Free alternatives
5 free CleanShot X alternatives
If you only need screenshots, annotations or quick recordings, you do not have to pay. These Mac and cross-platform tools are free or have a free version.
Short answer
The best free CleanShot X alternatives are Snapzy, Kap, Recordly and 2 more. CleanShot X has no full free plan, and each pick here is free or has a usable free plan.
Updated
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Is CleanShot X free?
CleanShot X pricing
CleanShot X is a Mac app for screenshots, screen recordings, annotations and quick sharing.
CleanShot Basic is a one-time $35 with a year of updates (then $19 a year for updates). CleanShot Pro costs $10 per user a month billed annually, with unlimited cloud storage.
Free plan
No. There is no free plan or trial, but there is a 30-day money-back guarantee, and Setapp's 7-day trial includes it.
Checked on CleanShot X's official pricing page on . Prices change, so check before you buy.
The 5 best free CleanShot X alternatives
Every pick is free or has a usable free plan, and is listed in our directory. Free-plan limits change, so check each tool's site before you switch.
Why switch: Free, open-source Mac app for screenshots, recordings, annotation and OCR.
Native macOS app for pixel-perfect screenshots and screen recordings.
Works on macOS
Why switch: Free, open-source Mac screen recorder that exports to GIF or video.
An open-source screen recorder for Mac built with web technology.
Works on macOS
Why switch: Free, open-source recorder that adds zooms and cursor effects automatically.
Create polished demo videos without editing skills on Mac, Windows and Linux.
Works on macOS, Windows, Linux
Why switch: Beautiful share-ready screenshots; free with a watermark.
The beautiful screenshot app for Mac — backgrounds, balance and annotations handled for you.
Works on macOS
Why switch: Screen and camera recording to a shareable link, with a free plan.
Replace meetings with quick async video.
Works on Web, macOS, Windows, Chrome, iOS, Android
Frequently asked questions
- Is CleanShot X free?
- No. There is no free plan or trial, but there is a 30-day money-back guarantee, and Setapp's 7-day trial includes it.
- How much does CleanShot X cost?
- CleanShot Basic is a one-time $35 with a year of updates (then $19 a year for updates). CleanShot Pro costs $10 per user a month billed annually, with unlimited cloud storage. Checked on CleanShot X's own pricing page in October 2026; prices can change.
- What is the best free alternative to CleanShot X?
- Snapzy is our top pick, followed by Kap and Recordly. Each one is free or has a usable free plan.
- Are these CleanShot X alternatives really free?
- Yes. Every tool on this page is either completely free or has a free plan you can keep using. Paid upgrades exist on some of them, and free-plan limits change, so check each tool's site.
Keep exploring
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