The 10 Best Screenshot Apps and Software in 2024 to Instantly Grab Your Screen

Screenshots have been around since the 1960s when engineers and scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology came up with the idea of a new image type that captures a computer screen. Then, students have been using them to capture, annotate, and share lecture notes for self-study at a later time. Social media users have been grabbing comments and images, and then sharing and reposting them.

Screenshots became popular for good reasons. Humans are visual creatures. A picture doesn’t just leave a lasting impression; it often makes communication easier.

That’s true at work, too. While instant messaging apps, video conferencing software, and project management tools have revolutionized the workplace, simple screenshots can transform everyday workflows and team communication as well.

How exactly? And which screenshot apps are the best?

Here, I will examine both. Read on for the 10 best apps to instantly capture your screen. And then get a few best practices to get the most out of your screenshots.

What Is a Screenshot?

A screenshot, sometimes known as a screen grab or screencap, is an image displaying the contents of your device’s display at a given time. By capturing your screen and producing a copy, screenshots preserve what you see exactly as you’re seeing it, which you can either share with others or reference for later use. Screenshots also act as digital evidence that you’re seeing what you actually look at on the screen.

10 Best Screenshot Apps and Software for 2024 (Paid and Free Screenshot Tools)

There are tons of apps for taking screenshots designed to meet different needs. There are both paid and free screenshot capture tools, not to mention every screenshot tool for Windows and Mac as well as everything in between.

To help you find the right screenshot tool for you, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 best screenshot apps to meet your screen-capturing needs.

1. Brosix

Brosix is an all-in-one instant messaging software for businesses, featuring instantaneous screenshots for seamless team collaboration. With Brosix’s screenshot tool, capturing and sharing screenshots is a cinch!

Screenshots can be taken from the Contact List, Text Chat Window, or Chat Room Window and then sent to one or more users via lightning-fast peer-to-peer networks or across any device with the Brosix app via Brosix’s cloud-based option. Just click the Screenshot icon under the Actions menu.

Each Brosix Team Network is fully encrypted and features voice and video calling as well as a suite of collaboration and administrative features.

What’s more, Brosix is the only app on this list available across all your favorite platforms, making it one of the best not just for screenshots but for total team efficiency and productivity.

“The ease of capturing, annotating, and sharing screenshots has notably enhanced our team’s efficiency and our ability to respond quickly to client needs.
Brosix’s combination of these specific features, along with its integration into our overall communication workflow, has made it the superior choice for our needs in the fintech and compliance industry.” — Liudas Kanapienis, CEO, Ondato

Best features:

• Zoom, crop, and annotate screenshots
• Save screenshots locally, print them, or forward them to other contacts
• Share screenshots in chat rooms or send them to offline contacts
• Enable and disable screenshots on a user or team basis
• Manage user- or team-based contact lists, shared communication spaces, and user activity
• Share your screen and remote desktop access, send unlimited files, launch whiteboard presentations, and more

Brosix pricing: Unlimited collaboration, including taking screenshots, for $4 per user/month; Full network control and customization for $6 per user/month; Free Team Network for up to 3 users

Pros and cons

Brosix Pros	Brosix Cons
Offers features like zoom, crop, highlighter, and annotation arrow	Doesn’t allow you to capture scrolling screenshots
Lets you capture full-screen screenshots with just a few clicks	Lacks screen-recording options
Enhances collaboration by allowing team members to easily share and annotate screenshots

Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Web

User ratings:

• Trustpilot 4.3 (Stars) from 14 people
• Capterra 4.6 (Stars) from 71 people
• G2 4.7 (Stars) from 44 people

2. Screenrec

Screenrec is a free screenshot app that combines a screen recorder and a screenshot tool. Screenrec offers basic annotation tools, quick link-sharing capabilities, and an intuitive interface that makes snapping screenshots a breeze. Just press the shortcut Alt+S to select an area and the Photo Camera button to capture the screen. And there’s a bonus: free cloud storage for up to 2 GB, more than enough space to store your Screenrecs.

“Screenrec stands out because it’s incredibly user-friendly and efficient. You can quickly capture images and videos, making it perfect for sharing information without fuss. The instant sharing link feature saves time, letting you communicate immediately without needing to upload or download files.” — Mary Tung, Founder and CEO, Lido.app

Best features:

• One-button start/stop screen recording
• Instant links for easy sharing
• Analytics show you who’s watched your screen recordings, when, and for how long
• The ability to tag files in collections

Screenrec pricing: Free

Pros and cons

Screenrec Pros	Screenrec Cons
100% free to use with no watermarks	Limited to 5-minute recordings without logging in
Intuitive and easy-to-use interface with no complicated options	Lacks advanced video editing features compared to dedicated screen recording software
Recorded videos are encrypted and stored securely in the cloud

Available on: Windows, Linux, macOS

User ratings:

• Trustpilot 4.5 (Stars) from 510 people
• Capterra 5.0 (Stars) from 5 people
• G2 4.8 (Stars) from 6 people

3. Snagit

Snagit is screen grab software that lets you not only grab your screen but capture entire processes to up the quality of your screenshots.

