Best screen capture apps for Mac
macOS's Cmd + Shift + 5 handles basic screenshots and recordings. These apps add markup, scrolling capture, auto zoom and share links.
Quick answer CleanShot X is the top pick, followed by Shottr and Monosnap.
Top pick
CleanShot X by MTW
Mac screenshot and screen recording app with annotation, scrolling capture and cloud links
- Works on Mac
- Price
- From $10/user/mo or $35 one-time
- Works on
- Mac
- Screenshots
- Yes
- Screen recording
- Yes
- Share links
- Yes
- Camera bubble
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026From $10/user/mo or $35 one-timeGet CleanShot X
Best free option
Shottr by Electric Endeavors LLC
Lightweight Mac screenshot tool with annotation, scrolling capture, OCR and S3 upload
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free plan · $12 one-time
- Works on
- Mac
- Screenshots
- Yes
- Screen recording
- No
- Share links
- Yes
- Camera bubble
- No
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · $12 one-timeTry Shottr free
Monosnap by Monosnap Inc.
Screenshot and screen recording app with its own cloud storage and share links
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $2.50/mo
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, Chrome extension
- Screenshots
- Yes
- Screen recording
- Yes
- Share links
- Yes
- Markup
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $2.50/moTry Monosnap free
Snagit by TechSmith
Screenshot and screen recording tool with markup, scrolling capture and share links
- Works on Mac
- Price
- From $3.25/user/mo
- Works on
- Mac, Windows
- Screenshots
- Yes
- Screen recording
- Yes
- Share links
- Yes
- Camera bubble
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026From $3.25/user/moTry Snagit free
Screenshot by Apple
Built into macOS: screenshots and screen recordings with Shift-Command-5
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free
- Works on
- Mac
- Screenshots
- Yes
- Screen recording
- Yes
- Camera bubble
- No
- Markup
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026FreeTry Screenshot free
Xnapper by Devuap Ltd
Mac screenshot app that auto-balances, adds backgrounds and redacts sensitive info
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $5/mo or $29.99 one-time
- Works on
- Mac, iPhone
- Screenshots
- Yes
- Screen recording
- No
- Share links
- No
- Camera bubble
- No
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $5/mo or $29.99 one-timeTry Xnapper free
OBS Studio by OBS Project
Free, open-source app for screen recording and live streaming with scenes and sources
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, Linux
- Screenshots
- Yes
- Screen recording
- Yes
- Camera bubble
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026FreeTry OBS Studio free
Loom by Atlassian
Records screen and camera as video messages shared by link; part of Atlassian.
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $15/user/mo
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Chrome extension
- Screenshots
- Yes
- Screen recording
- Yes
- Share links
- Yes
- Camera bubble
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $15/user/moTry Loom free
ScreenPal by ScreenPal
Screen recorder, screenshot tool and video editor; formerly Screencast-O-Matic.
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $4/user/mo
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Chrome extension
- Screenshots
- Yes
- Screen recording
- Yes
- Share links
- Yes
- Camera bubble
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $4/user/moTry ScreenPal free
Camtasia by TechSmith
Screen recorder and multitrack video editor for Windows and Mac
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $3.25/user/mo
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, Web
- Screenshots
- Yes
- Screen recording
- Yes
- Share links
- Yes
- Camera bubble
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $3.25/user/moTry Camtasia free
Compare the top picks
| App | Price | Works on | Screenshots | Screen recording | Share links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CleanShot X | From $10/user/mo or $35 one-time | Mac | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shottr | Free plan · $12 one-time | Mac | Yes | No | Yes |
| Monosnap | Free plan · paid from $2.50/mo | Mac, Windows, Chrome extension | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Snagit | From $3.25/user/mo | Mac, Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Screenshot | Free | Mac | Yes | Yes | – |
| Xnapper | Free plan · paid from $5/mo or $29.99 one-time | Mac, iPhone | Yes | No | No |
| OBS Studio | Free | Mac, Windows, Linux | Yes | Yes | – |
| Loom | Free plan · paid from $15/user/mo | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Chrome extension | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ScreenPal | Free plan · paid from $4/user/mo | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Chrome extension | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Camtasia | Free plan · paid from $3.25/user/mo | Mac, Windows, Web | Yes | Yes | Yes |
How we picked
We compared 18 screen capture apps and kept the 16 that fit this guide. We don't test apps ourselves: features and prices come from each app's own site, and the order follows what independent reviewers recommend. No app pays to be listed or placed higher, and whether an app pays us a commission never changes its place.
Questions
How are these apps ranked?
Apps that independent "best of" roundups recommend come first, the most often recommended at the top; the rest follow with the best-known first. Every app listed meets this guide's needs.
Are these links sponsored?
Links to apps whose affiliate programs have approved Build Your Toolkit are affiliate links, marked as such, so we may earn a commission if you sign up for a paid plan. It doesn't change what you pay, and no app pays to be listed or placed higher.
Where do the prices come from?
From each app's own pricing page, on the date shown next to the price. Prices for screen capture apps change often, so check the vendor's page before you buy.