Shottr
beats CleanShot X by 5 points
CleanShot X
$29/yr
Shottr
$12 lifetime
Shottr wins on price — free with a $12 lifetime pro upgrade — and portability at just 2.3MB. CleanShot X wins on feature breadth including screen recording, OCR, and team sharing. Shottr for lightweight fast captures; CleanShot X for an all-in-one Mac tool.
Score breakdown
Each dimension rated 1–5. Higher is better across all four.
What users say
CleanShot X
"Best all-in-one screenshot tool for Mac"
Pros
Shottr
"Best value Mac screenshot tool"
Pros
When to Choose Each
Choose Shottr if you want the fastest, lightest screenshot tool on Mac. At just 2.3MB, it launches instantly and stays in your menu bar without eating resources. It offers pixel ruler, OCR, scrolling capture, and built-in image compression — all for free (with a nag popup). The $12 lifetime pro upgrade removes ads and adds unlimited features. Shottr holds a perfect 5/5 price rating and 5/5 UX rating, with 100% positive user sentiment. It’s ideal for Mac users who value speed and simplicity over bells and whistles.
Choose CleanShot X if you need a comprehensive Mac-native toolkit that goes beyond screenshots. CleanShot X combines annotation, OCR, scrolling capture, and screen recording in one elegant app with menu bar integration and smart folder organization. It scores 5/5 on features and UX, making it the most polished Mac screenshot experience available. However, it costs $29/year (subscription only, no perpetual license) and lacks Windows/Linux support. It’s the right choice for professionals who want everything in one app and don’t mind paying for quality.
Key Differences
| Dimension | Shottr | CleanShot X |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free with nag popup, $12 lifetime pro | $29/year subscription only |
| Features | Pixel ruler, OCR, scrolling capture, compression | Annotation, OCR, scrolling, screen recording, smart folders |
| UX | 2.3MB ultra-lightweight, instant launch | Elegant native macOS design, menu bar integration |
| Reviews | 100% positive user sentiment | Consistently rated Best for Mac |
| Platform | macOS only | macOS only |
| Screen Recording | No | Yes |
| Best For | Fast, lightweight captures on a budget | Professional all-in-one Mac workflow |
Pricing & value
| Metric | CleanShot X | Shottr | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | No | Yes | Shottr |
| Starting price | $29/yr | $12 lifetime | Shottr |
Is Shottr better than CleanShot X?
Is CleanShot X worth it?
Does Shottr have screen recording?
Our pick