2025 Best 8 Snipping Tools for Mac

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In today's digital workspace, capturing screenshots or snipping parts of your screen is an essential part of everyday productivity. Whether you're sharing a bug with tech support, saving a memorable moment from a video, or illustrating a tutorial, a good snipping tool can save you time and improve communication. macOS does come with built-in screen capture capabilities, but sometimes they fall short for more advanced needs. That's where third-party snipping tools for Mac come into play.

In this article, we'll explore the best snipping tools for Mac users. We'll cover the built-in options, review some of the most popular third-party applications, and help you decide which one suits your needs the best.

Built-in Snipping Features on macOS

macOS includes powerful native screenshot tools that many users overlook. Here's a breakdown of what macOS offers by default.

Features:

• Capture Full Screen: Command + Shift + 3
• Capture Selected Area: Command + Shift + 4
• Capture Window/Record Screen: Command + Shift + 5
• Quick Markup & Editing: After taking a screenshot, a thumbnail appears allowing for immediate edits.

While native features are sufficient for quick tasks, many users turn to third-party tools for enhanced functionality.

Top 8 Third-Party Snipping Tools for Mac

Here are the top third-party snipping tools for Mac, along with their standout features and best use cases.

1. CleanShot X

Overview:
CleanShot X is one of the most robust snipping tools available for macOS. It’s designed exclusively for Mac users and integrates well with the native environment while offering tons of powerful features.

Key Features:

• Scrolling screenshot
• Screen recording with audio
• Annotations and blur sensitive info
• CleanShot Cloud for easy sharing
• OCR to extract text from images

Best For:

Developers, designers, marketers, and anyone who regularly creates and shares visuals.

2. Snagit

Overview:
Snagit by TechSmith is a powerhouse tool used widely by professionals, educators, and trainers. It's known for its rich editing suite and ability to create step-by-step visual guides.

Key Features:

• All-in-one capture: scrolling, panoramic, full screen
• Video recording with narration
• Annotation tools, arrows, and stamps
• Text extraction from images (OCR)
• Templates for creating tutorials and documentation

Best For:

Teachers, content creators, IT professionals, and trainers.

3. Skitch (by Evernote)

Overview:
Skitch is a simple and user-friendly snipping tool from Evernote. While it hasn't been updated recently, it remains popular due to its ease of use and tight integration with Evernote.

Key Features:

• Quick screenshots and annotations
• Drag-and-drop interface
• Integration with Evernote for saving notes

Best For:

Evernote users and casual Mac users looking for a quick annotation tool.

4. Lightshot

Overview:
Lightshot is a lightweight and free snipping tool ideal for users who just need basic screenshot functionality with quick sharing options.

Key Features:

• Capture selected area
• Basic annotation (arrows, lines, text)
• Upload screenshots online for easy sharing
• Search for similar images via Google

Best For:

Students, bloggers, and casual users who want to share screenshots quickly.

5. Shottr

Overview:
Shottr is an ultra-light, native Mac snipping tool that's gaining popularity due to its speed and simplicity.

Key Features:

• Pixel-perfect screenshots
• OCR text recognition
• Scrolling capture
• Annotate, blur, and highlight
• Ultra-fast interface

Best For:

Mac power users and developers looking for speed and simplicity.

6. Monosnap

Overview:
Monosnap caters to both everyday users and developers, with a balance between functionality and flexibility.

Key Features:

• Screenshot and video recording
• Cloud storage and sharing options
• FTP/SFTP upload
• Annotation tools

Best For:

Remote workers, freelancers, and developers.

7. Droplr

Overview:
Droplr is a cloud-first snipping and screen recording tool designed for teams and businesses that rely on visual communication.

Key Features:

• Instant cloud upload and sharing
• Annotate images and videos
• Screen recording with webcam
• Team collaboration features

Best For:

Remote teams, content creators, and enterprise environments.

8. Greenshot (macOS version)

Overview:
Greenshot is a beloved open-source snipping tool for Windows, with a basic macOS version that still serves many users well.

Key Features:

• Quick capture modes
• Simple editor for annotations
• Export to file or clipboard

Best For:

Open-source fans and users who want a no-frills solution.

Comparison Table

Tool	Price	Annotation	Cloud Sync	Screen Record	OCR	Best For
CleanShot X	Paid	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Power users
Snagit	Paid	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Professionals, Educators
Skitch	Free	Yes	Evernote	No	No	Casual Evernote users
Lightshot	Free	Basic	Yes	No	No	Quick sharing
Shottr	Free/Paid	Yes	No	No	Yes	Speed-focused users
Monosnap	Free/Paid	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Remote workers, developers
Droplr	Subscription	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Business teams
Greenshot	Free	Basic	No	No	No	Basic capture needs

How to Choose the Best Mac Snipping Tool for Your Needs?

