Markup Hero vs Greenshot
Choose Greenshot if you are on a Windows PC and want a free, open-source desktop tool that captures, annotates and sends screenshots to a file, printer, email or Office. Choose Markup Hero if you also use a Mac, Linux or a Chromebook, need to mark up PDFs and Google Docs, or want to share a link others can annotate. The biggest difference: Greenshot is mainly a Windows desktop app, while Markup Hero edits in the browser.
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Markup Hero vs. Greenshot at a glance
Checked on November 8, 2026.
Which one should you choose?
Choose Markup Hero if
- You use a Mac, Linux or a Chromebook and want a free way to capture and annotate.
- You need to mark up multi-page PDFs, Google Docs, Sheets or Slides, not only screenshots.
- You want a share link with a preview that the people you send it to can annotate too.
- You take full-page screenshots in Chrome rather than Internet Explorer.
- You want team members and billing managed in one place.
Choose Greenshot if
- You are on Windows and want a free, open-source desktop tool.
- You want screenshots to go straight to a printer, email, Office programs or Jira.
- You need a portable install, since Greenshot offers a PortableApps version.
- You want a pixelize effect as well as blur for hiding details.
Pricing compared (as of November 2026)
Greenshot for Windows is free and open source under the GNU General Public License. Its downloads page also links a Mac version for $1.99, which the Greenshot team says is to cover its own costs. The latest Windows release listed on getgreenshot.org is Greenshot 1.3.328 from 19 Oct 2026.
Markup Hero has a free Basic plan with no credit card: 1 user, up to 25 markups, annotations editable for 24 hours and files up to 8 MB. Premium is $10/month, or $3/month billed yearly ($36/year), with unlimited markups, annotations editable forever and 50 MB uploads. Premium Teams is $4 per user per month on an annual plan, and Lifetime is $199 one-time. Details are on the pricing page.
What Greenshot does better
Greenshot is a light, free Windows tool that does its editing in a desktop editor on your PC. It captures a region, a window or the full screen, and its editor has rectangles, ellipses, lines, arrows, freehand lines, text, highlighting, cropping and two ways to hide details: pixelize and blur.
From there you can save to a file, print, copy to the clipboard, attach to an email, send to Office programs or upload to Jira. It is open source, and there is a portable version for running it without a normal install.
Where Markup Hero fits better
Markup Hero works the same way on every computer because the editor runs in the browser. There are free screenshot apps for Mac, Windows and Linux (beta), a Chrome extension that takes scrolling screenshots of any tab, and a Firefox add-on. You can also open multi-page PDFs, images, Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, add signatures, and copy text out of an image with the Magic tool. When you are done, send a link with a thumbnail preview; the people you share with can add their own notes.
- Free Google Drive app, plus apps for Slack and Notion.
- Titles, favorites, collections, tags and search for your past markups.
- Export a multi-page PDF, download a PNG or copy the image to the clipboard.
Platforms and requirements
Greenshot 1.3 needs Windows 10 or later and the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 or newer. A Mac version is available, and the Greenshot team says there are currently no plans for a Linux version. Its site does not list a ChromeOS version.
Markup Hero editing happens in the browser and needs an internet connection; there is no separate offline editor. There is no native iPhone, iPad or Android app, but the editor works in mobile browsers. On a Chromebook, the Chrome extension and browser editor work without installing anything else. Get the desktop apps on the download page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Greenshot free?
Greenshot for Windows is free and open source under the GNU General Public License. The Mac version linked from its downloads page costs $1.99. Markup Hero also has a free plan, with up to 25 markups.
Is there a Greenshot for Mac?
Yes. The Greenshot team released a Mac version, and its downloads page lists it at $1.99. Markup Hero's Mac screenshot app is free, and each screenshot opens in the browser editor (default shortcut Command+Shift+1).
Does Greenshot work on Linux or a Chromebook?
The Greenshot team says there are currently no plans for a Linux version, and its site lists no ChromeOS version. Markup Hero has a Linux desktop app in beta, and on a Chromebook its Chrome extension and browser editor work in Chrome.
Can I annotate a PDF with Markup Hero?
Yes. Import a multi-page PDF, add text, arrows, highlights, blur or a signature, then share a link or export a PDF. See how to annotate a PDF.
Does Markup Hero have a desktop editor like Greenshot?
No. Markup Hero's desktop apps only take the screenshot; editing happens in the browser and needs an internet connection. If you need a desktop editor on a Windows PC, Greenshot is a good fit.
Can I try Markup Hero without signing up?
Yes. You can start a markup now with no sign up or credit card. When you want an account, sign up for the free Basic plan.
Prices and features checked on November 8, 2026 on each product's own website: getgreenshot.org, getgreenshot.org, getgreenshot.org, getgreenshot.org, getgreenshot.org. Prices can change; check the vendor's site before you buy.
More comparisons: Markup Hero vs. other screenshot tools.
New and coming soon from Markup Hero
Photo reports are live in SuperHero plans, and two more tools are on the way. Join a waitlist to get early access.
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