Annotate screenshots with arrows, text & shapes
Add arrows, text, highlights, and shapes to any screenshot. Make your point clear without writing a single sentence of explanation. Works in your browser or runs locally on Mac & Windows.
Annotation tools at a glance
Six markup tools â each designed for a specific job.
| Tool | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Arrows | Point at exactly what you mean. Straight or curved. The universal 'look here' signal that works across every context. | Bug reports, design feedback, UI walkthroughs |
| Text labels | Add explanatory text anywhere on the image. Customizable font size, color, and position. | Instructions, callouts, naming elements |
| Highlights | Draw attention with semi-transparent color overlays. Emphasize without obscuring the underlying content. | Drawing attention to text, highlighting key areas |
| Shapes | Rectangles, circles, and lines to frame important areas. Adjustable stroke width and color. | Framing UI sections, grouping related elements |
| Numbered steps | Sequential badges that walk through a flow. Automatically numbered â add them in order and they stay in sequence. | Tutorials, onboarding flows, multi-step guides |
| Freehand draw | Sketch directly on the screenshot for quick markups. Natural-feeling strokes for when structured shapes feel too formal. | Quick feedback, informal notes, circling things |
How to annotate a screenshot
Open your screenshot
Paste, drag in, or capture directly. It appears on your canvas instantly â no import dialog, no waiting. You can also open multiple screenshots in tabs if you need to annotate a series of related screens.
Pro tip: Use ââ§4 to capture a specific region, then âV to paste it directly into ScreenshotEdits. Faster than saving and opening a file.
Add annotations
Click an arrow, text, or shape tool from the toolbar. Place it where it needs to go. Adjust colors and size to match your intent. Every annotation is a separate layer â move, resize, or delete any of them independently before exporting.
Pro tip: Use numbered step badges for tutorials and flows. They auto-increment, so adding steps in order is effortless.
Share it
Copy to clipboard and paste into Slack, Jira, email, or docs. Or save as PNG/JPEG for archiving. Clipboard sharing means zero file management â the annotated screenshot goes straight from your editor to wherever it needs to be.
Pro tip: âC copies the final annotated image to clipboard. Paste directly into Slack or Notion â no need to save a file first.
When words alone aren't enough
A screenshot with three arrows beats a five-paragraph email every time. These are the situations where 30 seconds of annotation saves everyone 30 minutes of back-and-forth.
Bug reports that need zero explanation
Circle the broken element, arrow pointing at the wrong padding, text label: "should be 24px not 48px." Done. No Slack thread. No 15-minute call. No "wait, which button do you mean?" One screenshot, zero ambiguity.
Tutorials people actually follow
Step 1 badge on the menu, step 2 on the dropdown, step 3 on the save button. A text label on each explaining what happens. People follow along at their own pace. No video to rewind, no wall of text to parse.
Design feedback that's specific
Arrow at the spacing issue. Circle on the misaligned icon. Label: "left-align this." Designers see exactly what you mean. No calendar invite required. What used to be a two-day review ping-pong becomes a 10-minute fix.
Customer support that resolves faster
"Click here, type this, you'll see that." Three annotations on one screenshot replaces a four-paragraph email. Customers screenshot your screenshot and pin it for reference. Faster resolution, fewer follow-ups.
When to annotate vs when to just crop
Not every screenshot needs arrows and labels. Sometimes a tight crop does the job. Here's how to decide.
Annotate when...
- You need to point at something specific on screen
- The screenshot shows a multi-step process
- Context around the target element is important
- You'd otherwise need to write a long explanation
Just crop when...
- The relevant area speaks for itself
- You just need to isolate one element
- The screenshot is for reference, not instruction
- Adding markup would clutter the image
Best of both: Crop first to remove clutter, then annotate the focused area. ScreenshotEdits handles both in a single workflow â crop, annotate, and export without switching tools.
Tips for better annotations
Good markup is invisible. The viewer looks at your screenshot and immediately knows what you mean.
High contrast or don't bother
Red arrows on a blue interface. Yellow highlights on dark backgrounds. If someone has to squint to find your annotation, it's failing at its only job. Make it obvious.
Touch the target
Arrows should point directly at the thing, not float vaguely nearby. An arrow in the general vicinity of a button is ambiguous. An arrow touching the button is clear. The difference matters more than you'd think.
Number steps top-to-bottom
Reading order: top to bottom, left to right. If step 3 badge sits above step 1, the whole tutorial feels broken even if the instructions are technically correct.
Three annotations, not thirteen
Each annotation should earn its spot. If the markup is so dense that you can't see the actual screenshot underneath, you've defeated the purpose. Restraint is the skill.
Frequently asked questions
What annotation tools are included?
Arrows (straight and curved), text labels with customizable fonts, highlight overlays, rectangles, circles, lines, numbered step badges, and freehand drawing. All with adjustable colors and sizes.
Can I annotate and beautify at the same time?
Yes. Add your annotations, then wrap the result in a gradient background with shadows and rounded corners. One app, complete workflow.
Can I edit annotations after placing them?
Yes. Move, resize, recolor, or delete anything before you export. âZ works exactly like you'd expect.
Does the app run online or locally?
ScreenshotEdits is available on web, Mac & Windows. The desktop app runs locally — your screenshots never leave your computer. No uploads, no cloud, no accounts.
Is annotation free?
Yes â every annotation tool is free to use. The free version adds a small watermark to exports. Free in your browser with 3 exports/day. Desktop app €19 one-time to remove watermark.
Can I save annotation presets for reuse?
Your most recent color, font size, and style choices are remembered between sessions. When you pick a red arrow with a specific thickness, the next arrow you draw starts with those same settings.
How do I annotate a scrolling or long screenshot?
Capture your long screenshot using any scrolling screenshot tool, then drag the image into ScreenshotEdits. The canvas adapts to any image size, so you can annotate full-page captures just like regular screenshots.
One screenshot, zero follow-up questions
Free to start. Add arrows, text, and highlights in seconds. No account needed.