From the leader in screencasting software, TechSmith, Snagit is packed with advanced features Take screenshots while scrolling vertically or horizontally, and capture entire chat histories or wide-angle panoramas. Modify images, trim video clips, and annotate text to meet practically any screen-capturing need.

Snagit has plenty of positive user reviews and is often credited as one of the best screenshot tools for Windows.

Best features:

• Capture part of the screen or the whole one, a window, or a scrolling screen
• Record your screen, grab individual frames, and save the file as an MP4
• Personalize screenshots with stamps and animated GIFs
• Edit text with different fonts, colors, and text sizes

“Snagit has streamlined our internal communication significantly. For instance, when our design team needs to give feedback on a new t-shirt design, they can easily capture the screen, annotate the specific areas that need changes, and share it instantly. This visual feedback is much more effective than lengthy email explanations, reducing misunderstandings and speeding up the revision process.” — Michael Nemeroff, Co-Founder and CEO, Rush Order Tees

Snagit pricing: Snagit for $39.00; Snagit + Assets for $88.99; Snagit + Camtasia for $199.00; All prices are with an annual subscription.

Pros and cons

Snagit Pros	Snagit Cons
Simple to use with intuitive annotation tools	Limited video editing options
Ability to take a screenshot of your entire screen, regions, and scrolling windows	Occasional lag when starting the program or making captures
Various sharing options, including cloud integration	More expensive compared to some competitors

Available on: Windows and macOS; TechSmith Capture for iOS

User ratings:

• Capterra 4.7 (Stars) from 470 people
• G2 4.7 (Stars) from 4,796 people

4. Microsoft’s Snipping Tool

If you’re a Windows user, you’ve got a screenshot app for PC right at your fingertips. Snipping Tool is built right into the Windows Operating System. Just click the Start key and type “snipping tool.” From there, deploy the tool’s different modes to capture a variety of snapshots. This easy screenshot tool automatically opens a window after each snip, so you can modify, save, and share the screenshot.

Best features:

• Take free-form, rectangular, window, or full-screen snips
• Mark up screenshots with colored pens, highlighters, and an eraser tool
• Add text and annotations
• Store images in PNG, GIF, JPEG, and HTML format

Snipping tool pricing: Free

Pros and cons

Microsoft snipping tool Pros	Microsoft snipping tool Cons
Simple and user-friendly interface, making it easy for anyone to take a screenshot quickly	Offers basic editing options, such as a pen and highlighter, but lacks the advanced functionality found in other screenshot tools
Provides various snip modes (free-form, rectangular, window, and full-screen) to suit different screenshot needs	Does not support scrolling capture, which can be a limitation when trying to capture long web pages or documents.
As a built-in screenshot application, it does not require any additional installation and integrates seamlessly with the Windows operating system	Lacks OCR (Optical Character Recognition) capabilities, so it cannot extract text from images

Available on: Windows

5. Zight (former CloudApp)

The Zight app is a screenshot program to capture and edit screenshots.

Grab a single window, your entire screen, or even a specific area on your PC, and then tweak the image using the editor. Zight integrates with tons of tools, so you can quickly drag and drop your screen grabs on your favorite platform.

Best features:

• Send screenshots via Google Docs, Slack, Jira, Trello, and more
• Capture HD video on your screen or make webcam recordings
• Privacy and Expiration settings allow you to control access to and the expiration of screenshots
• An annotation tool to add text, arrows, emojis, and shapes

“I use Zight because it is the ideal combination of simplicity and powerful capabilities. Its seamless cloud integration and quick sharing features are unparalleled, making it an indispensable tool in my everyday operations.” — Shawn Plummer, CEO, The Annuity Expert

Zight pricing: Free limited version; Pro plan for $7.95/month, billed annually; Team plan for $8/month, billed annually; a 14-day free trial for Pro and Team plans; Enterprise plan requires contacting the sales team.

Pros and cons

Zight Pros	Zight Cons
Cross-platform support, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Chrome	Rebranding confusion (name change from CloudApp to Zight)
Diverse features, such as GIF creation, image annotation, and file sharing	Lack of advanced features compared to specialized video editing or screen capture software
Integrations with popular tools like Zendesk, Jira, Trello, Slack, and Google Workspace

Available on: Windows, macOS, iOS, Chrome

User ratings:

• Capterra 4.6 (Stars) from 183 people
• G2 4.6 (Stars) from 1,221 people

6. Greenshot

In my opinion, Greenshot is probably the best screenshot software for Windows.
It is open-source screen-capture software. The no-frills screenshot editing tool offers you the core features you would expect of a screen capture tool in an easy-to-configure package. 

