Greenshot alternatives in 2026
Greenshot is a free, open source screenshot tool for Windows, with a Mac version for $1.99. People look elsewhere when they need a Linux or Chromebook option, screen recording, a share link for each screenshot, or full-page captures in Chrome (Greenshot's site describes scrolling capture for Internet Explorer). Below are seven alternatives with prices as of November 2026, the computers they run on, and what each does better or worse than Greenshot, plus a plain answer to Greenshot vs Snagit.
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The options at a glance
Checked on November 12, 2026.
What to check before you switch from Greenshot
Greenshot covers the basics well on a Windows PC: capture, annotate, then save, print, email or upload. These questions show whether another tool fits better.
- Which computers? Greenshot's team says there are no plans for a Linux version. Flameshot has Linux packages, and Markup Hero runs in any modern browser.
- Long web pages? Greenshot's site describes scrolling capture for Internet Explorer pages. ShareX, Snagit and the Markup Hero Chrome extension take scrolling captures.
- Do you need video? ShareX, Snipping Tool, the macOS Screenshot app and Snagit record the screen. Markup Hero does not.
- How do you share? Some tools save files on your PC; others upload and give you a link. Check who can open that link.
Greenshot: free and open source for Windows
Greenshot is a light-weight screenshot tool for Windows that is completely free and open source under the GPL. It captures a region, a window or the full screen, and you can even capture complete scrolling web pages from Internet Explorer. Its image editor adds annotations and shapes, highlights or obscures parts of a screenshot, and crops. You can then save to a file, print, copy to the clipboard, attach to an email, send to Office programs, upload to photo sites or upload to Jira.
Greenshot needs Windows 10 or later and the .NET Framework 4.7.2 or newer, and there is a portable version. The latest Windows release is 1.3.328 from 19 Oct 2026. The Mac version costs $1.99, and the team says there are no plans for Linux. See getgreenshot.org or Markup Hero vs Greenshot.
- Good for: Windows users who want a free editor that works on their own PC, with many export options.
- Not for: Linux users.
Markup Hero: browser-based markup with share links
Markup Hero is a screenshot and annotation tool that runs in any modern web browser. Free desktop screenshot apps for Mac, Windows and Linux (beta), a Chrome extension with scrolling (full page) screenshots and a Firefox add-on send each capture to the browser editor. There you add text, arrows, shapes, highlights, blur and signatures, mark up multi-page PDFs and Google Docs, and share a link with custom sharing and privacy settings. People you share with can add their own annotations.
The free Basic plan allows 25 markups, with annotations editable for 24 hours and 8 MB per upload. Premium is $10/month, or $3/month billed yearly ($36/year), and Lifetime is $199 one-time. You can try it now without an account.
- Good for: Mac, Linux and Chromebook users, PDFs, and sharing marked-up screenshots by link.
- Not for: offline editing. Greenshot edits on your PC, while Markup Hero's desktop apps open each capture in the browser editor.
ShareX: free and open source, with recording
ShareX is a free and open source screenshot tool for Windows with no account and no advertisements. Besides region, window and full-screen capture, it captures a scrolling page, records the screen and GIFs, recognizes text (OCR), and has an image editor with blur and pixelate. It uploads to a wide range of destinations, including your own Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage or Cloudflare R2 storage, then copies the link for you. Builds for macOS and Linux are in preview. See getsharex.com or Markup Hero vs ShareX.
- Good for: Windows users who want free recording, scrolling capture and automated uploads.
- Not for: people who want a finished app on a Mac or Linux today.
Flameshot: free and open source, including Linux
Flameshot is a free and open-source, cross-platform screenshot tool with 64-bit downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux. On Linux it installs from your package manager (for example apt install flameshot on Ubuntu 18.04+ and Debian 10+) or as an AppImage. Its built-in editor adds arrows, highlights, blur or pixelate, text, drawing, rectangles and circles, numbered counters and solid boxes. It can upload to Imgur; its docs say uploads are anonymous and not tied to your profile, and that once something is online it is not under your control. See flameshot.org.
- Good for: Linux users and anyone who wants a free, open source editor on all three desktop systems.
- Not for: confidential screenshots you want to share by link.
Lightshot: free quick captures with short links
Lightshot is a free download for Windows and Mac, and it is also available for Chrome, Firefox, IE and Opera. You edit a screenshot as you take it or later in its online editor, then upload it and get a short link right away, with no account needed. Lightshot's privacy policy says every uploaded image can be viewed by anyone who types in its exact URL. There is no Linux app, though it says it can run under Wine. See our Lightshot alternatives list.
