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Utilities
CleanShot X
“macOS screenshots pushed to the extreme: annotate, record, share in seconds.”
From Included in Setapp (~€9.99/month)Try CleanShot X
Quick summary
Ideal forDevelopers, content creators and designers who take frequent screenshots on macOS
Use caseScreenshots, annotation, video recording, instant sharing
StrengthReplaces 4 to 5 tools in one (capture, annotation, gif, video, cloud) and does it better
WeaknessPaid, no free plan or full trial version
CleanShot X is the best macOS app in its category. No hyperbole, every feature is well thought out. It is one of the few apps that justifies its price immediately.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Scrolling capture: screenshot a whole page even without scrolling
- One-click annotation: arrows, text, blurs, numbers directly on the capture
- Video and GIF recording of any area of the screen
- CleanShot Cloud: instant upload with a shareable link (lien.cleanshot.com/xxx)
- Floating overlay: keep a capture visible on screen while you work
Cons
- Paid, $29 for 1 year of updates, then a renewal for new versions
- macOS only, no Windows version
- Cloud features (CleanShot.com) have limited storage
- Discovery curve, lots of hidden features to explore
Pricing
Recommended
Setapp
~€9.99/month (Setapp subscription)/month
- CleanShot X included in Setapp
- Unlimited updates
- 200+ macOS apps included
- CleanShot Cloud (hosted uploads)
Setapp subscribers who already use the suite
One-time
€29 (one-time)/month
- All CleanShot X features
- 1 year of updates included
- CleanShot Cloud (hosted uploads)
- License for 1 Mac
- Updates after 1 year: renewal ~$29
Developers and creators who do not use Setapp
Main features
Scrolling capture
Capture a whole page or window by scrolling automatically
Document a long web page, a terminal or an interface without manual stitching
Advanced annotation
Arrows, text, highlighting, numbers, blur, pixelation, shapes
Document bugs, create tutorials, annotate designs without Photoshop
Video / GIF recording
Record any area as an MP4 video or an animated GIF
Create feature demos, report visual bugs
CleanShot Cloud
Instant upload of the capture with a short link generated
Share a capture in Slack, email or Notion with 1 shortcut
Floating overlay
Keep a capture visible as an overlay on the screen
Compare a mockup with the implementation in progress, keep a reference visible
Built-in OCR
Extract the text from a screenshot directly
Copy text from an image, a video or a non-selectable window
Comparison with the alternatives
Each alternative has its own page. See all comparisons.
Screenshot (native macOS)
Better at:Free, built into the system, no installation
Worse at:Basic annotations, no scrolling capture, no cloud, no GIF
Native macOS for occasional use. CleanShot X for daily professional use.
Shottr
Better at:Free, lightweight, solid basic features, OCR included
Worse at:Fewer features (no cloud, no video/GIF, less complete annotations)
Shottr if you want free and decent features. CleanShot X if you want the best.
Compatibility
Frequently asked questions
Does CleanShot X replace the macOS capture tool?
Yes, CleanShot X can fully replace Cmd+Shift+4/5 with far superior features.
Is CleanShot X available on Setapp?
Yes, CleanShot X is included in Setapp ($9.99/month for 200+ macOS apps).
Are captures uploaded to CleanShot Cloud private?
By default, links are accessible to anyone who has the URL. A password protection option is available.
Is there a trial version?
No, but there is a money-back guarantee. Available via Setapp with a 1-month free trial.
Final verdict
Value for money: Excellent
“The best-executed screenshot app on macOS. One of the few apps that justifies its price immediately.”
I recommend it toAny developer or content creator on macOS who takes screenshots regularly.
Not suited forWindows users or those who take very occasional screenshots, the native tool is enough.