Best Snipping Tools for Mac

Key Takeaways

• The built-in snipping tool on Mac is perfect for quick screenshots and basic needs.
• Tools like Snagit and Monosnap provide professional-grade features for detailed work.
• Free tools like Lightshot and Skitch are ideal for casual users needing quick annotations.

Choose the tool that best fits your workflow and enjoy capturing and sharing content effortlessly on your Mac! 😊

Capturing screenshots or snipping specific areas of your screen is an essential feature for both personal and professional use. While Macs come with built-in screenshot tools, third-party snipping tools can provide enhanced functionality and customization options.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to the best snipping tools for Mac, along with their features, pros, and how to use them.

1. Built-In Screenshot Tool (Default Snipping Tool)

Overview

The Mac’s built-in screenshot tool is powerful, versatile, and free. It allows you to capture your entire screen, a selected area, or a specific window.

How to Use:

• Shortcut for Full Screen: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 3.
• Shortcut for Selected Area: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then drag to select the area.
• Shortcut for Window: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then press Spacebar and click the desired window.
• Open Screenshot Toolbar: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 to access advanced options like recording the screen or choosing where to save screenshots.

Pros:

• Built-in and free.
• Simple to use with customizable shortcuts.
• Offers screen recording options.

Cons:

• Lacks advanced annotation features.
• Limited customization for file formats or resolutions.

2. Snagit

Overview

Snagit is a professional-grade snipping tool with advanced editing and annotation capabilities. It’s ideal for creating tutorials, presentations, or documentation.

Key Features:

• Capture full screen, regions, or scrolling areas.
• Edit and annotate screenshots with text, shapes, and arrows.
• Create screen recordings and convert them to GIFs.
• Built-in sharing options for platforms like Slack, Google Drive, and email.

Pricing:

• Free trial available.
• Full version: $62.99 (one-time purchase).

Pros:

• Powerful editing tools.
• Excellent for professionals needing detailed annotations.
• Scrolling capture for long webpages or documents.

Cons:

• Expensive for casual users.
• Overkill if you only need basic screenshots.

3. Lightshot

Overview

Lightshot is a lightweight, easy-to-use snipping tool perfect for quick screenshots and basic annotations.

Key Features:

• Capture a selected area with drag-and-drop functionality.
• Add annotations like arrows, text, and shapes.
• Upload screenshots to the cloud for easy sharing.
• Quick keyboard shortcuts for faster access.

Pricing:

• Free.

Pros:

• Simple interface.
• Cloud integration for sharing.
• Free and lightweight.

Cons:

• Limited advanced editing features.
• Lacks screen recording functionality.

4. Monosnap

Overview

Monosnap is a feature-rich snipping tool designed for both basic and advanced users. It includes screenshot capture, annotation tools, and cloud integration.

Key Features:

• Capture specific areas, windows, or the entire screen.
• Annotate with arrows, shapes, and text.
• Integrated screen recording with audio options.
• Save directly to cloud storage like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Monosnap’s own cloud.

Pricing:

• Free for basic use.
• Premium version: $2.50/month for additional features.

Pros:

• Combines snipping and screen recording.
• Excellent cloud integration.
• Affordable premium features.

Cons:

• Requires a learning curve for advanced features.
• Cloud storage limited in the free version.

5. Skitch (by Evernote)

Overview

Skitch is a simple yet effective tool for capturing and marking up screenshots. It’s perfect for creating annotated visuals for collaboration.

Key Features:

• Quick snipping of specific areas or entire screens.
• Annotate with arrows, text, shapes, and highlights.
• Seamlessly integrates with Evernote for sharing and storage.
• Minimalistic and user-friendly interface.

Pricing:

• Free.

Pros:

• Clean and intuitive design.
• Excellent for collaboration.
• Free to use.

Cons:

• Lacks advanced features like scrolling capture.
• Limited editing tools compared to competitors.

6. Droplr

Overview

Droplr is a versatile snipping tool focused on team collaboration. It combines screenshot capture, annotations, and file sharing.

Key Features:

• Capture specific areas, entire screens, or specific windows.
• Annotate screenshots with text, arrows, and shapes.
• Generate a shareable link for easy distribution.
• Integrates with tools like Slack, Trello, and Asana.

Pricing:

• Free trial available.
• Subscription starts at $6/month.

Pros:

• Cloud-based sharing for teams.
• Simple interface with robust features.
• Integrates with popular productivity tools.

Cons:

• Requires an account for cloud sharing.
• Subscription-based pricing.

Comparison Table

Tool	Best For	Price	Key Features
Built-In Tool	Basic users	Free	Quick shortcuts, basic screen recording
Snagit	Professionals	$62.99	Advanced editing, scrolling capture
Lightshot	Casual users	Free	Simple annotations, cloud sharing
Monosnap	Advanced users	Free/$2.50/mo	Screenshot + screen recording
Skitch	Annotated visuals	Free	Easy annotation, Evernote integration
Droplr	Team collaboration	$6/mo	Cloud sharing, integrations with tools

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Tips for Choosing the Right Snipping Tool

1. For Casual Use: Use the built-in screenshot tool or Lightshot.
2. For Professionals: Snagit or Monosnap offer robust features for documentation and presentations.
3. For Collaboration: Skitch or Droplr are excellent for team-oriented projects.

FAQs

1. Does Mac have a built-in snipping tool?

Yes, Macs have a built-in screenshot tool accessible via Command + Shift + 4 or Command + Shift + 5.

2. Can I capture scrolling screenshots on a Mac?

The built-in tool doesn’t support scrolling captures. Use third-party tools like Snagit or Monosnap for this feature.

3. Are free snipping tools good enough?

Yes, tools like Lightshot and Skitch are great for basic snipping and annotations.

4. How do I annotate screenshots on Mac?

After taking a screenshot with the built-in tool, click the thumbnail in the corner to open the Markup tool for annotations.

5. Which snipping tool is best for video recording?

Monosnap and Snagit both include screen recording options with annotation tools.