Lightshot alternatives in 2026
Lightshot is a free capture tool for Windows and Mac, with browser extensions, that uploads a screenshot and gives you a short link in seconds. People look for something else when they need links that are not open to anyone with the URL, a native Linux app, or more editing tools. Below are seven alternatives with prices as of November 2026, the computers they run on, and what each does better or worse than Lightshot.
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The options at a glance
Checked on November 12, 2026.
What to check before you switch from Lightshot
Lightshot does one job quickly: select an area, mark it up, and save or upload it. Before you pick a replacement, decide which of these matters to you.
- Who can open your links? Lightshot uploads can be viewed by anyone who has the exact URL. Some tools let you choose, or upload to storage you control.
- Which computers? Lightshot has no Linux app. Flameshot has Linux packages, and Markup Hero runs in any modern browser.
- Do you need video? ShareX, Snipping Tool, the macOS Screenshot app and Snagit also record the screen. Markup Hero does not.
- Do you need PDFs or longer pages? Markup Hero marks up multi-page PDFs, and its Chrome extension, ShareX and Snagit take scrolling captures.
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. On Windows it replaces the standard screenshot tool and uses the same hotkey. You can edit a screenshot as you take it or later in its online editor, save it straight to a folder, copy it to the clipboard with Ctrl+C, or upload it and get a short link right away. It can also search for similar images. You do not need an account to upload.
The trade-off is privacy. Lightshot's own privacy policy says every uploaded image can be viewed by anyone who types in its exact URL, and that the gallery is not intended for secure image storage. There is no Linux app, though Lightshot says it can run under Wine and is tested on Ubuntu. Compare it in detail in Markup Hero vs Lightshot.
- Good for: fast captures of things that are fine to be public, sent as a link in seconds.
- Not for: confidential screenshots, or Linux users who do not want to use Wine.
Markup Hero: browser-based markup with share settings
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 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: share links you can control, PDFs, Chromebooks, and teams on mixed computers.
- Not for: screen recording or offline editing, which Markup Hero does not do. Lightshot can save files straight to a folder without uploading.
Flameshot: free and open source, with a native Linux app
Flameshot is a free and open-source, cross-platform screenshot tool with 64-bit downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux. On Linux you can install it from your package manager (for example apt install flameshot on Ubuntu 18.04+ and Debian 10+), an AppImage or Flathub. Like Lightshot, you drag a selection box and add annotations on screen: arrows, highlights, blur or pixelate, text, drawing, rectangles and circles, numbered counters and solid boxes. A command-line interface lets you script it. See flameshot.org.
Flameshot can upload a screenshot to Imgur. Its docs say uploads go to Imgur anonymously and are not tied to your profile, and remind you that once something is online it is not under your control. For hiding text, Flameshot suggests its pixelate tool rather than blur.
- Good for: Linux users, and anyone who wants a free, open source tool that works much like Lightshot.
- Not for: people who want to control who can open an uploaded image.
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 its editor lets you annotate, highlight or obscure parts of a screenshot, then save it, print it, email it, send it to Office programs or upload it. It can also upload to Jira.
It needs Windows 10 or later. The Mac version costs $1.99, and the team says there are no plans for a Linux version. See Greenshot or our Greenshot alternatives list.
- Good for: Windows users who want an editor and many export options on their own PC, at no cost.
- Not for: Linux users.
ShareX: free and open source, with recording and custom uploads
ShareX is a free and open source screenshot tool for Windows with no account and no advertisements. It goes well beyond screenshots, with screen recording, GIF recording, scrolling capture, text recognition (OCR) and an image editor with blur and pixelate. It can upload to a wide range of destinations, including a custom uploader and guides for your own Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage or Cloudflare R2 storage, then copy the link for you. Builds for macOS and Linux are in preview. See getsharex.com or Markup Hero vs ShareX.
- Good for: Windows power users who want free recording and uploads to storage they control.
- Not for: people who want a simple tool on a Mac or Chromebook today.
