Top 5 macOS Screenshot Apps: Free & Paid Options

Anyone who uses a Mac regularly knows about macOS’s screen capture feature. However, it could improve. Third-party screenshot apps for macOS provide numerous features that you may not have realized you required.

You may be able to make it without purchasing any additional MacOS screenshot apps. It is possible to capture complete screen, selection, and window images with only the keyboard shortcuts, and Preview makes quick work of any editing.

However, if you’re looking for the best macOS screenshot apps that offer greater options for capture, annotation tools, and sharing.

5 Best macOS Screenshot Apps: Free & Paid Options

1. Skitch

Skitch is the best macOS screenshot app for MacBook and for the right reason. It comes with all the features we’ll need.

Skitch allows you to take pictures of a specified section (with or without the option of a timer) or of the entire view, of the windows or menus that are specific to it. It even has a “camera” mode, which allows you to take selfies using your webcam.

Once you’ve got the perfect picture, Skitch will let you decorate it by using a variety of editing tools. These include the arrows, lines, form highlights, callouts, and pixelation to hide personal details. Then, you can save your final image in one of the eight formats.

With this MacOS screenshot app, you can also send your photos through AirDrop, Notes, FTP, or the social networks you use. Furthermore, because Skitch works as an Evernote service, you can log in to your Evernote account to save images there.

Pros

• Free and easy to use
• Supports screen, window, and selection capture
• Excellent annotation tools (arrows, shapes, highlights, pixelation)
• Evernote integration for storage and organization
• Multiple sharing options (AirDrop, Notes, social platforms)

Cons

• No screen recording feature
• Limited advanced capture options
• Updates are less frequent compared to newer apps

Also read: Snipping Tool Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It

2. Monosnap

It’s hard to put Monosnap as a second choice because it has many things to offer, so much so that it could be more than an equal tie.

Monosnap does not have the same robust options to capture as Skitch. It only gives you the option of snapping an entire screen. However, it does add some enhancements, including the ability to capture full-screen images with a timer or automatically upload selection captures to FTP and cloud-based storage.

This MacOS screenshot app also comes with an option to take selfies and the capability to make screen recordings.

This isn’t bad for a free MacOS screenshot app. But where it really excels lies in its editing department. Like Skitch, you can play around with your snaps by adding text lines, arrows, or cropping. You can also reveal sensitive or redactable information. You can also open your photos in Preview by pressing an icon.

Furthermore, you can change the name of your images (which is a nice option for those who like to organize their photos) before saving them in JPG or PNG. JPG.

Pros

• Free version available
• Screen capture and screen recording support
• Built-in editing tools (text, arrows, blur)
• Cloud and FTP upload options
• File renaming before saving

Cons

• Advanced features require a paid plan
• Interface feels outdated
• Limited capture modes compared to competitors

3. Clarify

Clarify is a great MacOS screenshot app with a lot to offer. It’s designed to help you create guides for how-to using your screenshots.

If you have taken your screenshots and saved them, you can then add them to your document in the form of “steps. Include your document and each step a title, add a text description, and if you want, annotate with lines, text highlights, forms, and so on.

Then, you can save the entire thing in one patented .clarify file for editing later or export to PDF, Word, or HTML, or simply save one screenshot as a PNG or JPG. You can also share your work through Dropbox, Evernote, or WordPress blog, or using Clarify’s own sharing platform.

It’s not the most conventional, but this MacOS screenshot app will cost you $14.99. But if you have to explain something to a family member or friend, Clarify makes it simple to explain things in a clear, simple way.

Pros

• Ideal for creating how-to guides and documentation
• Allows adding steps, titles, and descriptions
• Strong annotation tools
• Export to PDF, Word, HTML, PNG, and JPG
• Easy sharing via Dropbox, Evernote, and WordPress

Cons

• Paid app ($14.99)
• Not ideal for simple screenshot needs
• Limited updates on newer macOS versions

4. Captur

Captur is a quite simple snipping tool for MacBook, and that’s the thing we love about it. Captur doesn’t have sophisticated editing software or social media integrations like the other apps listed here, but it can capture instantaneously and time-lapse complete screen, select, and window shots.

When you’ve got your screenshot, then you can save it or modify it using Preview.

The goal with Captur is simple. It’s located on the menu bar, giving you a handful of options, in addition to the native Mac screenshot features. You can, for instance, modify the format of your file location, destination, default file name, and even add dates and times to your images. Captur is only slightly more sophisticated than macOS features, but it’s in just the appropriate spots. Therefore, if you don’t want an all-inclusive macOS snipping tool with all the bells and whistles might want to give Captur a try.

Pros

• Lightweight and fast
• Menu-bar access for quick captures
• Supports timed screenshots
• Custom file names, formats, and save locations
• Works seamlessly with Preview

Cons

• No built-in annotation tools
• No cloud sharing options
• Very basic feature set

Also read: Why Is My MacBook So Slow? 10 Tips to Speed Up MacBook

5. Snagit

Snagit offers you nearly everything you’d ever want. It’s not just capable of taking screenshots and applying a vast number of annotations. It can also capture and trim video recordings, create animated GIFs, and take scrolling photos (full-screen shots of things that you have to scroll to view), take panoramic images (for broad horizontal or infinitely scrolling pages), and so on.

Snagit is perhaps the most powerful screenshot app for Mac. So why is it listed at the lowest? Its $49.95 cost (ouch). It’s highly paid for a screenshot application, no matter how powerful it is.

Snagit is available for free up to 14 days. So, depending on the features you need, take a look-you may find it worth the cost.

Pros

• Advanced screenshot and video recording
• Scrolling and panoramic captures
• Animated GIF creation
• Professional-grade editing tools
• Multiple export and sharing options

Cons

• Expensive ($49.95)
• Overkill for casual users
• Uses more system resources
• Best for: Professionals and content creators

Comparison Table: Best Screenshot App for MacOS

Final Words

After examining the best macOS screenshot apps, ranging from feature-rich professional suites to slim, efficient applications, it’s clear there’s no one “best” app that isn’t a one-off winner, but it’s the app that effortlessly fits into your workflow.

FAQs: macOS Screenshot App