When it comes to capturing images or videos from your computer screen, using a snipping tool can be a quick and efficient solution. There are numerous options, from simple square-shaped tools to more advanced ones with better UI, features, and so on.
Here in this article, we’ll discuss how to choose the best snipping tool and list our top choices for you to consider. Let’s get started!
What to Look for When Choosing a Cropping Tool?
- Compatibility
The first thing to consider is whether a tool can run on your operating system. Some snipping tools are designed specifically for Windows or Mac, so they aren’t compatible on other systems.
That’s especially important if you’re eager to spend money buying a subscription or purchasing software. Search for an alternative that supports the operating system you are using to avoid any compatibility issues.
- Ease of Use
A snipping tool should be all about opening, capturing, and saving. Users should not have to go through a lengthy process to take a screenshot or record a video. That means a good option must be intuitive to navigate, offer a simple interface, and have straightforward capture options.
- Type of Capture
Many snipping tools only allow for basic screenshot captures, while others have advanced features like video recording or scrolling capture. There are also different types of screenshot captures, such as rectangular, free-form, or full-screen. Consider what type of capture you will need most frequently, and choose a tool that offers those options.
- Cloud Storage Integration
The most useful thing is when you can quickly share your images and videos directly from the program without having to save them on your device first.
Some snipping tools have built-in cloud storage, while others allow you to export to popular platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox. If you frequently share your captures, that’s a feature you may want to prioritize.
- Editing Capabilities
It can be frustrating to go to another program to add annotations or trim a video after capturing it. Look for a snipping tool that offers basic editing capabilities like adding text, arrows, or highlighting areas. This can save you time and effort in having to switch between multiple programs.
- File Formats
Different options support various file formats for saving the captured images or videos. Most common file formats include PNG, JPG, GIF for images and MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI for videos. Make sure to check if a snipping tool supports the file format you prefer, or if it has options to convert formats if needed.
- Price
Premium features, extended storage, or no annoying ads are common reasons to upgrade from a free snipping tool. However, if you’re not willing to pay for these extra features, there are still many excellent free tools available that can fulfill your basic needs.
Top 7 Snipping Tools
1. Movavi Screen Recorder
Compatibility: Windows and macOS
Movavi Screen Recorder is the best snipping tool for capturing high-quality screenshots. It offers a variety of capture options, including a custom area and a specific window.
Then, users can edit their captures with simple tools like adding text, arrows, frames, etc. It also supports most popular file formats like JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF.
Pros: Quick to master, annotation tools, online share options
Cons: Limits on the free trial version
Pricing: $44.95/year
2. Screenpresso
Compatibility: Windows
Screenpresso is a lightweight screen grabber with a simple interface. You can manually set the capture region and the program automatically uploads your screenshots to Screenpresso Cloud. It also has a built-in image editor with basic tools for simple annotations.
Pros: User-friendly interface, cloud storage, supports multiple formats
Cons: Limited editing tools, not available on Mac
Pricing: $29.99/one-time
3. PicPick
Compatibility: Windows
Although PicPick may be considered basic, it still has things you’ll enjoy. The snipping tool can capture images in all shapes and sizes, including scrolling windows. It also comes with common format support (BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG, and PDF) and a built-in color picker and palette.
Pros: Simple to use, magnifier feature, whiteboard mode
Cons: Only for Windows users, the interface may look outdated
Pricing: Free with paid version starting at $24/year
4. Aiseesoft Screen Recorder
Compatibility: Windows and macOS
Aiseesoft Screen Recorder is a good image and video recorder with useful features. Taking snapshots is made easy and it supports all popular formats. Additionally, users can take advantage of mobile integration, which enables you to capture iPhone or Android screen activity on PC.
Pros: Great design, smooth recording, customizable hotkeys
Cons: Lack of advanced features
Pricing: $62.45/lifetime
5. Xnapper
Compatibility: macOS
If you want to be a little bit like a designer, Xnapper is great. Thanks to colorful backgrounds and platform-specific aspect ratios, this screenshotting tool is perfect for mockups, too. And with a built-in macOS vision engine, you can copy and paste text from captures.
Pros: Intuitive, quality snaps, various customization options
Cons: Limited advanced features
Pricing: Starting at 29.99/year
6. CleanShot X
Compatibility: macOS
CleanShot X is specifically designed for Mac, which is reflected in its sleek interface. You can create snaps in JPG or PNG, blur sensitive information, and annotate your captures with arrows, text, or highlights. It also has an option to pin screenshots to your desktop for quick access.
Pros: Modern and clean design, useful features, cloud storage
Cons: Limited to macOS users, may not have enough advanced features for some users
Pricing: $29/one-time as a starting price for basic storage
7. Droplr
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, iOS, web-browser
Droplr offers most of the features offered by others. The great thing about this screenshot capture program is the cloud storage and broad accessibility for most major platforms. The only issue is that you can save your screenshots only in PNG format.
Pros: Nice UI, multiple platform support, basic annotations
Cons: No advanced options, limited file format support
Pricing: starting at $8 per month
Conclusion
Screenshot grabbers make work, communication, and simply information sharing easier by allowing us to capture content quickly. The best snipping tool depends on the features you need, the platforms you use, and your personal preferences.
Consider if any of the above-mentioned picks fit your needs and give them a try. And remember, even if you already have a default snipping tool on your device, there are plenty of alternatives out there that could potentially enhance your user experience.
Also Read: Top 10 Tools to Humanize AI Text and Effectively Bypass AI Detection