Snap screenshots with the prtscn button on your keyboard. Then, use the app’s basic editing tools to touch up the image. Send screenshots directly to a clipboard, email, or printer.

Best features:

• Multiple modes, including Capture region, Capture last region, Capture fullscreen, Capture window, and Capture Internet Explorer.
• With this print screen tool, you can easily crop, annotate, resize, and flip images.

“Greenshot’s simplicity and efficiency make it a top choice for capturing screenshots. Its quick access and easy-to-use features save me a lot of time, which is crucial in a busy work environment.
The ability to annotate directly on screenshots and its seamless integration with various platforms are particularly beneficial. These features allow me to highlight key points and share insights effectively with my team.” — Jessica Bane, Operations Director, GoPromotional

Greenshot pricing: Free for Windows users; $1.99 for macOS users

Pros and cons

Greenshot Pros	Greenshot Cons
Offers a wide range of capture options, including full screen, selected regions, windows, scrolling web pages, and more	The annotation tools, while powerful, may have a learning curve as they are not clearly labeled
Provides a lightweight and easy-to-use interface with customizable hotkeys for efficient screenshot capturing	Limited to screen capturing and basic image editing, lacks advanced features like screen recording
Includes annotation tools to add shapes, arrows, highlights, and text to screenshots for emphasis and clarity	Potential conflicts with existing hotkeys in other applications or Windows OS due to customizable shortcuts

Available on: Windows, macOS

User ratings:

• Trustpilot 3.7 (Stars) from 1 person
• Capterra 4.9 (Stars) from 31 people
• G2 4.8 (Stars) from 160 people

7. Lightshot

Lightshot is one of the best screenshot tools for Mac and Windows. With the editing tool for screenshots, you can modify them instantly while taking them, or later after saving them. Save locally or upload to Lightshot’s servers and get a quick link for sharing, upload to social media, or even search for similar images on the Internet.

Best features:

• Snag screenshots with two clicks
• Add lines, arrows, and text annotations
• Browser plugin for Firefox

“I primarily use Lightshot for taking screenshots due to its user-friendly interface, efficient editing tools, and quick sharing options. The ability to annotate directly on screenshots and share them instantly has significantly streamlined my communication and documentation processes. It helps in resolving issues faster by providing clear visual explanations, which enhances both internal and external collaboration.” — Ila Bandhiya, Senior Digital Marketer, Middleware.io

Lightshot pricing: Free

Pros and cons

Lightshot Pros	Lightshot Cons
Offers a very easy-to-use and lightweight interface for quick screen captures	Lacks many features compared to premium screenshot apps, such as a video capture mode
Provides numerous editing options like adding text, shapes, arrows, and highlights to annotate screenshots	Lacks customization options, which can make the product feel restrictive
Allows directly saving or sharing screenshots to the cloud or social media platforms	Some users report slow loading times

Available on: Windows, macOS, Ubuntu Linux, Firefox, Chrome

User ratings:

• Trustpilot 4.8 (Stars) from 80 people
• Capterra 4.8 (Stars) from 38 people
• G2 4.7 (Stars) from 130 people

8. Screenshot Captor

Screenshot Captor is a lightweight image capture software that doubles as a screenshot editing app. Images can be zoomed up to 999%, while a wide range of features offers you the basic functionality typical of screenshot editing software. These are annotating, cropping, etc., but also high-performance options like blackouts and highlights.

Screenshots can be uploaded to public image hosting programs like Flickr or emailed straight from the editing window. Screenshot Captor is among the best free screenshot software solutions, as long as you’re using Windows. It’s only available for PCs.

Best features:

• Capture screenshots from multiple monitors
• Apply special effects to captured images such as borders, shadow effects, frames, and blurring
• Generate thumbnails automatically
• Import images directly from your scanner

Screenshot Captor pricing: Free

Pros and cons

Screenshot Captor Pros	Screenshot Captor Cons
Offers powerful and flexible screen capture capabilities, allowing you to capture the full screen, selected areas, scrolling windows, and even webcam footage	The interface can be complex and overwhelming for new users, with a steep learning curve
Includes a robust built-in image editor with tools for annotating, highlighting, and enhancing screenshots	The license key system is reported to be convoluted, requiring users to register for a forum account or renew keys periodically
Provides a wide range of customization options, such as hotkeys and automatic file naming	Sound effects might slow the program down

Available on: Windows

9. Screenpresso

Screenpresso is a versatile screenshot application for capturing images, recording videos, and turning them into powerful office documents. Snag a specific region of the screen, scrolling windows, or your entire screen. Screenpresso’s built-in vector editor allows you to mark up your captures, and spotlight regions, as well as add speech bubbles, text boxes, border effects, and more. Manage and maintain all of your capture history in Workspaces.

