is perfect for storing important information from their displays, such as students, employees or independent contractors.

Lightshot features:

  • Share links to screenshots on the internet. 
  • View the screenshot history.
  • Edit and save a capture to the computer. 
  • Upload onto the web. 

💡 Related resource: Free snipping tools for Mac

3.‎ Greenshot

Home page of Greenshot - best screenshot software

Used for: Mac, Windows App and Mozilla Firefox

G2 rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

Capterra rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

Pricing:

  • Free or $1.99 in the App Store.

This free and open-source screenshot tool is lightning-fast, small and easy to use. In addition, it's open-source, so you can use whatever number of plugins you like.

While you're browsing the web, take screenshots of the current page as you browse with Greenshot's full screen and window modes. A variety of file types are available for storing and modifying collected photos.

Annotated snips can be saved to a clipboard, printed, emailed or posted to photo-sharing sites or Microsoft Office programs. As a free alternative to Windows Snipping Tool, Greenshot has better markups and integrations. 

Greenshot features:

  • Integrated picture editor with arrows, text, sketching and the ability to manipulate images.
  • Captured photographs are printed, emailed and saved to the clipboard.
  • Memory utility preserves photos that have been captured in the past.
  • Plugins for the services Jira, Box, Imgur, and Microsoft Office.
  • Greenshot provides several modes for taking screenshots.
  • Multiple languages are supported.

📌 Related resource:10 Best Windows Steps Recorder Alternatives

4.‎ Markup Hero

Home page of Markup Hero - best screenshot software
(Source: Markup Hero)

Used for: Mac, Windows, Linux and Chromebook

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Capterra rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

Pricing:

  • Free for 30 markups.
  • $4/month for unlimited markups.

Make use of Markup Hero, a screenshot and an annotation app. Markup Hero is especially suitable if you don't want to install anything. 

It's made to make it easier to organize your thoughts, express yourself more effectively and save time.

The web-based editor has a few unique advantages. It’s possible to annotate with different colored arrows, arrows, lines, rectangles and ovals. You may also use a highlighter or a pen and adjust line thickness. 

Text, arrows, lines, shapes, blurs, pens and highlighters are some annotation tools available. Change colors, flip or rotate images, and add more pages or information as needed. 

The program allows you to copy and paste your markup comments into other apps and store your work locally and in the cloud.

Markup Hero features:

  • The capacity to record thoughts and share them with others using the app's built-in picture and PDF uploader.
  • A method for annotating PDFs, images and web pages with notes and comments.
  • Easy access to all of your notes and markups with just one click.
  • A robust library feature that enables you to add titles to screenshots, build collections, view your image history and manage your privacy settings, among other things.

‎5.‎ Zight

Zight - best screenshot software

Used for: Mac, Windows, and Linux

G2 rating: 4.7 out of 5

Capterra rating: 4.6 out of 5

Pricing:

  • Free individual plan.
  • Pro: $9.95 per month. 

Use the Zight (formerly CloudApp) Screenshot App to record and modify screenshots on the go.

The editor allows you to work with a single window, entire screen or even a specific area of your PC. The screenshot annotation tool lets you add text, emojis, arrows and other objects to your image. 

Once you've completed working on an image, quickly share it. You can edit a screenshot and send it to Slack via Slack integrations. You can also share files with Google Docs, Jira, Trello and Zendesk. 

You can also manage who has access to your screenshots and when they expire by using the "privacy and expiration" option.

Zight features:

  • Send screenshots using platforms like Google Docs and Slack.
  • Record high-definition video from your screen or create recordings with your camera.
  • Restrict who can view your screenshots and when they will be deleted.
  • Annotate images with text, arrows, emoticons and forms.

6.‎ Droplr

Home page of Droplr - best screenshot software

Used for: Mac and Windows

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

Capterra rating: 4.5 out of 5

Pricing:

  • Pro Plus: $6 per month (billed annually).
  • Team: $7 per user/month (billed annually).

