No. 18 of 60 ·Screen Capture Software

Spectacle

Linux

Visit site Alternatives

Freedom report

Two barsScore 6.3

Free tierA free tier is on its own pricing page
Open codeNo open-source code on record
Runs widely1 of 6 device platforms
DocumentedPlans, terms and facts published

Spectacle is ranked #18 of 60 in screen capture software on Freedom251. It runs on Linux. There is a free plan.

Spectacle plans and pricing

All plans

Spectacle Free Linux application · GPL-2.0+ apps.kde.org · 4 Oct 2026

Compared on screen capture software

Annotation tools: Yes
Export formats: PNG

Best Spectacle alternatives

See all 20

Two bars ShareX Free tierOpen source No. 1Free7.8 Two bars Gyazo Free tier No. 2Free6.8 Two bars Microsoft Edge Free tier No. 3Free6.8 Two bars Monosnap Free tier No. 4Free6.7 Two bars Awesome Screenshot Free tier No. 5$5/mo6.6 One bar Markup Hero Free tier No. 6Free6.5

The record

Purpose: Spectacle captures desktop screenshots.
Capture targets: It can capture the entire desktop, a single monitor, the active window, the window under the mouse, or a rectangular screen region.
Output: Captured images can be printed, sent to other applications for manipulation, or quickly saved as-is.
Editing: The handbook says screenshots can be annotated before printing, sending to other applications, or saving.
Shortcuts: The listed features include keyboard shortcuts for taking screenshots.
Distribution: The KDE Applications page offers installation on Linux through Discover and other AppStream application stores, and says users can also use their distribution’s package manager.
License: The page lists Spectacle under the GPL-2.0+ license.
Export plugins: The page lists KIPI Plugins as an extension, and the plugin page says they add export features to Gwenview and Spectacle.
Plugin destinations: The KIPI Plugins page says plugins export images to services such as Mediawiki or Facebook or to a local album.
Help: The Spectacle page links to its handbook and KDE community forum for help.
Privacy: KDE’s software privacy policy says KDE software generally does not transfer information from users’ devices except as a result of an explicit user action.
Distributor caveat: KDE’s privacy policy says third-party distributors may modify software so it no longer respects the policy, and recommends checking with the distributor.
Maintainer organization: The Spectacle page identifies KDE as its maker, and KDE e.V. says it represents the KDE Community in legal and financial matters.
Price from: Free

Where it ranks on Freedom251

Best Screen Capture Software in 2026#18 of 60
Best Screenshot Software in 2026#12 of 38

Is Spectacle yours?

Claim it for free: prove the domain, then correct facts, plans and screenshots. An editor reviews every change.

Claim it free Promote Spectacle

Sources

apps.kde.org/spectacle/· checked 4 Oct 2026
docs.kde.org/stable_kf6/en/spectacle/spectacle/index· checked 4 Oct 2026
apps.kde.org/kipi_plugins/· checked 4 Oct 2026
kde.org/privacypolicy-apps/· checked 4 Oct 2026
ev.kde.org· checked 4 Oct 2026