Side by side
CleanShot X vs Snipping Tool
Both stand on screenshot software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Paid APIMacWeb
CleanShot X combines capture, editing, recording, OCR, and cloud collaboration tools for macOS. The listed Basic price is $35 a month, and the app requires macOS 13.0 or newer.
Visit CleanShot X Free plan Windows
Snipping Tool covers image and video capture, annotation, and local OCR in a free Windows utility. Its main stated limitation is the lack of scrolling capture; the two named extra features are identified as Copilot+ PC features.
Visit Snipping ToolThe facts
| CleanShot X | Snipping Tool | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Mac, Web | Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | CleanShot Pro: $120 per user a year | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Snipping Tool |
| Website | cleanshot.com | microsoft.com |
| On screenshot software | #32 of 39 | #28 of 39 |
CleanShot X: what it does well
- Captures scrolling content in both directions.
- Recordings can be exported as MP4 H.264 or GIF.
- On-device OCR supports over 30 languages and QR codes.
- Cloud links can be password-protected.
- Cloud data is encrypted at rest and in transit.
What to know first
- Requires macOS 13.0 or newer.
- There is no free plan or trial.
- Basic includes 1 GB of cloud storage.
- Basic includes one year of updates; renewal is optional at $19 per year.
Snipping Tool: what it does well
- Four image capture modes plus video snips
- OCR can copy text and redact contact details
- Microsoft says text recognition happens locally
- Automatic saving with folder and behavior settings
- Free and available with Windows
What to know first
- Does not support scrolling capture
- Perfect screenshot and Color picker are Copilot+ PC features
- Video editing opens in Clipchamp
Alternatives to CleanShot X Alternatives to Snipping Tool The whole list