Droplr is a comprehensive solution that offers cutting-edge features, integrations and full-scale protection all in one convenient package.

This software is ideal for people, organizations and corporations who regularly take screenshots and screen recordings. Everything is kept on the cloud; you can share a link to the cloud storage with anybody, regardless of location. 

It will upload the image to your Droplr cloud account and provide a short URL that you can use to share the file with anyone, anywhere, after you capture a screenshot. You may use email, Slack, or one of the many integrations, such as Google Docs, Jira, or Photoshop.

You can view screenshots from your dashboard, drop statistics, privacy settings, and more. Using the Droplr dashboard, you can browse, organize and manage all your uploaded files from one area. Using boards and tags, users can keep track of their files.

Droplr features:

  • Allows you to add text and highlight certain parts of your screenshots with Droplr's screenshot editor. Add circles, arrows, lines, and other forms to your photographs with the Shapes tool.
  • To snap a full-page screenshot of your current tab, you may use Droplr's Chrome Extension for Google. As a result, the software will automatically scroll and scan the whole web page to take a screenshot of the entire thing.
  • A program for Mac and Windows and an extension for Google Chrome make Droplr accessible to users on any platform. Droplr has mobile applications for both iOS and Android devices. Droplr is the go-to solution for those who utilize a variety of machines and operating systems.
  • Using Droplr's built-in screenshot blur feature, users may remove sensitive information from their screenshots. Clients and coworkers will appreciate this function when it's used to share documents or files.

7.‎ Snagit

Home page of Snagit - best screenshot software
(Source: Snagit)

Used for: Mac and Windows

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

Capterra rating: 4.7 out of 5

Pricing:

  • One-time fee of $62.99

Snagit lets you take screenshots of the whole process rather than just the current screen.

TechSmith's Snagit screen-capture program includes many complex capabilities and editing tools. While browsing, you may take screenshots of complete conversation histories or wide-angle views. Almost every screen capture demand may be met by modifying photos, trimming video clips and annotating text.

It can also be used to make GIFs, annotate photos, and change the size of images

Finished projects may be sent to several destinations, including Gmail, Twitter, Word, and PowerPoint in TechSmith's Screencast (for archiving) and Camtasia (for advanced video editing).

Snagit features:

  • Images may be edited in terms of size, special effects, and so on.
  • It contains a preview window that displays a zoomed image of the portion of the screen over which the pointer is now hovering.
  • Snagit is compatible with both the Windows and Mac operating systems.
  • Snagit is available in other languages, including Japanese, Korean, German, and English.
  • It may also be used to capture a video of the screen, which can then be quickly sent through email or shared on the internet.
  • It takes a snapshot of the entire page while scrolling and catches both the vertical and horizontal scrolling.

8‎. ‎ScreenPal

ScreenPal - best screenshot software
(Source: ScreenPal)

Used for: Mac and Windows

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

Capterra rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Pricing:

  • Free recording plan available.
  • $3/month for the Solo Deluxe Plan that includes a sophisticated recorder and video editing (billed annually).

ScreenPal (formerly Screencast-O-Matic) is a free screen-capture application that allows you to take screenshots and record up to 15 minutes of video from the screen or camera of your computer (or both simultaneously). No money will be spent if that's all you require. A slew of extra features are available with the Deluxe ($3 per month billed annually) and Premier ($6 per month billed annually) subscriptions.

For those who want the most advanced features, the Deluxe tier includes drawing and zooming tools and the ability to record computer sounds and use a green-screen filter. It also removes the time limit on recording and enables video-editing options.

Deluxe is enhanced by including a stock picture collection, secure data backups, facilities for sharing and collaborating, and a customized, ad-free site.

ScreenPal features:

  • With ScreenPal, you may also receive ad-free cloud hosting, limitless text and image editing tools, clip customization, screenshots, and picture editing capabilities.
  • Business users will appreciate how well it integrates with popular sharing and collaboration platforms.
  • Your WebCam may be added and resized to fit your video, and you can also add narration, stock music, subtitles, and the ability to cut recordings at the beginning and conclusion of your recording session using Screencast-o-Matic.
  • With Screencast-o-Matic, you may save your recordings with just a single click. Screencast-o-Matic or YouTube may be accessed by clicking a button when the recording is complete.