- Good for: fast captures you want to send as a link in seconds.
- Not for: confidential screenshots.
Greenshot vs Snagit: free basics or a paid all-in-one
Choose Greenshot if you want free screenshots on Windows that you can annotate, highlight or obscure and then save, print or upload. Choose Snagit if you also need video, step-by-step guides or polished templates, and are happy to pay. Snagit, now sold as Camtasia Snagit, costs $39.00 per user per year for Snagit Individual as of November 2026 and runs on Windows 10 and 11 and macOS 14 or newer, while Greenshot is free on Windows and $1.99 on a Mac.
Snagit records your screen, microphone, system audio and webcam, trims and combines clips, captures scrolling screenshots, and turns your clicks into a shareable guide with Step Capture. Smart Redact can blur or block emails, phone numbers and card details, Themes keep captures consistent, and one click hosts images and videos on TechSmith's Screencast. See TechSmith's Snagit page or our Snagit alternatives list.
- Good for: training material, how-to guides and video walkthroughs.
- Not for: anyone who wants a free tool.
Snipping Tool: free from Microsoft for Windows
Snipping Tool is a free Microsoft app for Windows. Press Windows logo key + Shift + S to capture a snip, or Windows logo key + Shift + R to capture a video clip; the new Snipping Tool is listed in the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 only. You can mark up with pen and highlighter, copy text with Text actions, and quick redact emails and phone numbers. Each snip is saved to your Screenshots folder. See Markup Hero vs Snipping Tool.
- Good for: quick captures and short recordings on Windows with nothing to install.
- Not for: Mac, Linux or Chromebook users.
macOS Screenshot and Markup: already on your Mac
Before paying for Greenshot's Mac version, try what a Mac already has. Shift-Command-3 captures the screen, and the Screenshot app in the Utilities folder can also record the entire screen, a window or a portion. Click the floating thumbnail to mark up the screenshot. Markup lets you write, sign and draw on, or crop or rotate, PDFs and images. Apple's guide to taking screenshots on Mac lists every option.
- Good for: Mac users with simple needs who want nothing to install.
- Not for: Windows, Linux or Chromebook users.
Frequently asked questions
Greenshot vs Snagit: which should I choose?
Greenshot if you want free screenshots and annotation on Windows. Snagit if you also need screen and webcam recording, Step Capture guides or templates. Snagit Individual costs $39.00 per user per year as of November 2026 and runs on Windows and Mac. Greenshot is free on Windows and $1.99 on a Mac.
Is Greenshot really free?
Yes on Windows. Greenshot says it is completely free and open source, under the GNU General Public License. The Mac version costs $1.99, which the team says covers its own costs.
Is there a Greenshot version for Linux?
No. Greenshot's FAQ says there are currently no plans to create a Linux version. Flameshot is a free, open source option with Linux packages, Markup Hero has a free Linux screenshot app (beta) and runs in the browser, and ShareX has a preview build for Linux.
Can Greenshot capture a scrolling web page?
Greenshot's site says it can capture complete scrolling web pages from Internet Explorer. For pages in Chrome, the Markup Hero Chrome extension takes full-page screenshots; see how to take a scrolling screenshot. ShareX and Snagit also take scrolling captures.
What can I use instead of Greenshot on a Chromebook?
Greenshot lists Windows and Mac versions. On a Chromebook, the Markup Hero Chrome extension and browser editor work in Chrome with nothing else to install. Lightshot also lists a Chrome add-on.
Is Greenshot still updated?
Yes. Greenshot's download page lists Windows release 1.3.328, dated 19 Oct 2026. It needs Windows 10 or later and the .NET Framework 4.7.2 or newer.
Prices and features checked on November 12, 2026 on each product's own website: app.prntscr.com, app.prntscr.com, app.prntscr.com, flameshot.org, flameshot.org, flameshot.org, flameshot.org, getgreenshot.org, getgreenshot.org, getgreenshot.org, getgreenshot.org, getgreenshot.org, getsharex.com, getsharex.com, apps.microsoft.com, support.microsoft.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, techsmith.com, techsmith.com, support.techsmith.com. Prices can change; check the vendor's site before you buy.
More comparisons: Markup Hero vs. other screenshot tools.
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