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 rectangle, freeform shape, window or the full screen. The new Snipping Tool, which the Microsoft Store lists for Windows 11 only, also records video snips with Windows logo key + Shift + R.
You can mark up with pen, highlighter and shapes, copy text with Text actions, and quick redact emails and phone numbers. Each snip is saved to your Screenshots folder, and you can share it from the See More menu. See Markup Hero vs Snipping Tool.
- Good for: Windows users who want captures and short recordings with nothing to install.
- Not for: Mac, Linux or Chromebook users.
macOS Screenshot and Markup: already on your Mac
A Mac can capture the screen without extra software. Shift-Command-3 captures the whole screen, Shift-Command-4 a portion, and the Screenshot app in the Utilities folder can also record the entire screen, a window or a portion, with a timer and a microphone. 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 who want captures and markup that stay on their computer.
- Not for: Windows, Linux or Chromebook users.
Snagit: paid, with video and step-by-step guides
Snagit, now sold as Camtasia Snagit, costs $39.00 per user per year for Snagit Individual as of November 2026, and it is included in all Camtasia plans. It runs on Windows 10 and 11 and on macOS 14 or newer. It takes scrolling screenshots, records your screen, microphone, system audio and webcam, and Step Capture turns your clicks into a shareable guide.
Smart Redact can blur or block emails, phone numbers and credit card details, and one click hosts images and videos on TechSmith's Screencast. See TechSmith's Snagit page or our Snagit alternatives list.
- Good for: people who make how-to guides, training material or videos every week.
- Not for: anyone who wants a free tool.
Lightshot vs Flameshot
Both are free and work the same way: drag a box, mark it up on screen, then save, copy or upload. Pick Flameshot if you use Linux, want open source software, or want tools such as pixelate, numbered counters and a command line. Pick Lightshot if you want browser extensions or its similar image search.
Both can also upload: Lightshot says its uploads can be viewed by anyone with the exact URL, and Flameshot reminds you that once something is online it is not under your control. For confidential screenshots, save them locally or use a tool with share settings, such as Markup Hero.
Frequently asked questions
Are Lightshot screenshots private?
Not once you upload them. Lightshot's privacy policy says every image can be viewed by anyone who types in that exact URL and that no uploaded image is ever completely hidden from public view. For confidential images, save them locally or use a tool with share settings, such as Markup Hero.
How do I remove a screenshot I uploaded to Lightshot by mistake?
Lightshot's FAQ says you can ask its support team to remove the screenshot from prntscr.com at support@skillbrains.com, or press the abuse button under the image on its website.
What is a free Lightshot alternative for Linux?
Flameshot is free, open source and installs from most Linux package managers, an AppImage or Flathub. Markup Hero has a free Linux screenshot app (beta) and runs in any modern browser. ShareX has a preview build for Linux. Lightshot itself has no Linux app, though it says it can run under Wine.
Is there a Lightshot alternative that records the screen?
Yes. ShareX records the screen and GIFs on Windows, the new Snipping Tool records video snips on Windows 11, and the macOS Screenshot app records the screen, a window or a portion. Snagit also records the screen, audio and webcam. Markup Hero does not record video.
Do I need an account to use these tools?
Lightshot says it does not require an account to upload, though you need one to see all your past screenshots. ShareX says no account is required. You can try Markup Hero without an account or credit card. Snagit's store says no keys are needed, just sign in.
What can I use instead of Lightshot on a Chromebook?
Lightshot lists a Chrome add-on. The Markup Hero Chrome extension and browser editor also work in Chrome on a Chromebook, with nothing else to install, and they take full-page scrolling screenshots.
Prices and features checked on November 12, 2026 on each product's own website: app.prntscr.com, app.prntscr.com, app.prntscr.com, app.prntscr.com, app.prntscr.com, flameshot.org, flameshot.org, flameshot.org, flameshot.org, flameshot.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. Prices can change; check the vendor's site before you buy.
More comparisons: Markup Hero vs. other screenshot tools.
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