9.‎ Camtasia

Home page of Camtasia - best screenshot software
(Source: Camtasia)

Used for: Mac and Windows

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

Capterra rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

Pricing:

  • Individual subscription: $179.88 (billed annually).
  • Perpetual license: $299

TechSmith's Camtasia performs well on computers running macOS and Windows. Screencasting inside the application itself or via a recording plugin are the two methods to use to produce and record video demonstrations and presentations.

Virtually anyone can create a professional video with little to no prior expertise. Recording your screen, modifying it with effects, and adding music can bring your finished product to completion. The user interface is straightforward and intuitive, making it all a breeze.

It even comes with a mobile app, allowing you to rapidly import videos and other media from your phone into the software without hassle.

Camtasia features:

  • The uncomplicated drag-and-drop feature makes it very easy to apply a variety of effects to recordings.
  • Access to its extensive music and sound effects library that does not require paying royalties.
  • Enhanced recordings with titles, notes, zoom-ins, zoom-outs, and animations.
  • Camtasia allows you to import PowerPoint Slides.

10‎. Skitch 

Skitch - Best screenshot software
(Source: Skitch)

Used for: Mac and Windows

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Capterra rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Pricing: Free

As an Evernote product, Skitch allows users to take and annotate screenshots with additional text, photos, or notes. Use an existing image or capture a new one directly in the tool. 

If you're working on a design project with others, Skitch is a terrific solution.

With it, you can take high-quality pictures of your computer screen for free. Users may add text and other effects to new or old photographs using the app's powerful annotation capabilities. This program is a must-have for anybody looking to work on more complex design projects.

You don't even need to open the image in your preferred image editor to crop.

Skitch doesn't require you to be an Evernote user, but you will need an Evernote account to access the cloud storage and syncing features.

Skitch features:

  • The best tool available for designers who have extensive annotating skills.
  • It is well-known for its grandfathered status.
  • Stamps are a new feature in the editor that we haven't seen before. You can directly edit the screenshot by adding question marks or even a REJECTED stamp.
  • Saves notes to your Evernote account thanks to its integration with Evernote.
  • PNG, JPEG, TIFF, GIF, BMP and PDF file types are all supported.

Screenshot software FAQs

What is the best free screenshot tool?

Web, Windows, and Mac users can choose from a wide range of free screen capture applications. We recommend Scribe if you want to save money while still getting all the necessary functionality.

Step-by-step instructions in Scribe help you get the most out of your screenshots. Scribe develops a process document that includes text and screenshots in a few seconds. Generate visual SOPs, training manuals and other documents for free. 

What is the best way to take a high-resolution screenshot?

When you’re planning to take a screenshot, the resolution of your monitor is one of the most significant aspects to consider. The quality of the screenshots will improve in direct proportion to the display resolution. Control Panel > Display Settings is where you'll find the option to increase your resolution.

What is the Windows shortcut key for taking screenshots?

Taking a screenshot of your entire screen is as simple as pressing the Print Screen key on your keyboard (PrtScn) or CTRL + PrtScn on your keyboard. ALT + PrtScn takes a screenshot of your current window. Open an image editing program and paste the screenshot into it after you've captured it.

Choose the right screenshot software for your specific needs

Screenshot tools come equipped with a wide range of valuable features. You can add effects and text to your screenshots, as well as distribute them across a variety of platforms.

A good screenshot tool is essential for anyone who frequently needs to take screenshots or record screens. Find out if the UI is simple to use, the functionality is apparent and if it accomplishes its stated purpose. A clear idea of what you need can help you make an informed decision. 

Even the premium tools on the list provide free plans or trial periods, allowing you to test them before committing to a purchase.

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