About
CleanShot X is the screenshot and recording tool that replaces half a dozen utilities. Capture an area, window or full screen, take scrolling captures of entire pages, record video or GIF with webcam and keystroke overlays, and lift text from anything on screen with OCR. Every capture lands in a quick-access overlay where you can annotate it, pin it as a floating window, or send it to CleanShot Cloud with one keystroke.
The polish is what sets it apart: custom wallpaper backgrounds behind captures, desktop icons hidden automatically while you record, and annotation tools that feel properly native. Made by MTW, the team behind PixelSnap, it costs $35 one-time with a year of updates and 1 GB of cloud storage; Pro with unlimited storage is $10 per user a month billed yearly. CleanShot 5.0 arrived in September 2026.
Alternatives
- Shottr
Pick Shottr if you want scrolling screenshots, OCR and annotation without paying: it is free to use as long as you like, a 2.3 MB download, and runs on macOS 10.15 or later.
- macOS Screenshot
Stay with the built-in Screenshot app if you only need basic captures and screen recordings: press Shift-Command-5 on any Mac running macOS 10.14 or later, with nothing to buy.
At a Glance
- Requires
- macOS 13 Ventura or later
- Price
- Basic $35 one-time, with one year of updates (optional renewal $19 a year) and 1 GB of Cloud; Pro $10 per user a month billed yearly, with unlimited Cloud
- Get It From
- cleanshot.com or Setapp
Curator's Note
“The app everyone screenshots their screenshots with, and it deserves the reputation.”
Theo, Mac Dept.