With so many great options, choosing the right snipping tool for Mac depends on your specific needs:

1. Use Case

Your intended use should guide your selection:

• Casual Use: If you only take occasional screenshots for personal use - like saving images, capturing part of a website, or sharing visuals with friends - then a simple, free tool like macOS's built-in Screenshot app or Snipaste is more than enough. These tools are lightweight, easy to use, and come with basic annotation features.
• Professional Use: Professionals, such as developers, designers, project managers, and marketers, often need advanced features like scrolling screenshots, screen recording with webcam overlays, or OCR. Tools like CleanShot X or Snagit offer a robust feature set that supports professional workflows, including the ability to share annotated visuals with teams, create tutorials, and store captures in the cloud.
• Educational Use: Teachers, students, and academic researchers may benefit from features like screen recording with voice narration, simple editing tools, and easy sharing. Tools like Droplr and ScreenRec provide streamlined workflows for quickly creating and distributing visual content, while still maintaining accessibility and affordability.

2. Feature Requirements

• Optical Character Recognition (OCR): If you frequently capture text from images, slides, or scanned documents, choose a snipping tool that supports OCR. This feature can save time by allowing you to extract text without retyping it. CleanShot X and Snagit are top choices with powerful OCR capabilities.
• Scrolling Capture: For web developers, UX designers, or anyone needing to capture full webpages or lengthy chats, scrolling capture is essential. Tools like CleanShot X and Snagit support this, unlike most free tools.
• Annotations and Editing: If you often need to add arrows, highlights, blur effects, or text, make sure the tool offers a strong built-in editor. Tools like Skitch, Monosnap, and Snagit are particularly good at this.
• Video Recording and Webcam Overlay: If you're creating instructional content, presentations, or troubleshooting videos, pick a tool that allows high-quality screen recording with webcam and microphone support. CleanShot X and Loom are excellent for these tasks.
• Instant Sharing and Cloud Sync: If you collaborate remotely, you'll appreciate tools with integrated cloud services that generate shareable links. Tools like Droplr, Loom, and CleanShot X have strong sharing features. Some even offer team dashboards for easier organization.

3. Budget Considerations

Your budget will naturally influence your decision. Here's a quick breakdown by category:

• Free Tools:
  • macOS Screenshot Tool (built-in)
  • Snipaste
  • LightShot
  • Monosnap (with some paid features)

These are suitable for light to moderate use, with basic annotation and screenshot functionality.

• One-Time Purchase:
  • CleanShot X (~$29): Offers powerful features and lifetime access with no ongoing costs.
  • Snagit (~$62.99): Premium and feature-rich, best suited for professionals needing advanced tools.
• Subscription-Based:
  • Droplr (starts around $7/month)
  • Loom (Pro version: ~$10/month)
  • CleanShot Cloud Pro (optional, ~$8/month)

Subscription tools often include premium cloud storage, collaboration tools, and team features. They're ideal for businesses or content creators needing frequent updates and cloud integration.

• Enterprise Pricing:
  • For large teams, look into volume licensing or enterprise tiers that include user management, analytics, and advanced security features.

4. Integration with Other Tools

The ability to integrate with your existing workflow and software stack can significantly enhance productivity:

• Slack: Tools like CleanShot X, Loom, and Droplr offer Slack integration, allowing you to instantly send annotated screenshots or recordings to your team channels.
• Project Management Tools: If you use Trello, Asana, or Jira, choosing a snipping tool that can export directly or generate shareable links helps document bugs or explain ideas quickly.
• Evernote/Notion: Some tools offer direct export or embed functionality for note-taking apps, helping educators, researchers, or students quickly organize their visual notes.
• Cloud Services: Choose tools that integrate with Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, or OneDrive if cloud syncing or backup is important. Monosnap and Droplr support various cloud integrations.

Conclusion

macOS users are lucky to have a wide range of snipping tools, from the built-in functionality to third-party solutions packed with professional features. If you're a casual user, Lightshot or Skitch may be all you need. But for power users, CleanShot X or Snagit provides a comprehensive experience.

Ultimately, the best snipping tool for Mac is the one that fits your workflow, feature needs, and budget. Try out a few - most have free trials or basic versions - before settling on the one that's right for you.

With the right tool in hand, you'll be able to communicate more clearly, work more efficiently, and share information faster than ever before.