Best features:

• Create PDF, DOCX, or HTML documents with a document generator
• Record HD-quality video and export lightweight MP4 files, or frames and images
• Drag and drop files, access editing tools, and send screenshots from your Screenpresso Workspace
• Publish screenshots as PDFs or email attachments
• Share your screenshots via online integrations with Google Drive, Evernote, Dropbox, and more

“We love Screenpresso’s “Edit Videos” feature because it helps us create training videos easily. It has options to highlight specific parts of a recorded video, which makes it easy to draw attention to important elements on a page.
We can merge videos seamlessly, which is amazing when creating multi-part tutorials or walkthroughs. It saves us so much time and effort compared to using separate video editing software. We can add annotations so it’s easier to provide visual instructions or feedback to colleagues.” — Gianluca Ferruggia, General Manager, DesignRush

Screenspresso pricing: Free limited version; Pro version for $29.99 per user, paid at once; Enterprise for $2,190 one-time payment for unlimited users

Pros and cons

Screenspresso Pros	Screenspresso Cons
Offers a simple user interface with intuitive tools	The free version has limited functionality compared to the paid desktop version
Allows capturing the full screen, selected areas, and scrolling windows, as well as recording video and audio	The full-page screen capture feature can sometimes struggle to properly scroll and stitch the entire page
Provides a powerful built-in image editor to annotate, highlight, and enhance screenshots	The upgrade process to the paid version is reported to be a bit clunky

Available on: Windows, Chrome

User ratings: Capterra 4.9 (Stars) from 18 people

10. Screen Capture

Screen Capture is a web-based utility that enables you to record browser or computer desk activity. With its help, you can record individual browser tabs, separate windows, or give access to the whole screen.

The tool works in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera, so it doesn’t matter which OS you use. It’s able to record webcam video and sound from a microphone. There’s also a Google Chrome extension available.

Best features:

• Record only the areas you need: Select a tab, window, or the whole screen
• Overlay webcam video
• Grab sound from multiple sources
• Export HD videos in MP4

“I use the Screen Capture App to take screenshots, and I think the app works well every time. It allows me to directly paste the screenshot (e.g., into an email) or, if I want to save it, I only need to open the pop-up window and save it. It is a pretty straightforward app and fits the needs of my work.” — Marcella Julia, Marketing Specialist, Titoma

Screen Capture pricing: Free online webcam recorder (watermark); Monthly subscription for $9.95 per month; Yearly subscription for $39.95 per year

Pros and cons

Screen Capture Pros	Screen Capture Cons
Intuitive and easy to use, catering to both beginners and advanced users	The free webcam recorder comes with watermarks
No need to create an account to start using the tool	Some users report that when moving the mouse quickly, the tool captures only the last position of the cursor, missing intermediate movements
Webcam video recorder with no installation needed and no time restrictions

Available on: Windows, macOS, Web

User ratings: Trustpilot 4.8 (Stars) from 2,358 people

The Best Screenshot Practices to Improve Productivity

A simple screenshot is a super handy tool in the modern workplace. Whether you’re working remotely or collaborating with your mate just across from you, a quick screen grab streamlines tons of internal processes, enhancing team productivity and performance. Here’s how.

• Boost teamwork: Optimize the process of receiving feedback on projects like website redesigns by marking up images and screenshots with comments and annotations, helping recipients easily correct issues.
• Better demonstrate how-to processes: Show complex processes visually with screenshots, saving time and reducing confusion. Recipients can save and reference the screenshots later.
• Quickly resolve support-related issues: Use screenshots to explain bugs or error messages to IT or Web Support, providing vital information and saving time and confusion.
• Minimize clutter: Reduce clutter by filing screenshots electronically instead of printing. This cuts down on printing costs and makes tasks like accounting more efficient, with the potential for creating a centralized wiki database of how-to instructions on your company intranet.

Conclusion: The Apps for Screenshots as Part of Your Workflow

Screenshots are a quick and easy way to streamline collaboration and improve productivity. When choosing the best screenshot capture tool, keep in mind the nature of your work. Pay attention to app security and privacy protocols, such as encryption and public sharing options.

Brosix makes taking and sharing screenshots a cinch. And in addition to the screenshot tool, you’ll get everything you need for seamless, productive, and secure communication and teamwork.

Find out why Brosix isn’t just one of the best tools for screenshots but for total team efficiency and productivity.

FAQ