Best Greenshot alternatives (2026)
The best Greenshot alternative on Mac is ScreenshotEdits — a native app with blur, annotations, backgrounds, and 15+ tools. On Windows, ShareX offers the most features for free.
Why look for a Greenshot alternative?
Greenshot has been a solid free screenshot tool on Windows for over a decade. But it has some real limitations that push people to look elsewhere.
Windows-only (practically)
The Mac version on the App Store is barebones. If you switched to Mac or use both platforms, Greenshot doesn't follow you.
Dated interface
The UI looks like it was designed in 2012 — because it was. It works, but it feels clunky compared to modern tools.
Slow development
Updates have become infrequent. The GitHub repo shows sporadic activity. New features are rare.
Limited editing
Arrows, highlights, and obfuscation cover the basics. But there's no background styling, no gradient effects, no device mockups.
Top Greenshot alternatives
Four tools that pick up where Greenshot leaves off.
ScreenshotEdits
Our pickIf you're a Mac user who liked Greenshot's simplicity but wanted more editing power, this is your tool. ScreenshotEdits gives you blur, pixelate, annotations, gradient backgrounds, shadows, and crop — in a fast native app that never touches the internet.
- 15+ editing tools including blur, arrows, text, shapes
- Gradient backgrounds and device mockups
- 100% offline — no cloud, no accounts
Price: Free (€19 one-time to remove watermark)
Platform: macOS
What it doesn't do: no Windows or Linux support.
ShareX
If you liked Greenshot but want more power, ShareX is the natural upgrade on Windows. It's free, open source, and does everything — screen capture, GIF recording, OCR, automated workflows. The downside: it can feel overwhelming if you just want simple screenshots.
Price: Free and open source
Platform: Windows only
Best for: Windows power users who want maximum functionality.
Lightshot
Lightshot works on both Mac and Windows, making it a practical Greenshot replacement if you switch between platforms. Capture is fast — hit a hotkey, drag a region, done. Editing is basic (arrows, text, highlighter) but it's enough for quick annotations.
Price: Free
Platform: Mac, Windows
Best for: Cross-platform users who need quick captures with minimal editing.
Flameshot
The Greenshot equivalent for Linux. Flameshot is free, open source, and offers a surprisingly good in-capture annotation experience. You draw arrows and add text right on the capture overlay before saving. Also works on Windows and Mac, though the experience is best on Linux.
Price: Free and open source
Platform: Linux, Windows, macOS
Best for: Linux users and anyone who wants Greenshot-style simplicity with modern features.
Comparison table
| Feature | ScreenshotEdits | ShareX | Lightshot | Flameshot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free / €19 | Free | Free | Free |
| Platform | Mac | Windows | Mac, Windows | Linux, Win, Mac |
| Blur / redact | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Annotations | Yes | Yes | Basic | Yes |
| Backgrounds | Yes | No | No | No |
| Open source | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Offline-only | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Modern UI | Yes | No | Basic | Basic |
Free Greenshot alternatives
Good news: every alternative on this list is free. Greenshot set the bar for free screenshot tools, and the competition has caught up.
ScreenshotEdits — Free on Mac. €19 removes watermark. Full editing suite.
ShareX — Free and open source on Windows. The most feature-rich option.
Lightshot — Free on Mac and Windows. Quick captures, minimal editing.
Flameshot — Free and open source on Linux, Windows, Mac. Great for annotations.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Greenshot for Mac?
There's a Greenshot Mac app on the App Store ($1.99), but it's very limited compared to the Windows version. ScreenshotEdits is a better Mac-native alternative with blur, annotations, backgrounds, and 15+ editing tools.
Is Greenshot still maintained?
Greenshot is still available and works fine on Windows, but development has slowed significantly. Major updates are infrequent. If you want an actively developed tool, consider ScreenshotEdits (Mac) or ShareX (Windows).
What is the best free Greenshot alternative for Mac?
ScreenshotEdits is the best free Greenshot alternative on Mac. It offers blur, annotations, crop, gradient backgrounds, and more — all running locally with no cloud uploads.
Can ShareX replace Greenshot?
Yes. ShareX does everything Greenshot does and much more — GIF recording, OCR, custom workflows, 80+ upload destinations. The trade-off is complexity: ShareX has a steeper learning curve.
Is Greenshot better than Snipping Tool?
Greenshot has more features than Windows Snipping Tool — especially the built-in editor with arrows, highlights, and obfuscation. But Windows 11's Snipping Tool has improved significantly. For serious editing, try ShareX or ScreenshotEdits instead.
Greenshot for Mac — but better
ScreenshotEdits brings everything you liked about Greenshot to macOS, plus blur, backgrounds, and modern editing tools.
Related tools & guides